Digital Commons Network^™

Applying Machine Learning Models Derived From Administrative Claims Data To Predict Medication Nonadherence In Patients Self-Administering Biologic Medications For Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Christian Rhudy, Courtney Perry, Michael Wesley, David Fardo, Cody Bumgardner, Syed Hassan, Terrence Barrett, Jeffery Talbert

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Adherence to self-administered biologic therapies is important to induce remission and prevent adverse clinical outcomes in Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to use administrative claims data and machine learning methods to predict nonadherence in an academic medical center test population.

METHODS: A model-training dataset of beneficiaries with IBD and the first unique dispense of a self-administered biologic between June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2019 was extracted from the Commercial Claims and Encounters and Medicare Supplemental Administrative Claims Database. Known correlates of medication nonadherence were identified in the dataset. Nonadherence to biologic therapies was defined as a …

Β-Aminopropionitrile Induces Distinct Pathologies In The Ascending And Descending Thoracic Aortic Regions Of Mice, Michael K. Franklin, Hisashi Sawada, Sohei Ito, Deborah A. Howatt, Naofumi Amioka, Ching Ling Liang, Nancy Zhang, David B. Graf, Jessica J. Moorleghen, Yuriko Katsumata, Hong S. Lu, Alan Daugherty

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) is a pharmacological inhibitor of LOX (lysyl oxidase) and LOXLs (LOX-like proteins). Administration of BAPN promotes aortopathies, although there is a paucity of data on experimental conditions to generate pathology. The objective of this study was to define experimental parameters and determine whether equivalent or variable aortopathies were generated throughout the aortic tree during BAPN administration in mice. METHODS: BAPN was administered in drinking water for a period ranging from 1 to 12 weeks. The impacts of BAPN were first assessed with regard to BAPN dose, and mouse strain, age, and sex. BAPN-induced aortic pathological characterization was …

Maternal Sacrifice And Resilience: The Legacy Of Harriet Jacobs And Enslaved Black Motherhood, Beverly A. Duran

GLI MA in American History Student Works

This paper explores the unique role of enslaved Black women in preserving family and cultural identity during the American slavery era, focusing on the life and writings of Harriet Jacobs. Through her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Jacobs exemplifies the extraordinary sacrifices and resilience of enslaved mothers, who navigated the dual burdens of racial and gender oppression. The study delves into Jacobs’s years-long confinement in an attic to avoid separation from her children and her use of storytelling, education, and cultural practices to resist dehumanization. It highlights how enslaved women, despite systemic constraints, developed strategies to …

Deep Learning-Based Geomorphic Feature Identification In Dredge Pit Marine Environment, Wenqiang Zhang, Xiaobing Chen, Xiangwei Zhou, Jianhua Chen, Jianguo Yuan, Taibiao Zhao, Kehui Xu

Faculty Publications

Deep learning methods paired with sidescan sonar (SSS) are commonly used in underwater search-and-rescue operations for drowning victims, wrecks, and airplanes. However, these techniques are primarily used to detect mine-like objects and are rarely applied to identifying features in dynamic dredge pit environments. In this study, we present a Sandy Point dredge pit (SPDP) dataset, in which high-resolution SSS data were collected from the west flank of the Mississippi bird-foot delta on the Louisiana inner shelf. This dataset contains a total of 385 SSS images. We then introduce a new Effective Geomorphology Classification model (EGC). Through ablation studies, we analyze …

Multisensory System For Probing Scattering Media, Muralidhar Madabhushi Balaji

Electrical Engineering Theses and Dissertations

There are numerous problems in the physical sciences wherein the scattering of light fundamentally limits our ability to perceive and reason about objects within the visual field. Examples include navigation in foggy weather, detecting hidden contraband/explosives, detecting diseased regions in agricultural produce, and detecting tumors within tissue. In all these scenarios, the scrambling of light paths due to scattering reduces the ability to locate embedded objects and identify their spatial or spectral features.

