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Interpretable Classification Of Myositis From Muscle Ultrasound Images, Bishwa Karki, Xin Zhong, Yu-Che Chen, Chun-Hua Tsai

Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis Faculty Publications

This study is dedicated to designing and advancing machine learning (ML) algorithms for classifying normal and abnormal muscular tissues, thereby aiding neurologists in diagnosing inclusion body myositis (IBM). Our work mainly aims to leverage machine learning and recent state-of-the-art (SOTA) algorithms to recognize and diagnose myositis from muscle ultrasound images in the preliminary stage and support the traditional diagnostic methodology. Initially, we used an open-source ultrasound image dataset to construct and refine initial models using VGG-16. We employed the Grad-CAM method to annotate muscle ultrasound images and delineate regions of interest (ROI). Subsequent experiments enhanced the VGG16 architecture through extensive …

Preventing Patient Deterioration And Increasing Family Satisfaction By Creating A Reassessment And Escalation Process For The Emergency Department Waiting Room, Virginia Elizondo

EBP Fellowship

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Of Sleep Disturbance And Disease-Related Factors On Neural And Neurocognitive Function In Youth Living With Sickle Cell Disease, Tiffany Devaughn Tucker

All ETDs from UAB

Youth living with sickle cell disease (SCD) often face neurocognitive challenges, regardless of accompanying neurological issues. SCD involves red blood cell deformation, leading to complications including chronic anemia, vaso-occlusion, and acute crises such as pain and overt stroke. While screening and intervention advancements have improved survival, enhancing functional capacity and quality of life (QoL) remains a targeted area of intervention. Disease-related factors, sleep disturbances, and social determinants significantly impact neurocognitive health in youth living with SCD. Deficits across all cognitive domains, including attention, working memory, and executive function (EF), are common, affecting academic achievement and QoL. Brain-related issues, such as …

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa And Tobramycin Effects On Aspergillus Fumigatus Infection In Cystic Fibrosis Airway, Tuan Anh Nguyen

All ETDs from UAB

Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) is one of the most common molds in the airways of people with Cystic Fibrosis (pwCF). The infection of Af is often preceded by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) infection and its correlated treatment. PsA is considered a highly prevalent bacteria in the CF lung. PwCF suffers from complex and sophisticated coinfections within the airway that negatively impact the health outcomes of patients. Despite this, why fungal and bacterial coinfection occurs in pwCF is still being determined. However, abnormal mucus production and its characteristics are suspected of creating an environment that promotes Af germination and disease progression. This study …

Exploratory Review Of Performance Metric Changes At Federally Qualified Health Centers In U.S. Territories Pre- And Post-Covid-19 Pandemic, Keyla Cooper

All ETDs from UAB

This study examined the variations in quality-of-care measures and grant allocations for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in U.S. territories before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It investigated the impact of federal funding, including the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), on these centers to identify strategies to enhance their resilience. Key aspects included financial resources, health outcomes, and the need for integrated mental health services. This quantitative, non-experimental, and cross-sectional study used simple and multiple linear regression analysis to evaluate quantitative secondary data representing FQHCs’ characteristics and performance. A total …

Improving Molecular Diagnosis Success Rates And Prognosis Prediction For Patients With Rare Diseases, Tarun Karthik Kumar Mamidi

All ETDs from UAB

Rare diseases are medical conditions that affect a small number of people compared to the general population. There are more than 10,000 estimated rare diseases with 80% being genetic in origin, which although individually have a relatively low prevalence, collectively impact the lives of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The diagnosis process is usually difficult and slow, but an accurate and early diagnosis can be crucial for disease treatment and management. This dissertation focuses on some of the important problems in this area by investigating the application of advanced machine learning methods to enhance the accuracy, precision, and efficiency …

Understanding Biopsychosocial Influences On Physical Activity And Quality Of Life In Breast Cancer Survivors, Erica A. Schleicher

All ETDs from UAB

Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment can be life-altering, presenting numerous challenges. Breast cancer treatments are effective at allowing women to live longer, but often impose long-term side-effects that survivors must manage for years. Exercise is an effective way to address many long-term side-effects of breast cancer treatment, yet 63-83% of breast cancer survivors do not meet recommended physical activity (PA) guidelines. Due to the complexity of cancer and treatment options, cancer-related factors have potential biopsychosocial impacts that can influence exercise habits, attitudes toward PA (i.e., social cognitive theory (SCT) constructs), and potentially quality of life (QoL). It …

