Digital Commons Network^™

Author Correction: Oligodendroglial Fatty Acid Metabolism As A Central Nervous System Energy Reserve, Ebrahim Asadollahi, Andrea Trevisiol, Aiman S Saab, Zoe J Looser, Payam Dibaj, Reyhane Ebrahimi, Kathrin Kusch, Torben Ruhwedel, Wiebke Möbius, Olaf Jahn, Jun Yup Lee, Anthony S Don, Michelle-Amirah Khalil, Karsten Hiller, Myriam Baes, Bruno Weber, E Dale Abel, Andrea Ballabio, Brian Popko, Celia M Kassmann, Hannelore Ehrenreich, Johannes Hirrlinger, Klaus-Armin Nave

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Applying A Health Equity Lens To Better Understand End-Of-Life Prognostication, Newsha Nikzad, Joelle Robertson-Preidler, Faith E Fletcher

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Racial and ethnic inequity exists throughout the lifespan, including at the end of life (EOL). Although prognostication is inherently fraught with uncertainty, many underrepresented minorities get prognoses that are overly optimistic, which can exacerbate inequity by depriving patients of details needed to make informed decisions and plan for EOL care. This article applies a health equity lens to facilitate better ethical and clinical understandings of how to care for patients of color more equitably at the EOL.

Venom Immunization: Igg/Ige Titers, Safety, Risk, And Methods Of The Viprbitem Cohort, Brian P. Hanley, Gustavo Gross

School of Medicine Publications

Background: This is the first study to examine a cohort that engages in the practice of immunization with snake venoms. In this practice, either fresh wet venom or venom reconstituted from freeze-dried form is used in vaccination protocols to produce hyper-immunity to venom.

Methods: This is a retrospective community-initiated collaborative research (CICR) project that collated the records of venom immunization. Records of schedules, formulations, photographs, medical records, and diaries were collated from existing practitioners and evaluated by inspection and interviews. One accidental bite was observed over 3 days, with vital signs, and photographic records of swelling taken to verify reality …

Burden Of Mortality From Hepatocellular Carcinoma And Biliary Tract Cancers By Race And Ethnicity And Sex In Us, 2018–2023, Donghee Kim, Richie Manikat, Karn Wijarnpreecha, George Cholankeril, Aijaz Ahmed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: The trends in mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and biliary tract cancers stratified by sex and race/ethnicity in the US continue to evolve. We estimated the sex- and race/ethnicity-based trends in HCC and biliary tract cancers-related mortality in US adults with a focus on disease burden.

METHODS: We performed a population-based analysis using the US national mortality records from 2018 to 2023. We identified HCC and biliary tract cancer using appropriate ICD-10 codes. Temporal trends in mortality were calculated by joinpoint analysis with annual percentage change (APC).

RESULTS: Annual age-standardized mortality from HCC decreased steadily with an APC of …

Source Model Parameters For Beam Commissioning Of Scanning Proton Therapy Treatment Planning System: Multi-Institutional Survey And Analysis, Chih-Wei Chang, Liyong Lin, Lei Dong, Heng Li, Jan Po Schuemann, Jiajian Shen, Xuanfeng Ding

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Purpose: To create a beamline-specific repository of source model parameters and beam commissioning data for scanning proton therapy (PT) treatment planning system (TPS).

Methods: We surveyed 28 PT centers, collecting beam commissioning source model parameters of diverse beamlines from different vendors: Hitachi, IBA, Varian, Mevion. Parameters included (i) beam meterset calibration in protons per MU, (ii) in-air spot size at isocenter in terms of standard deviation in x- (crossline, σ_x) and y- (inline, σ_y) directions, (iii) in-air angular spread at isocenter in x-direction (θ_x) and y-direction (θ_y). We plotted each parameter as …

