Digital Commons Network^™

Utilization Of Geospatial Distribution In The Measurement Of Study Cohort Representativeness., Keith Feldman, Natalie J. Kane, Stacey Daniels-Young, Bruce Reed, Jessica Welch, Lauren Fitzpatrick, Mark A. Hoffman, Andrea Bradley-Ewing, Elin Grundberg

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVE: The ability to apply results from a study to a broader population remains a primary objective in translational science. Distinct from intrinsic elements of scientific rigor, the extrinsic concept of generalization requires there be alignment between a study cohort and population in which results are expected to be applied. Widespread efforts have been made to quantify representativeness of study cohorts. These techniques, however, often consider the study and target cohorts as monolithic collections that can be directly compared. Overlooking known impacts to health from socio-demographic and environmental factors tied to individual's geographical location, and potentially obfuscating misalignment in underrepresented …

Novel Delivery Of Cryoablation Through Transoral Surgical Approach For Atypical Presentation Of Osteoid Osteoma Of The C1 Lateral Mass: Technical Case Illustration., Anand A. Dharia, Adip G. Bhargav, Christian Kaufman, Douglas C. Rivard, Paul A. Grabb

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE: Neurosurgical literature rarely explores cases of osteoid osteomas of the atlas. Traditionally, neurosurgeons performed en bloc surgical resection for refractory osteoid osteomas in the subaxial and lumbar spine, but minimally invasive ablation therapies have gained favor. Complete lesioning of the nidus, either by surgical or minimally invasive therapies, produces curative results with recurrence only developing after partial lesioning.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We discuss the case of a 16-year-old adolescent boy who presented with neck and occipital pain refractory to multimodal pain management. Prolonged workup demonstrated a subtle radiographic lesion of the left C1 lateral mass. Interventional radiologists attempted …

Behind Armor Blunt Trauma: Liver Injuries Using A Live Animal Model, Narayan Yoganandan, Alok Shah, Brian D. Stemper, Lewis Somber, Valeta Carol Chancey, Joseph Mcentire

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Introduction

While the 44-mm clay penetration criterion was developed in the 1970s for soft body armor applications, and the researchers acknowledged the need to conduct additional tests, the same behind the armor blunt trauma displacement limit is used for both soft and hard body armor evaluations and design considerations. Because the human thoraco-abdominal contents are heterogeneous, have different skeletal coverage, and have different functional requirements, the same level of penetration limit does not imply the same level of protection. It is important to determine the regional responses of different thoraco-abdominal organs to better describe human tolerance and improve the current …

Special Considerations For The Child With Obesity: An Obesity Medicine Association (Oma) Clinical Practice Statement (Cps) 2024., Suzanne Cuda, Marisa Censani, Valerie O'Hara, Jennifer Paisley, Roohi Kharofa, Rushika Conroy, Brooke Sweeney, Cristina Fernandez Md, Meredith Dreyer, Nancy T. Browne

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: This Obesity Medicine Association (OMA) Clinical Practice Statement (CPS) details assessment and management of the child with overweight or obesity. The term "child" is defined as the child between 2 and 12 years of age. Because children are in a continual state of development during this age range, we will specify when our discussion applies to subsets within this age range. For the purposes of this CPS, we will use the following definitions: overweight in the child is a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 85th andpercentile, obesity in the child is a BMI ≥95th percentile, and severe obesity is …

Ten-Year Anniversary Of The Graduate Institute Of Medical Education And Bioethics: An Institute Born Of Medical Education Reform In Taiwan, Yen-Yuan Chen, Tzong-Shinn Chu, Hong-Yuan Hsu, Chau-Chong Wu, Chien-Chang Wu, Chih-Wei Yang, Yen-Lin Chiu, Yu-Chun Chiu, Ming-Shiang Wu, Shan-Chwen Chang, Yen-Hsuan Ni, Huey-Ling Chen

Journal of Medical Education

As Taiwan's first medical school established in the late nineteenth century, the National Taiwan University College of Medicine (NTUCM) has played a leading role in navigating healthcare transitions and addressing challenges in medical education. Ongoing education and training are needed to ensure that physicians and healthcare professionals can adapt to meet the changing needs of society in light of the continuous change, the complexity of the medical environment, and the advancement of medical specialties. The Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Bioethics at NTUCM was established in 2014 through the merger and joint eff orts of the Department of Primary …

