Digital Commons Network^™

Stratomod: Predicting Sequencing And Variant Calling Errors With Interpretable Machine Learning, Fritz J Sedlazeck, Justin Wagner, Justin M Zook

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Despite the variety in sequencing platforms, mappers, and variant callers, no single pipeline is optimal across the entire human genome. Therefore, developers, clinicians, and researchers need to make tradeoffs when designing pipelines for their application. Currently, assessing such tradeoffs relies on intuition about how a certain pipeline will perform in a given genomic context. We present StratoMod, which addresses this problem using an interpretable machine-learning classifier to predict germline variant calling errors in a data-driven manner. We show StratoMod can precisely predict recall using Hifi or Illumina and leverage StratoMod's interpretability to measure contributions from difficult-to-map and homopolymer regions for …

Effect Of Covid-19 Vaccination On Covid-19 Mortality By Age In Georgia, Brennan Bogdanovich, Mckenzie E. Maloney, James Pollock, Lane Langston, Brittany Ange, Jack Yu

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Purpose: The COVID-19 epidemic led to significant morbidity and mortality globally, especially among the elderly. Because SARS-CoV-2 is a novel viral pathogen, there was a lack of preventative and treatment options. Availability of effective vaccines has been an important factor in determining the epidemic trajectory. Analyzing the effects of the vaccines in reducing mortality across age groups is important for guiding future public health responses. The objective of this study was to determine the association between age and COVID-19 mortality pre- and post-vaccination periods amongst Georgians.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used COVID-19 case numbers, COVID-19 deaths, age at time of …

Barriers To Help-Seeking Behavior For Maternal Mental Health Disorders: Application Of The Health Belief Model, Tobi F. Oloyede, Joanne Chopak-Foss

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) have become a leading cause of maternal mortality due to suicide among women in the first year following pregnancy. Although the profile for new mothers who die by suicide is predominantly white, disparities exist between Black and White women in their seeking help for perinatal and/or post-natal mood disorders. For Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), there are differences in the perceptions of the benefits of seeking help for PMADs. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated maternal mental health disorders in the United States particularly for women who live in communities with limited access to …

Public-Private Partnerships In Fema: Strengthening Communities Nationwide, Rachael A. Zerr

Publications and Research

This paper explores the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in strengthening communities through collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It defines FEMA’s mission and outlines the concept of PPPs, emphasizing their importance in enhancing disaster response and recovery efforts. The paper provides framework for establishing a PPP with FEMA, including key steps and practices for successful collaboration. Additionally, it highlights several examples of effective PPPs, including a longstanding partnership with Verizon Wireless. Drawing from FEMA reports and private sector publications, the paper demonstrates how these partnerships contribute to resilience and preparedness, illustrating their potential to improve the efficiency …

Uni Choirs Featuring The Varsity Glee Club, The Cecilians & Concert Chorale, October 13, 2024 [Program], University Of Northern Iowa. School Of Music.

Music Recital Programs

Program of a music recital given by faculty, students, or guest artists from the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa.

Impact Of Healthcare Education On Preferences For Electronic Health Records: Results From National Survey Of Patient Users In Sweden, Anna Kharko, Jamie Linnea Luckhaus, Charlotte Blease, Åsa Cajander, Josefin Hagström, Bridget T. Kane, Gunnar O. Klein, Sari Kujala, Jonas Moll, Isabella Scandurra, Maria Hägglund

School of Psychology

Electronic health records (EHR) are continuously evolving to better meet user needs, but the process is complicated by healthcare professionals and patients often disagreeing on priority areas of development. While this may be due to differences between professional and personal experiences, little is known whether specialist healthcare knowledge also affects user needs when using EHRs as patients. To investigate this, we analysed the responses of patient users in Sweden from the NORDeHEALTH 2022 Patient Survey. In the survey, respondents indicated whether they had healthcare education, and rated how useful various EHR information types and functions are. Average ratings were comparable …

