Digital Commons Network^™

Empowering Science With The World's First High Accuracy And High Throughput Functional Assay, Christopher Giacoletto

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Understanding the functional consequences of genetic mutations remains a central challenge in modern biology, with far-reaching implications for human health and disease. While early systematic methods like alanine scanning and phage display provided foundational insights into protein structure and function, the emergence of high-throughput approaches—such as Multiplexed Assays of Variant Effect (MAVEs)—and predictive tools powered by artificial intelligence have vastly expanded our ability to profile mutational landscapes. However, these methods are often constrained by trade-offs between accuracy, scalability, and biological relevance.This dissertation presents the development and application of the GigaAssay, the world’s first high-throughput functional assay capable of delivering both …

Exploring The Processing Of Objects, Settings, And Global Properties In Natural Auditory Scenes, Margaret A. Mcmullin

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Our auditory system has a remarkable ability to make sense of complex environments, allowing us to identify what we are hearing and where sounds come from. This process of auditory scene analysis is essential for situational awareness, decision-making, and effective communication in daily life. While much is known about how listeners segregate and identify individual sound sources (e.g., voices), less is understood about how global properties of a scene (e.g., openness, naturalness) contribute to perception. This dissertation examined how object- and setting-level information in natural auditory scenes are processed, and whether they rely on distinct or overlapping mechanisms. In Experiment …

The Dropbot: Design And Development Of A Custom Drone For Precision Water Drop Penetration Time (Wdpt) Testing, Mugundan Prakash

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Assessing the hydrophobic characteristics of soil is vital for understanding soil wettability or soil-water interactions, particularly in post-wildfire environments where water repellency can significantly impact ecosystem recovery, water infiltration, and erosion control. One key metric in soil wettability studies is the Water Drop Penetration Time (WDPT) test, which evaluates the hydrophobicity of soil and guides land treatment strategies. This thesis presents the design and development of DropBot, a custom-built drone platform engineered for the precise delivery and analysis of water droplets in WDPT tests.The DropBot, a custom drone, integrates a lightweight, 3D-printed frame with a self-leveling platform, enabling consistent droplet …

Internalized Weight Stigma As A Mediator Between Past Weight Stigma And Current Healthcare Avoidance/Comfort In Seeking Medical Care, Shannon Joyel Sagert

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Research has found that medical providers such as physicians, nurses, and medical support staff may contribute to externalized weight stigma directed toward youth (Garcia et al., 2016; Gorlick et al., 2021). Individuals who have encountered weight stigmatization may internalize those experiences, leading to psychological, physical, and behavioral changes that reduce their quality of life (Palad et al., 2019; Romano et al., 2023; Tanas et al., 2022; Zancu & Diaconu-Gherasim, 2023). However, little is known about how historical externalized weight stigma from medical providers relates to future healthcare access behaviors. This study examined whether internalized weight stigma mediated two relationships: First, …

Understanding The Role Of Drug Offenses And The Death Penalty In Iran, Cyrus Zarganj

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been governed by Islamic laws devised by Shia Muslim clerics, significantly influencing the nation's legal framework in both criminal and civil contexts. The death penalty in Iran covers a broad spectrum of offenses, many of which would not be considered capital crimes or even crimes globally. This extensive application of the death penalty is an instrument of social control during periods of political tension, indicating a direct relationship between the regime's stability and the enforcement of extreme punitive measures. Despite some reduction in the visibility of executions due to international …

Factors Associated With Discrimination-Related Distress Among Sexual And Gender Minority Individuals: A Predictive Analysis, Emylia Terry

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals face disparate rates of mental health outcomes, such as psychological distress, which contributes to suicidality. This may be attributable to minority stress, which posits that health inequities impacting this community are driven by increased exposure to stigma- and discrimination-related stressors. The negative physical and psychological health impacts of psychological distress and discrimination are well-documented in the literature. Structural stigma – in the form of harmful anti-LGBTQIA+ laws and policies – is associated with increased suicidality. However, little is known about factors associated with perceived discrimination occurrences and discrimination-related distress. First, a systematic review was …

Zooming In: Past, Present, And Future Impact Of Virtual Interviews On Ophthalmology Match For Applicants With Home Versus No Home Programs, Lauren F. Ong, Ashley V. Niu, Priya K. Manhas, Tara L. Gallant, Bhagvat J. Maheta, Jaycob Avaylon, Joseph K. Yi, Jose Puglisi, Joseph Martel, Ruchi D. Shah, Michael S. Wong

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose: To compare the trends in matched ophthalmology residency applicants from schools with and without home ophthalmology residency programs during in-person and virtual interview application years.

