Digital Commons Network^™

Diagnostic Yield Of Exome Sequencing For Pregnancies With And Without Fetal Anomalies And For Stillbirth, Roni Zemet, Christian M Parobek, April D Adams, Mohamad Ali Maktabi, Lena Shay, Linyan Meng, Pengfei Liu, Hongzheng Dai, Fan Xia, Christine Eng, Ignatia B Van Den Veyver, Liesbeth Vossaert

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Objective: Exome sequencing (ES) benefits the genetic work-up for fetuses with structural anomalies, but data on its utility for fetuses without anomalies and stillbirths is more limited. We report our experience with prenatal ES for all three indications.

Method: We retrospectively reviewed results from 344 trio-ES performed for fetuses with structural anomalies (N = 262), stillbirths (N = 39), and fetuses without anomalies (N = 43), many of which had a relevant family history. We classified pathogenic variants (P), likely pathogenic variants (LP), or variants of uncertain significance (VUS) favoring pathogenicity in a gene consistent with the fetal phenotype as …

The Ethics Of Clinical Ethics, Matthew Shea

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

The concept ethics defines health care ethics as a professional practice. Yet the meaning of "ethics" is often unclear in the theory and practice of clinical ethics. Clarity on this matter is crucial for understanding the nature of clinical ethics and for debates about the professional identity and proper role of ethicists, the sort of training and skills they should possess, and whether they have ethics expertise. This article examines two different ways the ethics of clinical ethics can be understood: Real Ethics, which consists of objective moral norms grounded in moral truth; and Conventional Ethics, which consists of conventional …

Quantitative Imaging Of Individual Bacterial Cells: E. Coli And B. Subtilis Via Terahertz Scattering-Type Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy, Haneol Lee, Youngil Moon, Donghyun Lee, Jinwoo Kim, Gyuseok Lee, Haewook Han

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Significance: Terahertz (THz) waves have gained significant attention as an imaging technology due to their ability to provide physical and chemical information in a label-free, noninvasive, and nonionizing manner. Notably, their low energy enables nondestructive inspection of internal structures without damaging samples, making them well-suited for biomedical applications. However, the use of THz imaging has been constrained by limited spatial resolution due to the diffraction limit. Aim: This study introduces an approach using THz scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy, an advanced technique capable of overcoming these limitations and enabling single-cell scale measurements to image and distinguish individual bacterial cells, specifically …

Beech Leaf Disease Detections In Nh Map, Unh Cooperative Extension, Steven S. Roberge

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Microbiome Signatures And Inflammatory Biomarkers In Culture-Negative Neonatal Sepsis, Morcos Hanna, Shixia Huang, Matthew Ross, Anaid Reyes, Dimuthu Perera, Anil Surathu, Sara Javornik Cregeen, Joseph Hagan, Mohan Pammi

Faculty and Staff Publications

Overuse of antibiotics is a concern in 'culture-negative sepsis' but it is unclear whether this is due to infection with viruses, fungi or other microbes that are not easily cultured, or whether it results from inflammatory processes. In a prospective study, we enrolled 50 preterm neonates with culture-positive sepsis (CP), culture-negative sepsis (CN), and asymptomatic preterm controls (CO). The microbiome of stool, skin, and blood, including bacterial, viral and fungal components and serum cytokine profiles were evaluated. The microbiome alpha or beta diversity did not differ between CN and CO groups. A MaAsLin analysis revealed increased relative abundances of specific …

Digital Strategies And Non-Conventional Sources Of Innovation: Analysis Of Causal Relationships Using Interpretive Structural Modeling, Ines M. Ferinha, Fernando A. F. Ferreira, Neuza C. M. Q. F. Ferreira, Edwin Garces, Tugrul Daim

Engineering and Technology Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Digitalization appears to have sped up in recent years, and many companies have seen their business models changed irreversibly. In this context, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should adopt different business approaches that help these firms thrive and maintain and/or create sustainable competitive advantages. SMEs’ specificities can present obstacles to this adaptation process, yet these challenges may turn out to be the greatest allies of these companies if they stimulate swift, quick transformations. This study sought to develop an analysis system that identifies appropriate digital strategies and non-conventional sources of innovation, which can thus promote sustainable SME innovation. To achieve …

Dynamics And Controls Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions In Bioenergy Croplands, Lovish Kasrija

