Digital Commons Network^™

Memory Modulation: Dominance Of Negative Visual Context Over Neutral Verbal Memory, Stas Kozak, Noa Herz, Maya Tocker, Yair Bar-Haim, Nitzan Censor

Department of Neurology Faculty Papers

Neutral memories can be modulated via intentional memory control paradigms such as directed forgetting. In addition, previous studies have shown that neutral visual memories can be modulated indirectly, via remember and forget instructions towards competing verbal memories. Here we show that direct modulation of neutral verbal memory strength is impaired by negative visual context, and that negative visual context is resistant to indirect memory modulation. Participants were directly instructed to intentionally remember or forget newly encoded neutral verbal information. Importantly, this verbal information was interleaved with embedded negative visual context. Results showed that negative visual context eliminated the well-documented effect …

Wip: An Engaging Undergraduate Intro To Model Checking In Software Engineering Using Tla+, Konstantin Laufer, Gunda Mertin, George K. Thiruvathukal

Computer Science: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Background: In this Innovative Practice Work in Progress, we present our initial efforts to integrate formal methods, with a focus on model-checking specifications written in Temporal Logic of Actions (TLA⁺), into computer science education, targeting undergraduate juniors/seniors and graduate students. Many safety-critical systems and services crucially depend on correct and reliable behavior. Formal methods can play a key role in ensuring correct and safe system behavior, yet remain underutilized in educational and industry contexts.

Aims: We aim to (1) qualitatively assess the state of formal methods in computer science programs, (2) construct level-appropriate examples that could be included …

Integrating Hypertension Detection And Management In Hiv Care In South Africa: Protocol For A Stepped-Wedged Cluster Randomized Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Trial, Karla I Galaviz, Charles W Goss, Aaloke Mody, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: HIV clinical guidelines recommend hypertension detection and management to lower cardiovascular disease risk, but these have not been effectively implemented for people living with HIV (PWH). Addressing this implementation gap requires community-engaged implementation studies focused on addressing implementation barriers specific to the HIV care context.

METHODS: This protocol describes a type 2 effectiveness-implementation hybrid study conducted in nine primary care clinics in Johannesburg. The study will evaluate the effect of implementation strategies on guideline-recommended blood pressure assessment and management in HIV clinics and the effects of assessment/management on patient blood pressure. A stepped-wedge, cluster randomized study design was used …

Terrorist Recruitment Narratives: Key Themes From Expert Reports, Evan Perkoski, Alec Worsnop, Meredith Maloof Loken

Reports, Projects, and Research

This research report was commissioned for an expert report series led by Evan Perkoski as part of his NCITE-funded project, Understanding the Link Between Recruitment and Operational Behavior of Terrorist Organizations. This study examines terrorist recruitment characteristics (such as military experience, professional expertise, age, gender, and education) against terrorist groups’ many operational characteristics (like lethality, success, complexity, innovation, and target types). This study also evaluates recruitment dynamics and success among contemporary groups operating in the U.S.

The Professional And Educational Backgrounds Within Non-State Actors, Patrick Finnegan, Evan Perkoski, Alec Worsnop, Meredith Maloof Loken

Reports, Projects, and Research

This research report was commissioned for an expert report series led by Evan Perkoski as part of his NCITE-funded project, Understanding the Link Between Recruitment and Operational Behavior of Terrorist Organizations. This study examines terrorist recruitment characteristics (such as military experience, professional expertise, age, gender, and education) against terrorist groups’ many operational characteristics (like lethality, success, complexity, innovation, and target types). This study also evaluates recruitment dynamics and success among contemporary groups operating in the U.S. This report passed peer- and scientific-review.

The Drivers And Consequences Of Child Recruitment By Violent Non-State Actors, Chris Faulkner, Evan Perkoski, Alec Worsnop, Meredith Maloof Loken

Reports, Projects, and Research

This research report was commissioned for an expert report series led by Evan Perkoski as part of his NCITE-funded project, Understanding the Link Between Recruitment and Operational Behavior of Terrorist Organizations. This study examines terrorist recruitment characteristics (such as military experience, professional expertise, age, gender, and education) against terrorist groups’ many operational characteristics (like lethality, success, complexity, innovation, and target types). This study also evaluates recruitment dynamics and success among contemporary groups operating in the U.S. This report passed peer- and scientific-review.