The Effect Of Progranulin On Lysosomal Function In Bv2 Cells, Michelle Park

All ETDs from UAB

Neurodegenerative diseases afflict nearly 7 million people in United states, constituting a significant portion of the 600 known neurological disorders. Characterized by the gradual loss of neurons and axons within the central nervous system (CNS), these conditions stem from chronic inflammatory activation of the brain. Chronic inflammation disrupts important processes such as autophagy lysosome pathway, a self-degradative process that eliminates protein aggregates and damaged organelles. Trehalose, a non-reducing disaccharide that triggers autophagic flux in neuronal cells and promotes the clearance of protein aggregates; however, without understanding the mechanism behind how trehalose affects these functions, it lacks value. In our study, …

The Aphasia Recovery Cohort, An Open-Source Chronic Stroke Repository, Makayla Gibson, Roger Newman-Norlund, Leonardo Bonilha, Julius Fridriksson, Gregory Hickok, Argye E. Hillis, Dirk B. Den Ouden, Chris Rorden

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Articles and Research

Sharing neuroimaging datasets enables reproducibility, education, tool development, and new discoveries. Neuroimaging from many studies are publicly available, providing a glimpse into progressive disorders and human development. In contrast, few stroke studies are shared, and these datasets lack longitudinal sampling of functional imaging, diffusion imaging, as well as the behavioral and demographic data that encourage novel applications. This is surprising, as stroke is a leading cause of disability, and acquiring brain imaging is considered standard of care. The first release of the Aphasia Recovery Cohort includes imaging data, demographics and behavioral measures from 230 chronic stroke survivors who experienced aphasia. …

Project Give: Using A Virtual Genetics Service Platform To Reduce Health Inequities And Improve Access To Genomic Care In An Underserved Region Of Texas, Blake Vuocolo, Roberta Sierra, Keila Rodriguez, Ana Hernandez, Alberto Allegre, Humberto Hidalgo, Sarah Rodriguez, Jeremy Gibson, Robert Nelson, Lizbeth Mellin-Sanchez, Lori Berry, Kent Carter

School of Medicine Publications

Background

The utilization of genomic information to improve health outcomes is progressively becoming more common in clinical practice. Nonetheless, disparities persist in accessing genetic services among ethnic minorities, individuals with low socioeconomic status, and other vulnerable populations. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) at the Texas-Mexico border is predominantly Hispanic/Latino with a high poverty rate and very limited access to genetic services. Funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Project GIVE (Genetic Inclusion by Virtual Evaluation) was launched in 2022 to reduce the time to diagnosis and increase provider knowledge of genomics in this region, with the goal of …

Developments In School Counselling Practice In Vietnam, Michael Hass, Hoang-Minh Dang

Education Faculty Books and Book Chapters

This chapter will examine the development and status of school counselling in Vietnam. As part of that, we will discuss research on Vietnamese school children’s mental health and academic needs, the history of the development of school counselling and related professions in Vietnam, and the process of creating formal educational programs in school counselling. Lastly, we will discuss school counsellors’ distinct roles in Vietnam and how they relate to various stakeholders, including children, teachers, administrators, and parents. In addition, we will discuss a survey of practicing school counsellors (Hoang-Minh & Hass, 2023b) and interviews of program directors of university training …

Oral Administration Of Alpha-Cyclodextrin Corrects Diabetes Induced Retinopathy And Bone Marrow Pathology By Modulation Of The Gut-Retina Axis., Yvonne Adu-Agyeiwaah

All ETDs from UAB

Diabetic retinopathy represents a common complication of diabetes, exerting a significant financial burden globally across nations, particularly impacting the working-age population and thereby affecting productivity. Extensive investigations have unveiled its multifaceted etiology, implicating a convergence of diverse causative factors. Notably, seminal studies such as the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) Eye Study have underscored the pivotal role of cholesterol dysregulation and dyslipidemia in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. This dysregulation stems from an imbalance characterized by heightened cholesterol production coupled with deficient cholesterol efflux or removal mechanisms. Liver X receptors (LXRs), ligand-activated nuclear receptors function in transcriptional …

Coyote Play: A Critical Inquiry Of Power At A Nature-Based Preschool, Timothy Mckenzie

All ETDs from UAB

The distribution of power in the educational institution exists as a hierarchy from governing bodies to the masses. This causes children within the institution to align themselves with the institution rather than the institution meeting the needs of the children it serves. The purpose of this study is to examine how children engage with power at a nature-based preschool. The researcher used data from field observations and programmatic resources to analyze the power enacted by children. The researcher found that the children enact power through structures, to define place, care for themselves, and care for others. The implications of this …