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Agriculture contributes considerably to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, requiring sustainable methods for tackling climate change. This thesis includes two mega-analyses and one field experiment to investigate the impact of conservation tillage and soil amendments on crop productivity and greenhouse gas emissions. The first mega-analysis combined data from 30 meta-analyses to assess the impact of no-tillage (NT), reduced-tillage (RT), and combination NT+RT on crop yields and soil GHG emissions. NT decreased yields by 3.3% and increased N₂O emissions by 8.7%, but RT and NT+RT had no effect. The second mega-analysis found that both NT and RT considerably increased soil organic …

Heat Stress On Germinating Tomato Pollen And The Molecular Mechanisms For Heat Response Using Single Cell Type Proteomics, Dibya Thapa Magar

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The primary objective of this study is to develop the technical workflow for collecting homogenous germinating pollen samples. Two tomato varieties, Black Vernissage (BV) and Micro Tom (MT), were grown in temperature-controlled plastic greenhouses. For the non-heated control conditions, greenhouse temperature was set at 25C/21oC (16/8 hours; day/night). For the heat-treated greenhouse, temperature was set at 32/25 oC (16/8 hours; day/night). Supplemental light was provided using plant growth LED light. Ten freshly opened flowers were collected and pollen were released into 2ml pollen germination medium (PGM) in 5-ml centrifuge tubes. After centrifugation, pollen pellets were washed three times in 2 …

The Impact Of Supervisor Cultural Humility On The Supervisory Working Alliance Among International Trainees, Fanchen Gao

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Supervisor cultural humility has been theorized to contribute to stronger supervisory working alliances (SWA), yet limited research has examined its role within multicultural contexts involving international trainees. Guided by the Multicultural Orientation framework, this study explored whether supervisors’ cultural humility predicted the quality of the supervisory working alliance, whether the relationship differed based on participant role (supervisor or trainee), and whether international trainees’ cultural backgrounds influenced their perceptions of the SWA. The sample included 72 participants from counseling and psychology training programs in the United States, consisting of international trainees and clinical supervisors. Participants completed an online survey assessing cultural …

Evaluating Early Successional Habitat Selection By Herpetofauna And Pygmy Rattlesnakes In Tennessee, Carlin Frost

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Coupled with climate change, global biodiversity declines are exacerbated by increasing anthropogenic pressures and ecosystem destruction. Amphibians and reptiles are particularly vulnerable due to their specific and narrow habitat requirements. In Tennessee, the Western Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri) is classified as Threatened and is primarily associated with floodplains adjacent to early successional habitats (ESH) in the western Interior Plateau ecoregion. These ESH support unique flora and fauna but have declined in recent decades, largely due to urban encroachment and disturbance suppression. Studying snakes is challenging because of their limited activity periods, small home ranges, and low detectability from cryptic …

Strategies And Considerations For Forming And Managing Community Advisory Boards From Health Research With Transgender And Nonbinary Communities, Mannat Malik, Anushka Aqil, Jennifer L. Glick, Jean Michel Brevelle, Anthony Black, Kellan Baker, Arjee Restar, Molly Gribbin, Colin Flynn, Danielle German

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Purpose: There is limited research on the use of community advisory boards (CABs) in health research with transgender and nonbinary communities. Transgender communities are navigating challenging histories of health researcher exploitation and research distrust alongside exponential research growth. We explored strategies for forming and managing CABs when conducting transgender community-informed health research. Methods: We used purposive and snowball sampling to identify key informants (KIs): research leaders, implementing staff, and community partners engaging in transgender health research. Between October 2018 and December 2020, we conducted 30 semi-structured in-depth interviews. We used coding followed byiterative thematic analysis and memoing to identify themes. …

Actin Up And Factor’D In: ​ A Pediatric Spindle Cell Lesion Case Presentation, Michael Higham, Stephanie Campbell, Naomie Jean, Amanda Killeen

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Introduction: Solitary spindle cell nodules on the foot in pediatric patients are rare and diagnostically challenging. Dermatofibroma (benign fibrous histiocytoma), a common adult dermal lesion, is infrequently observed in children under 18.

The spectrum of pediatric spindle cell tumors includes reactive entities like nodular fasciitis and dermatomyofibroma, benign neoplasms such as myofibroma, and malignant tumors including spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). Accurate differential diagnosis is essential, as DFSP requires wide excision or Mohs surgery to reduce recurrence risk.