Existing approaches address the challenge by augmenting optical sensing modalities with complementary techniques that do not rely on optical phenomenology, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or …

Adopting Trauma-Invested Practices, Strategies, And Interventions, Tara F.K. Lynn

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The aim of this school improvement plan is to implement professional development by raising trauma awareness, developing a trauma-invested lens, and implementing trauma-invested practices, strategies, and interventions across all elementary school environments. Existing literature emphasizes the prevalence of trauma among children and its adverse effects on their well-being and academic performance. National, State of Iowa, and Iowa County, Iowa data indicates a rise in traumatic childhood experiences, proving the need for increased professional development. Many educators and administrators do not understand the effects of trauma on the emotional well-being, brain growth, and learning of students with trauma and how to …

Research And Benefits Of The Outdoor Learning Lab: A School Improvement Project, Crystal A. Berkenes

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This school improvement plan (SIP) is a comprehensive review of research, action plan and steps to provide evidence-based strategies for implementing an effective Outdoor Learning Lab (OLL) at North High School (NHS). The literature review will detail foundational research, which has demonstrated students’ academic and social-emotional gains in a science-based outdoor learning or garden-based education setting. The goal is to increase student conscientiousness in the self-contained earth science classroom during the 2024-2025 school year.

Online Teaching And Learning At Chinese Universities During Covid-19: Insiders’ Perspectives, Youliang Zhang, Yidan Zhu, Tongjie Chen, Tongfei Ma

Journal of Global Education and Research

During attempts to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic in China, higher education programs shifted their traditional educational models to online models. This paper aimed to explore how Chinese universities organized online teaching and learning during the pandemic. It investigated the factors affecting the implementation of online teaching and provided policy recommendations for improving the quality of education in the post-pandemic period. The primary data for this study came from in-depth interviews with nine students and five teaching and administrative staff at eight major universities in mainland China. Literature was obtained in both English and Chinese from January 2020 to …

Stream Water Microbial Communities Within The Portneuf Watershed In Pocatello, Idaho, Isreal Martinez, Hannah Sanger, Anirban Chakraborty

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Stream water microbial communities often contain waterborne pathogens and can impact water quality and public health at large. To investigate stream water microbial diversity, 43 water samples were collected across 16 locations along the Portneuf river and its tributaries in Fall of 2022 and in the summer of 2023. Microbial communities were analyzed using high throughput 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing conducted at Idaho State University’s Molecular Research Core Facility. The predominant bacterial phylum across all sampling locations was Proteobacteria constituting more than 25% of the community in each location. Furthermore, the relative abundance of potentially pathogenic genera varied …

Poly(Thioether) Thermosets With Gated Photodegradation, Surabhi Jha

Dissertations

Photodegradable polymer networks are attractive due to the precise spatiotemporal control and large-area applicability of light. Chemical linkages that enable these polymer networks to be photo-responsive, also hinder their applicability in ambient light. Photostable and photodegradable networks have recently been reported to overcome this challenge by combining other stimuli with light for degradation. We report the design of a network that responds to a simultaneous, dual stimulus for photodegradation. We design poly(thioether acetal) networks with benzylidene acetal moieties that are known to undergo β-scission in the presence of free thiols. By blocking these free thiols with a thermally labile protecting …

Efficient Machine Learning On Scientific Data Using Bayesian Optimization, Rui Xin

Theses and Dissertations

Deep Learning is pivotal in advancing data analysis across various scientific fields, from genomics to materials discovery. Despite its widespread use, efficiently learning from limited data and operating under resource constraints remains a significant challenge, often limiting its full potential in environments where data is scarce or resources are restricted. This dissertation explores Active Learning and Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) powered by Bayesian Optimization to enhance the efficiency of machine learning across multiple disciplines. It focuses on algorithm optimization and data management through three interconnected studies. In the first study, we investigate how data management technique - active learning helps …

Therapeutic Potentials Of The Gut-Brain-Microbiota Axis For Prevention And Treatment Of Motivational Deficits In Ecohiv Infected Rats, Mason T. Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

