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Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - May 30, 2024, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the May 30, 2024 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine’s newsletter - Watercooler.

Contents Include

• Class of 2026 to receive white coats June 14
• Family Medicine OB fellowship starts partnership with Andalusia Health
• Whiddon COM alumnus joins USA Health
• Five teens complete Project Inspire mentorship program at USA Health
• Whiddon College of Medicine part of NIH grant to propel clinical and translational science forward

Issue 444: May 30-June 13, 2024, The Local Voice

The Local Voice

No abstract provided.

Mechanical Scanning Sonar Projections With A Monocular Camera, Xenia Dela Cueva

Computer Science Senior Theses

This paper presents a method for processing data for a mechanical scanning sonar to use with a monocular camera. As the field of underwater robotics expands, it becomes increasingly important to develop techniques for determining the robot's pose using cost-effective sensors such as sonars and cameras. Traditional visual odometry and visual SLAM methods face limitations in underwater environments due to unique challenges posed by light interaction with water. Therefore, integrating additional sensors like the mechanical scanning sonar is essential. This research focuses on determining the extrinsic transformation between the sonar and the monocular camera. By leveraging existing knowledge of sensor …

Evaluating The Health Literacy Practices Of A Primary Care Health System Serving A Diabetic Population At High Risk For Low Health Literacy, Alana D. Norris-Bermudez

Dissertations

Health literacy (HL) is a powerful determinant of patient health outcomes, yet a minority of the U.S. population possesses proficient health literacy. Healthy People 2030 positions HL prominently among the new overarching goals as follows, "Eliminate health disparities, achieve health equity, and attain health literacy to improve the health and well-being of all" (The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2023). HL comprises two interlinked components: personal HL and organizational HL, (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, n.d.). Implementing HL practices within healthcare system facilities such as hospitals, FQHCs, and/or primary care practices to support universal HL precautions …

A Non-Weight Centered Approach To Modifying Eating Attitudes In Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Jo'quishia A. Lethermon

Dissertations

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is an anovulatory disorder characterized by insulin resistance and endocrine dysfunction. Infertility and abnormal weight gain in women of childbearing age are often a result of PCOS, impacting quality of life and posing potential long-term health sequelae. Prescribing weight loss has been adopted by clinicians as an effective intervention to improve insulin resistance. For some patients, this practice has led to the negative effects of weight cycling and disordered eating attitudes which can result in long term adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. A quasi-experimental pre-and-post-test study was conducted to evaluate how a non-weight centered program influences eating attitudes …

Exploring The Gap Between Self-Assessed And Actual Language Proficiency: A Comparative Analysis Of Japanese And Romance Language Learners, Megan Scarlet Keys

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores self-assessment accuracy among Japanese second language (L2) learners compared to learners of Romance languages. This research aims to investigate the extent of accuracy in self-assessment among Japanese learners and compare it with their counterparts studying Romance languages. Additionally, the study explores the variables influencing the accuracy of self-assessment in this context. The participants in this study comprised 144 undergraduate students enrolled in Japanese, French, Spanish, or Portuguese courses at Brigham Young University. Most participants possessed practical experience using their L2 in the target cultural context, complementing their academic coursework. The Language Ability Self-Evaluation Resource (LASER) was utilized …

3rd Sbs International Conference 2025: Innovation And Disruption: Business Success Through Ai, School Of Business Studies (Sbs)

Conference Proceedings

From the time that Clayton Christensen (1997) highlighted the concept of disruption due to innovation, and its impact on businesses and economies, practitioners and researchers have diverted their attention to the evil it casts and the opportunities it presents. Innovations and improvements in technologies have more often than not resulted in disruption of business models prevalent at that time. The three industrial revolutions have marked definitive shifts in performance and perspectives, and now the world awaits the outcome of the industrial revolution 4.0. Disruptions do not come only from revolutions. This is evident from the very recent incidence of the …

Black Women Dying To Give Life, Teresa Gray

Publications and Research

ABSTRACT

Maternal Mortality is a prevalent problem that impacts the overall health of the nation. This predicament has been touted by presidential candidates, political leaders, obstetrical leaders, midwifery, nursing and obstetrical organizations as an urgent problem that needs to be addressed. The United States has the worst maternal mortality among high-income countries. Although the impact of maternal mortality on other groups such as Whites, Asians and Hispanics must be recognized and acknowledged, this paper focuses on its impacts on Black women. Black women are disproportionately losing their lives due to pregnancy related complications more than any other group. The contributory …

A Different Alignment Problem: Ai, The Rule Of Law, And Outdated Legal Institutions And Practices, Kevin Frazier

Journal of Business & Technology Law

No abstract provided.