A Metaverse-Driven Extended Reality Neck Model For Ultrasound-Guided Invasive Procedures And Surgical Training, Ting-Chun Kuo, Shana Smith, Chih-Wei Yang, Kuen-Yuan Chen, Yu-Chen Xu, Tzu-Hsuan Huang, Chien-Chang Lee, Jin-Shing Chen, Ming-Tsan Lin, Ming-Hsun Wu

Journal of Medical Education

Ultrasound-guided procedures demand realism and interactive training tools to develop critical skills. However, traditional simulators often fall short, limiting effective clinical application. This article introduce a metaverse-powered extended reality (XR) neck simulator that address these limitations. Our XR neck leverages high-fidelity 3D models, haptic feedback, and real-time dynamic simulations to create an immersive, collaborative, and ecofriendly training environment for healthcare professionals. Gamified metrics assess skill proficiency, while AI-powered guidance standardizes techniques. We found demonstrate significant improvements in procedural knowledge, skill proficiency, and safety awareness. This innovative XR model not only reduces costs and reliance on animal model but also aligns …

Establishing Clinical Psychologists' Core Competencies And Sub-Competencies In Taiwan Through A Focus Group Discussion, Wen-Yi Huang, Hung-Yeh Chang, Chen-Jay Kao, Yu-Pei Huang, Ming-Wei Chang, Ya-Jen Chuang, Bei-Yi Su, Chang-Chang Tseng, Chih-Wei Yang

Journal of Medical Education

Purpose: Competency-based medical education (CBME) is gaining global attention and requires context-specific development. Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare has also vigorously promoted the core competencies and sub-competencies of medical education in various specialties. This study aimed to establish a consensus on the core competencies and sub-competencies of clinical psychologists in Taiwan. Methods: In late 2022, the Association of Taiwan Clinical Psychologists (ATCP) and Taiwan Association of Clinical Psychology (TACP) formed the CBME Promotion Committee. Throughout 2023, the committee conducted a comprehensive literature review and engaged expert representatives in focus group discussions following a predetermined process to design the competency …

Enhancing Pediatric Assessment Skills In Medical Students Through Scaffolding And Simulation-Based Learning, Chih-Wei Ten, Chun-Chih Peng

Journal of Medical Education

Background: The incidence of critically ill pediatric patients has declined due to decreasing birth rates and advancements in healthcare, resulting in limited clinical exposure for medical students. Nonetheless, the ability to assess and manage critically ill children remains an essential competency in pediatrics. Therefore, a simulation course was developed that integrates scaffolding theory to enhance pediatric assessment among medical students. Methods: The simulation course was designed based on flowcharts and clinical cases with the learning materials being case based featuring first-person roleplays and video simulations. The medical students during rotation in the pediatric department of a teaching hospital in Taiwan …

Impact Of Professionalism Education On Empathy Among First-Year Medical Students, Yukihiro Ikeda, Yutaka Hirano

Journal of Medical Education

Background: Empathy is necessary for doctors in assessing patient status and providing appropriate treatment. Developing empathy is an important issue in medical education. Medical schools worldwide are considering various programs to develop empathy. In Japan, education called Professionalism is provided as a way to enhance empathy. Various educational methods are being considered, but they remain in the development stage. Objective: The current study further analyzed changes in the empathy of first-year students who took the professionalism course. Methods: Students' empathy was measured using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Student Version (JSES) and the Multidimensional Empathy Scale (MES).The empathy of 113 first-year …

From A Treasure Seeker To A Guide: The Journey Of The Resident-As-Teacher, Yu-Hung Tung, Jin-Hui Chen, Yu-Chun Chiu

Journal of Medical Education

Although residents are still in training, they play very important roles in the clinical care team as they are the frontline caregivers and also undertake teaching tasks. This article explores the key concepts, literature, and practical implementation of the Resident-as-Teacher (RaT) model. Additionally, we invite a chief resident and a senior medical student to share their experiences and reflections from their perspectives. This article may serve as a learner-centered reference for the planning and promotion of RaT programs and curricula.

Changing Attitudes And Conflicts Over Wolf Management, Andrew N. Rowan

WellBeing News

Discover the evolving conflicts over wolf management in North America and Europe as rising wolf populations impact farmers and conservationists. Learn how dialogue projects aim to resolve these disputes.