Ovarian Cancer Metastasis: Looking Beyond The Surface, Emine Bayraktar, Sisy Chen, Sara Corvigno, Jinsong Liu, Anil K Sood

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Historically, ovarian cancer (OC) was thought to metastasize by surface-to-surface spread, but recent developments have yielded a new understanding of the paths of metastatic spread. Given the histologic and molecular heterogeneity of OC, we will focus on high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). Here, we provide a critical and more holistic view of the evidence supporting various routes of metastasis, including peritoneal, hematogenous, lymphatic, and nerve-related. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is necessary to improve treatment strategies for this challenging disease.

Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction With Elevated Filling Pressures Is Associated With Embolic Stroke Of Undetermined Source And Atrial Fibrillation, Zubair Bashir, Liqi Shu, Yuqian Guo, Edward W Chen, Shuyuan Wang, Maheen Rana, Xing Dai, Daniel Mandel, Shadi Yaghi, Phinnara Has, Mingxing Xie, Tao Wang, James Simmons, Christopher Song, Philip Haines

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and elevated left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) are strong predictors of clinical outcomes across various populations. However, their diagnostic utility in embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) remains unclear. We hypothesized that LVDD with elevated LVFP (based on echocardiography) was more likely to be prevalent in ESUS compared to non-cardioembolic stroke (NCE) and to be associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) on follow-up monitoring.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study that included adult patients with a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke between January 2016 and June 2017. LV function was assessed by …

Theoretical Advances In Predicting The Thermoelectric Performance Of Materials, Mukesh Jakhar, Poonam Chauhan, Ashok Kumar, Ravindra Pandey

Michigan Tech Publications

Eco-friendly and high-performance thermoelectric materials have proven effective in converting heat energy into electricity. Theoretical methods for understanding the transport mechanisms of electrons and phonons play a vital role in predicting the overall thermoelectric performance of a given material. In this perspective, we review recent advances in theoretical methods for predicting electron and phonon transport properties in materials. In addition, we highlight the various methodologies adopted to estimate the electronic relaxation time and identify challenges and potential directions. The in-depth understanding obtained from these theoretical explorations will lead researchers to rely on computational methods to screen novel thermoelectric materials for …

Participatory Design Of An Embodied Mixed Reality Experience Aimed To Assessing Individual And Collaborative Behaviors Of Children, Olga Gali, Gözde Tüter, Sena Beste Ercan, Óscar Delgado, Gray Atherton, Liam Cross, Narcis Pares

School of Psychology

No abstract provided.

Creating Sustainable School And Home Gardens: Using Weather Stations, Jake Sanders, Daniel Findlay, Kathy Cabe Trundle, Rita Hagevik, Kaitlin Campbell

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides an overview of how weather stations work and the steps to set up your own weather station. To help monitor the water conditions, wind speeds, and temperatures that can impact your plants, we suggest adding a weather station to your garden area or greenhouse.

Clean Intermittent Catheterisation Determinants And Caregiver Adherence In Paediatric Patients With Spinal Dysraphism And Spinal Cord Injury In A Paediatric Spinal Differences Clinic: A Mixed Methods Study Protocol., Azadeh Wickham, Cynthia L. Russell, John Gatti

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

INTRODUCTION: Clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC) is the standard of care for treating neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD), the most common bladder dysfunction in children diagnosed with spinal dysraphism (SD) and spinal cord injury (SCI). Failure to follow the prescribed CIC regimen results in urinary tract infections, incontinence and renal insufficiency. Adherence to CIC is suboptimal, with reported non-adherence rates of 18%-66%. Despite the efficacy of CIC, the research on CIC adherence is not well defined in the literature and even less for caregivers of children on CIC protocols.