Methods (Case Presentation): An 11-year-old boy presented with a one-year history of a non-healing lesion on the heel, initially …

Lipid And Cholesterol Peroxidation Leads To Α-Crystallin Membrane Aggregation And Cataract Formation, Nawal K. Khadka, Preston Hazen, Oluwaseyi Akinola, Xinzhu Pu, Laxman Mainali

Boise State University Publications and Presentations

Purpose: The significant lens chaperone protein α-crystallin (αABc), comprised of αA-crystallin (αAc) and αB-crystallin (αBc) subunits, is found to form membrane-bound aggregates with age and cataract formation. However, the molecular basis for such aggregate formation is still unclear. Our research primarily aims to elucidate the effect of lipids (phospholipids and sphingolipids) and cholesterol (Chol) peroxidation on the aggregation of αAc, αBc, and αABc to bovine lens nuclear membrane (NM).

Methods: Lipid and Chol peroxidation was induced by a photosensitized peroxidation reaction, and topographical images of NM and oxidized-NM (Ox-NM) with and without αAc, αBc, or αABc were obtained using atomic …

Physics-Based Machine Learning Framework For Predicting Structure-Property Relationships In Ded-Fabricated Low-Alloy Steels †, Atiqur Rahman, Md Hazrat Ali, Asad Waqar Malik, Muhammad Arif Mahmood, Frank Liou

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Directed Energy Deposition (DED) process has demonstrated high efficiency in manufacturing steel parts with complex geometries and superior capabilities. Understanding the complex interplays of alloy compositions, cooling rates, grain sizes, thermal histories, and mechanical properties remains a significant challenge during DED processing. Interpretable and data-driven modeling has proven effective in tackling this challenge, as machine learning (ML) algorithms continue to advance in capturing complex property structural relationships. However, accurately predicting the prime mechanical properties, including ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and hardness value (HV), remains a challenging task due to the complex and non-linear relationships among process …

Temporal Variability In The Bulk Nutritional Quality Of Estuarine Plankton, Marley Gonsalves

Master's Theses and Capstones

The temporal variability of plankton is well documented, particularly in constantly changing tidal systems such as estuaries, but the extent to which this variability applies to plankton nutritional quality is less well known. As the base of the aquatic food web, variation in phytoplankton nutritional quality stands to constrain fishery production, particularly of filter-feeders. Here, community and nutritional data was collected from Great Bay, NH, a model estuary, over seasonal, tidal, and daily time scales to identify the range and variability of nutritional quality in plankton. Bulk spectrophotometric neutral lipid and protein measurements were compared to plankton community composition data …

Differentiated Learning In An Upper-Level Undergraduate Physics Theory Course, Christina Gurney

Master's Theses and Capstones

‘One-size-fits-all’ education aims to cater to the ‘average’ student, but the ‘average’ student does not exist. Students are individuals, each with a set of needs, abilities, preferences, and interests unique to them. A variety of instructional approaches should thus be used to differentiate students’ learning. This differentiation has been studied mostly for K-12. My study extends this research into an upper-level undergraduate physics theory course. For this phenomenographic pilot study, I interviewed ten students about the differentiated homework assignments in their upper-level undergraduate classical mechanics course at the University of New Hampshire. I performed an issue-focused analysis of the data, …

Sensor-Driven Machine Learning Framework For Rock Climbing Skill Assessment Using Climbing Core Ability And Contact Force Metrics, Blaise Xavier O'Mara

Master's Theses and Capstones

Rock climbers lack tools for skill assessment. Climbers ascend routes, each with varying difficulty (grade); as such, climber skill level is typically described as the highest grade recently climbed. But the subjectivity of rock climbing route difficulty grading presents complications with standardized skill assessment. Measures of climbing core abilities (power, strength, endurance, speed, control, and stability) through non-specific sport exercises and contact forces metrics present more objectivity in climber skill assessment. Presented in this study is a custom force sensor network instrumented in a bouldering route for recording contact force metrics. Twenty-four climbers, split into IRCRA Intermediate and Advanced skill …

A Geoacoustic Bayesian Inversion For Large Calibrated Singlebeam Echosounder And Ground Truth Datasets, Andrew Paul Niedbla

