Digital Commons Network^™

Badger Ecology, Bovine Tuberculosis, And Population Management: Lessons From The Island Of Ireland, Andrew W. Byrne, Adrian Allen, Simone Ciuti, Eamonn Gormley, David J. Kelly, Nikki J. Marks, Nicola M. Marples, Fraser Menzies, Ian Montgomery, Chris Newman, Maria O’Hagan, Neil Reid, David M. Scantlebury, Peter Stuart, Ming-Shan Tsai

Publications

The European badger, Meles meles, is an important wildlife host for Mycobacterium bovis and contributes to the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle in several countries. The control of zoonotic diseases, such as bTB, is a central component of global One-Health strategies. Such strategies are complicated by human–wildlife conflicts, particularly where wildlife reservoirs are legally protected. The contrasting objectives of disease management and wildlife conservation, therefore, can require significant investment in research to support evidence-based policies. In Britain and Ireland, for example, badgers are a legally protected species but are also subject to lethal control and vaccination for …

Global And Local Magnitude And Spatial Pattern Of Uncertainty From Geographically Adaptive Empirical And Machine Learning Satellite-Derived Bathymetry Models, Kim Lowell, Yuri Rzhanov

Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping

The spatial structure of local uncertainty of shallow-water satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) relative to model type, imagery, and geographical adaptability was examined for an area near Key West, Florida (United States). The model types examined were a commonly used quasi-empirical linear regression model and a decision tree-based Categorical Boosting (CatBoost) machine learning (ML) model. Image types examined were (four) cloud-free Sentinel-2 images and a maximum blue band (Band 2) value image composite of the four Sentinel-2 images. Initial models fitted were based on band reflectances alone. Geographical adaptivity was added by including UTM coordinates and refitting the models. Major findings were: …

Expanded T Lymphocytes In The Cerebrospinal Fluid Of Multiple Sclerosis Patients Are Specific For Epstein-Barr-Virus-Infected B Cells

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has long been associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), but the role of EBV in the pathogenesis of MS is not clear. Our hypothesis is that a major fraction of the expanded clones of T lymphocytes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are specific for autologous EBV-infected B cells. We obtained blood and CSF samples from eight relapsing-remitting patients in the process of diagnosis. We stimulated cells from the blood with autologous EBV-infected lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL), EBV, varicella zoster virus, influenza, and candida and sorted the responding cells with flow cytometry after 6 d. We sequenced the …

Resolving Acne With Optimized Adapalene Microspongeal Gel, In Vivo And Clinical Evaluations, Rania Yehia, Dalia Attia, M. M. Elmazar

Pharmacy

In our pursuit of enhancing acne treatment while minimizing side effects, we developed tailored Adapalene microsponges (MS) optimized using a Box–Behnken design 33. The independent variables, Eudragit RS100 percentage in the polymer mixture, organic phase volume, and drug to polymer percentage, were explored. The optimized formulation exhibited remarkable characteristics, with a 98.3% ± 1.6 production yield, 97.3% ± 1.64 entrapment efficiency, and a particle size of 31.8 ± 1.1 μm. Notably, it achieved a 24 h cumulative drug release of 75.1% ± 1.4. To delve deeper into its efficacy, we evaluated the optimized microspongeal-gel in vitro, in vivo, and clinically. …

Programmable Heisenberg Interactions Between Floquet Qubits, Long B. Nguyen, Yosep Kim, Akel Hashim, Noah Goss, Brian Marinelli, Bibek Bhandari, Debmalya Das, Ravi K. Naik, John Mark Kreikebaum, Andrew N. Jordan, David I. Santiago, Irfan Siddiqi

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The trade-off between robustness and tunability is a central challenge in the pursuit of quantum simulation and fault-tolerant quantum computation. In particular, quantum architectures are often designed to achieve high coherence at the expense of tunability. Many current qubit designs have fixed energy levels and consequently limited types of controllable interactions. Here by adiabatically transforming fixed-frequency superconducting circuits into modifiable Floquet qubits, we demonstrate an XXZ Heisenberg interaction with fully adjustable anisotropy. This interaction model can act as the primitive for an expressive set of quantum operations, but is also the basis for quantum simulations of spin systems. To illustrate …