Multicohort Epigenome-Wide Association Study Of All-Cause Cardiovascular Disease And Cancer Incidence: A Cardio-Oncology Approach, Arce Domingo-Relloso, Angela L Riffo-Campos, Naisi Zhao, Guillermo Ayala, Karin Haack, Carlos Manterola, Dorothy A Rhoades, Jason G Umans, M Daniele Fallin, Miguel Herreros-Martinez, Marina Pollan, Eric Boerwinkle, Elizabeth A Platz, Miranda R Jones, Jan Bressler, Roby Joehanes, Calen P Ryan, Juan R Gonzalez, Daniel Levy, Daniel W Belsky, Shelley A Cole, Dominique S Michaud, Ana Navas-Acien, Maria Tellez-Plaza

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence reveals a complex relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer, which share common risk factors and biological pathways.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate common epigenetic signatures for CVD and cancer incidence in 3 ethnically diverse cohorts: Native Americans from the SHS (Strong Heart Study), European Americans from the FHS (Framingham Heart Study), and European Americans and African Americans from the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities) study.

METHODS: A 2-stage strategy was used that included first conducting untargeted epigenome-wide association studies for each cohort and then running targeted models in the union set of …

Talar And Calcaneal Coordinate Axes Definitions Across Foot Pathologies, Kassidy Knutson, Erika P. Muhlrad, Andrew C. Peterson, Thomas Leonard, Abigail M. Anderson, Katelyn C. Aragon, Zachary J. Eatough, Bruce A. Macwilliams, Karen M. Kruger, Amy L. Lenz

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The understanding of foot and ankle biomechanics is improving as new technology provides more detailed information about the motion of foot and ankle bones with biplane fluoroscopy, as well as the ability to analyze the hindfoot under weightbearing conditions with weightbearing computed tomography. Three-dimensional anatomical coordinate systems are necessary to describe the 3D alignment and kinematics of the foot and ankle. The lack of standard coordinate systems across research study sites can significantly alter experimental data analyses used for pre-surgical evaluation and post-operative outcome assessments. Clinical treatment paradigms are changing based on the expanding knowledge of complex pes planovalgus morphologies …

A Sophisticated Model Of Human Atherosclerosis On A Chip, Brandon J. Tefft

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Lumbar Spine Orientation Affects Compressive Fracture Outcome, Rachel Cutlan, Muhammaed Khokhar, Nader Shammout, Alok Shah, Lance Frazer, Narayan Yoganandan, Barry S. Shender, James Sheehy, Glenn Paskoff, Daniel Nicolella, Timothy B. Bentley, Saman Shabani, Brian D. Stemper

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

Understanding how spinal orientation affects injury outcome is essential to understand lumbar injury biomechanics associated with high-rate vertical loading.

Methods

Whole-column human lumbar spines (T12–L5) were dynamically loaded using a drop tower to simulate peak axial forces associated with high-speed aircraft ejections and helicopter crashes. Spines were allowed to maintain natural lordotic curvature for loading, resulting in a range of orientations. Pre-test X-rays were used to quantify specimen orientation at the time of loading. Primary fracture types were identified (wedge, n = 6; burst, n = 4; hyperextension, n = 4) and compared for loading parameters and lumbar orientation. …

Realtime And Noninvasive Assessment Of Endotracheal Tube Displacement Using Near-Infrared And Visible Cameras, Tongtong Lu, Pawjai Khampang, Ahmed Beydoun, Rebecca Rodhe, Wenzhou Hong, Joseph E. Kerschner, Bing Yu

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Endotracheal tube (ETT) intubation is a medical procedure routinely used for achieving mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients. Appropriate ETT placement is crucial as undetected tube migration may cause multiple complications or even fatalities. Therefore, prompt detection of unplanned movement of the ETT and immediate action to restore proper placement are essential to ensure patient safety. Despite this necessity, there is not a widely adopted tool for real-time assessment of ETT displacement. We have developed a device, a dual-camera endotracheal tube or DC-ETT, to address this unmet clinical need. This device uses a near-infrared (NIR) LED and a side-firing optical …

From Crisis To Closure: Use Of Kerecis© Omega3 And Negative Pressure Wound Therapy In Treating Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection, Nikita Gambhir, Heather V. Tran, Stephanie N. Campbell, Mihir Panchal

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

The aim of this case study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Kerecis© Omega3 MariGen Micro for the treatment of a necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) in a diabetic patient, including wound healing progress and closure outcomes post-application.