Phylogenetic Diversity Of Flagellin Differentiates Commensal Gut Bacteria That Induce Distinct Intestinal Epithelial Cell Responses, Melissa Simone Jennings

All ETDs from UAB

Flagellins belonging to bacteria from the Lachnospiraceae family are immunodom-inant antigens in inflammatory bowel disease. Flagellin, the basic unit of flagella utilized by bacteria for motility, is recognized by the host via toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5). Due to the diversity of flagellated bacteria, we investigated if this diversity results in distinct interac-tions between the bacteria and the host. Phylogenetic analysis on over 200 flagellin se-quences, primarily from Lachnospiraceae bacteria, revealed two divergent clusters we refer to as Group 1 (G1) and Group 2 (G2). In gnotobiotic mice colonized with G1 or G2 bacte-ria, both groups induce colonic interleukin 10 (IL-10)-producing …

Individualized Cellular Response To Influenza-A Infection, Abel Lopez

All ETDs from UAB

Influenza A Virus (IAV) presents a significant threat to global health, causing millions of severe cases and substantial mortality annually. This study uses single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the individualized cellular response to IAV infection in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). We employed air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures to model the respiratory epithelium and differentiated HBECs into basal, ciliated, secretory (goblet/club), and rare cell types (Ionocytes). Following IAV infection, we analyzed transcriptional changes across these cell types, focusing on differential gene expression and pathway activation. Our results highlight the variability in IAV infection and the distinct cellular responses. Ciliated cells, the …

Testicular Phenotypes Of Rdhe Dko Mice, Aja Slay

All ETDs from UAB

The bioactive form of vitamin A, all-trans-retinoic acid (RA), plays a critical role in cell differentiation, metabolism, and cellular proliferation by regulating gene transcription. RA signaling is critical during embryogenesis to ensure proper development and during adulthood for tissue maintenance. Disruption of the RA signaling pathway induced by vitamin A deficiency and genetic defects in vitamin A metabolizing enzymes results in embryonic malformations. Previous studies implicate the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family members as important in RA synthesis. Among the SDR family are retinol dehydrogenase epidermal 2 (RDHE2) and RDHE2-similar (RDHE2S)- collectively RDHE. To gain insight into how RDHE influences the …

The Association Between Social Connectedness And Opioid Reuse Among Vulnerable Groups Receiving Medication For Opioid Use Disorder, Jolanda Lynn Hudson

All ETDs from UAB

THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS AND OPIOID REUSE AMONG VULNERABLE GROUPS RECEIVING MEDICATION FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER JOLANDA L. HUDSON PUBLIC HEALTH ABSTRACT Introduction: Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is a serious illness that continues to persist despite the many efforts of researchers, physicians, government agencies, state, and local programs, to eliminate the mortality rate associated with this disease. Although manageable, OUD is still taking the lives of citizens due to illegal opioid misuse. Understanding the dynamics of the disease and the contributing factors in various populations may inform researchers in successful intervention outcomes. Methods: A retrospective secondary data analysis utilizing …

Changes In Drug And Alcohol Behaviors Before And After An Educational Intervention Among At-Risk Adults And Youth, Isabel Cuellar Acker

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: Substance abuse is defined as the excessive use of a drug in a way that is detrimental to oneself, society, or both. Gender is important to examine because it is becoming more common for females to develop substance use disorders and for their substance use to be more severe. This study will address the role of an education-based intervention on substance abuse in an area that is at the intersection of rural and urban geography with a unique pool of participants. Methods: This is a longitudinal cohort study that has a pre-post intervention design. A linear model was used …

Pro-Vaccine And Anti-Vaccine Groups. Social Distance And Self-Assessment Of Scientific Skills, Sandrine Gaymard

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The social distance scale developed by Bogardus decades ago, which allows us to measure levels of acceptance among members of diverse social, ethnic, or racial groups, has been widely used in different contexts. The objective of this study is to evaluate the social distance accepted by pro-vaccine and anti-vaccine groups. Following the principle of the Bogardus scale, a questionnaire was created regarding different degrees of closeness. Respondents also completed a scientific skills self-assessment. The population consisted of 193 people who declared themselves in favor of vaccination and 41 people who declared themselves against it. Statistical tests show significant differences regarding …

Mmu: 09/09/24–09/15/24, Student Bar Association

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Design And Implementation Of An Opioid Scorecard For Hospital System-Wide Peer Comparison Of Opioid Prescribing Habits: Observational Study, Benjamin Slovis, Soonyip Huang, Melanie Mcarthur, Cara Martino, Tasia Beers, Meghan Labella, Jeffrey Riggio, Edmund Pribitkin

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

BACKGROUND: Reductions in opioid prescribing by health care providers can lead to a decreased risk of opioid dependence in patients. Peer comparison has been demonstrated to impact providers' prescribing habits, though its effect on opioid prescribing has predominantly been studied in the emergency department setting.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to describe the development of an enterprise-wide opioid scorecard, the architecture of its implementation, and plans for future research on its effects.

