Digital Commons Network^™

Socioeconomic Status Shapes Dyadic Interactions: Examining Behavioral And Physiologic Responses, Jacinth J. X. Tan, Tessa V. West, Wendy B. Mendes

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

With more opportunities for diverse interactions, little is known about how social interactions involving people of different socioeconomic status (SES) may unfold. We investigated social attunement patterns in dyadic interactions involving SES. Unacquainted individuals recruited from the community interacted with similar-or-different-SES partners in the lab (Ndyads = 130). Attunement was assessed throughout the interaction by examining physiological linkage—how much a person’s physiological change is predicted by another’s physiological change, over time. Overall, low-SES participants showed stronger physiological linkage—indicating greater attunement—to partners across SES. Participants also appeared more comfortable when interacting with low-SES partners. There were no SES differences in dominance …

A Lifespan Perspective On Positive Affect Fluctuations On Purpose In Life: Findings From A 9-Year Longitudinal Study, Jonathan L. Chia, Verity Y. Q. Lua, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Existing research has examined how static or average levels of positive affect (PA) influence purpose in life (PIL), but theoretical work suggests PA fluctuations may also play a role, potentially undermining PIL, especially in older adulthood. To this end, the present study examined the longitudinal association of PA fluctuations on PIL and the moderating role of age among 1,294 midlife and older adults in the United States, over a 9-year period (between 2004 and 2014). Results revealed a conditional effect of PA fluctuations on PIL – particularly among older individuals, and greater PA fluctuations were associated with a poorer sense …

Constraints Without Tears For Consequentialists, Matthew Hammerton

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Agent-relative consequentialism uses the theoretical framework of consequentialism to capture the constraints favored by deontologists. Christopher Howard has recently argued that agent-relative consequentialism is implausible because it can only capture such constraints at the expense of getting other normative facts incorrect. In this reply, I argue that Howard’s objection to agent-relative consequentialism fails because it rests on faulty intuitions that arise from a misunderstanding of basic structural features of agent-relative consequentialism.

Longitudinal And Bidirectional Relations Between Problematic Social Media Use And Cognitive Failures, K. T. A. Sandeeshwara Kasturiratna, Andree Hartanto

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

With social media becoming increasingly pervasive in our daily lives, there have been heightened concerns that the distractions caused by compulsive and problematic social media use may lead to cognitive failures. While some preliminary work have explored the link between problematic social media use and cognitive functioning, most are cross-sectional, leaving it uncertain whether cognitive failures are a precursor or consequence of problematic social media use. To address this gap, the current study examines the bidirectional relationship between problematic social media use and cognitive failures. A sample of 252 young adults completed the Problematic Social Media Use Scale and the …

Impact Of Biodegradation On The Mechanical And Fatigue Properties Of 3d-Printed Pla Bone Scaffolds, Hamed Bakhtiari, Alireza Nouri, Muhammad Aamir, Mohadeseh Najafi, Majid Tolouei-Rad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

A proper degradation rate of bone scaffolds ensures optimal mechanical support and effective tissue regeneration. The present study examines the degradation effects of simulated body fluids (SBF) on the compressive and fatigue strength of 3D-printed PLA bone scaffolds. Scaffolds with varying surface-to-volume (S/V) ratios and identical porosity (60 %) were immersed in Hanks' solution for a maximum period of 30 days. Static and dynamic compression tests were performed at different immersion times to assess how S/V ratio influences the degradation process. CT images showed that scaffold pore structure remained interconnected after biodegradation, with no significant change in strut thickness or …

The Influence Of Surface Textural Properties And Adsorption Temperature On H2 Adsorption And Storage Performance Of Mil-88b(Fe) Mofs, Tawanda Matamba, Samira Sadeghi, Hussein Rasool Abid, Masoumeh Zargar, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

To advance the establishment of a stable H2 economy we need to solve the issue regarding its storage. The physicochemical properties of Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) make them suitable for H2 storage. Therefore, here, we synthesized two Iron-based MOFs (12-MIL-88 B(Fe), 24-MIL-88 B(Fe) at different reaction times (12 h and 24 h), to investigate the relationship between adsorption temperature and pressure with the material's surface textural properties towards H2 storage (at 30 °C, 0 °C, −78.5 °C, and −196.15 °C and from vacuum pressure to 55 bar). Results showed that at 30 °C and 0 °C adsorption temperature, H2 adsorption …