The application of acellular dermal micromatrix allograft in conjunction with NPWT and STSG, facilitated significant wound healing in a patient with NSTI, without amputation. This case highlights the unique properties of Kerecis Omega3, a fish-derived skin substitute rich in omega-3 fatty acids, significantly contributed to tissue regeneration and wound healing, even in a high-risk patient with multiple comorbidities, including diabetes and obesity. …

Tracking Implementation Of Shark-Related Measures And Actions In The Mediterranean Region In The Context Of International Law, Jason Lowther, Lydia Koehler

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

We present national implementation progress on international and regional legal obligations up to 2020 and discuss recent developments in shark conservation management in the region. This study provides insights into the complexity of implemented measures and actions related to shark conservation and fisheries management, governed by various legal instruments. Measures were primarily identified through regional fisheries management organisations (RFMO) reports, reports of Focal Point meetings under the Barcelona Convention, and national reports under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). A total of 208 implemented measures across different categories were found. The most common …

A Top Model Of Urban Residents’ Subjective Well-Being In China, Bing Pan, Deborah Kerstetter, Xiaoli Yi, Gaojun Zhang, Rui Li, Jie Gao, Xiangyou Sharon Shen, Guangming Li

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Past research on subjective well-being (SWB) in Western society and China has revealed various contributing factors. This study conducted a series of interviews with Chinese urban residents to systematically analyze those factors based on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System Theory. The results revealed that 5 layers, 23 factors, and 55 elements, many of which had distinct Chinese characteristics, contributed to Chinese urban residents’ SWB. The Top Model of SWB, visualized as a spinning top or gyroscope, showcased the interdependent layers of factors impacting Chinese urban residents’ SWB. At its vertical axis is a time dimension as residents often reflect on factors by …

The Piper Survey. Ii. The Globular Cluster Systems Of Low Surface Brightness Galaxies In The Perseus Cluster, Steven R. Janssens, Duncan A. Forbes, Aaron J. Romanowsky, Jonah Gannon, Joel Pfeffer, Warrick J. Couch, Jean P. Brodie, William E. Harris, Patrick R. Durrell, Kenji Bekki

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

We present Hubble Space Telescope ACS/WFC and WFC3/UVIS imaging for a sample of 50 low-surface brightness (LSB) galaxies in the ∼ 1015 M☉ Perseus cluster, which were originally identified in ground-based imaging. We measure the structural properties of these galaxies and estimate the total number of globular clusters (GCs) they host. Around half of our sample galaxies meet the strict definition of an ultra-diffuse galaxy (UDG), while the others are UDG-like but are either somewhat more compact or slightly brighter. A small number of galaxies reveal systems with many tens of GCs, rivalling some of the richest GC systems known …

Soprano: Macitentan In Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension Following Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation, Robert P Frantz, Gregory Ewald, Joel D Schilling, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Macitentan is a dual endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) approved for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). SOPRANO evaluated the efficacy and safety of macitentan versus placebo in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. SOPRANO was a phase 2, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Patients with an LVAD implanted within the prior 90 days who had persistent PH (i.e., mean pulmonary arterial pressure ≥25 mmHg, pulmonary artery wedge pressure [PAWP] ≤18 mmHg, and pulmonary vascular resistance [PVR] >3 Wood units [WU]) were randomized (1:1) to macitentan 10 mg or placebo once daily for 12 weeks. The …