Bi-Directional Allosteric Pathway In Nmda Receptor Activation And Modulation, Paula A Bender, Subhajit Chakraborty, Ryan J Durham, Vladimir Berka, Elisa Carrillo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are ionotropic glutamate receptors involved in learning and memory. NMDA receptors primarily comprise two GluN1 and two GluN2 subunits. The GluN2 subunit dictates biophysical receptor properties, including the extent of receptor activation and desensitization. GluN2A- and GluN2D-containing receptors represent two functional extremes. To uncover the conformational basis of their functional divergence, we utilize single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer to probe the extracellular domains of these receptor subtypes under resting and ligand-bound conditions. We find that the conformational profile of the GluN2 amino-terminal domain correlates with the disparate functions of GluN2A- and GluN2D-containing receptors. Changes at the pre-transmembrane …

Detection And Validation Of Organic Metabolites In Urine For Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Diagnosis., Kiana L. Holbrook, George E. Quaye, Elizabeth Noriega Landa, Xiaogang Su, Qin Gao, Heinric Williams, Ryan Young, Sabur Badmos, Ahsan Habib, Angelica A. Chacon, Wen-Yee Lee

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) comprises the majority, approximately 70-80%, of renal cancer cases and often remains asymptomatic until incidentally detected during unrelated abdominal imaging or at advanced stages. Currently, standardized screening tests for renal cancer are lacking, which presents challenges in disease management and improving patient outcomes. This study aimed to identify ccRCC-specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the urine of ccRCC-positive patients and develop a urinary VOC-based diagnostic model.

METHODS: This study involved 233 pretreatment ccRCC patients and 43 healthy individuals. VOC analysis utilized stir-bar sorptive extraction coupled with thermal desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SBSE-TD-GC/MS). A …

Examining Assessment Tools To Predict Burnout Among Healthcare Practitioners And Students, Robin Hilliard Albertson, Lindsay Gietzen

Pacific Journal of Health

The U.S. health system is stretched thin by pressures to expand service delivery and improve outcomes while reducing costs. This pressure is intensified by global health crises and other factors, resulting in further reductions in the healthcare workforce due to burnout. The strain leaves healthcare practitioners at risk of experiencing negative consequences of burnout, even death [1]. This study explored the correlations between three validated assessment tools to determine if early signs of burnout in healthcare practitioners and students can be identified succinctly, thus expanding the current body of evidence on the strengths of environments supporting career retention and healthcare …

Beyond The Checklist: Pilot Education, Aviation Resources, And Health Management Skills, Nancy Smith

Pacific Journal of Health

The research study investigates if pilots find aviation health-related materials provided from training or aviation associations to support their own health needs. A mixed methods convergent parallel design was conducted by sampling 27 pilots within general aviation to assess their utilization of aviation health-related materials, health management skills including self-efficacy and prioritization, as well as their views of implementing particular health topics into aviation training. Results of the study indicate that it is unclear if pilots find aviation health materials useful in managing their health, pilots have a relatively high level of self-efficacy and ability to prioritize one’s health and …

Read Alouds In Elementary School, Casey Mccallum

Graduate Teacher Education

Abstract

This paper examined research in regards to the effects of read alouds in the elementary school setting. Read alouds provided educators a way to equitably and inclusively introduce stories to students that will ultimately enhance their reading ability, comprehension, and overall enjoyment of literacy. The research analyzed in this paper consisted of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research. The research looked at the different aspects of read alouds such as interactive strategies, repeated readings, and shared readings; as well as how read alouds impact vocabulary acquisition and social-emotional wellbeing. The research suggested parents and teachers are role models to young …