Methods: In this retrospective study, U.S. allopathic medical school seniors were assessed retrospectively for their match list published on each institution’s official website and the SF Match (2019-2023). Data collected included medical school of matched students, home residency program status, residency program matched into, and residency program type. Data was stratified by the 2019-2020 (in-person) and the 2021-2023 (virtual) match years. An odds ratio (OR) analysis was conducted to determine the likelihood …

Ophthalmology's Role In The Academic Medical Center: A Perspective, Stephen D. Mcleod

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

NA

Program Leaders’ Plans, Perceptions, And Anticipated Effects Of Preference Signaling Before Implementation In Ophthalmology, Melissa Goldin, Alvina Liang, Quentin Eichbaum, Edwin Williamson, Janice Law, Reid Longmuir, Jennifer L. Lindsey

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose: To assess the plans, perceptions, and anticipated effects of preference signaling on the 2024e2025 match cycle among ophthalmology program directors and associate program directors. Methods: A 16-item questionnaire was distributed to 177 ophthalmology program directors and associate program directors prior to the start of the 2024e2025 application cycle. Results: The questionnaire was completed by 71 ophthalmology program directors and associate directors (40 % response rate). Sixty-two program leaders (89 %) planned to incorporate signaling into the application review process. The most common plan was to give additional consideration throughout the application review process (n ¼ 45 [63 %]) followed …

Impact Of Area Of Deprivation Index On Ophthalmology Consultation In The Emergency Department, Anna Mcevoy, Andrew Chen, Leona Ding, Shu Feng, Karine D. Bojikian

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose: To evaluate if individual sociodemographic and Area of Deprivation Index (ADI) are associated with receiving an Ophthalmology consultation when self-presenting to the Emergency Departments (EDs) with an eye-related chief complaint. Methods: Retrospective review of patients presenting to Harborview Medical Center and University of Washington Medical Center EDs between 2/2022 and 1/2023. Individual sociodemographic were obtained from medical records; ADI was calculated based on the patient's home address. Encounters were categorized as emergent, nonemergent, or could not be determined based on final diagnosis. Chi-Square and ttest were used for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals …

A Web-Based Review Of Global Training In United States Ophthalmology Residency Programs, Shalini Shah, Chris Raif Alabiad, Zubair Ansari

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose: To review the currently publicly available information on global ophthalmology experiences during residency training.

Methods: All 122 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)–approved ophthalmology residency programs’ websites were evaluated.

Results: Of the 122 ophthalmology residency programs, 30 (25%) list global ophthalmology experiences on their websites. Of these 30, 21 (80%) offer electives and 12 (40%) list the experiences as a mix of clinical and surgical exposure. One-third of these programs 2 weeks or less in length; one-third of programs do not list the duration of the experience. In total, 21 programs (80%) work with partner …

A Novel 3d-Printed Silicone Simulation Model For Effective Instruction Of Marginal Eyelid Laceration Repair, Nicole Lifson, David Booy, Spandana N. Jarmale, Joseph Crozier, John Nguyen, Bradley Thuro, Albert S. Woo, Jamie Lea Schaefer, Michael E. Migliori

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose We performed a prospective study to determine the efficacy of a novel silicone eyelid model in helping train residents to repair marginal eyelid lacerations. Methods 3D design software was used to create a scaffold for a silicone eyelid mold. A total of 18 ophthalmology residents participated in a training session on marginal eyelid laceration repair, practicing on these models. Prior to and following the session, residents anonymously responded to a survey assessing their degree of confidence in repairing marginal and non-marginal eyelid lacerations, as well as their overall opinion of the workshop. Questions related to their confidence and ability …

Ophthalmology Educators’ Perspectives On Supporting Medical Students To Become Competitive Residency Applicants, Meagan Shinbashi, Zane Zook, Zachary Elkin, Daniel Tu, Jeffrey M. Healey, Fasika Woreta, Ariane Kaplan, Anju Goyal, Neeti Parikh, Lorri Wilson, Ambar Faridi

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose: Changes in medical education metrics challenge ophthalmology educators in preparing strong residency applicants. We surveyed ophthalmology educators on traits perceived to be the most important for matching into ophthalmology residency and how factors like program size, student rotation structure, and mentorship experience influence valued applicant traits and first-time match rates.