Households' Preferences For Alternative Renewable Energy Technologies: An Attribute-Based Choice Experiment Survey In Metro Manila, Philippines, Rosalina Palanca-Tan, Daniel Del Barrio Alvarez, Ruth S. Palanca, Nelson Matthew P. Tan, Gem B. Castillo, Dino Carlo A. Saplala, Nan Wang

Economics Department Faculty Publications

Using a choice-based conjoint analysis, we measured willingness to pay (WTP) for an increase in the share of specific Renewable Energy (RE) technologies, namely solar, wind, biomass, and small-scale hydropower. The study found that on average, Metro Manila (MM) households are WTP an additional 19.3% of their electricity bill for an additional 20% share of RE in electric power capacity that is sourced from solar power. The corresponding WTP for the other RE technologies are substantially lower - 11.9% for biomass, 10.5% for wind, and 9.8% for small-scale hydropower. The skewed preference for solar energy augurs well for the government's …

Residential Metals Abatement Program Investigation Summary Report (Non-Residential Parcels – Indoor Dust) East Middle School, Environmental Resource Management (Erm)

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

State Of Utah Plaintiff/ Appellee V. Alan Dudley Hamberlin Defendant/ Appellant : Brief Of Appellant, Utah Court Of Appeals

Utah Court of Appeals Briefs (2020 –)

On appeal from the Sixth Judicial District Court, Kane County, Honorable Mandy Larsen, District Court No. 211600067

Sean Reyes, Counsel for Appellee

Freyja Johnson, Rachel Phillips Ainscough, Counsel for Appellant

Computer Self-Efficacy, Computer Anxiety And Information Retrieval Skills As Correlate Of Electronic Library Use Among Lis Undergraduates In Southern Nigeria Universities., Lucky O. Akpojotor

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The study examined computer self-efficacy, computer anxiety and information retrieval skills as correlate of electronic library use among library and information science undergraduates in universities in Southern Nigeria. One research question guided the study while one hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population of the study was 10,345 library and information science (LIS) undergraduates from ten federal, seventeen state and eight private universities in Southern Nigeria. The study explores purposive and quota sampling technique to determine the sample size which arrived at 1, 006 used for the study. …

How To Overcome Poverty With Zakat, Eiman Ahmed Khaleel Alhashmi

All Works

This research paper explores the multifaceted role of Zakat in alleviating poverty within the Islamic economic framework. Emphasizing its significance in preserving wealth and promoting economic stability, the paper delves into various dimensions of Zakat, ranging from its impact on economic cycles to its flexible provisions that safeguard against inflation and recession. The study underscores Zakat's contribution to poverty eradication through the development of human capital, morally and materially, and its role in fostering goodwill and compassion in society. Additionally, the paper discusses Zakat as a tool for preserving wealth, demonstrating its ability to prevent economic crises and redirect money …

Xandar: An X-By-Construction Framework For Safety, Security, And Real-Time Behavior Of Embedded Software Systems, Tobias Dorr, Florian Schade, Juergen Becker, Georgios Keramidas, Nikos Petrellis, Vasilios Kelefouras, Michail Mavropoulos, Konstantinos Antonopoulos, Christos P. Antonopoulos, Nikolaos Voros, Alexander Ahlbrecht, Wanja Zaeske, Vincent Janson, Philip Nöldeke, Umut Durak, Christos Panagiotou, Dimitris Karadimas, Nico Adler, Clemens Reichmann, Andreas Sailer, Raphael Weber, Thomas Wilhelm, Wolfgang Gabler, Katrin Weiden, Xavier Anzuela Recasens, Sakir Sezer, Fahad Siddiqui, Rafiullah Khan, Kieran Mclaughlin, Sena Yengec Tasdemir

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

The safe and secure implementation of increasingly complex features is a major challenge in the development of autonomous and distributed embedded systems. Automated design-time procedures that guarantee the fulfillment of critical system properties are a promising approach to tackle this challenge. In the European project XANDAR, which took place from 2021 to 2023, eight partners developed an X-by-Construction (XbC) design framework to support developers in the creation of embedded software systems with certain safety, security, and real-time properties. The design framework combines a model-based toolchain with a hypervisor-based runtime architecture. It targets modern high-performance hardware, facilitates the integration of machine …