METHODS: This proposed study aims to identify caregiver CIC adherence and …

Integrated Electrophysiological And Genomic Profiles Of Single Cells Reveal Spiking Tumor Cells In Human Glioma, Yeunjung Ko, Snigdha Srivastava, Pey-Shyuan Chin, Peihao He, Brittney Lozzi, Prazwal Athukuri, Junzhan Jing, Su Wang, Arif O Harmanci, Benjamin Arenkiel, Xiaolong Jiang, Benjamin Deneen, Ganesh Rao, Akdes Serin Harmanci

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Prior studies have described the complex interplay that exists between glioma cells and neurons, however, the electrophysiological properties endogenous to tumor cells remain obscure. To address this, we employed Patch-sequencing on human glioma specimens and found that one third of patched cells in IDH mutant (IDHmut) tumors demonstrate properties of both neurons and glia by firing single, short action potentials. To define these hybrid cells (HCs) and discern if they are of tumoral origin, we developed a computational tool, Single Cell Rule Association Mining (SCRAM), to annotate each cell individually. SCRAM revealed that HCs represent tumor and non-tumor cells that …

Optimization Of Reversible Solid Oxide Cell System Capacity Combined With An Offshore Wind Farm For Hydrogen Production And Energy Storage Using The Pypsa Power System Modelling Tool, Jessica Guichard, Deborah Greaves, Robert Rawlinson-Smith

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Eight scenarios where high efficiency reversible solid oxide cells (rSOC) are combined with an offshore wind farm are identified. Thanks to the PyPSA power system modelling tool combined with a sensitivity study, optimized rSOC system capacities, hydrogen storage capacities, and subsea cable connection capacities are investigated under various combinations of rSOC system capital cost, prices paid for hydrogen, and electricity prices, which give indications on the most profitable scenario for offshore hydrogen production from a 600 MW wind farm situated 60 km from shore. Low electricity prices (yearly average 45 £/MWh) combined with mild fluctuations (standard deviation 6 or 13 …

Cyber-Securing Medical Devices Using Machine Learning: A Case Study Of Pacemaker, Shaymaa Al-Juboori, Suliat Jimoh

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

This study aims to enhance the cybersecurity framework of pacemaker devices by identifying vulnerabilities and recommending effective strategies. The objectives are to pinpoint cybersecurity weaknesses, utilize machine learning to predict security breaches, and propose countermeasures based on analytical trends. The literature review highlights the transformation of pacemaker technology from basic, fixed-rate devices to sophisticated systems with wireless capabilities, which, while improving patient care, also introduce significant cybersecurity risks. These risks include unauthorized entry, data breaches, and life-threatening device malfunctions. The methodology in this study utilizes a quantitative research approach using the WUSTL-EHMS-2020 dataset, which includes network traffic features, patients' biometric …

Creating Sustainable School And Home Gardens: Wildlife Monitoring Using Bioacoustics, Kaitlin Campbell, Rita Hagevik, Kathy Cabe Trundle

All Current Publications

Animals use sounds to communicate with each other, just like humans. Humans can listen in on animals by using a bioacoustic monitoring device, a passive device that quietly records surrounding sounds. Bioacoustic monitoring devices blend in with the environment, allowing us to know what types of animals appear when we’re gone. The device collects and stores data and allows us to visualize, analyze, and identify animals from the sounds they make.

When Less Is More: Sketching With Minimizers In Genomics, Ali Yazdizadeh Kharrazi, Sergey Oreshkov, Christophe Dessimoz, Fritz J Sedlazeck, Natasha Glover, Sina Majidian

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The exponential increase in sequencing data calls for conceptual and computational advances to extract useful biological insights. One such advance, minimizers, allows for reducing the quantity of data handled while maintaining some of its key properties. We provide a basic introduction to minimizers, cover recent methodological developments, and review the diverse applications of minimizers to analyze genomic data, including de novo genome assembly, metagenomics, read alignment, read correction, and pangenomes. We also touch on alternative data sketching techniques including universal hitting sets, syncmers, or strobemers. Minimizers and their alternatives have rapidly become indispensable tools for handling vast amounts of data.

Sdeper: A Hybrid Machine Learning And Regression Method For Cell-Type Deconvolution Of Spatial Barcoding-Based Transcriptomic Data, Gang Xu, Jiayi Zhao, Nating Wang, Xiayuan Huang, Wenhao Jiang, Huanhuan Wei, Aurélien Justet, Taylor S Adams, Robert Homer, Amei Amei, Ivan O Rosas, Naftali Kaminski, Zuoheng Wang, Xiting Yan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Spatial barcoding-based transcriptomic (ST) data require deconvolution for cellular-level downstream analysis. Here we present SDePER, a hybrid machine learning and regression method to deconvolve ST data using reference single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. SDePER tackles platform effects between ST and scRNA-seq data, ensuring a linear relationship between them while addressing sparsity and spatial correlations in cell types across capture spots. SDePER estimates cell-type proportions, enabling enhanced resolution tissue mapping by imputing cell-type compositions and gene expressions at unmeasured locations. Applications to simulated data and four real datasets showed SDePER's superior accuracy and robustness over existing methods.