Variant-Specific Pathophysiological Mechanisms Of Aff3 Differently Influence Transcriptome Profiles, Sissy Bassani, Jacqueline Chrast, Giovanna Ambrosini, Norine Voisin, Frédéric Schütz, Alfredo Brusco, Fabio Sirchia, Lydia Turban, Susanna Schubert, Rami Abou Jamra, Jan-Ulrich Schlump, Desiree Demille, Pinar Bayrak-Toydemir, Gary Rex Nelson, Kristen Nicole Wong, Laura Duncan, Mackenzie Mosera, Christian Gilissen, Lisenka E L M Vissers, Rolph Pfundt, Rogier Kersseboom, Hilde Yttervik, Geir Åsmund Myge Hansen, Marie Falkenberg Smeland, Kameryn M Butler, Michael J Lyons, Claudia M B Carvalho, Chaofan Zhang, James R Lupski, Lorraine Potocki, Leticia Flores-Gallegos, Rodrigo Morales-Toquero, Florence Petit, Binnaz Yalcin, Annabelle Tuttle, Houda Zghal Elloumi, Lane Mccormick, Mary Kukolich, Oliver Klaas, Judit Horvath, Marcello Scala, Michele Iacomino, Francesca Operto, Federico Zara, Karin Writzl, Aleš Maver, Maria K Haanpää, Pia Pohjola, Harri Arikka, Anneke J A Kievit, Camilla Calandrini, Christian Iseli, Nicolas Guex, Alexandre Reymond

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: We previously described the KINSSHIP syndrome, an autosomal dominant disorder associated with intellectual disability (ID), mesomelic dysplasia and horseshoe kidney, caused by de novo variants in the degron of AFF3. Mouse knock-ins and overexpression in zebrafish provided evidence for a dominant-negative mode of action, wherein an increased level of AFF3 resulted in pathological effects.

METHODS: Evolutionary constraints suggest that other modes-of-inheritance could be at play. We challenged this hypothesis by screening ID cohorts for individuals with predicted-to-be damaging variants in AFF3. We used both animal and cellular models to assess the deleteriousness of the identified variants.

RESULTS: We identified …

The Dimensions Of Gameplay: Presenting An Alternative To Video Game Copyrights For Games Without Narratives, Elena Gurau

Journal of Business & Technology Law

No abstract provided.

The Sins Of The Father: Excising Malignant Bias From Artificial Intelligence, Simon R. Graf

Journal of Business & Technology Law

No abstract provided.

Dietary Fiber-Derived Butyrate Alleviates Piglet Weaning Stress By Modulating The Tlr4/Myd88/Nf-Κb Pathway, Weikang Huangfu, Jixiang Ma, Yan Zhang, Mengki Liu, Boshuai Liu, Jiangchao Zhao, Zhichang Wang, Jinghua Shi

Animal Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

During weaning, piglets are susceptible to intestinal inflammation and impairment in barrier function. Dietary fiber (DF) plays an active role in alleviating weaning stress in piglets. However, the effects of different sources of dietary fiber on the performance of weaned piglets are inconsistent, and the mechanisms through which they affect intestinal health need to be explored. Therefore, in this study, sixty weaned piglets were randomly divided into three treatment groups: basal diet (control, CON), beet pulp (BP), and alfalfa meal (AM) according to the feed formulation for a 28-day trial. The results showed that both AM and BP groups significantly …

Propofol Enhancement Of Slow Wave Sleep To Target The Nexus Of Geriatric Depression And Cognitive Dysfunction: Protocol For A Phase I Open Label Trial, Rachel Lynn Rios, Michael Green, S Kendall Smith, Mohammadmehdi Kafashan, Shinung Ching, Nuri B Farber, Nan Lin, Brendan P Lucey, Charles F Reynolds, Eric J Lenze, Ben Julian Agustin Palanca, Swiped Study Team

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Late-life treatment-resistant depression (LL-TRD) is common and increases risk for accelerated ageing and cognitive decline. Impaired sleep is common in LL-TRD and is a risk factor for cognitive decline. Slow wave sleep (SWS) has been implicated in key processes including synaptic plasticity and memory. A deficiency in SWS may be a core component of depression pathophysiology. The anaesthetic propofol can induce electroencephalographic (EEG) slow waves that resemble SWS. Propofol may enhance SWS and oral antidepressant therapy, but relationships are unclear. We hypothesise that propofol infusions will enhance SWS and improve depression in older adults with LL-TRD. This hypothesis has …

