Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Electroencephalography With A Model Inspired By Quantum Mechanics, Nicholas J.M. Popiel, Colin Metrow, Geoffrey Laforge, Adrian M. Owen, Bobby Stojanoski, Andrea Soddu

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

An outstanding issue in cognitive neuroscience concerns how the brain is organized across different conditions. For instance, during the resting-state condition, the brain can be clustered into reliable and reproducible networks (e.g., sensory, default, executive networks). Interestingly, the same networks emerge during active conditions in response to various tasks. If similar patterns of neural activity have been found across diverse conditions, and therefore, different underlying processes and experiences of the environment, is the brain organized by a fundamental organizational principle? To test this, we applied mathematical formalisms borrowed from quantum mechanisms to model electroencephalogram (EEG) data. We uncovered a tendency …

Reversed And Increased Functional Connectivity In Non-Rem Sleep Suggests An Altered Rather Than Reduced State Of Consciousness Relative To Wake, Evan Houldin, Zhuo Fang, Laura B. Ray, Bobby Stojanoski, Adrian M. Owen, Stuart M. Fogel

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Sleep resting state network (RSN) functional connectivity (FC) is poorly understood, particularly for rapid eye movement (REM), and in non-sleep deprived subjects. REM and non-REM (NREM) sleep involve competing drives; towards hypersynchronous cortical oscillations in NREM; and towards wake-like desynchronized oscillations in REM. This study employed simultaneous electroencephalography-functional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG-fMRI) to explore whether sleep RSN FC reflects these opposing drives. As hypothesized, this was confirmed for the majority of functional connections modulated by sleep. Further, changes were directional: e.g., positive wake correlations trended towards negative correlations in NREM and back towards positive correlations in REM. Moreover, the majority …

Caregiver Reactions To Neuroimaging Evidence Of Covert Consciousness In Patients With Severe Brain Injury: A Qualitative Interview Study, Andrew Peterson, Fiona Webster, Laura Elizabeth Gonzalez-Lara, Sarah Munce, Adrian M. Owen, Charles Weijer

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Background: Severe brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability. Diagnosis and prognostication are difficult, and errors occur often. Novel neuroimaging methods can improve diagnostic and prognostic accuracy, especially in patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDoC). Yet it is currently unknown how family caregivers understand this information, raising ethical concerns that disclosure of neuroimaging results could result in therapeutic misconception or false hope. Methods: To examine these ethical concerns, we conducted semi-structured interviews with caregivers of patients with PDoC who were enrolled in a concurrent neuroimaging research program designed to detect covert consciousness following severe brain injury. …

Schizophrenia Syndrome Due To C9orf72 Mutation Case Report: A Cautionary Tale And Role Of Hybrid Brain Imaging!, A. M. Burhan, U. C. Anazodo, N. M. Marlatt, L. Palaniyappan, M. Blair, E. Finger

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Background: Frontal variant frontotemporal dementia is a common cause of presenile dementia. A hexanucleotide expansion on chromosome 9 has recently been recognized as the most common genetic mutation cause of this illness. This sub-type tends to present psychiatrically with psychosis being a common presenting symptom before the onset of cognitive changes or brain atrophy. A few case series have been published describing the prominence of early psychotic symptoms, and lack of clear brain atrophy on clinical brain imaging imposing a challenge in reaching early accurate diagnosis. In this report, we present a case whereby the diagnosis of Schizophrenia syndrome was …

The Genetic Determinants Of Language Network Dysconnectivity In Drug-Naïve Early Stage Schizophrenia, Jingnan Du, Lena Palaniyappan, Zhaowen Liu, Wei Cheng, Weikang Gong, Mengmeng Zhu, Jijun Wang, Jie Zhang, Jianfeng Feng

Brain and Mind Institute Researchers' Publications

Schizophrenia is a neurocognitive illness of synaptic and brain network-level dysconnectivity that often reaches a persistent chronic stage in many patients. Subtle language deficits are a core feature even in the early stages of schizophrenia. However, the primacy of language network dysconnectivity and language-related genetic variants in the observed phenotype in early stages of illness remains unclear. This study used two independent schizophrenia dataset consisting of 138 and 53 drug-naïve first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients, and 112 and 56 healthy controls, respectively. A brain-wide voxel-level functional connectivity analysis was conducted to investigate functional dysconnectivity and its relationship with illness duration. We …

Investigation Of Human Adipose-Derived Stem-Cell Behavior Using A Cell-Instructive Polydopamine-Coated Gelatin-Alginate Hydrogel., Settimio Pacelli, Aparna R Chakravarti, Saman Modaresi, Siddharth Subham, Kyley Burkey, Cecilia Kurlbaum, Madeline Fang, Christopher A Neal, Adam J Mellott, Aishik Chakraborty, Arghya Paul