Multicenter Pivotal Study Of The Alterra Adaptive Prestent For The Treatment Of Pulmonary Regurgitation, D Scott Lim, Gareth Morgan, Thomas K Jones, Aimee K Armstrong, Darren Berman, Jamil Aboulhosn, Vaikom S Mahadevan, Matthew J Gillespie, David Balzer, Thomas Zellers, Xiao Yu, Girish Shirali, Anitha Parthiban, Jonathan Leipsic, Philipp Blanke, Evan Zahn, Shabana Shahanavaz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: A dilated native right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) presents unique challenges for transcatheter management using balloon-expandable valves. The Alterra Adaptive Prestent was designed to expand transcatheter therapy to treat patients with dilated RVOTs.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report 2-year outcomes of the main cohort of the ALTERRA (Multicenter Study of Congenital Pulmonic Valve Dysfunction Studying the SAPIEN 3 THV With the Alterra Adaptive Prestent) pivotal trial using the prestent with transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement.

Methods: The prestent device used with the 29 mm SAPIEN 3 transcatheter heart valve (THV) was evaluated for the management of …

Ideology, Recruitment, And Armed Group Violence, Kai Thaler, Evan Perkoski

Reports, Projects, and Research

This research report was commissioned for an expert report series led by Evan Perkoski as part of his NCITE-funded project, Understanding the Link Between Recruitment and Operational Behavior of Terrorist Organizations. This study examines terrorist recruitment characteristics (such as military experience, professional expertise, age, gender, and education) against terrorist groups’ many operational characteristics (like lethality, success, complexity, innovation, and target types). This study also evaluates recruitment dynamics and success among contemporary groups operating in the U.S. This report passed peer- and scientific-review.

Tia La Fonda Parker

African American Funeral Programs

Funeral Progrsm for Tia La Fonda Parker in 1977 at Payton's Mortuary Chapel

Mr. Robert Primious

African American Funeral Programs

Funeral Program for Mr. Robert Primious in 1967

The Role Of Jordanian Television Programs In Raising Awareness About Mental Health From The Perspective Of Psychiatrists, Yasmine Hamza Badis, Saddam Suleiman Salman Almashaqbeh

The study aimed to identify the role of Jordanian television programs in raising awareness of mental health from the perspective of psychiatrists. The sample of the study was composed of 153 members from the Jordanian Association of Psychiatrists affiliated with the Jordanian Medical Association. To achieve the goal of this study, the descriptive approach was followed, and the study relied on the questionnaire as a tool for collecting data. The results of the study showed that the role of Jordanian television programs in raising awareness about mental health from the Perspective of psychiatrists was medium, and the diversity of features …

Bridging The Gap: Optimizing Ai-Powered Robotic Concierge Services For Neurodivergent Hotel Guests, Hyei Rin (Hayley) Joo, Joan Su, Chin-Hsun (Ken) Tsai

ICHRIE Research Reports

The rapid technological advancements in the hotel industry, particularly the adoption of AI-powered robotic concierge services, have transformed guest experiences. However, these services often overlook the diverse needs of neurodivergent individuals, a significant and underserved market segment. This qualitative user experience (UX) study explores the challenges faced by neurodivergent guests and identifies opportunities to enhance inclusivity and accessibility in robotic concierge services. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 20 neurodivergent individuals, key issues emerged, including difficulties in effectively communicating needs, sensory overload from overwhelming environments, and a lack of customizable service options. The findings present actionable recommendations for hotel managers and …

Combat To Plastic Pollution: Residents’ Participation To The Deposit Scheme, Soyeon You, Seung Jeon, Sojung Lee