Methods: An anonymous, 12-question online questionnaire was approved and distributed by the Association of University Professors in Ophthalmology (AUPO) to program directors (PDs), associate program directors (APDs), and directors of medical student education (MSEs). Questionnaire responses were collected August-November 2023. Kruskal-Wallis and post hoc Dunn’s tests were …

Ophthalmology Virtual Shadowing And Mentorship Program For Undergraduates Underrepresented In Medicine: Framework And 2-Year Survey, Edward S. Lu, Kira L. Wang, Grace Baldwin, Augustine Bannerman, Douglass A. Bryant, Jocelyn Rodriguez, Alice C. Lorch, Ankoor S. Shah, John B. Miller

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: Increasing underrepresented in medicine (URiM) trainees in ophthalmology is crucial to better serve a diverse patient population. Purpose: To assess the impact of a virtual shadowing and mentorship program for undergraduate students who self-identified as URiM on student interest in medicine, research, and ophthalmology. Methods: A structured, semester-long mentorship program was publicized to premedical undergraduate students at two local universities. Depending on interest, students chose to participate in any of the three following program components: 1) virtual shadowing sessions where faculty presented patient cases and shared career paths, 2) mentorship on a range of topics (e.g. research, career planning), …

Education Outcomes From An Ophthalmology Microsurgery Course For Medical Students, Michael Y. Zhu, Keke Liu, Joanne C. Wen, Sandra Stinnett, Jullia A. Rosdahl

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: Microsurgery training programs are critical for developing the skills needed by ophthalmology residents, but they are not typically offered to medical students. However, incorporating a microsurgery course into medical school curricula may help students more carefully consider a career in ophthalmology and improve learning outcomes during their training. Purpose: This article describes a microsurgery course for medical students and evaluates its educational impact. Methods: A microsurgery course was developed and implemented for third (MS3) and fourth (MS4) year medical students at Duke University School of Medicine. The fourweek course included six didactic lectures, three hands-on skills sessions, and the …

Mastering The Retrobulbar Block: Using A Novel 3d-Printed Simulator For Practical Training, Remigio J. Flor, Nicole L. Mcminn, Timothy S. Lee, Peter C. Liacouras, Harsha Reddy, Eva Chou, Jason R. Lewis, Richard B. Rosen, Brittany E. Powell

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Topic The use of simulation offers a safe environment for practicing challenging and potentially dangerous techniques. We developed a 3D-printed model which realistically simulates critical orbital anatomic features and enables safe practice of the retrobulbar block (RBB). Clinical Relevance The RBB provides optimal regional anesthesia for procedures of the eye and orbit, but requires a level of hands-on training and practice which is often not readily available. Methods The simulation device was created using 3D computer modeling tools to mimic the anatomical structures, and printed with select plastic and silicone materials cast using 3D-printer generated molds. Subjects included 75 ophthalmologists …

Global Health Content On U.S. Ophthalmology Residency Program Websites, Nitya Devireddy, Nguyen Truong, Michael Wilkinson, Seth M. Pantanelli

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose: There is high interest among ophthalmology applicants and current trainees to participate in global health experiences. The purpose of this study was to investigate the availability of information on global healthcare opportunities for prospective ophthalmology residency applicants on program websites, and to determine whether there is a correlation between residency program characteristics and availability of global opportunities for prospective trainees. Methods: All ACGME accredited U.S. postgraduate training programs in ophthalmology were included, except those without a website. A cross-sectional review of program websites was conducted from January to March 2023 to evaluate for the presence of 11 predetermined criteria. …

Patterns Of Ophthalmology-Related Interfacility Transfers To The Emergency Department By Temporal Trends, Laura E. Ramirez, Michael Waxman, Denis R. Pauze, Edward J. Wladis

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: Interfacility transfer patients are associated with inferior outcomes, higher costs, and emergency department (ED) overcrowding. Previous studies have analyzed the general trends influencing interfacility transfers, but the patterns affecting ophthalmology-related transfer rates remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify the patterns of interfacility ophthalmology-specific transfers to the ED by temporal trends and to determine the type of ophthalmic services required by the transferred population.