Ending Cage Farming In The Eu: The Fight For Animal Welfare, Andrew N. Rowan

WellBeing News

Compassion in World Farming's "End the Cage Age" campaign sought to eliminate cages for farmed animals in the EU. Despite setbacks, a 2024 consensus promises a phase-out of caged animal farming, benefiting animals, farmers, and the environment.

The Ongoing Challenge Of Accurately Measuring Pet Ownership, Andrew N. Rowan

WellBeing News

Despite decades of surveys, accurately measuring pet ownership remains difficult. Learn how varying survey methods and human population density affect pet demographics in the US and UK, and why better data is essential for effective animal population management.

Dental Segmentation Via Enhanced Yolov8 And Image Processing Techniques, Dhiaa Mohammed Abed, Shuzlina Abdul-Rahman, Sofianita Mutalib

Mesopotamian Journal of CyberSecurity

By blending computer-aided medical systems with cutting-edge privacy technologies, healthcare providers can deliver more personalized, effective care while maintaining the highest data security standards and patient trust. The challenge of dental segmentation in computer vision, a task focused on accurately outlining dental structures in images, traditional methods, particularly convolution neural networks (CNNs), didn't reach high accuracy in this area due to suboptimal performance and computational inefficiency. The goal of image segmentation is to group pixels on the basis of their visual properties, such as color, texture, intensity, or spatial proximity, to identify and delineate the boundaries of distinct objects or …

Certified Quantization Strategy Synthesis For Neural Networks, Yedi Zhang, Guangke Chen, Jun Sun, Jun Sun

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Quantization plays an important role in deploying neural networks on embedded, real-time systems with limited computing and storage resources (e.g., edge devices). It significantly reduces the model storage cost and improves inference efficiency by using fewer bits to represent the parameters. However, it was recently shown that critical properties may be broken after quantization, such as robustness and backdoor-freeness. In this work, we introduce the first method for synthesizing quantization strategies that verifiably maintain desired properties after quantization, leveraging a key insight that quantization leads to a data distribution shift in each layer. We propose to compute the preimage for …

Are Corporations Responding To Civil Society Pressure?: A Multilevel Analysis Of Corporate Emissions, Annika Rieger

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Previous research in the world-society tradition associates improvements in nation-level environmental outcomes with greater civil society integration. However, research in the world-systems tradition indicates these improvements depend on a nation’s position in the global political-economic hierarchy. To test whether these patterns are present at the organizational level, I estimate a multilevel model using corporate emissions data from the Carbon Disclosure Project and include interactions between world-system position and three measures of civil society integration: number of NGOs, proportion of corporations with climate-management incentives, and number of corporate UN Global Compact signatories. I find that the relationship between civil society pressure …

Associations Of Household And Neighborhood Contexts And Hair Cortisol Among Mexican-Origin Adolescents From Low-Income Immigrant Families, Ka I. Ip, Wen Wen, Wei Xiang Sim, Shanting Chen, Su Yeong Kim

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Although neighborhood contexts serve as upstream determinants of health, it remains unclear how these contexts “get under the skin” of Mexican-origin youth, who are disproportionately concentrated in highly disadvantaged yet co-ethnic neighborhoods. The current study examines the associations between household and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES), neighborhood racial–ethnic and immigrant composition, and hair cortisol concentration (HCC)—a physiological index of chronic stress response—among Mexican-origin adolescents from low-income immigrant families in the United States. A total of 297 (54.20% female; mage = 17.61, SD = 0.93) Mexican-origin adolescents had their hair cortisol collected, and their residential addresses were geocoded and merged with the …

Angle Accuracy Of Intramedullary Bone Resection Guides For Total Knee Arthroplasty., Matthew C Kane, Harold E Cates, Iou-Ren Chang

Surgery Articles

The importance of proper prosthetic placement has been confirmed in numerous studies. The objective of this study was to compare the planned resection angles to the verified intraoperative angles of femoral and tibial varus/valgus, tibial slope, and femoral flexion for each total knee performed using intramedullary (IM) cut guides for both distal femur and proximal tibia cuts. A total of 1,000 total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) were evaluated for this study. Intraoperative cut-check technology was used to show real-time validation of these resection angles. Assuming an acceptable range of within 2° of the planned cuts, results show the femoral varus/valgus angles …