ICHRIE Research Reports

Plastic pollution is a growing global concern. In response, South Korea implemented the deposit scheme in June 2022 to regulate plastic waste and promote recycling, selecting Jeju Island as a pilot city. For the successful implementation of this initiative, residents' participation is important. This research examined how residents' environmental concerns, threat and coping appraisals, and temporal distance influenced their intentions to participate in the deposit scheme based on Protection Motivation Theory. With 414 resident responses, this study used Structural Equation Modeling and Latent Moderated Structural Equation Modeling to analyze the data. The results showed that environmentally conscious residents are likely …

How Green-Certified Hotels Impact Employee Performance And Well-Being: A Comparative Study, Eunsil Lee, Yenna Park

ICHRIE Research Reports

The US lodging industry is not only big in scale but also in resource usage, prompting hotels to seek ways to save energy and promote sustainability. More and more hotels are setting sustainable goals and pursuing green certification. Although there is research on green-certified buildings’ impact on hotel users, there is limited research on hotel employees. Therefore, this study examines how green-certified hotels’ impact on employees regarding job satisfaction, productivity, health, mental well-being, and safety differs from non-green-certified hotels. Through survey questionnaires, data was collected from a variety of employees. The results show that green-certified hotels received higher ratings in …

Military Communication And Leadership In Conflict Resolution, Aspen Hailey Dyer

M.S. in Leadership

This research investigates the effectiveness of conflict resolution strategies in military settings, examining the roles of leadership styles, communication techniques, and cultural competence. Using a qualitative approach, the research is examined through thematic analysis to identify common patterns, and evaluation which mostly focuses on transformational, transactional, and adaptive leadership styles, assessing their impact on conflict resolution outcomes. Additionally, the effectiveness of communication strategies, such as active listening and feedback mechanisms, are analyzed. Cultural competence is also explored, with attention to how personnel navigate conflicts in diverse, multicultural environments. Findings indicate that adaptable leadership, clear communication techniques, and higher levels of …

Exploring Zoom Fatigue Among International Students In U.S. Virtual Classes, Esther Son, Kristen Cvancara

Communication Studies Department Publications

Online video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, are widely used for virtual classes. Zoom platforms bring flexibility and convenience but also contribute to fatigue, which is called “Zoom fatigue.” The purpose of this study is to investigate Zoom fatigue among international students at U.S. universities and its links to virtual classroom communication in the field of education. The study investigated how English competency and course engagement affected Zoom fatigue in virtual classes experienced by 152 international students. The results showed that English competency and course engagement had a negative relationship with Zoom fatigue. The study implied that when international students …

Effects Of Cadherin Mediated Contact Normalization On Oncogenic Src Kinase Mediated Gene Expression And Protein Phosphorylation, Rachel E Nicoletto, Cayla J Holdcraft, Ariel C Yin, Edward P Retzbach, Stephanie A Sheehan, Amanda A Greenspan, Christopher M Laugier, Jason Trama, Caifeng Zhao, Haiyan Zheng, Gary S Goldberg

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Nontransformed cells form heterotypic cadherin junctions with adjacent transformed cells to inhibit tumor cell growth and motility. Transformed cells must override this form of growth control, called "contact normalization", to invade and metastasize during cancer progression. Heterocellular cadherin junctions between transformed and nontransformed cells are needed for this process. However, specific mechanisms downstream of cadherin signaling have not been clearly elucidated. Here, we utilized a β-catenin reporter construct to determine if contact normalization affects Wnt signaling in transformed cells. β-catenin driven GFP expression in Src transformed mouse embryonic cells was decreased when cultured with cadherin competent nontransformed cells compared to …

Directionality In Bicros Hearing Aids: An Investigation Of Objective And Subjective Outcomes, Hasan K. Saleh, Paula Folkeard, Volker Kuehnel, Solveig C. Voss, Jinyu Qian, Susan Scollie

Communication Sciences and Disorders Publications

Objectives: To assess the effect of forward and omnidirectional microphone configurations in BiCROS versus monaural hearing aids on objective and subjective outcomes in different noise conditions.

Design: After fitting and a 4-week acclimatisation period, speech recognition and sound quality were measured using forward directional, omnidirectional, and unaided settings. Two noise configurations were used, surrounding noise and noise presented from the aided (better) ear. Subjective outcomes were assessed using the SSQ-b and BBSS questionnaires and participant interviews.

Study sample: Eighteen adult participants (mean: 74.6 y; range: 61–94 y; ten males, eight females) with mild to moderately severe SNHL in their better …