Outdoor Play For All, Kelsey Baker

Graduate Teacher Education

Research has shown there are many benefits to outdoor play. The benefits included an increase in movement, improvements to cognitive development, healthier bones, less stress, and growth for the whole child (Bai et al., 2019). When time was spent outdoors, children had the opportunity to participate in physical activity for large motor development. Even when children simply had nature nearby there were positive effects on children’s health and wellbeing (Fraser, Heimlich, Yocco, 2010). Spending time outdoors helped connect children to the natural world and encouraged exploration and curiosity. Children had more opportunities to develop executive functioning skills and social skills …

Implementation Of Inquiry-Based Science Practices, Christian Larson

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper was a synthesis of current research on the implementation of inquiry-based learning (IBL) in high school science classrooms. The research was a combination of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method studies done to investigate the barriers to implementation, the importance of proper training and resources, and the effectiveness of IBL practices on student success and interest in science. The research showed several different barriers noted in historical implementation of IBL practices an educational leader should note and prepare for when attempting to implement these strategies. It also showed the positive effect of relevant and meaningful professional development opportunities at many …

Positive Teacher-Student Relationships, Krista Sullivan

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper examined recent studies highlighting the beneficial effects of teacher-student relationships (TSRs) for both educators and students. It discussed a range of research findings regarding the emotional impact on teachers, emphasizing how strong relationships with students can enhance their job satisfaction and motivation. The paper also explored effective strategies for enhancing TSRs through tailored teaching practices and professional development initiatives, showing how educators can foster closer connections with their students. Furthermore, the study addressed the academic and emotional benefits for students, illustrating how positive TSRs lead to increased engagement, improved academic performance, and better emotional well-being. Research revealed that …

What Is Truly Best For Students For Them To Succeed In High School Classrooms Today, Matthew Ortt

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper examined research studies that explored what is truly best for student success in the field of education. This topic aimed to determine the best way to teach students or ensure they reach their full potential through research findings from various qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method studies. These studies examined the areas of school start times and student’s daily schedules, academic structure and how classes are being offered, student mental health, and the use of technology in the classroom. The research showed a plethora of ways that could help students succeed and gave great insights into data that may already …

Whole Child Development: Academic Knowledge Influence, Allison Thielbar

Graduate Teacher Education

In the education systems, the emphasis on academic achievement often overshadows the development of young learners. This pressure was particularly evident in early childhood classrooms, where educators were to prioritize standardized academic outcomes over the broader needs of the whole child (Cade et al., 2022). This research paper explored the tension between academic pressure and development in early childhood education, examining how the intense
focus on academic knowledge could undermine efforts to support the social, emotional, and cognitive growth of students (Friedman et al., 2021). A review of existing literature and an analysis of educational practices showed that the emphasis …

Long-Term Human Immune Reconstitution, T-Cell Development, And Immune Reactivity In Mice Lacking The Murine Major Histocompatibility Complex: Validation With Cellular And Gene Expression Profiles., Milita Darguzyte, Philipp Antczak, Daniel Bachurski, Patrick Hoelker, Nima Abedpour, Rahil Gholamipoorfard, Hans A Schlößer, Kerstin Wennhold, Martin Thelen, Maria A Garcia-Marquez, Johannes Koenig, Andreas Schneider, Tobias Braun, Frank Klawonn, Michael Damrat, Masudur Rahman, Jan-Malte Kleid, Sebastian J Theobald, Eugen Bauer, Constantin Von Kaisenberg, Steven R Talbot, Leonard D. Shultz, Brian Soper, Renata Stripecke

Faculty Research 2024

Background: Humanized mice transplanted with CD34+ hematopoietic cells (HPCs) are broadly used to study human immune responses and infections in vivo and for testing therapies pre-clinically. However, until now, it was not clear whether interactions between the mouse major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) and/or the human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) were necessary for human T-cell development and immune reactivity. Methods: We evaluated the long-term (20- week) human hematopoiesis and human T-cell development in NOD Scid Gamma (NSG) mice lacking the expression of MHC class I and II (NSG-DKO). Triplicate experiments were performed with HPCs obtained from three donors, and humanization was confirmed …