Methods: All patients transferred to the ED of a single level 1 trauma center because of ophthalmology-related complaints from 2016 to 2023 were analyzed retrospectively. Transfer and nontransfer …

Analyzing The Role Of Ai In Resident Education: An Evaluation Of Chatgpt On Ophthalmology Trainee Examination Questions By Subtopic, Kimberly Cartagena, Simran Ohri, Carolina Ramos, Yaxel Levin-Carrion, Alexandra Sanchez, Marko Oydanich, Albert S. Khouri

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: ChatGPT is a large-scale language model trained on various datasets to learn, analyze, and generate human-like answers to user’s questions. To assess its applicability to medical education, more information is required to understand whether its analyses can provide accurate and coherent responses to questions. The aim of this study was to characterize ChatGPT responses to ophthalmology questions according to subtopic to determine where the system might be used reliably in resident education and where its performance remains weak.

Methods: Ophthalmology questions were obtained from a widely utilized study resource, OphthoQuestions. Thirteen sections, each with a differing ophthalmic …

Implementing A “Surgery Olympics” In Ophthalmology Residency: A Pilot Study, Abhishek Manjunathan, Maxwell J Wilberding, Haroon Ismail, Robert S Feder, Manjot K Gill, Dmitry Pyatetsky, Nicholas J Volpe, J. Minjy Kang

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background/Purpose: Surgical residency programs seek innovative ways to teach and assess resident surgical skills. Significant barriers include motivating residents to practice given the time commitment of residency and limited availability of attending faculty outside of clinic time to lead teaching sessions. A Surgery Olympics program was implemented within the Northwestern Ophthalmology Residency program to promote mentorship between the senior and junior classes, resident camaraderie, and excitement for surgical training. This program was modeled after a similar program for medical students at the University of Michigan’s general surgery department. Methods: We divided residents into four families, with each family having one …

Altmetric Attention And Citations In Ophthalmology Research From 2012 To 2021, David J. Taylor Gonzalez, Mak Djulbegovic, Catherine Johnson, Joshua Reyes, Michael Antonietti, Gustavo Rosa Gameiro, Louis Z. Cai, Jayanth Sridhar

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: The Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) is a quantitative measure of the attention, or “mentions,” that a research output, such as a journal article or data set, has received from various sources, including news, social media, policy documents, blogs, and online reference managers. Our objective was to examine the relationship between AAS, citation count, and open access status of peer-reviewed ophthalmology articles over a 10-year period.

Methods: A cross-sectional, scientometric analysis of ophthalmology-centric articles published from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2021, was conducted using publicly available online data from Altmetric Explorer. The dataset comprised 89,957 ophthalmology …

The Impact Of A Research Year For Matched Us-Md Seniors, Justin Flood, Jhansi Raju, Sagar Jagdish Shah

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Background: With Step 1 becoming pass/fail, more students are considering taking a research year in ophthalmology prior to entering the application cycle. The purpose of the current study was to compare baseline characteristics and outcomes statistics between matched US-MD ophthalmology applicants with and without a dedicated research year.

Methods: Self-reported data from the publicly available OphthoMatch spreadsheets (2021-2022 and 2022-2023 cycles) were analyzed. US-MD senior applicants were included in the analysis; MD/PhD, DO, IMG students, and reapplicants were excluded.

Results: Of 127 matched US-MD senior applicants, 23 (18.1%) reported taking a research year. Baseline characteristics including underrepresented …

A Bibliometric Analysis Of The Top 100 Cited Papers In Trabeculectomy, Sinan Akosman, Michael Frenkel, Sonia C. Mcnamara, Thomas I. Hong, Reena A. Garg

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose: To identify the most frequently cited articles on trabeculectomy through a bibliometric analysis. Methods: The Web of Science was queried using the term “trabeculectomy” to identify the 100 most cited (T100) publications. Articles were listed by title, authors’ affiliated institutions, journal title, year of publication, country of origin, funding sources, and citation count. Results: The T100 articles were published between the years 1975 and 2022. The number of total citations received by each article ranged from 83 to 550. The number one most cited T100 article was titled “Treatment Outcomes in The Tube Versus Trabeculectomy (TVT) Study After Five …