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Publications

Hydrogels can be fabricated and designed to exert direct control over stem cells' adhesion and differentiation. In this study, we have investigated the use of polydopamine (pDA)-treatment as a binding platform for bioactive compounds to create a versatile gelatin-alginate (Gel-Alg) hydrogel for tissue engineering applications. Precisely, pDA was used to modify the surface properties of the hydrogel and better control the adhesion and osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs). pDA enabled the adsorption of different types of bioactive molecules, including a model osteoinductive drug (dexamethasone) as well as a model pro-angiogenic peptide (QK). The pDA treatment efficiently retained …

Statistical Reanalysis Of Vascular Event Outcomes In Primary And Secondary Vascular Prevention Trials, Lisa J. Woodhouse, Alan A. Montgomery, Jonathan Mant, Barry R. Davis, Ale Algra, Jean Louis Mas, Jan A. Staessen, Lutgarde Thijs, Andrew Tonkin, Adrienne Kirby, Stuart J. Pocock, John Chalmers, Graeme J. Hankey, J. David Spence, Peter Sandercock, Hans Christoph Diener, Shinichiro Uchiyama, Nikola Sprigg, Philip M. Bath

Department of Medicine Publications

Background: Vascular prevention trials typically use dichotomous event outcomes although this may be inefficient statistically and gives no indication of event severity. We assessed whether ordinal outcomes would be more efficient and how to best analyse them. Methods: Chief investigators of vascular prevention randomised controlled trials that showed evidence of either benefit or harm, or were included in a systematic review that overall showed benefit or harm, shared individual participant data from their trials. Ordered categorical versions of vascular event outcomes (such as stroke and myocardial infarction) were analysed using 15 statistical techniques and their results then ranked, with the …

Stroke Prevention: Little-Known And Neglected Aspects, M. Reza Azarpazhooh, Chrysi Bogiatzi, J. David Spence

Department of Medicine Publications

Combining available therapies has the potential to reduce the risk of stroke by 80% or more. A comprehensive review of all aspects of stroke prevention would be very lengthy; in this narrative review, we focus on some aspects of stroke prevention that are little-known and/or neglected. These include the following: (1) implementation of a Mediterranean diet; (2) B vitamins to lower homocysteine; (3) coordinated approaches to smoking cessation; (4) intensive lipid-lowering therapy; (5) lipid lowering in the elderly; (6) physiologically individualized therapy for hypertension based on renin/aldosterone phenotyping; (7) avoiding excessive blood pressure reduction in patients with stiff arteries; (8) …

Sex Differences In The Intestinal Microbiome: Interactions With Risk Factors For Atherosclerosis And Cardiovascular Disease, Shamon Ahmed, J. David Spence

Department of Medicine Publications

Background: There are clearly sex differences in cardiovascular disease. On average, women experience cardiovascular events at an older age, and at any age, women, on average, have less atherosclerotic plaque than men. The role of the human intestinal microbiome in health and disease has garnered significant interest in recent years, and there have been indications of sex differences in the intestinal microbiome. The purpose of this narrative review was to evaluate evidence of sex differences in the interaction between the intestinal microbiome and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Several studies have demonstrated changes in microbiota composition and metabolic profile as …

Political Hearts Of Darkness: The Dark Triad As Predictors Of Political Orientations And Interest In Politics, Edward Bell, Christopher Marcin Kowalski, Philip Anthony Vernon, Julie Aitken Schermer

Management and Organizational Studies Publications

Background: This study investigated the relationships between the Dark Triad of personality (sub-clinical psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism) and four political variables: socio-religious conservatism, support for greater economic equality, overall liberal–conservative orientation, and interest in politics. A theoretical approach that focused on the influence of the Dark Triad in large groups was provided to interpret those relationships. Methodological issues found in previous research that related to the use of abbreviated scales to measure the dark traits and the use of unidimensional indicators of political orientations were addressed. Methods: A hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to determine whether any of the three …

Exploring Progress With Supply Chain Risk Management During The First Year Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Remko Van Hoek

Supply Chain Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: In response to calls for actionable research that considers ongoing pandemic risk dynamics, we explore how risks experienced and risk mitigation techniques used have changed during the first year of the pandemic. Methods: We used a survey and studied six cases; data were collected both at the start of the pandemic and one year into the pandemic. This paper offers the first empirical exploration of the first full year of the pandemic and provides data points from both early and one year into the pandemic. Results: Our findings indicate that not only are pandemic risks far from mitigated, several …