Peripartum Prediction Of Fetal Weight In Gravidas With Obesity, Katherine H Bligard, Jeannie C Kelly, Antonina I Frolova, Anthony O Odibo, Nandini Raghuraman

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVES: Estimated fetal weight (EFW) is an important metric at delivery as neonates with abnormal birthweight and their mothers are at higher risk of birth complications. Data regarding optimal EFW assessment in gravidas with obesity is inconsistent, and with the increasing incidence of obesity, clarification of this question is crucial. We aimed to compare accuracy of ultrasound (US)-derived EFW and clinical assessments of EFW in predicting neonatal birthweight among gravidas with obesity.

METHODS: This prospective cohort study enrolled gravidas with obesity and a singleton pregnancy admitted for delivery at term. EFW was determined using either US biometry or clinical assessment …

Mannosylated Pamam G2 Dendrimers Mediated Rate Programmed Delivery Of Efavirenz Target Hiv Viral Latency At Reservoirs, Rohini Kharwad, Mohsin Kazi, Nilesh Mahajan, Payal Badole, Sachin More, Asaad Kayali, Md Noushad Javed, Mohammed Kaleem

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

In this current research, we conceptualized a novel nanotechnology-enabled synthesis approach of targeting HIV-harboring tissues via second-generation (G2) polyamidoamine (PAMAM) mannosylated (MPG2) dendrimers for programmed delivery of anti-HIV drugs efavirenz (EFV) and ritonavir (RTV). Briefly, here mannose served purpose of ligand in this EFV and RTV-loaded PAMAM G2 dendrimers, synthesized by divergent techniques, denoted as MPG2ER. The developed nanocarriers were characterized by different analytical tools FTIR, NMR, zeta potential, particle size, and surface morphology. The results of confocal microscopy showed substantial alterations in the morphology of H9 cells, favored by relatively higher drug uptake through the MPG2ER. Interestingly, the drug …

The False Choice Between Digital Regulation And Innovation, Anu Bradford

Faculty Scholarship

This Article challenges the common view that more stringent regulation of the digital economy inevitably compromises innovation and undermines technological progress. This view, vigorously advocated by the tech industry, has shaped the public discourse in the United States, where the country’s thriving tech economy is often associated with a staunch commitment to free markets. U.S. lawmakers have also traditionally embraced this perspective, which explains their hesitancy to regulate the tech industry to date. The European Union has chosen another path, regulating the digital economy with stringent data privacy, antitrust, content moderation, and other digital regulations designed to shape the evolution …

Commercial Boilerplate: A Review And Research Agenda, Robert E. Scott, Stephen J. Choi, Mitu Gulati

Faculty Scholarship

Boilerplate contracts have long fascinated legal scholars. But the focus has been largely on consumer contracts, with the debate centered on the question of whether take-it-or-leave-it mass-produced forms imposed on consumers by large corporations should be treated as contracts or as a problem in regulation. By contrast, commercial boilerplate — the standard forms used in transactions for corporate or sovereign bonds or merger agreements — has traditionally received little attention. The assumption has been that form contracts among sophisticated parties may differ in form but not in substance from bespoke contracts between business entities. Yet a growing body of scholarship …

The State Statutes Project, Neel Guha, Diego A. Zambrano

Faculty Scholarship

State statutes are having a moment in national debates. Partly fueled by polarization, state legislatures have pushed the boundaries on almost every important national question, from abortion and regulation of social media, all the way to police lawsuits and drug use. Take, for instance, the by now well-known example of Texas Senate Bill 8. To avoid Roe v. Wade, the Texas Legislature enacted a statute that allowed private parties (really, anyone) to sue abortion providers. The kicker was that the statute prohibited government enforcement in order to prevent Ex parte Young style challenges in federal court. Or take Montana’s attempt …

Machine Learning And Simulation Techniques For Detecting Buoys From Lidar Data, Christopher Adolphi