20-Year Trends In Clinical And Research Roles Of Women Physicians In Thyroid Eye Disease, Kerri M. Mcinnis-Smith, Jessica A. Kraker, Blake T. Langlais, Yanhan Ren, Victoria J. Palacios, Lilly H. Wagner

Journal of Academic Ophthalmology

Purpose: To evaluate the role of women physicians in thyroid eye disease (TED) research and clinical care and describe relevance for academic medicine and patient access.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of TED-related publications indexed on PubMed in 2000, 2010, and 2020, and of completed or currently active clinical trials was conducted. Author, journal, and principal investigator (PI) characteristics were noted. Author/PI gender was determined from institutional profile or subsequently via a previously described Google-based algorithm. American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS), American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO), and American Thyroid Association (ATA) information was obtained via …

Reimagining First Nations Futures: Reimagining Our Future, Lilly Brown

Nulungu Reconciliation Lecture

As we hold our breath in the present moment and look toward an uncertain future, Dr Lilly Brown will talk to how First Peoples have already survived the end of the world. Drawing on the wisdom of storytellers, philosophers, Elders and young people, she shares a belief that Indigenous people hold the answers to many of the seemingly intractable questions of our time. Where the efficacy of reconciliation, both as a process and aspiration, has been brought into stark relief by the injustice of the failed referendum, Lilly will invite an imagining of other possible worlds through an engagement with …

Integrating Artificial Intelligence And Evidence-Based Guidelines Into Nursing Education, Allyson Kornahrens, Kerriann Latten

International Journal of Transformative Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies are transforming the healthcare system and patient care delivery. Due to this, there is an essential need for faculty to incorporate AI into the nursing curriculum to educate students about its use and improve preparation for clinical practice. This practice-based article addresses the integration of AI into nursing education for students using AI-driven academic learning activities. These activities, created in alignment with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials, explore clinical decision-making by comparing AI recommendations to evidence-based guidelines. Students are tasked with reflecting on AI’s accuracy and the ethical implications of …

Pedagogy Of Dialogic Communication: Becoming Aware Of Our Unconscious Belief, Leonard J. Shedletsky

International Journal of Transformative Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Norms of the classroom limit our learning about ourselves. Hidden scripts guide our behavior. Beliefs we are unaware of are often behind our responses to ideas. Unconscious beliefs are connected to our immediate, spontaneous responses, referred to as intuitions in social intuitionist theory. Intuition is what we believe and can access at high speed without being aware of what we believe, without being aware of our reasons for believing it, and without knowing how we came to this belief or how we access it in memory. We experience intuitions as knowing something all at once. We know what we like, …

Navigating Tumultuous Waters: The Role Of Faculty In A Politically Charged Higher Education Landscape, Will Miller

International Journal of Transformative Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

This article critically examines the increasingly complex role of faculty in today’s politically charged higher education landscape. It begins by emphasizing the significance of academic freedom as a fundamental pillar in preserving the integrity and purpose of higher education. Amidst heightened external pressures and societal polarizations, it delves into the challenges faculty face, including navigating biases and stakeholder pressures while maintaining impartial scholarship. The article presents strategies for faculty to safeguard their institutions against undue political influence and ensure their academic pursuits remain true to critical inquiry and intellectual freedom. Moreover, it highlights the crucial role that accreditation professionals play …

Exploring The Connection Between Teaching Frameworks And Policies For Assessing Teaching, Barbara J. Bird, Beate Brunow, Eric Kyle, Shawn R. Simonson

International Journal of Transformative Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Most faculty policies aimed at faculty review or assessment of teaching do not include specific teaching criteria and standards but instead lean heavily on student evaluations and peer review of teaching. This approach provides no concrete path for using assessment in a feedback loop that enables teachers to improve teaching. Implementing teaching frameworks can improve feedback loops and assessment policies by providing specific criteria and standards. Developing teaching effectiveness frameworks and connecting them to teaching assessment policies can be a critical step in advancing institutional change initiatives focused on teaching effectiveness. This critical alignment enables sustainable and meaningful change. This …

Hear Me: Ensuring Students Are At The Center Of Student Voice Work, Erin Karlgaard

Essays in Education

Student voice inclusion in schools remains underutilized, in spite of being discussed for decades as a way to improve experiences for students in schools. This article discusses voice inclusion, levels of voice inclusion, provides considerations for effective voice implementation, and highlights the role of teacher reflection in creating lasting and meaningful student voice experiences in schools.