The Effect Of Woodfiber Additives On Pythium Root Rot And Substrate Microbiome, Isabella Alexandra Borrero

Master's Theses and Capstones

The exponential growth of the greenhouse industry in recent years has led to an increasing demand for economic, “green”, soilless substrates and soilless substrate amendments. To meet this demand, many growers have begun incorporating wood fibers (WFs) into their production systems because they are both economic and renewable. WF’s rise in popularity has motivated an uptick in research focused on understanding how WF amendments affect substrate physical and chemical properties, and how these changes influence plant health, soil-borne disease trends, and microbiome dynamics. Wood fibers have been reported to suppress damping-off of radish caused by Rhizoctonia solani, however, the scope …

Mercury Distribution And Microbially Mediated Mercury Methylation Potential Above And Below The Head-Of-Tide Mill Pond Dam, Durham, Nh, Sophia Carson

Master's Theses and Capstones

Mercury (Hg), and its subsequent transformation to the highly toxic compound methylmercury (MeHg) by microorganisms possessing the recently discovered hgcAB gene complex is of great concern on a global scale. In the Oyster River (OR) system in Durham, New Hampshire, where the historic head-of-tide Mill Pond Dam (MPD) is set to be removed in the near future, this issue is especially pertinent, as Hg is commonly found at alarmingly high concentrations in waterways and dams and will be released downstream upon the extraction of the impoundment. Aquatic sediment samples were collected across a time series throughout the OR system and …

Judicial Integrity Under Scrutiny: Analyzing Misconduct Allegations During Times Of Turmoil, Nicholas Gigliotti

Master's Theses and Capstones

Judicial ethics, grounded in principles of impartiality and integrity, face threats when public perceptions are compromised by instances of misconduct and the actions of those who fail to adhere to these core standards. Since 1980, the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act has provided a mechanism for reporting and addressing allegations of misconduct that do not reach the level of impeachment. This process offers complainants a means to hold judges accountable for their actions and often serves as a forum for addressing grievances that might otherwise go unheard. While the federal judiciary is typically insulated from external pressures due to lifetime …

How Mineral Fertilizer Affects Soil Nitrogen Pools And Microbial Activity, Lee Hildebrand

Master's Theses and Capstones

Nitrogen fertilizer is an essential aspect of modern agriculture; however, a substantial amount of applied nitrogen does not reach the crops it is intended for and leaches out of the soil. Soil organic matter and microbial activity are key regulators of the soil nitrogen cycle and the fate of nitrogen fertilizer. Understanding how fertilizer type impacts soil organic matter, nitrogen pools, and microbial activity will greatly improve our understanding regarding sustainable fertilizer application. To investigate this, I conducted an experiment using incubation with several fertilizer treatments and two soil types. I measured various soil nitrogen pools, soil respiration rates, and …

Spatial And Temporal Drivers Of Paternity In Saltmarsh Sparrow, Talia Marie Kuras

Master's Theses and Capstones

The Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammospiza caudacuta) is a non-territorial, multiply mating passerine with an uncommon polygynandrous mating system in which females are reproductively available with primarily synchronous timing during 3 breeding cycles within the breeding season. In similarly multiply mating species with synchronously available females, home range size and time within breeding season have been identified as drivers of male reproductive success; however, these are atypical characteristics of success in avian mating systems. We investigated the relationship between male Saltmarsh Sparrow home range size, location, age, time within breeding season, and male reproductive success. We performed nest monitoring, mist netting, and …

Understanding Key Habitat Features For The Vulnerable Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammospiza Caudacuta) To Inform Tidal Marsh Restoration Priorities, Grace Elizabeth Mcculloch

Master's Theses and Capstones

As climate change accelerates the rate of sea-level rise, salt marshes and the critical habitat they provide are increasingly threatened. The Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammospiza caudacuta) is particularly vulnerable to such changes. Habitat loss and increased nest failure due to flooding put the species at a high risk of extinction within the next several decades. Restoration plans across New England aim to build salt marsh resiliency. To effectively prioritize Saltmarsh Sparrow conservation in these plans, it is essential to identify the features that predict Saltmarsh Sparrow breeding season habitat, so these features can be maintained and enhanced during a restoration project.In …