Creating A New Climate Transition Politics? Reflections On A Real Deal For Australia, Amanda Tattersall, Katie Moore, Juliet Bennett, Christine Evans, Louise C. Johnson, Naomi Joy Godden, Dibya Shree Chhetry, Elise Ganley, Sally Fisher, Jaclyn Mccosker, Jade Wright, Liz Bonner, Helen Long, Noreen Nicholson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Economic responses to climate change, such as just transitions and the Green New Deal (GND), have helped shift climate policy debate to focus on the economic dimensions of climate change. Yet these approaches have also been limited; they have not always delivered, they have left some groups behind and at times have polarised affected constituencies. This article argues that a key reason for this is that these agendas have primarily involved imposing solutions on communities without activating people's participation in the perpetual cocreation of new social, political and economic solutions. Here, community and academic researchers reflect on the first five …

Endogenous Analgesia, Assessed Via Conditioned Pain Modulation, Is Not Different In People With Hip Osteoarthritis Compared To Controls: A Cross-Sectional Study, Myles C. Murphy, Molly Coventry, Ebonie K. Rio, Paola T. Chivers, Benedict Wand, Gordon Waddington, Andrea B. Mosler

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: In people with knee osteoarthritis, measures of pain sensitivity have been demonstrated to relate to both pain severity and treatment outcomes, dependent on the type of pain sensitivity being tested. Objective: Quantify if differences in the pressure pain thresholds (PPT) or conditioned pain modulation (CPM) effect exist between people with hip osteoarthritis and age-matched controls without hip osteoarthritis. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study across two geographic locations. PPTs at a local (hip) and remote (elbow) site were collected via a manual algometer. CPM was quantified using PPTs immediately prior to, and during ice water immersion of the hand …

Impact Of Geometrical Dimensions On The Shear Behaviour Of Uhpc Deep Beams Reinforced With Steel And Synthetic Fibres, Hossein Mirzaaghabeik, Nuha S. Mashaan, Sanjay Kumar Shukla

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is recognized for its exceptional strength, durability, and versatility in engineering applications, making it a reliable composite in the construction industry. The incorporation of fibres into UHPC enhances its mechanical properties. Non-metallic fibres offer a promising alternative to steel fibres due to their resistance to corrosion. While much research has focused on the shear behaviour of UHPC reinforced with steel fibres, there is a notable gap in understanding the impact of non-metallic fibres. This study aims to address this gap by comparing the influence of synthetic fibres to steel fibres on the shear behaviour of UHPC through …

Incorporating Ecosystem Service Assessments Into Development Planning − Impact From A Dredging Project In South Australia On Seagrass, Sam Gaylard, Rachel Colella, Matt Nelson, Paul Lavery, Michelle Waycott

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Major infrastructure development is required for economic development and to improve human well-being, however conflict exists between developers and the community. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is used in over 100 countries to evaluate potential impacts of major developments across environment, economy, and social benchmarks. However, EIA has been criticized for a lack of transparency and accountability, lack of consultation or participation and inadequate science. An ecosystem service assessment (ESA) recognizes the links between the environment and the socio-economic environment, resulting in a more holistic evaluation of potential impacts and effective community consultation. Despite this, its inclusion within EIA's is rare. …

Axicons For Improved Resolution And Depth Of Focus In Adaptive Optics Scanning Light Ophthalmoscopy, Ruth E. Woehlke, Robert F. Cooper

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopes are instrumental for studying the eye, yet they use truncated Gaussian illumination and are limited by diffraction, restricting resolution and depth of focus (DOF). Non-diffractive Bessel beams have emerged as an alternative. Here, we use two axicons configured as: (1) an extended DOF beam for resolving multiple retinal layers; and (2) an annular beam for increasing lateral resolution. We compare both approaches to truncated Gaussian illumination using a variety of metrics. Using Configuration 1, we successfully observed multiple retinal layers simultaneously. Using Configuration 2, we observed enhanced lateral resolution but decreased signal-to-noise ratio.

An Injectable, Dual-Curing Hydrogel For Controlled Bioactive Release In Regenerative Endodontics, Meisam Omidi, Daniela S. Masson-Meyers, Jeffrey M. Toth

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Regenerative endodontics seeks to restore the vascularized pulp–dentin complex following conventional root canal therapy, yet reliable neovascularization within the constrained root canal remains a key challenge. This study investigates the development of an injectable, dual-curing hydrogel based on methacrylated decellularized amniotic membrane (dAM-MA) and compares its performance to a conventional gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA). The dAM-MA platform was designed for biphasic release, incorporating both free vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for an initial burst and matrix-metalloproteinase-cleavable VEGF conjugates for sustained delivery. The dAM-MA hydrogel achieved shape-fidelity via thermal gelation at 37 °C and possessed tunable stiffness (0.5–7.8 kPa) after visible-light irradiation. …

Predictors Of Permanent And Temporary Motor Deficits In Patients Undergoing Glioma Resection: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Brian J. Conway, Stephanie A. Armstrong, Nada Botros, Sergey Tarima, Max O. Krucoff

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

To identify predictors of permanent and temporary motor deficits in patients undergoing glioma resection.