A Disparate Disaster: Spatial Patterns Of Building Damage Caused By Hurricane Ian And Associated Socio-Economic Factors, Md Zakaria Salim, Yi Qiang, Barnali Dixon, Jennifer Collins

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

The literature shows that communities under different socio-economic conditions suffer different levels of damage in disasters. In addition to the physical intensity of hazards, such differences are also related to the varying abilities of communities to prepare for and respond to disasters. This study analyzes the spatial patterns of building damage in Hurricane Ian in 2022 and investigates the socio-economic disparities related to the damage. Specifically, this study employs NASA’s Damage Proxy Map (DPM2) to analyze spatial patterns of building damage caused by the hurricane. Then, it uses statistical analysis to assess the relationships between building damage and hurricane intensity, …

High Dividends, Eric F. Spina

President's Blog: From the Heart

Thank you, Trevor! I appreciate your innovative and steadfast leadership as dean of theSchool of Business Administration. You and your faculty and staff provide countlessopportunities for our students to gain the kind of high-impact hands-on experience that givesthem a competitive edge when they graduate and start their careers.

Measuring And Analyzing The Effectiveness Of Monetary Policy Tools To Manage The Internal Public Debt Structure In Iraq, Ali Wahaib Abdallah, Alyaa Hussein Khalaf F Al-Zarkroushib

Muthanna Journal of Administrative and Economics Sciences

The research aims to analyze the relationship between monetary policy tools and the structure of domestic debt in Iraq based on the multiple regression model after testing the stability of the series under study using approved tests based on monthly data (2016-2024). The research reached several conclusions confirming a relationship between the variables. Using the standard method, it became clear that the relationship between the independent variable Policy Price (PP), which expresses the policy rate, the cash reserve variable Monetary Reserves (R), and the dependent variable, remittances discounted from the Central Bank (CBC), is an inverse relationship, i.e. if the …

Navigating Artificial Intelligence In Spine Surgery: Implementation And Optimization Across The Care Continuum, Antony A. Fuleihan, Arjun K. Menta, Tej D. Azad, Kelly Jiang, Carly Weber-Levine, Daniel A. Davidar, Andrew M. Hersh, Nicholas Theodore

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

The field of spine surgery has long been characterized by innovations and technological advancements. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into spine surgery represents one of the latest technical developments in the field. The ability of AI to rapidly analyze datasets improves decision making, risk assessment, intraoperative precision, and postoperative management, all of which contribute to increasing personalized spine care and improving outcomes. However, the successful implementation of AI faces regulatory and privacy challenges that must be addressed before its full potential can be realized. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of the current applications and future prospects of AI …

Gift Provides A Boon For Business Students, Bill Dabney

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – Charles Doty's recent gift to the University of Mississippi will help School of Business Administration students participating in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Regular Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use Increases Stress Fracture Risk In The General Population: A Retrospective Case-Control Study, Alexandra Ciuciu, Chris Mulholland, Michael A. Bozzi, Chris C. Frymoyer, Leonardo Cavinatto, David Yaron, Marc I. Harwood, Jeremy D. Close, Christopher J. Mehallo, Ryan E. Tomlinson

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Previous studies have shown that the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with increased stress fracture risk. This phenomenon has been studied predominantly in high-activity individuals, so data regarding the general population are limited despite the substantial economic and resource burden of stress fracture injuries within the general US population. Furthermore, our preclinical studies demonstrate that regular use of NSAIDs also diminishes the intrinsic ability of bone to resist fracture. To determine the association of regular NSAID use with stress fractures in the general population, we surveyed subjects presenting with either stress fracture or uncomplicated ankle sprain to …

Jade Taylor V. West Millard Mosquito Abatement District : Brief Of Appellee, Utah Court Of Appeals

Utah Court of Appeals Briefs (2020 –)

Appeal from the Fourth District Court, Millard County, State of Utah, Case No. 220700005 the Honorable Anthony Howell Presiding Justin D.