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis describes the development of a geoacoustic inversion technique to estimate seafloor sediment characteristics that is designed for use with existing fisheries survey single beam echosounder (SBES) datasets. The geoacoustic inversion technique consists of a forward model and inversion algorithm. The forward model is a high frequency, physics-based, near normal incidence acoustic backscatter model enhanced with a density depth gradient model and geoacoustic sediment regressions. The inversion algorithm is a parallel tempered Markov-chain Monte Carlo Bayesian inversion. The geoacoustic inversion produces posterior probability distributions for mean grain size, density, porosity, sound speed, seafloor roughness characterization, and sediment volume scattering …

From Apomediation To Aimediation: Generative Ai And The Reconfiguration Of Informational Authority In Health Communication, Luis M Romero-Rodríguez, Bárbara Mercedes Castillo Abdul Hadi

Artículos científicos

Objective:

Method:

Consumer Carbon Footprint Of Fashion E-Commerce: A Comparative Analysis Between Omnichannel And Pure-Player Models In Spain, David Antonio Rosas Espín, Carlos Lli Torrabadella, María Tamames Sobrino, Irene Miguel Corbacho, José Luis Olazagoitia

Artículos científicos

The rapid expansion of fashion e-commerce has raised concerns over the environmental cost of last-mile deliveries, especially in pure-player models. This preliminary study examines the estimated carbon footprint of TENDAM’s omnichannel model—based on in-store pickup and returns—compared to pure-player home delivery, using a customer-level approach across 11 Spanish cities of varying sizes. A total of 3106 face-to-face surveys were conducted in TENDAM stores, capturing data on mobility behavior, transport modes, trip chaining, and service types. Emission factors were applied using a Python-based analytical model, and results were contrasted with Monte Carlo simulations from existing literature on pure players. Our findings …

La Accesibilidad Daltónica En El Cine De Animación, Ester Campos Baello, Eva Santín Álvarez

Artículos científicos

El cine de animación ha evolucionado significativamente para integrar el color como un elemento clave en la narrativa y la caracterización de los personajes, ignorando en gran medida la accesibilidad para personas con daltonismo. Este estudio examina cómo el uso del color en películas animadas puede generar barreras visuales para espectadores daltónicos, afectando tanto su comprensión de la trama como su experiencia visual. A partir de ejemplos en películas emblemáticas y la propuesta de los “Principios de Accesibilidad Daltónica”, se argumenta la necesidad de incluir prácticas más inclusivas en el diseño visual. Además, se resalta la necesidad de educar a …

Editorial: Building The Future Of Education Together: Innovation, Complexity, Sustainability, Interdisciplinary Research And Open Science, María Soledad Ramírez‑Montoya, M.A. Montoya, Diana Hernández-Montoya, Genaro Zavala-Enríquez, Antonio Martínez-Arboleda

Artículos científicos

On the eve of building the future of education, the need arises to seek unexplored paths toward an educational future built from the collective and for the collective. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), through its international commission, issued a report in which it invites us to reimagine the future of education, stating that education is a fundamental pillar for forging a common and shared future, connecting humanity in the face of global challenges such as climate change and disinformation (UNESCO, 2021a). UNESCO mobilized a major conference “Transforming Knowledge for a Just and Sustainable Future” on the …

Towards Sustainable Indoor Lighting Design: Ensuring Energy Efficiency, Health And Human Wellbeing—A Review, Lara Vélez González, Alejandra Santamaría Melenchón, David Baeza Moyano, Roberto Alonso González-Lezcano

Artículos científicos

The design of lighting systems, has, in recent years, transcended the basic function of providing visibility, becoming a key com-ponent of promoting the health and well-being of occupants by integrating biological, psychological, and energy aspects. Thegrowing understanding of the effects of light on the circadian cycle has posed a fundamental challenge in luminaire design. Thetwo before-mentioned review is, to analyze how light, both artificial and natural, affects the well-being and health of occupantsin various indoor environments, such as classrooms, hospitals and offices, Indoor lighting research has advanced significantly,recognizing both visual and non-visual effects on human health. These efforts focus on …

Cynicism, Distrust And Dissatisfaction Among Spanish And Mexican Millennials And Centennials In Audiovisual Consumption On Streaming Platforms, Carlos Fernández-Rodríguez, Luis M. Romero-Rodríguez, Jorge Alberto Hidalgo Toledo