Deaf Catholic Newsletter, Advent-Christmas 2021

Deaf Catholic Newsletter

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in Philapelphia, PA

Deaf Catholic Newsletter Finding Aid

Benzodiazepines: Uses, Dangers, And Clinical Considerations, Amber N. Edinoff, Catherine A. Nix, Janice W. Hollier, Caroline E. Sagrera, Blake M. Delacroix, Tunde Abubakar, Elyse M. Cornett, Adam M. Kaye, Alan David Kaye

School of Pharmacy Faculty Articles

Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are among one of the most widely prescribed drug classes in the United States. BZDs are a class of psychoactive drugs known for their depressant effect on the central nervous system (CNS). They quickly diffuse through the blood–brain barrier to affect the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and exert sedative effects. Related to their rapid onset and immediate symptom relief, BZDs are used for those struggling with sleep, anxiety, spasticity due to CNS pathology, muscle relaxation, and epilepsy. One of the debilitating side effects of BZDs is their addictive potential. The dependence on BZDs generally leads to withdrawal symptoms, requiring …

Black Narratives Zine, Mariana Aboumrad, Elisa Jiménez Calisti, Vanessa Keeley

Student Zines

The articles will analyze different dimensions about thecultural, social and economic policies that revolvearound the American Black community.

It will shed light on the obstacles African Americans must face in a society builtupon systemic racism, consciously or unconsciously determined to not allow them to forget their Blackness.

The line between black and white yet stark in a minority Anglo society. First, we will examine the recent phenomenon of Black Excellence, where the case of John Lewis will be presented followed by an analysis on the 'hunch' of Black exceptionalism.

Second, it will examine the three dimensions no person can escape …

He Said, "You're Beautiful.", Devina Worcester

The Prairie Light Review

No abstract provided.

Lemon, Angelo Mendez

The Prairie Light Review

No abstract provided.

Trumpeter On State, Keith Yearman

The Prairie Light Review

No abstract provided.

Back Cover, Susan Trestrail

The Prairie Light Review

No abstract provided.

Delegation And The Continuity Thesis, Andrew S. Gold

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Eps Report Of Findings: Staff Ratios, Lisa Morris Phd, Amy F. Johnson Phd

Staff Ratios

Staffing ratios are a key component of the Essential Programs and Services (EPS) funding model. When multiplied by student enrollment, they determine a large proportion of a district’s total funding allocation. The EPS formula establishes the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff necessary per student to ensure all students have an opportunity to achieve the Maine Learning Results. This includes staff positions for several school-level functions deemed essential to student learning and school management, including teachers, guidance counselors, librarians, education technicians (“education technicians”), library/media technicians, school health professionals (nurses), administrative assistants, and school administrators (principals and assistant principals). The ratios …

A Physician’S Guide To Clinical Documentation Improvement: Aligning Cdi To Health Information Practice (Canadian Health Information Management Association), Noor Baldawi, Jacky Cheung, Georgia Diamanakis, Alvina Jiwani, Zexi Wang

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

The field of clinical documentation improvement (CDI) is emerging alongside the need for more accurate health care information that is reflective of the health status of Canadians. Health information management professionals and physicians play a critical role in the collection, transformation, protection, and distribution of clinical documentation. The quality of health data is dependent on the physician’s specificity in clinical documentation of patient health records, as this information is converted into data by coding specialists. Coded medical information, and associated hospital data, provides information surrounding patient severity of disease, a hospital’s expected length of stay, and a hospital’s mortality rate. …

Supporting Pregnant Persons: The Benefits Of Opening A Birth Centre In London, Ontario (Dynamic Doulas Of London), Alisha George, Megan Harris, Allison Kirkpatrick, Lianna Mathew, Amel Sassi

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

No abstract provided.

Discovering Body Positivity & Self-Image (Gender Equality Coalition Of Ontario), Ella Clarke, Morolayo Ilori, Melanie Peck, Hannah Polley, Mili Shah

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

Body image refers to the way we perceive our bodies, and it can positively or negatively impact physical and mental health (Alleva et al., 2015). Unfortunately, negative body image is becoming more common with some studies finding that 65% of young people are dissatisfied with their bodies (Linardon et al., 2021). This can lead to a variety of psychological and behavioral problems and disorders such as body dysmorphia or eating disorders (Alleva et al., 2015). However, many of these consequences associated with negative body image can be circumvented by learning to foster positive body images through building self-esteem (Jessie’s Legacy, …

A Wicked Problem: The Implementation Of Clinical Guidelines Application To Optimize Patient Care (Uhn Openlab), Ardavan Bonyadi Behrouz, Nelson Chang, Jasmine Luo, Daniel Olteanu, Naomi Smith