Methods

A literature search accessed the databases Ovid Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature/EBSCO, PsychInfo, Cochrane, and Wiley for studies reporting motor outcomes following surgical resection of glioma. Outcomes were stratified by patient/tumor characteristics, preoperative condition, and intraoperative factors for both permanent and temporary motor deficits. Generalized estimating equations were used to generate odds ratios.

Results

A total of 1332 titles and abstracts were reviewed resulting in the evaluation of 261 full-text articles. Data were extracted from 67 …

Anisotropic Object-Based Shifts Of Attention Arise From Unequal Influences Of Visual Field Meridians On Neural Attention Gradients, David H. Hughes, Adam J. Barnas, Adam S. Greenberg

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Object-based attention prioritizes the processing of information appearing within a selected object. We previously showed an object-based shift direction anisotropy (SDA) whereby horizontal shifts are more efficient than vertical shifts (Barnas AJ, Greenberg AS. Atten Percept Psychophys 78: 1985–1997, 2016; Barnas AJ, Greenberg AS. Vis Cogn 27: 768–791, 2019), an effect modulated by the visual field meridians (Barnas AJ, Greenberg AS. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 77: 2516–2532, 2024). Our present aim was to understand how the functional brain mechanisms of attention give rise to the SDA. We hypothesized that the SDA arises from attentional resources being partitioned differently by …

Mathematical Modeling Of Zoonotic Disease Transmission Under The Impact Of Land Use Change, Collin A. Kilmer

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Land conversion is occurring worldwide due to a growing population and expanding economy. This process increases the likelihood of pathogen spillover, posing significant economic and public health risks. The objective of this thesis is to model pathogen spillover under the impact of land use change. We develop a zoonotic disease transmission model that describes spillover of Puumala virus from bank voles to humans during land conversion. Our model introduces a land conversion index to capture the dependence of the carrying capacity and the death rate of bank voles on the proportion of converted land. This index is then used to …

Decision-Making Methods Under Uncertainty In Discrete Multi-Objective Optimization, Chathuri Malee Aththanayake

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation investigates decision-making methods in Uncertain Discrete Multi-objective Optimization Problems (UDMOPs), where uncertainty arises in both objective function and constraint coefficients. The study pursues three main goals: (1) constructing sensitivity regions in the objective space to handle objective-wise uncertainty, (2) constructing sensitivity regions in the decision space to handle feasibility uncertainties, and (3) developing methods to sort, group, and prune uncertain solutions based on their similarity. Each goal proposes a method to explore uncertain solutions and quantify their level of uncertainty. Based on this, solutions are classified as low and high-risk solutions, according to the Decision-Maker (DM)'s preferences and …

A Simple, Interpretable Machine Learning Model Based On Clinical Factors Accurately Predicts Incident Dysplasia Or Malignancy In Barrett's Esophagus, Aaron P Thrift, Theresa Nguyen-Wenker, Hashem B El-Serag

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Purpose: Identifying patients likely to develop dysplasia or malignancy is critical for effective surveillance in patients with Barrett's Esophagus (BE). However, current predictive models are limited. We evaluated the performance of machine learning (ML) models in predicting incident dysplasia or malignancy in a cohort of veteran patients with BE.

Methods: We analyzed data from 598 patients newly diagnosed with non-dysplastic BE (NDBE), BE indefinite for dysplasia (BE-IND), and BE with non-persistent low-grade dysplasia (LGD) at the Michael DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center from November 1990 to January 2019 with follow-up through January 2024. Progressors were patients who developed persistent LGD, …

Building A Sustainable Home On The Central Coast: An Owner’S Perspective, Austin Chase Anderson

Construction Management

As awareness and technology increase, sustainability as a focus in home construction is also increasing. This case study based research project seeks to understand the process of building a home on California’s Central Coast with sustainability in mind. An interview was conducted with an owner who built their home in Templeton in 2019. The interview was in a semi-structured format which included specific qualitative questions but mostly focused on an open-ended discussion which allowed the owner to share their own experience. The key challenges learned from this interview were that the owner believed price to be the main factor that …

Characteristics Of Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation., Sreedhar R Billakanty, Auroa G Badin, Matthew J Cline, Bridget A Cavanagh, Andrea K Robinson, Nagesh X Chopra, Eugene Y Fu, Jaret D Tyler, Anish K Amin

Heart and Vascular Articles

No abstract provided.