Justin D. Heideman (8897) Norman W. Peat, Jr. (17836) HEIDEMAN & ASSOCIATES Attorneys for Plaintiff/Appellant

Gregory N. Hoole (7894) HOOLE & KING Attorneys for Defendant/Appellee

Effects Of Operating Parameters On The Higher Heating Value Of Kitchen Waste During Hydrothermal Carbonization, Veronika Gerald Kimario, Mahir Mohammed Said

Tanzania Journal of Science

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising waste to energy technology for conversion of organic wastes with high water contents. There have been relatively few studies focused on evaluating the HTC of solid waste (SW). The studies have provided valuable information regarding HTC feasibility and potential environmental benefits. However, they lack the data necessary to understand how carbonization product composition and reaction extent change with the variation of operating parameter. This study sought to characterize kitchen waste from a university restaurant, to assess the impact of operating parameters on hydro-char and evaluate its potential as a solid fuel. The methodology for …

A Proteomics Approach To Study Mouse Long Bones: Examining Baseline Differences And Mechanical Loading-Induced Bone Formation In Young-Adult And Old Mice, Christopher J Chermside-Scabbo, John T Shuster, Petra Erdmann-Gilmore, Eric Tycksen, Qiang Zhang, R Reid Townsend, Matthew J Silva

2020-Current year OA Pubs

With aging, bone mass declines and the anabolic effects of skeletal loading diminish. While much research has focused on gene transcription, how bone ages and loses its mechanoresponsiveness at the protein level remains unclear. We developed a novel proteomics approach and performed a paired mass spectrometry and RNA-seq analysis on tibias from young-adult (5-month) and old (22-month) mice. We report the first correlation estimate between the bone proteome and transcriptome (Spearman

Sis. Rose Mary Kelly

African American Funeral Programs

No abstract provided.

Arnold Ladarryl "Dook, Snipes, Og" Thompson

African American Funeral Programs

Arnold_Ladarryl--Dook--Snipes--OG--Thompson.pdf - Funeral program for Arnold Thompson

Scaling Individual Tree Transpiration With Thermal Cameras Reveals Interspecies Differences To Drought Vulnerability, Mostafa Javadian, Donald M. Aubrecht, Joshua B. Fisher, Russell L. Scott, Sean P. Burns, Jen L. Diehl, J. William Munger, Andrew D. Richardson

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Understanding tree transpiration variability is vital for assessing ecosystem water-use efficiency and forest health amid climate change, yet most landscape-level measurements do not differentiate individual trees. Using canopy temperature data from thermal cameras, we estimated the transpiration rates of individual trees at Harvard Forest and Niwot Ridge. PT-JPL model was used to derive latent heat flux from thermal images at the canopy-level, showing strong agreement with tower measurements (R2 = 0.70–0.96 at Niwot, 0.59–0.78 at Harvard at half-hourly to monthly scales) and daily RMSE of 33.5 W/m2 (Niwot) and 52.8 W/m2 (Harvard). Tree-level analysis revealed species-specific responses to …

Service User Perspectives' Of Sensory Processing And Occupational Participation In A Forensic Mental Health Setting, Elanor Moore, Rosi Raine, Alison Warren, Karen Beaulieu

School of Health Professions

Service Users’ lived experiences of sensory processing, occupation and forensic mental healthABSTRACTBackgroundSensory processing is a universal dynamic mind-body process which all individuals experience, is influenced by the environment and will impact participation in occupations.Forensic mental health service users are encouraged to participate in occupationally enriching opportunities, for safe community reintegration. Emerging evidence indicates links between sensory processing and mental health, but with limited guidance on how this translates into occupationally focused practice in a secure setting.AimThis PhD research explored the lived-experiences of five service users in relation to sensory processing and its influence on their occupational participation.MethodPhenomenology was used to …