Development And Validation Of A Nomogram For Predicting Pulmonary Infection In Patients Receiving Immunosuppressive Drugs, Xiaolan Ye, Yan Ren, Huajuan Shen, Maosheng Chen, Yiwen Li, Qiang He, Guangbiao Xu, Lina Shao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Pulmonary infection (PI), a severe complication of immunosuppressive therapy, affects patients' prognosis. As part of this study, we aimed to construct a pulmonary infection prediction (PIP) model and validate it in patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs (ISDs). Methods: Totally, 7,977 patients being treated with ISDs were randomised 7:3 to the developing (n = 5,583) versus validation datasets (n = 2,394). Our predictive nomogram was established using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate COX regression analyses. With the use of the concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve, the prediction performance of the final model was …

Metabolomic Rewiring Promotes Endocrine Therapy Resistance In Breast Cancer, Danthasinghe Waduge Badrajee Piyarathna, Tagari Samanta, Vasanta Putluri, Dereck Mezquita, Suzanne A W Fuqua, Nagireddy Putluri, Cristian Coarfa, Benny Abraham Kaipparettu

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Approximately one-third of endocrine-treated women with estrogen receptor-alpha positive (ER+) breast cancers (BC) are at risk of recurrence due to intrinsic or acquired resistance. Thus, it is vital to understand the mechanisms underlying endocrine therapy resistance in ER+ BC to improve patient treatment. Mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) has been shown to be a major metabolic pathway in triple-negative BC (TNBC) that can activate Src signaling. Here, we found metabolic reprogramming that increases FAO in ER+ BC as a mechanism of resistance to endocrine therapy. A metabolically relevant, integrated gene signature was derived from transcriptomic, metabolomic, and lipidomic analyses in …

Susceptibility Of Toxoplasma Gondii To Autophagy In Human Cells Relies On Multiple Interacting Parasite Loci, Nicholas Rinkenberger, Alex Rosenberg, Joshua B Radke, Jaya Bhushan, Tadakimi Tomita, Louis M Weiss, L David Sibley

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Autophagy is a process used by cells to recycle organelles and macromolecules and to eliminate intracellular pathogens. Previous studies have shown that some stains of

Is Limit, Shubham Dubey Visa, Ishani Basu Visa, Surbhi Sharma Visa

Defensive Publications Series

The present disclosure relates to Installment Solutions (IS limit). Particularly, the present disclosure provides a system and method for splitting the existing card limit of a cardholder into a regular and Installment Solutions (IS limit) and defining plans for IS limit. The method further comprises issuing a virtual sub-PAN for IS limit and push provision to eligible merchant apps; and at the time of checkout, selecting sub-PAN as payment mode by the cardholder, where all transactions under the sub-PAN are aggregated during the billing cycle and split into EMIs based on pre-defined plan.

The Ring Cycle: Journeying Through The Language Of Tolkien’S Third Age With Corpus Linguistics, Michael Livesey

Journal of Tolkien Research

This article explores the journey taken by the One Ring across J.R.R. Tolkien’s Third Age writings. It employs a digital humanities approach to analyse linguistic patterns in Tolkien’s use of the word ring, across The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Specifically, the article employs corpus linguistic methods to track shifts in the quantities and qualities of the Ring’s appearance across these texts. It uses techniques of keyness and collocation analysis to trace transformations in these quantities/qualities, including: a) the Ring’s transition from a central to a peripheral place in the Third Age’s narrative arc; and b) …

Nonlinear Filtering Of Classical And Quantum Spin Systems, Sivaguru S. Sritharan, Saba Mudaliar

Journal of Stochastic Analysis

No abstract provided.

Artworks: Art As Occupation, Erin Barrus

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

A collaborative effort from various artists at MRC artWorks located in Kalamazoo, MI contributed to the cover art for the Winter 2024 issue of the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy (OJOT). MRC Industries is a non-profit organization that focuses on supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, cognitive or emotional impairments or illnesses, and people who have experienced traumatic brain injuries. One particular program has become a staple in the Kalamazoo community – MRC artWorks, a professional working art studio for adults with disabilities to learn skills, both physical and emotional, through art instruction and art-making.