Car-Bp: Taking Hypertension Screening Beyond Clinics, Jesus Melgarejo, Gladys Maestre, Eron Manusov

School of Medicine Publications

No abstract provided.

Genetic Study Of Von Willebrand Factor Antigen Levels ≤ 50 Iu/Dl Identifies Variants Associated With Increased Risk Of Vwd And Bleeding, Rachel K. Friedman, Adam S. Heath, Jennifer E. Huffman, James T. Baker, Natalie R. Hasbani, Sarah A. Gagliano Taliun, Ming-Huei Chen, Tom Howard, Joanne E. Curran, John Blangero

School of Medicine Publications

Background: von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a common inherited bleeding disorder caused by low levels or activity of circulating von Willebrand factor (VWF). Genetic susceptibility to VWF antigen (VWF:Ag) below normal (≤50 IU/dL) in the general population is underexplored.

Methods: To identify genetic variants influencing VWF:Ag levels ≤50 IU/dL, we performed a genome-wide association study in 926 cases with VWF:Ag levels ≤50 IU/dL and 12,846 controls from 7 studies from the TOPMed program. We then examined whether genome-wide significant findings were also associated with clinical diagnosis of VWD in 5 biobanks with 708 VWD cases and 1,286,069 controls, and with …

Challenges And Artificial Intelligence Solutions For Clinically Optimal Hepatic Venous Vessel Segmentation, Håvard Bjørke Jenssen, Varatharajan Nainamalai, Egidijus Pelanis, Rahul P. Kumar, Andreas Abildgaard, Finn Kristian Kolrud, Bjørn Edwin, Jingfeng Jiang, Joseph Vettukattil, Ole Jakob Elle, Smund Avdem Fretland

Michigan Tech Publications

Background:: Liver vessel identification is crucial for clinical disease assessment and treatment planning, especially concerning local treatment of liver tumors. As artificial intelligence (AI) develops in radiology, opportunities arise to craft models adept at hepatic venous vessel segmentation, opening possibilities for creating patient-specific models of the liver anatomy quickly, despite the diverse features of CT images encountered in clinical settings. Objective: This research evaluates the performance of AI models combined with various pre-processing filters for liver vessel segmentation, emphasizing clinically relevant results. A novel evaluation method was introduced to offer more anatomically accurate assessments, moving beyond traditional metrics like the …

Work Impairment And Financial Outcomes Among Adults With Vs Without Long Covid, Michael Gottlieb, Ji Chen, Huihui Yu, Michelle Santangelo, Erica S. Spatz, Nicole L. Gentile, Rachel E. Geyer, Caitlin Malicki, Kristyn Gatling, Kelli N. O'Laughlin, Kari A. Stephens, Joann G. Elmore, Lauren E. Wisk, Michelle L'Hommedieu, Robert Rodriguez, Juan Carlos C. Montoy, Ralph C. Wang, Kristin L. Rising, Efrat Kean, Jonathan W. Dyal, Mandy J. Hill, Arjun K. Venkatesh, Robert A. Weinstein

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: While much of the focus on long COVID (LC; defined as developing new, persistent symptoms lasting 3 months or longer after SARS-CoV-2 infection) has been on health status and quality of life, the impact on individual work productivity and financial distress are less well established.

OBJECTIVES: To assess differences in work and financial outcomes among individuals with current, resolved, and no LC up to 3 years after initial infection.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This prospective, multisite, longitudinal cohort study enrolled adult participants (age ≥18 years) with at least 1 reported SARS-CoV-2 infection from December 7, 2020, to August 29, …

Copyright Laundering Through The Ai Ouroboros: Adapting The 'Fruit Of The Poisonous Tree' Doctrine To Recursive Ai Training, Anirban Mukherjee, Hannah H. Chang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Copyright enforcement rests on an evidentiary bargain: a plaintiff must show both the defendant's access to the work and substantial similarity in the challenged output. That bargain comes under strain when AI systems are trained through multi-generational pipelines with recursive synthetic data. As each successive model is tuned on the outputs of its predecessors, any copyrighted material absorbed by an early model is further diffused into deeper statistical abstractions. The result is an evidentiary blind spot where overlaps that emerge look coincidental, while the chain of provenance is too attenuated to trace.These conditions are ripe for "copyright laundering"—the use of …

Skilled Migrants' Experiences Of Othering, Alterity And Language Policing, Uma Jogulu, Maggie Mcalinden, Melissa A. Parris, Juliana Mutum