Complementing Vehicle Trajectories Using Two Camera Viewpoints, Katsuaki Nakano

Theses

Traffic volume surveying is a crucial activity to get traffic statistics for road management and traffic congestion control. In recent years, the target environment of traffic volume surveying has become more complex, such as the fully automated surveillance of many-way intersections. Further compounding this complexity, some local governments may not be able to install a camera at a high enough elevation to capture the entire intersection due to environmental, legal, safety, or cost restrictions. Therefore, bigger objects such as buses and trucks often occlude other vehicles in the captured image. This occlusion degrades the accuracy of counting and is one …

Measuring Confidentiality With Multiple Observables, John J. Utley

Computer Science Senior Theses

Measuring the confidentiality of programs that need to interact with the outside world can prevent leakages and is important to protect against dangerous attacks. However, information propagation is difficult to follow through a large program with implicit information flow, tricky loops, and complicated instructions. Previous works have tackled this problem in several ways but often measure leakage a program has on average rather than the leakage produced by a set of particularly compromising interactions. We introduce new methods that target a specific set of observables revealed throughout execution to cut down on the resources needed for analysis. Our implementation examines …

Anonymity As Freedom: Drawing Critical Hope From Pandemic Pedagogy, Lucy Wenham

The Curriculum Studies Collaborative Journal

No abstract provided.

The Management Variables And The Provision F Library Services To The University Undergraduates In South-East, Nigeria, Ngozi Immaculata Ike Dr.

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study investigated management variables and the provision of library services to the university undergraduates in federal universities across Southeast Nigeria. The research examined the relationship between planning and organizing, and the extent of library services provided. Three research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. A multiple correlational design was employed. Data collection utilized a 4-point modified Likert rating scale. The population of the study was 19390 comprising librarians and students. This is made up of 19188 students and 202 librarians. The population was made up of all university undergraduate registered library users and librarians within the period the …

A Review Of Image Sensors Used In Near-Infrared And Shortwave Infrared Fluorescence Imaging, Banghe Zhu, Henry Jonathan

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

To translate near-infrared (NIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) fluorescence imaging into the clinic, the paired imaging device needs to detect trace doses of fluorescent imaging agents. Except for the filtration scheme and excitation light source, the image sensor used will finally determine the detection limitations of NIR and SWIR fluorescence imaging systems. In this review, we investigate the current state-of-the-art image sensors used in NIR and SWIR fluorescence imaging systems and discuss the advantages and limitations of their characteristics, such as readout architecture and noise factors. Finally, the imaging performance of these image sensors is evaluated and compared.

Community Policing And Meta-Stereotypes: Improving Citizenry-Police Relations In A Large, Multicultural Urban Area, Through A Participatory Action Research Community Safety Workshop, Cornelius Darnell Davis

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The Term Policing and its surrounding themes are complex and deserve adequate attention. Since the early 1900’s, citizenry and police have had mistrustful relationships. Over the span of three eras, both positive and negative citizenry-police relations have been highlighted. In more recent years, the timely capturing of videos of over-policing and excessive use of deadly force incidents (mainly in BIPOC communities) have exacerbated negative citizenry-police relations, resulting in the lack of procedural justice and police legitimacy. Excessive policing and the seemingly constant deaths of unarmed African Americans undoubtedly contribute to the lack of confidence in police to effectively ensure all …

A Phase-1 Trial Of Intensive Hybrid Stuttering Modification/Fluency Shaping Therapy, Jessica Smith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in frequency stuttering behaviors, speech rate, and feelings/attitudes following the University of South Florida Program for Advanced Treatment of Stuttering (USF-PATS), a hybrid stuttering modification/fluency shaping program intended for teenagers and adults who stutter moderately to very severely.

Method: Baseline and post-treatment speech samples for participants (N = 3) were analyzed for speech rate and presence of stuttering behaviors (repeated movements, fixed postures, and superfluous behaviors) across conditions (monologue and reading). An abbreviated thematic analysis was completed to analyze feelings/attitudes post-treatment.

Results: Results revealed a decrease to zero and near-zero …

The Effect Of A Dynamic Lighting Schedule On Neurobehavioral Performance During A 45-Day Simulated Space Mission, Leilah Grant, Brianne Kent, Shadab Rahman, Melissa St Hilaire, Crystal Kirkley, Kevin Gregory, Toni Clark, John Hanifin, Laura Barger, Charles Czeisler, George Brainard, Steven Lockley, Erin Flynn-Evans

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Study Objective: We previously reported that during a 45-day simulated space mission, a dynamic lighting schedule (DLS) improved circadian phase alignment and performance assessed once on selected days. This study aimed to evaluate how DLS affected performance on a 5-minute psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) administered multiple times per day on selected days.