People living with HIV begin to experience gastrointestinal disturbances as early as 6 months after initial infection. Regardless of adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), the gut microbiome of people living with HIV maintains a state of dysbiosis throughout the rest of their lives, providing potential for a novel target for improving the lives of those living with HIV. The present study investigated the impact EcoHIV and cocaine have on the gut microbiome of F344/N rats. Fecal samples were collected from 20 female and 20 male animals at baseline, following self-administration of cocaine, and following inoculation with EcoHIV or Saline. …

Neurocognitive Processes As Longitudinal Predictors Of Reading Fluency, Jody Samuels

Theses and Dissertations

Reading fluency involves a complex interaction of different cognitive skills and abilities that develop with instruction and practice and relies on the automaticity of many distinct reading skills (e.g., pacing, word recognition, expression, phonological awareness). Fluent reading frees cognitive resources, such as working memory, for more advanced components of reading including comprehension and synthesis (Kim & Wagner, 2015; Samuels, 2006). Though early identification of students with fluency challenges is critical for providing evidence-based intervention, most screeners assess skills that are dependent upon instruction (e.g., letter identification, sound-symbol correspondence), delaying opportunities for identification. The current study examines the utility for including …

Multi-Scale Deep Representation Learning In Synthetic Biology, Xiaoyi Liu

Theses and Dissertations

Synthetic biology advances and combines the expertise of engineers and biologists, bridging the gap between engineering and natural life. Synthetic biology has been generally categorized into two broad branches by developing new biological components, networks, and systems to reprogram organisms. The first branch involves using synthetic molecules to mimic natural biological functions. The second branch focuses on assembling natural biological components in novel ways, aiming to produce systems with unique, practical functions. Thus, the de novo engineering of biological modules and synthetic pathways is used in related practical bioengineering applications, such as drug-targeting strategies and microbial product manufacturing. Therefore, synthetic …

Establishment Of Protocols To Measure Near-Ir(Nir) Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (Sers) Signals Of Nir Dye, Justin B. Ramsey

Forensic Science Master's Projects

Biomedical imaging techniques are crucial for early disease diagnostics, particularly for life-threatening conditions. However, traditional methods have inherent limitations, such as restricted spatial resolution and potential risks associated with repeated exposure to ionizing radiation. Near-infrared (NIR) surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) presents a promising alternative due to its minimal risks and potential for high-resolution biomedical imaging. A key challenge in NIR-SERS biomedical imaging is the development of biocompatible, nontoxic SERS substrates that can be safely introduced into the human body, targeting specific cells and tissues effectively.

NIR-SERS substrates typically consist of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) modified with biorecognition elements and reporter molecules, …

Baseline Assessment Of Cervical Cancer Screening And Treatment Capacity In 25 Counties In Kenya, 2022, Valerian Mwenda, David Murage, Catherine Kilonzo, Joan-Paula Bor, Patricia Njiri, Lance Osiro, Mary Nyangasi, Marc Arbyn, Philippe Tummers, Marleen Temmerman

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Kenya. In the context of the Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem, Kenya is currently implementing screening and treatment scale-up. For effectively tracking the scale-up, a baseline assessment of cervical cancer screening and treatment service availability and readiness was conducted in 25 priority counties. We describe the findings of this assessment in the context of elimination efforts in Kenya.

Methods: The survey was conducted from February 2021 to January 2022. All public hospitals in the target counties …

Strengthening Medication Adherence In African Americans Diagnosed With Hypertension, Daphne James

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: African Americans have a high rate of hypertension, which varies by region. Additionally, African Americans struggle to understand the risks of uncontrolled high blood pressure and the necessity of medication adherence in lowering strokes, heart attacks, and quality of life.

Purpose: The project aims to implement a patient education program to improve medication adherence and blood pressure control for African American patients in a primary care setting.