Exploring The Spiritual Alliance Of Maintaining A 5-Acre Tropical Farm Through The Lens Of Occupational Engagement, Jose Rafols, Amy Wagenfeld

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Large-scale commercial farmers and small scale “hobby” farmers engage in growing crops for subsistence and survival for themselves, their families, communities, and beyond. Their reverence and passion for farming make them good stewards of both community and world population nourishment. We suggest there may be a collective physical, emotional, and spiritual draw to farming that is interwoven with occupational engagement. Through a personal narrative approach, we reflect on the meaning and the work-focused occupation of farming and specifically how spirituality may be a guiding force that supports engagement despite seemingly insurmountable environmental and personal hardships. With an increasing interest in …

Occupational Therapists' Role In Sexual Education For Teens And Young Adults Living With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Taylor M. Urban, Reeti R. Douglas

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Teens and young adults living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) do not have equal access to sexual education, thus having lower sexual awareness, little knowledge of preventative sexual health care, and having a more difficult time reading sexual body language (Hannah & Stagg, 2016; Holmes et al., 2019; Mogavero & Hsu, 2020). Deficits in these and many other skills may make it more challenging for teens and young adults living with ASD to engage in an intimate or sexual relationship with a consenting partner. Skilled intervention on the occupation of sexual activity and its related dimensions, such as communication and …

When Music Becomes Me: Occupational Therapy’S Role In Caring For Upper Extremity Disorders In Musicians, Kathryn S. Halsted, Kristin Biggins, Kimberly Davis

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Musicians are a distinct population with a high rate of developing musculoskeletal and neurological disorders affecting their ability to participate in music-based occupations. These injuries negatively affect the musician’s health and well-being in physical, financial, psychosocial, and emotional dimensions. Given music’s complex and integrated role in the musicians’ life, treatment must be multi-dimensional, considering aspects of the person, the type of instrument, environment, context, and social obligations. Occupational therapy providers are uniquely qualified to treat musicians because of their focuse on holistic, occupation-based, and client-centered care. This manuscript describes the role of occupational therapy in this client population based on …

Outcomes Of The Nurosleeve And Occupational Therapy On Upper Limb Function Of An Individual With Chronic Hemiparesis Following A Stroke: A Case Report, Nicole M. Gerhardt, Jeremy P. Armstrong, Mijail D. Serruya, Mj Mulcahey

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Upper limb neuromuscular impairments can adversely impact function. This case report investigates the process and outcomes of occupational therapy (OT) for training in the use of the NuroSleeve, a novel research-grade exoskeletal powered orthosis, with a participant with chronic right hemiparesis following a stroke.

Method: The participant engaged in 24 OT sessions using the NuroSleeve over 10 weeks. Therapeutic interventions included neuromuscular reeducation, device management, and engagement in occupation-based activities with training to use the NuroSleeve. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), ABILHAND, Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Upper Extremity Short Form 7a (PROMIS UE SF), …

Covid-19 Pandemic’S Effect On Occupational Therapy Students’ Time-Use And Occupational Engagement On Returning To In-Person Learning, Jhannell Hannah D. Ocampo, Susan Macdermott, Karen Mccarthy

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

The COVID-19 pandemic emotionally and physically impacted students in occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant programs. College students lost autonomy and access to meaningful occupations and environments. As students returned to campus, they struggled to navigate and adapt to in-person occupations and how they use their time. This study uses a mixed method descriptive research design to understand how the pandemic affected occupational therapy students' time-use and occupational engagement during the transition to in-person learning. Seventy-three students completed an online survey, while 12 of those students additionally participated in a follow-up time-use diary and interview. Eighty-three percent of the participants …

Osces’ Impact On Occupational Therapy Student Learning: Insights From Second- And Third-Year Focus Groups, Craig R. St. Jean, Karin Werther, Mary R. Roberts

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are widely used in health programs to assess clinical skills. We present results of a qualitative study investigating occupational therapy students’ perceptions of OSCEs’ impact on their learning and readiness for clinical practice.

Method: Six second and six third year students in the University of Alberta’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program were interviewed in separate focus groups. Independent reviewers applied thematic analysis to the focus group transcripts to identify, analyze, and report themes in the data.