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Maritime autonomy, specifically the use of autonomous and semi-autonomous maritime vessels, is a key enabling technology supporting a set of diverse and critical research areas, including coastal and environmental resilience, assessment of waterway health, ecosystem/asset monitoring and maritime port security. Critical to the safe, efficient and reliable operation of an autonomous maritime vessel is its ability to perceive the external environment through onboard sensors. The main sensor utilized in this research is a LiDAR sensor. This sensor is able to generate point clouds of the surrounding environment, of which a machine learning model is used to label each point in …

Child-Taking, Diane Marie Amann

Scholarly Works

A ruling group at times takes certain children from their community and then tries to remake them in its image. It tries to rid the child of undesired differences, in ethnicity or nationality, religion or politics, race or ancestry, culture or class. There are too many examples: the colonialist residential schools that forced settler cultures on Indigenous children; the military juntas that kidnapped dissidents’ children; and today’s reports of abductions amid crises like that in Syria. Too often nothing is done and the children are lost. But that may be changing, as the International Criminal Court is seeking to arrest …

Computational And Experimental Data For Undoped And Er-Doped Lithium Tantalate Nanofluorescent Probes, Mkhitar A. Hobosyan, Andrea Pelayo Carvajal, Bhupendra B. Srivastava, Tamanna Zakia, Mohammed Jasim Uddin, Karen S. Martirosyan, Eric Rodriguez, Kofi Nketia Ackaah-Gyasi, Nicholas Dimakis

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The density functional theory (DFT) and experimental data presented in this paper refer to the research article “Computational and experimental study on undoped and Er-doped lithium tantalate nano fluorescent probes”. The DFT data contain electronic and optical properties for both LiTaO3 and LiTaO3:Er+3, with Er+3 occupying either Li or Ta sites at 4.167 mol. %. All these properties were calculated at the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) limit. Additionally, electronic information was calculated using the hybrid functional by Heyd, Scuseria, and Ernzerho (HSE06), which accurately predicts the location in energy for all Er-4f orbitals. We also include simulated X-ray near edge …

Navigating Ethical Challenges In Online Wildlife Trade Research, Thais Q. Morcatty, Shan Su, Penthai Siriwat, Astrid Alex Andersson, Sadek Atoussi, Kim Feddema, Sergio Henriques, Jordi Janssen, Anushri Karve, Jennifer Pytka, Ruth M. Thompson, Vincent Nijman, Joss Wright, David L. Roberts

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The surge in internet accessibility has transformed wildlife trade by facilitating the acquisition of wildlife through online platforms. This scenario presents unique ethical challenges for researchers, as traditional ethical frameworks for in-person research cannot be readily applied to the online realm. Currently, there is a lack of clearly defined guidelines for appropriate ethical procedures when conducting online wildlife trade (OWT) research. In response to this, we consulted the scientific literature on ethical considerations in online research and examined existing guidelines established by professional societies and ethical boards. Based on these documents, we present a set of recommendations that can inform …

Clinical And Research Application Of Fluid Biomarkers In Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease And Down Syndrome, María Carmona-Iragui, Antoinette O'Connor, Jorge Llibre-Guerra, Patrick Lao, Nicholas J Ashton, Juan Fortea, Raquel Sánchez-Valle

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (ADAD) and Down syndrome (DS) constitute genetic forms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study of these forms has been crucial in understanding the biomarker changes and disease progression, notably in advancing our knowledge of the natural history of AD. However, some specific characteristics of biomarkers in genetically determined forms and, most importantly, the near full penetrance and predictability of disease onset lead to a very different context of use for biomarkers in these populations. This article delves into the similarities and differences in biomarker profiles between genetically determined AD and sporadic cases, discussing the implications for …

Prophylactic Antibiotics For Excision Of Premalignant Vulvar Lesions: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Mary M Mullen, Whitney R Grither, Hannah Millimet, David G Mutch, Andrea R Hagemann, Carolyn K Mccourt, Matthew A Powell, Premal H Thaker, Dineo Khabele, Lindsay M Kuroki