Methods: Twenty African Americans ages 18–65 with hypertension (130/80 mm Hg or above) and six months of nonadherence participated in this project. The pre-, mid-, and post-questionnaires assessed medication adherence and blood …

Effects Of Spatial And Temporal Variability On Bacterial Diversity And Community Composition In Roof-Harvested Rainwater Across Central Virginia, Jade Riddle

Longwood Senior Thesis Proposal

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Pac-Loaded Polymer Membrane Thickness On Chloroform Removal And Comparison Of Solvent And Thermal Membrane Regeneration Methods, Yizhi Hou, Brooke K. Mayer

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Powdered activated carbon (PAC) has better adsorption performance than granular activated carbon (GAC) and is widely used in water purification. In most cases, PAC is dosed into water directly, then precipitated as sludge, and landfilled. In this study, PAC was mixed with a polymer and dissolved in dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent to form a PAC-loaded membrane, which was then tested for chloroform removal. The chloroform adsorption capacity of the PAC membrane increased with increasing membrane thickness because of higher carbon loading. However, regardless of membrane thickness, the flux of the PAC membranes was similar since flux resistance predominantly occurred at the …

In Their Voices: Kenyan Women's Experiences With Cancer Treatment–Related Side Effects, Tayreez Mushani, Dinah Kassaman, Sharon Brownie, Peterson Kiraithe, Margaret Barton-Burke

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Objective This article reports on a secondary analysis of a qualitative study conducted in Nairobi, Kenya that reported several initial themes. In this article, the authors explore the theme of treatment-related side effect management by women receiving treatment for breast or cervical cancer.

Methods Women were interviewed at three points during their active treatment trajectory. Participants were purposefully selected and saturation was reached when interviews did not yield any new themes. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed for internal consistency, frequency, extensiveness, intensity and specificity. The Nvivo pro 12 software was used in organizing and managing the data to facilitate …

Interdisciplinary Perspectives On Multimorbidity In Africa: Developing An Expanded Conceptual Model, Justin Dixon, Ben Morton, Misheck Nkhata, Alan Silman, Ibrahim Simiyu, Stephen Spencer, Myrna Van Pinxteren, Edna Bosire, Christopher Bunn, Claire Calderwood

Brain and Mind Institute

Multimorbidity is an emerging challenge for health systems globally. It is commonly defined as the co-occurrence of two or more chronic conditions in one person, but its meaning remains a lively area of academic debate, and the utility of the concept beyond high-income settings is uncertain. This article presents the findings from an interdisciplinary research initiative that drew together 60 academic and applied partners working in 10 African countries to answer the questions: how useful is the concept of multimorbidity within Africa? Can the concept be adapted to context to optimise its transformative potentials? During a three-day concept-building workshop, we …

The Role Of Social Capital In A Fishing Community’S Adaptation To Climate Change, Endah Saptutyningsih, Romi Bhakti Hartarto, Wanggi Jaung

DLSU Business & Economics Review

Climate change threatens the livelihoods of many communities around the world, including fishing communities. Low catches of fish caused by climate change may have devastating impacts on fishing communities, particularly on those poor communities with a lack of preparation for climate change adaptation. This study investigates how social capital influences fishermen’s support for climate change adaptation. We conducted a contingent valuation survey in a fishing community vulnerable to climate change in Lamongan, Indonesia. Our study results reveal that fishermen’s trust in a person and their community involvement played significant roles in their support for climate change adaptation. These study findings …

School-Wide Policies To Support Ell Students With Lgbtqia+ Identities, Camille Verly

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

My research question is What school-wide policies can be implemented to support ELL students with LGBTQIA+ identities? LGBTQIA+ high school students face a myriad of challenges in achieving full integration within academic and school culture. These challenges are especially pronounced for students from an English Language Learner (ELL) background, who may also grapple with language barriers and cultural differences. This intersectional group is at higher risk of marginalization, and as such, they are in particular need of holistic support within their educational environment. This project is the development of a comprehensive website designed to serve as a resource for all …

The Integration Of Ipads In Secondary Schools: Improving Students’ Writing Proficiency And Learning Achievement During The Note-Taking Process, Josephine Borchert