Methods: Sixteen crewmembers (37.4 ± 6.7 years; 5F) underwent six cycles of 2 × 8-hour/night followed by 5 × 5-hour/night sleep opportunities. During the DLS (n = 8), daytime white light exposure was blue-enriched (∼6000 K; Level 1: 1079, Level 2: 76 melanopic equivalent daytime illuminance (melEDI) lux) …

Foam Fraction Flow: Using Mls-Mpm With Volume Fractions To Simulate Low-Density Dry Foam, Alexander Neville

Theses and Dissertations

Foaming bubbles are a common element seen throughout both nature and man-made civilization. All types of bubbles behave variably. For example, foams float in water, splash out from buckets, and are squeezed out of hand soap dispensers. Due to their complexity and variance in behavior, they can be expensive to simulate and difficult to portray realistically. When simulating dense concentrations of bubbles with little free-flowing water, such as soap films, three variables need to be accounted for: how the fluid will move, how the bubbles will be sized, and how the bubbles will behave when they come into contact with …

Exploring Applications Of Ai In Developer-Side Web Accessibility Practices, Maria H. Cristoforo

Computer Science Senior Theses

No abstract provided.

Do Academic Advising And Levels Of Support Affect Nursing Students' Mental Health? A Cross-Sectional Study, Nashwa Ibrahim

Nursing

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of Piezocone Dissipation Test Interpretation In Clay Accounting For Vertical And Horizontal Porewater Pressure Dissipation With A Large Deformation Axisymmetric Penetration Model, Diane Moug, Andrew Huffman, Jason T. Dejong

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The piezocone (CPTu) dissipation test is used to characterize how the applied load from the penetrating cone is distributed between the soil and pore fluid during both penetrometer advancement and when penetration is paused. The coefficient of consolidation is often estimated from CPTu dissipation tests by interpreting the rate of excess porewater pressure (∆u) decay to static conditions during a pause in cone penetration. Most CPTu dissipation test interpretation methods are based on Terzaghi consolidation theory for ∆u dissipation at the cone shoulder (u₂ position) or cone face (u₁ position) and assume that radial ∆u dissipation dominates the …

Combustion-Induced Endothermic Process In Carbon Dots Synthesized On Magnetite Nanoparticle Substrate, Khalid Zouhri, Luke J. Snyder, Michael Mcfarland, Parker O. Laubie, K. A. Shiral Fernando, Christopher E. Bunker

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Carbon dots are synthesized alone and in the presence of commercial magnetite nanoparticles using a simple hydrothermal reaction. The spectroscopic and structural characteristics of CDot and CDot–magnetite materials are presented and their behaviors under combustion conditions are studied. A careful examination of their combustion behaviors reveals interesting results for the CDot–magnetite material: it undergoes early catalytic combustion at ~200°C and a strong endothermic process that quenches combustion. By investigating the physical mixtures of pre-formed CDots and magnetite and the starting material ascorbic acid and magnetite, it is determined that the strong endothermic behavior requires intimate interactions between the carbon source …

Staff Education For Nurses On Patient Education About When To Call The Doctor, Branderly Maliwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2010, nearly 1 in 5 visits to the emergency department (ED) were categorized as potentially avoidable, resulting in a significant $65 billion increase in health care expenditures and exacerbating ED overcrowding. This project addressed whether a staff education initiative focused on evidence-based patient teaching strategies can enhance nurses’ patient education skills regarding when patients should seek medical attention. Utilizing theories, such as the diffusion of innovation theory and transformational theory, a staff education program was developed in this project informed by evidence-based practice. Credible sources, including nursing databases and professional organizations, were used to identify the gap in nursing …

Examining Barriers To Technology Integration Practices Of K-12 Teachers, Sherri N. Brackett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem this study addressed is that K-12 teachers inconsistently implement technology into classroom instructional practices. The use of technology influences every aspect of our daily life. In fact, schools now have a responsibility to integrate technology into teaching and learning. This qualitative study aimed to investigate how K-12 teachers’ perceptions of technology integration and barriers influence the integration of technology into their classroom practice. The technology acceptance model and the barrier to technology integration were the frameworks for this study. The research questions explored teachers’ perceptions and barriers that influence the integration of technology into classroom instructional practices. The …

Successful Strategies Of Black Women Business Owners, Carolyn Bennett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Unsustainable business strategies have the potential to lead to adverse business outcomes when starting new business ventures. Business owners are concerned with having effective business strategies to sustain their businesses beyond 5 years. Grounded in the resource-based view theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to explore successful strategies that were used by Black women business owners starting new business ventures to sustain their businesses for more than 5 years. Participants were seven Black women business owners who developed successful strategies to sustain their businesses. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and a review of publicly available documents. …