Artículos científicos

El cinismo político es un sentimiento psicosocial de desconfianza e insatisfacción hacia la política y el establishment. En los tiempos actuales, dominados por la incertidumbre social y económica, el cinismo político está llegando a afectar la forma en que nos relacionamos con la información y la tecnología, lo que promueve la búsqueda de espacios seguros en las narrativas de entretenimiento que se pueden ver en plataformas de streaming. El objetivo principal de este estudio era analizar si los espectadores millennials y centennials de España y México consideran que los grandes estudios, productoras y distribuidoras audiovisuales solo se preocupan por sus …

Blockbusters Or Blind Spots? A Critical Look At Poverty, Bullets And Bandits Narratives In Latin American Cinema, Carlos Fernández-Rodríguez, Elio Quiroga Rodríguez, Luis M. Romero- Rodríguez

Artículos científicos

Historically, the cultural industries of the Global South have been relegated in the face of North American and European production predominance. In Latin America, the most internationally successful audiovisual productions, both at the cinema ticket window and festivals, usually deal with stereotypes of extreme poverty, rurality, delinquency, terrorism, and drug trafficking, which, in the collective imagination of foreign audiences, promote an exaggerated representation of the region's social problems, contributing to xenophobia, hate speech, and anti-migration discourses in countries in the Global North. This study conducts an analysis of five emblematic feature films of Latin American cinema: Cidade de Deus [ …

Practical Experiences Of Artificial Intelligence In Science Clubs, María Soledad Ramírez-Montoya, Azeneth Patiño, Marco Cruz-Sandoval

Artículos científicos

The 21st century presents us with knowledge and technologies like AI introducing new educational possibilities to improve human talent and performance. In recent years there has been an increase in the literature on artificial intelligence in education and research opportunities with practical experiences in communities in emerging countries. This study investigates how participation in science clubs focused on AI-related projects supports the development of complex thinking and scientific thinking among high school and university students. Drawing on a multiple case study design, the research analyzes six cases involving 83 students across four Mexican cities, all engaged in science clubs jointly …

Use Of Perioperative Scores In Predicting Postoperative Event And Selection For Discharge After Elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Brian Nyamweya Bundi

Master of Medicine in General Surgery

Background: While daycare laparoscopic cholecystectomy is gaining momentum in developed countries, a majority of patients in low and middle-income countries are admitted overnight. This safety precaution offers prompt access to emergency services should need arise. This precautional overnight stay has implications on cost, healthcare utilization and patient satisfaction. Daycare procedures routinely utilize scoring systems for assessing discharge readiness. We explored the utility of the modified Surgical APGAR Score (mSAS) and the White Fast Track Score (WFTS) as predictors for postoperative events and their role in identifying patients who can have a safe daycare discharge after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in this retrospective …

Identifying The Barriers And Facilitators To Guideline-Concordant Breast Cancer Surgical Care In Kenya: A Sequential Mixed Method Study, Emmanuel Marsuk Lomole

Master of Medicine in General Surgery

Introduction 

Breast cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. In Kenya, it constitutes 20% of all cancer diagnoses as well as the second most common cause of cancer related death in the country, with a 5-year survival between 40.1% and 64%. There exists heterogeneity in the delivery of breast cancer care despite the presence of guidelines that can standardize care and that have been contextualized for Sub-Saharan Africa. There is paucity of data on barriers and facilitators of guideline-concordant breast cancer surgical care.

Setting 

The Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi.

Aim 

The purpose of this study was to …

Review Of Jerusalem And Other Holy Places As Foci Of Multireligious And Ideological Confrontation, Rivka Ulmer

Other Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Medication Adherence: A Reimbursable Theory-Guided Evidence-Based Educational Intervention For Patients With Parkinson’S Disease, Amanda E. George, Melinda Hermanns, Diane B. Monsivais, Cheryl D. Parker

Nursing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Parkinson’s disease is a challenging, progressive neurodegenerative process projected to affect more than 1.2 million patients by 2030, with an economic burden that will surpass $79 billion annually in the United States. Pharmacological interventions are the hallmark of treatment for symptom management for this lifelong disease. Multiple medications and a variety of dosing times have an increasingly negative effect on medication adherence. Purpose: This article will discuss medication adherence challenges, describe a theory-guided evidence-based intervention to improve medication adherence, and explore the economic implications in an outpatient clinic setting. Methods: A pilot chart review of 40 cases over 30 …