Diversification Of New England’S Macroalgae Industry: Introduction Of Nori, Riplee Mercer

Master's Theses and Capstones

The aquaculture of macroalgae is multi-billion-dollar industry globally, but is primarily dominated by Asian production. The US macroalgae industry is relatively small but has grown over the last decade, heavily dominated by kelp aquaculture. The goal of this project is to facilitate the diversification of the US industry by developing nursery and grow-out techniques for the production of Wildemania amplissima, a native species of nori. Following the life history of Wildemania amplissima, a series of experiments were conducted to 1) compare culture initiation methods from wild-collected blades, 2) determine optimum culture conditions for vegetative growth of the conchocelis sporophyte stage, …

Trusted Yet Vulnerable: A Quantitative Analysis Of Trusted Execution Environments (Tee) Security., Lakshmi Sravani Nissankararao

Master's Theses and Capstones

Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) are essential for secure computing across mobile devices, cloud platforms, and IoT, yet they remain vulnerable to exploits. This thesis presents a novel approach to enhancing TEE security through automated vulnerability classification and advanced fuzzing techniques. The research first introduces an innovative methodology for classifying vulnerabilities into Trusted Applications (TA), TrustZone Operating Systems (TZOS), and general categories using machine learning algorithms such as Random Forest, J48, Naive Bayes, Multilayer Perceptron, and Support Vector Machines. Evaluating these on a dataset of 750 vulnerabilities from the NIST database demonstrates accurate characterization and improved efficiency over manual methods. The …

Assessment Of Synthetic Aperture Radar For Classification Of Exposed Coastal Soils In The Great Bay Estuary, Tess Priest

Master's Theses and Capstones

Coastlines around the world are composed of a wide range of sediments. The classification of coastal soil ranges from coarse-grained sediments (gravels and sands, 75 mm to 0.075 mm), to fine-grained sediments (silts and clays, 0.075 mm and smaller). In geotechnical engineering applications, the shear strength of soil is a key characteristic and is commonly influenced by the classification, grain size, and water content of the soil. While site-specific investigation is the best method for obtaining these parameters, information regarding soil type can often be readily accessed from existing literature as a general classification. However, soil type can vary at …

Dependance On The Atr-Chk1-Wee1 Axis Due To R-Loop Accumulation In Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Evelyn Victoria Proctor

Master's Theses and Capstones

Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) is a rare neuroendocrine skin cancer. In the United States about 80% of MCC cases are caused by MCPyV, which is the only human polyomavirus that has been directly correlated to human cancer. However, there is not a significant amount of information about pathways that are important in MCC. Here we show that MCC cells are reliant on the ATR-CHK1-WEE1 axis for proliferation and to maintain their oncogenic phenotype. We have found several inhibitors that work to reduce cell viability in MCC cells. Synergistic combinations of these inhibitors and chemotherapeutic agents have also been found. Additionally, …

Hardware And Software Optimization For Of Smart Insole Systems For Gait Analysis, Femi John Olugbon

Master's Theses and Capstones

Gait analysis is vital in human biomechanicals, clinical diagnostics, and rehabilitation, providing essential insights into human locomotion. Ground reaction forces play a significant role in understanding gait dynamics, detecting abnormalities, and assessing treatment outcomes. Accurate measurement and analysis of ground reaction forces and other gait parameters are crucial for developing effective interventions and improving patient outcomes.

The first part of this thesis explores methods to optimize and standardize the number of pressure sensors and their optimum placements within the insole for accurate and reliable estimation of temporal gait parameters. Standardization of sensor position for temporal gait analysis is crucial for …

Say Bananas: A Pilot Study On An App-Based Intervention As A Modality Of Home Practice, Kate Margaret Sjostedt

Master's Theses and Capstones

This single subject design study provides an initial exploration of using Say Bananas toprovide motor learning-based intervention for children with childhood apraxia of speech. By implementing an app-based home practice intervention tool to support traditional speech sound disorder treatment, specifically the Treatment for Establishing Motor Program Organization (TEMPO), it was designed to treat speech sound disorders by implementing exercises using a more engaging platform. We tested the performance of three different children diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech. Each child used the app as a modality of home practice five days a week for four weeks in addition to their …