Results: Five themes were constructed from the data: from learning to action, transition …

Hand Strength Changes Following A Clinical Rotation In Hand Therapy: A Pilot Study, Gretchen L. Bachman, Josh Macdonald, Rhian Sage

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Hand therapy clinical rotations are 12 weeks, and one common anecdotal change frequently expressed is an increase in hand strength. Quantifiable measures of change are not documented in the literature. The purpose of this study is to determine if students experience significant increases in strength during a clinical rotation.

Methods: This study is a quasi-experimental, double-blinded, non-randomized sample of convenience. Grip and pinch strength were assessed pre, mid, and post clinical rotation. Demographic data were collected and reported. Paired t-tests were used to compare means between groups. SPSS 27.0 was used for data analysis.

Results: After …

Predictors Of General Well-Being In Postprofessional Students Of Occupational Science And Occupational Therapy, Elena Wong Espiritu, Paul E. Yeatts, Cynthia L. Evetts

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Doctoral students experience decreased well-being during their educational experience. Self-compassion, engagement in meaningful occupations, and occupational balance positively impact well-being in individuals. This study examined the relationships between these constructs in postprofessional occupational science and occupational therapy students.

Method: This quantitative cross-sectional study collected national survey data (N = 113) using the Self-Compassion Scale – Short Form, the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey, the Occupational Balance Questionnaire 11, and the 14-item Scales of General Well-Being. Multiple linear regression analysis determined how well each construct predicted general well-being and the strength of each construct’s relationship compared to other …

A Scoping Review Of Universal Design For Learning In United States Allied Health & Medical Education, Karolina Gawron, Madison Tomlinson, Nicole Mohan, Laura H. Vanpuymbrouck

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Universal design for learning (UDL) is considered best-practice for embracing inclusion for students with disabilities and there is growing evidence of its effectiveness in primary, secondary, and postsecondary education. However, little is known about if and how UDL is being implemented into United States graduate allied health and medical school curriculum as well as evidence of its benefits.

Method: We used Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) methodological framework. Search engines were: PubMed, CINAHL Complete, ERIC, GoogleScholar, and Scopus. Data were analyzed by the research team using Covidence to organize articles, screen, and complete a full-text review. Data extraction …

Practice And Recommendations For Universal Design For Learning In Occupational Therapy Client Education, Heather L. Panczykowski, Lynne F. Murphy, Victoria Christmas, Whitely Macintyre

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Universal Design for Learning (UDL), an educational framework that describes flexible approaches to teaching and learning, can be used to address problems related to limitations in health literacy in health care settings.

Methods: This exploratory observational study, using a web-based online survey, was undertaken to discern how occupational therapists use the principles of UDL in educating their clients and to determine if differences exist between degree type or practice settings and UDL implementation.

Results: Of the 147 respondents only 30.6% indicated prior awareness of UDL principles. The most frequently cited means of client engagement were displaying …

Perspectives On Adaptation In A Stroke Self-Management Program: A Multiple Case Study, Riqiea F. Kitchens, Gayle Hersch, Wayne Brewer, Marsha Neville

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Occupational Adaptation occurs when a person develops a response to meet an occupational challenge. This process is disrupted when a person experiences a life altering event, such as stroke. Stroke self-management programs equip persons with stroke with education and skills to manage the daily tasks associated with their condition. Few studies have explored the adaptive process survivors experience as they seek to effectively use the tools provided through stroke self-management programs. The objective was to explore the adaptive process of three individuals following participation in a stroke self-management program.

Method: A multiple case study design was used. …

Cross-Cultural Adaptation Of The Inventory Of Reading Occupations-Adult Into Filipino And Its Content Validation, Peñafrancia E. Ching, Treisha Naedine H. Santos, Lenin Grajo, Maria Concepcion Cabatan, Anna Liza Y. Tan Pascual

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Adult functional literacy ensures adequate and safe engagement in daily activities. It is assessed through the Inventory of Reading Occupations-Adult (IRO-A). The instrument underwent translation with cultural adaptation and content validation to ensure relevance to the Filipino context.

Method: The translation and cultural adaptation of the IRO-A to Filipino (Fil IRO-A) was guided by the process proposed by two international guidelines for cross-cultural adaptations that involves (a) forward translation and synthesis, (b) back translation, and (c) pre-panel review of the adaptation to the Filipino context. The Fil IRO-A also underwent content validation by seven experts. Item and …