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

The purpose of our partnership with the UHN OpenLab was to discover the barriers involved with automating the sporadic release of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) into the Innovate Guidelines Application (IGA). The problem is considered wicked—interlocking challenges cannot be addressed by a single solution. Accordingly, the goal was to explore the barriers of stakeholders and specialization groups, general guideline issues, and the considerations of healthcare professionals and public perception. An initial literature review was conducted to discover unidentified problems before a first draft of the systems map was created. Subsequently, connections were formed across problems and each was categorized based …

Addressing Workplace Mental Health During Covid-19 (Global Minds Collective), Candace Brooks-Dasilva, Ashlee Jiang, Priya Modi, Komal Patel, Lilian Raphael

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

We aimed to produce novel, comprehensive tools to support The Global MINDS Collective’s mission of co-creating unique workplace infrastructures conducive to employee mental wellness. Our Systems Map uses a multifactorial and intersectional approach to analyze how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed employees’ mental and psychosocial wellness. A systems thinking approach was used to connect ideas from literature and industry resources to expand on concepts such as workplace diversity, burnout, and current practices. The interconnected nature of the systems map allowed us to identify “leverage points,” which were topics with a high degree of connectivity that could be targeted for high-impact …

Restructuring Training (Participation House Support Services), Victoria Lun, Do Yeon Oh, Nadir Saeed, Joe Thorne, Alexander Trusler

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

Participation House Support Services (PHSS) is a non-profit organization with over 60 locations across Ontario that serves individuals with complex medical, physical, and developmental needs with the goal of including them in the community. The scope of the project covers members of the PHSS organization and the London community that they serve by addressing problems with burnout and culture of resentment that the Coordinators of the organization face. After initial discussions with the community partner, qualitative research was done via focus groups with PHSS Coordinators and training staff. An agreed-upon solution of restructuring the training process was developed, as training …

Increasing Civic Engagement And Awareness Of Poverty & Homelessness Through Social Media (Project Hope London), Vanessa Chan, Sairam Gajavelli, Majid Khan, Iris Kwon, Masum Patel

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

As the Project Hope London (PHL) Social Media Team, the purpose of our project was to utilize social media to support PHL in their goal of helping to improve the overall health of individuals experiencing homelessness. We aimed to broaden the organization’s audience through Instagram as this popular platform has the potential to reach younger demographics, such as the Western student body, and local businesses. Our team took control of their Instagram page to revitalize their social media presence. We redesigned the bio, curated posts with modern aesthetics, and ran a social media campaign to further boost engagement with the …

A Complete Guide To Incorporation (Project Hope London), Kevin Dong, Karen Guirguis, Rozmin Jasani, Samuel Luo, Sahara Rosha

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

Our team worked with Project Hope (PH)–a grassroots organization that supports London’s population experiencing homelessness via needs-based outreach, community building, and housing support. PH serves 250 individuals/week at outreach and intends to expand this number and explore larger-scale projects such as affordable housing initiatives. However, to attain these goals, PH needs more funding–which it has struggled to obtain due to its lack of Registered Charity (RC) status. RCs are the only not-for-profit organizations that can issue tax receipts to monetary donors, and several commercial donors only donate to RCs for this reason. Thus, our deliverable intends to streamline PH’s progress …

Embracing Culture At The Centre Of Hope Food Bank (Salvation Army), Angela Chen, Ewan Kelly, Caitlin Lee, Sumin Shin

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

The purpose of our project was to expand the food options provided at the Centre of Hope (COH) to better reflect the cultural diversity that exists within the London community. Overall, our project aimed to provide all individuals with the opportunity to consume food they are familiar and comfortable with, using a food choice-model system. This involved the creation of four deliverables: a comprehensive list of food options specific to the major minority groups in London, a culturally-specific food preference survey (physical and online versions, to improve accessibility), and a flyer with a QR code to encourage survey responses. The …

Stakeholders Surrounding Assisted & Affordable Housing (The Unity Project), Jiyoon Choi, Mahir Rahman, Adesh Suchit, Kenneth Wong

Medical Sciences 4300A: Addressing Healthcare Misconceptions Using Scientific Inquiry

Our team worked with the Unity Project, a registered charity in London that provides emergency shelter and supportive housing, to address the current needs of the organization based on a research and evidence-based approach. Specifically, we aimed to support their goals relating to the need for improved affordable housing solutions in London and the current divide between the different stakeholders involved. We provided two main deliverables: a) a report and slide deck that outline the positions of key stakeholders involved with affordable housing, and b) a set of three infographics that provide information that connects the homeless community to useful …