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this study was: To what extent does the integration of iPads in secondary school classrooms impact students’ writing proficiency and learning achievement, especially during the note-taking process? The topics reviewed in the literature include the difficulties students face with writing, how poor writing skills impact overall proficiency as well as learning achievement, and the various methods of note-taking, starting with the pen-and-paper method leading to digital note-taking. The website created for the project focuses on informing teachers about different writing strategies and note-taking methods to help students increase their writing skills during the note-taking process. …

Teacher Identity Development Through Critical Self Reflection, Kelly Holmin

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Many educators struggle daily to balance the many facets of their teacher identity, encompassing their personal and professional lives, as well as how they are portrayed in the media and political realm. This along with the other demands of the job can often lead to teacher identity conflict. While teacher identity conflict is a necessary component to growth throughout one's career, lack of support through these challenges can create frustration, stress, and ultimately cause educators to leave the field altogether. This paper explores the research question: How can educators engage in critical self reflection to overcome conflicts in their teacher …

Climate Change Education For Student Agency, Katie Kirschbaum

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

While there is no single solution to climate change, climate change education has been identified as a key component. This capstone paper and the unit plan developed for this capstone project seek to answer the research question: How can a biology curriculum that incorporates climate change science, impacts, and solutions foster a global citizenship mindset and pro-environmental behaviors in high school students? The literature review covers dimensions of global citizenship, defines climate change education, identifies what influences pro-environmental behavior, and discusses adolescent development as it relates to pro-environmental behavior. The resulting ten-lesson unit plan is designed for high school teachers …

Using Zombie Literature To Build Skills In Responding To Real Events For High School Students, Sarah Olson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project seeks to enhance student engagement in English language arts through zombie literature, bridging fiction and reality by exploring the question How can zombie literature be used in high school language arts curriculum to discuss and process real-world issues and events? It examines research on fiction's societal impact and horror's ability to boost student interest. The curriculum, adaptable for all high school levels, guides students in connecting fictional narratives to real-life experiences. By exploring the intersection of zombies, literature, and society, the project aims to create a more engaging and relatable learning experience for students.

How Can Urban Nature-Based Preschools Partner With Churches To Support Each Other?, Sarah Sinclair

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Nature-based preschools are increasing exponentially across the United States. These preschools combine best practices in early childhood education with place-based environmental education. Nature is the unifying theme of nature-based preschools, with programs spending a significant amount of time outdoors learning in, with, and about the natural world. Many nature-based early childhood educators are seeking to create urban nature-based preschools to reach children and communities with little access to green spaces or natural habitats. Urban nature-based preschools thus require locations that have attached green space or can access public green space easily. In most states of the U.S., these preschools must …

Ocean Literacy: Understanding The Importance Of Sharks In Marine Ecosystems, Nicole Mueller Januário

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The ocean covers about 71% of our planet’s surface and provides us with food and marine resources. It regulates global climate and weather patterns, and acts as a climate change carbon sink yet remains largely unprotected. A restorative human-ocean relationship is urgently needed to combat the negative impacts of humanity and climate change and support marine biodiversity. Sharks, one of the oldest fish species and apex predators, play a crucial role in maintaining a balanced marine ecosystem and healthy ocean. However, sharks are threatened by climate change and illegal, unregulated, unreported fishing and finning. A radical behavior change is also …

Experiential Gardening For Environmental Literacy And Food Systems Awareness, Adam De Leeuw

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

School and community gardens have a rich history from the late 19th Century to the present, which includes the voices of Agassiz, Greene, Dewey, Washington Carver, Du Bois, and Montessori. This history spans the periods of school gardens from ‘nature study,’ the School Garden Army, Victory Gardens, the Tbilisi Declaration, and Garden-based learning. The purpose of this capstone project was to answer the following question: What are the individual lessons needed in a curriculum to support and connect experiential school and community garden programs for K-2 youth to serve as effective educational tools for environmental literacy and food systems awareness? …