METHODS: Using data generated by the author's enterprise vendor-based electronic health record, the enterprise analytics software, and expertise from a dedicated group of informaticists, physicians, and …

Biology Department Publications: 2017, Sam Lindgren

Biology Department Bibliographies

This document is a noncomprehensive list of publications made by graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and faculty members in the Biology Department in 2017. It indexes those publications available through major databases, and serves as an archival record of the Department’s robust scholarly contributions.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Revised Butte Reduction Works (Brw) Phase Iii Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp) Request Of Change Brw-2024-01 (Dated August 30, 2024)., Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Comment Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling Plan (Fsp) For Bres No. 181 – Mountain Con-3 Dump, Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Malat1 Mediates Tet2 Loss Of Function-Driven Oncogenic Inflammation Via Rna Shielding Of Nf- Kappa B P65, Nana Adjoa Ben-Crentsil

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

TET2 is a dioxygenase that regulates gene expression and hematopoiesis by oxidizing 5-methylcytosine residues on DNA to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine. TET2 mutations are common genetic events in hematological disorders. For example, TET2 is the most frequently mutated gene in Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia and occurs in about 33% of other myeloid malignancies. It is also the second commonest mutation in clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), a common premalignant condition in the elderly. TET2 mutations arise in founding clones and are implicated in many non-hematological sequelae seen in CHIP like atherosclerotic disease, chronic liver disease, and severe microbial infections.

The development of TET2-deficient …

Biology Department Publications: 2009, Sam Lindgren

Biology Department Bibliographies

This document is a noncomprehensive list of publications made by graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and faculty members in the Biology Department in 2009. It indexes those publications available through major databases, and serves as an archival record of the Department’s robust scholarly contributions.

Opportunities For Extension Educators To Support Caregivers Feeding Infants And Toddlers Through Nutrition Education, Elizabeth I. Kielb, Kameron J. Moding, Susan L. Johnson, Barbara A. Beaulieu, Blake A. Connolly, Stephanie J. Faroh, Laura L. Bellows

Journal of Extension

The 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans now include recommendations for infants and toddlers. Extension educators can use these expanded guidelines to provide feeding recommendations for caregivers of infants/toddlers. The purpose of this study was to explore 1) the infant and toddler feeding topics that Extension educators discuss with caregivers through formal curricula and informal conversations, 2) educators’ perceived barriers to teaching and discussing topics with caregivers, and 3) the optimal format of resources for educators and the communities they serve. Findings from this study confirmed a need among educators for infant/toddler feeding programs and resources offered through Extension.

Faculty Senate Minutes September 9, 2024, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes
• University Business
• Faculty Senate Business
• Information
• EPC Report
• HB 261 Compliance Efforts
• Faculty Senate Discussions
• Reports
• Center for Instructional Design and Innovation
• Empowering Teaching Excellence Annual Report
• Old Business
• New Business
• Adjourn: 4:16 pm

Gestational Diabetes Knowledge Improves With Interactive Online Training Modules, Petra Krutilova, Roxann Williams, Rebecca Morey, Carole Field, Veronda Byrth, Melissa Tepe, Amy Mcqueen, Cynthia Herrick

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: The risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is up to 50% among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, diabetes education during and after pregnancy is limited. To bridge this gap, our team developed four training modules on GDM for nurses and community health workers. This pilot study assesses changes in knowledge, self-efficacy for providing diabetes education, attitudes, and intentions to recommend diabetes prevention before and after training completion.

METHODS: Interactive online modules were disseminated to clinical staff providing care for women with GDM in the United States. Optional pre- and post-training surveys were conducted to gauge …

Design Thinking Strategies For Complex Situations: Covid-19 In Western Australia And New South Wales, Terence Love, Paul Cozens, Trudi Cooper

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper outlines an argument for changing the foundation of design thinking practices to include causal feedback loops instead of primarily predicting futures using linear causal relations. The paper suggests for most real-world design situations the traditional linear causal perspective is insufficient and leads to lower value design outcomes. The authors propose instead designers address real-world complex design situations via design methods that include feedback loops, which require different design methods and tools. The discussion in the paper follows the understanding of systems researchers. The authors provide an example of the significant differences in outcomes using a comparative case study …