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No prospective data have been described to inform guidelines on antibiotic prophylaxis for partial vulvectomies. Thus, we conducted a single-center, pilot, double-blind randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of prophylactic antibiotics to prevent wound complications after partial vulvectomies. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to preoperative antibiotics or no preoperative antibiotics. The primary outcome of 30-day postoperative wound complications occurred in 31 (62 %) of all patients, with no differences between groups. The most common wound complications were superficial separation (54.2 % antibiotic prophylaxis vs. 65.3 % no prophylaxis, p = 0.37) and surgical site infection (0 % antibiotic prophylaxis …

Customers Choice Towards Aftersales Serviceability Of Counterfeit Spare Parts A Case Study, Syahrul Nizam Samsudin, Bulan Abdullah, Noriah Yusoff

Malaysian Journal of Computing (MJoC)

A case study was conducted to examine Malaysian perceptions of product origin in connection to counterfeit components of Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (PROTON). Some consumers regard the price of spare parts at service centres as costly, while others find it affordable. This view is formed based on individuals' prior experience with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) components and the imitation parts found at non-certified service centres. The study evaluates the customers’ perception levels and the correlations of customer choice characteristics (CCC) with country of origin (COO) image towards countries that produce counterfeit spare parts, such as China, Taiwan, and Thailand. …

A New Framework For Deploying Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Using Containerization Approach, Nukman Samsuddin, Mohamad Yusof Darus, Muhammad Azizi Mohd Ariffin

Malaysian Journal of Computing (MJoC)

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to virtual learning, pushing educational institutions to adopt innovative solutions like Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). However, traditional VDI faces performance issues due to resource limitations. This research aims to enhance VDI performance and scalability by proposing a new framework based on containerization to address performance degradation issues such as unutilized CPU and memory usage in VDI. Four key performance metrics—CPU performance, memory performance, boot time, and latency—were evaluated. This research employed a qualitative method involving five phases: problem identification, planning, design and development, testing, and result analysis. The results show that the proposed containerization …

Prediction Of Diabetic Retinopathy Among Diabetic Neuropathy In T2dm Patients Using Data Mining Algorithm, Nur Balqis Oon, Zuraida Khairudin, Hezlin Aryani Abd Rahman, Norbaizura Kamarudin, Nur Syamimi Haji Abu Bakar, Nor Azimah Abd Aziz

Malaysian Journal of Computing (MJoC)

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic neuropathy (DN) are the most common complications among diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. Despite the widespread awareness, the implications of these serious diabetes complications remain poorly understood. Hence, this study aims to determine the association between DR and DN, predict DR and identify the significant risk factors associated with DR among DN patients based on the best predictive model obtained. Three models are employed in this study; Logistic Regression (LR) (Forward, Backward, Enter and Optimize), Decision Tree (Information Gain, Gini Index and Gain Ratio) and Artificial Neural Network with a splitting of 70-30. This study involved …

Design And Development Of A Sensor And Actuator Network Prototype For Monitoring And Control Of Growth Parameters For High Value Crops, Mel Vincent A. Ampo, Jasper Adrian Dwight V. Castro, John Paolo A. Ramoso, Melvin C. Ilang-Ilang, Victor A. Rodulfo Jr., Alexis C. Del Rosario, Daneille Drew Reyes, Jiah Jamil R. De Guzman

Journal Article

Losses due to inefficiencies in farm management and operations are some of the major problems encountered in farm production, especially for high value crops. To address these inefficiencies, farm management practices must lean towards a more data-driven decision making by employing smart and accurate technology interventions. The emergence of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and big data management helped push precision agriculture further by giving it better data collection, management, and more efficient communication protocols. In the case of tomato production, losses due to farm management inefficiencies were one of the problems observed in a prior needs …