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Australian Permanent Migration Program and related settlement services have been critical to Australia's success as a stable, democratic and culturally diverse nation. However, emerging research has revealed that this success may come with a high price for as many as one in four skilled migrants who find themselves employed beneath their level of education, expertise and experience, which we define as underemployment. We designed a study that sought to understand the settlement experiences of 36 Asia-Pacific-skilled migrants working as managers. Incorporating Spivak's concepts of subalternity, othering and alterity as a theoretical framework, our analysis uncovered how migrant identity intersected …

The Generality Of Psychosocial Safety Climate Theory—A Fundamental Element For Global Worker Well-Being: Evidence From Four Nations, May Young Loh, Michelle Chin Chin Lee, Maureen Dollard, Dianne Gardner, Kazuki Kikunaga, Tsukumi Tondokoro, Akinori Nakata, Mohd Awang Idris, Tim Bentley, Ali Afsharian, David Tappin, Darryl Forsyth

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Occupational health and safety researchers and policymakers often rely on organisational theories and evidence to provide valuable information for effective policy making and understanding. Yet, most traditional and contemporary organisational theories are developed within a single nation, often in high-income countries. Therefore, cross-national validation is required for generalisable worldwide use. The current study focuses on an antecedent to workplace health and safety, that is, the psychosocial safety climate (PSC), and aims to investigate if PSC is an etic (i.e., universally applicable) or emic (i.e., nationally/context specific) theory. Across nations, we investigate the construct meaning of PSC by testing PSC measurement …

Exercise Perceptions In People With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Insights From A Qualitative Study, Kedar Deshpande, John Olynyk, Oyekoya Ayonrinde, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic liver condition associated with lifestyle and metabolic risk factors. While exercise is a beneficial treatment strategy, many patients struggle to implement and perform exercise regularly. It is important for practitioners to know about patient awareness, attitudes, and preferences regarding exercise in the con-text of MASLD. In this study, we examined exercise knowledge, attitudes, and exercise preferences among patients with MASLD to improve their exercise behavior changes. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire and semi-structured inter-view study in adults with MASLD to assess their disease awareness, perspectives on exercise and exercise preferences. …

Measuring The Impact Of The Australian National Placement Evaluation Centre To Enhance Nursing And Midwifery Student Clinical Placements: A Multimodal Evaluation, Colleen Ryan, Robyn Cant, Areum Hyun, Debbie Procter, Louise Alexander, Dianne Bloxsome, Lynda Hughes, Fiona Bogossian, Simon Cooper

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To evaluate the early impact of the Centre. Background: The educational quality of nursing and midwifery student clinical placement learning varies. The National Placement Evaluation Centre has a pivotal role in quality improvement by systematically collecting student and supervisor feedback on placement experiences. Design: Multimodal impact evaluation. Methods: Data were collected from website analytics and a survey shared via stakeholder registration emails and social media. The Impact Management Planning and Evaluation Ladder model was used to understand impact. Data were analysed using a sequential, hybrid inductive/deductive approach. Descriptive statistics summarised participant characteristics and qualitative data were themed. Results: Website …

Ocular Changes As Potential Biomarkers For Early Diagnosis Of Alzheimer's Disease, Purna Chandra Poudel, Shaun M. Frost, Shaun Eslick, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Kevin Taddei, Eugene Hone, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia. AD diagnosis often involves a thorough assessment, including clinical evaluation, cognitive testing, medical history examination, genetic testing, and biomarker analysis. Currently, the invasive nature and high costs of biomarker testing, such as cerebrospinal fluid analysis and neuroimaging, have limited the early detection and intervention of the disease. Therefore, researchers have explored cheaper and less invasive options, such as ocular imaging. This review discusses the close relationship between the eye and the central nervous system and ocular changes as a potential non-invasive AD biomarker. Ocular changes …

Restricting Outdoor Advertising Of Unhealthy Food: Can Australia's Food Category-Based Classification System Be Applied Consistently?, Clare Whitton, Frith Klug, Alexia Bivoltsis, Georgina S.A. Trapp, Claire E. Pulker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Most outdoor food advertising (e.g. billboards and bus stops) features foods that are considered unhealthy. The most important technical challenge when designing policies to restrict unhealthy outdoor food advertising is defining 'unhealthy food'. To date, most restriction policies have used nutrient profiling models (i.e. foods are classified according to their nutritional composition) to determine which foods and beverages may be advertised. In Australia, state governments have endorsed a food category-based classification system, with no prescribed nutrient limits, which may create ambiguity when multiple users are identifying food advertisements to be restricted. This study aimed to assess the consistency of decisions …