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Severe Maternal Morbidity According To Sickle Cell Disease Genotype, Tetsuya Kawakita, Natsume Furukawa, Sora A. Jones, Salimah Navaz Gangji

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Background

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic hemoglobinopathy that disproportionately affects individuals of African descent and is associated with elevated risks of maternal complications. However, the contribution of specific SCD genotypes to severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and postpartum readmission remains poorly characterized at the population level.

Objective

We sought to examine the association between SCD genotypes-hemoglobin SS (HbSS) disease, hemoglobin SC (HbSC) disease, sickle thalassemia, and sickle cell trait-and SMM, hospital readmission, and related adverse maternal outcomes.

Study design

This was a retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2016 through 2022, representing over 20 million weighted …

A Quantum Quandary: Does Algorithmic Complexity Inherently Diminish Security, Chinyere Isaac-Heslop

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

Although essential, cryptographic security practice often relies on assumptions and abstractions that are difficult to audit under emerging quantum resource models. This creates an unnecessary barrier between the algorithms that govern the connected and the people cryptography protects. Modern cryptography relies on the assumption that computational complexity guarantees security. As algorithms become increasingly complex, their resistance to attack is presumed to increase. Practical constraints suggest that this relationship is neither linear nor indefinite. Resource limitations, algorithmic structure, and pressures from quantum computing introduce points at which added complexity ceases to improve and may instead degrade cryptographic robustness. This dissertation asks …

Sleepiness In Pregnancy And Adverse Perinatal Outcomes, Rachel Friedlander, Xiaoning Huang, Phyllis Zee, Sadiya S. Khan, Philip Greenland, Francesca L. Facco, Judith Chung, William A. Grobman, Shalini Manchanda, Uma M. Reddy, George R. Saade, Robert M. Silver, Lynn M. Yee

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Background

Sleep disorders in pregnancy have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm birth, and gestational diabetes mellitus, yet these findings are largely from retrospective studies. Using data from a prospective study that used validated tools to assess sleepiness in pregnancy, we aimed to assess the association of sleepiness in pregnancy with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods

In this secondary analysis of data from a large, diverse prospective cohort of nulliparous individuals conducted at eight United States medical centers, those with self-reported sleep data were included. Sleepiness was evaluated in early (6-13 weeks) and mid-pregnancy (22-29 …

Posterior Subperiosteal Abscess Of The Distal Femur In A Pediatric Patient: A Rare Surgical Presentation Of Acute Hematogenous Osteomyelitis, Michael Dearman, Corey Bindner

School of Medicine Student Publications and Presentations

Introduction: Pediatric osteomyelitis commonly arises from acute hematogenous spread and remains diagnostically challenging due to limited radiographic findings and difficulty obtaining MRI in young children. Subperiosteal abscess formation is an uncommon but serious complication, with posterior distal femoral involvement reported only once previously.

Case Report: A 19-month-old male presented with fever and refusal to bear weight. Initial radiographs were unremarkable. Worsening symptoms prompted admission with rising inflammatory markers and blood cultures positive for gram positive cocci. MRI demonstrated distal femoral metaphyseal osteomyelitis with a posterior subperiosteal abscess. Through an anterior arthrotomy and metaphyseal drilling, osteomyelitis and joint involvement were addressed. …

Altars Of Freedom: Forty Devotions From The Asbury Community For A Nation’S 250th Year, Chris Kiesling, Robert Danielson

Books

No abstract provided.

Qualitative Exploration Of Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Healthcare Workers In Sierra Leone: Do The ‘Trusted Messengers’ Trust The Vaccine?, Ifeolu David, Enid Schatz, Wilson Majee

Population Health Leadership and Analytics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction

Vaccine hesitancy is a global issue, and the important role of healthcare workers in addressing vaccine hesitancy is well documented. However, there is limited theory-guided research on the uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations among healthcare workers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study examined COVID-19 vaccine uptake among healthcare workers in Sierra Leone and assessed the relevance of the 5C model—which posits that vaccine uptake is shaped by confidence, complacency, constraints, calculation and collective responsibility—in explaining their vaccination attitudes, intentions and behaviours.

Methods

24 indepth interviews were conducted in 2022 with healthcare workers in Freetown, Makeni and Kenema. The …

The Eighth Amendment And Prison Staff-To-Sentenced Prisoner Sexual Violence, Matthew Lyskawa

Faculty Scholarship

In this Article, I provide the first comprehensive account of lower federal courts’ Eighth Amendment prison conditions jurisprudence regarding prison staff-to-sentenced prisoner sexual violence. I show that lower federal courts are systematically misunderstanding and misapplying Supreme Court case law in this context. The result is that sexually victimized prisoners must meet extremely burdensome doctrinal standards unique to sexual violence claims. Lower federal courts would faithfully follow Supreme Court precedent if they applied the excessive force standard to sexual assault claims and the conditions of confinement standard to sexual harassment claims. However, a faithful application of Supreme Court case law does …

Fill The Void - An Introductory Guide For Learning Medical Imaging, Reid Faith, Peter Gahan, Adam Trusty, Aleksandr Zyskin, Chukwuka Ukekwe, Denise Nchinda, Amanda K. Burbage, Alberto E. Musto

EVMS School of Health Professions Faculty Publications

No standardized, comprehensive approach for radiological image interpretation exists among medical schools in the United States of America. In order to rectify this, we outline a model aimed to help improve how medical imaging can be taught in medical schools. The VOID (Visualization, Orientation/Observation, Identification, Description) guide is a proposed universal, stepwise approach to medical image identification, interpretation, and communication. This structured guideline is aimed at building a foundation for students in early medical education. The VOID was applied to CT (Computed Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), and x-ray modalities as integrated sessions for medical students during human anatomy laboratory. …

Evaluation Of Micronized, Electrospun Fiber Matrix Effect On Outcomes Of Major Lower Extremity Amputations., Michael Dearman, Brittany Wagner, Alireza Behbudi, Luis Fernandez, Alan Cook, Rebecca Swindall, Brandi Pero, Alisha Thedford

School of Medicine Student Publications and Presentations

Background: Major lower extremity amputations are associated with substantial postoperative morbidity and mortality (Belmont). Restrata is a synthetic electrospun fiber matrix that is engineered to closely resemble human extracellular matrix to facilitate wound healing while avoiding the drawbacks of traditional biologic wound matrices (MacEwan, Fernandez). There have been no studies which have directly compared micronized electrospun fiber matrix (MEFM) to biologic xenograft matrices in patients undergoing major lower extremity amputation. The purpose of this study is to compare postoperative wound recovery in patients undergoing major lower extremity amputation, treated with MEFM (Restrata Minimatrix, Acera, St.Louis, Missouri ) versus a type …

Walking Through The Valley Of The Shadow: A Pancreatic Cancer Journey, Don Butterworth

Academic Books

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Micronized, Electrospun Fiber Matrix Effect On Outcomes Of Major Lower Extremity Amputations, Michael Dearman, Brittany Wagner, Luis Fernandez, Alireza Behbudi, Alan Cook, Rebecca Swindall, Brandi Pero, Alisha Thedford

School of Medicine Student Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Proof-Of-Concept Development And Preclinical Evaluation Of A Microarray Patch Platform For Codelivery Of Multiple Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies For Hiv Prevention, M. Melissa Peet, Vivek Agrahari, Parbeen Singh, Lam Luong Hoai Nguyen, Louise A. Ouattara, Eun Sung Yang, Carolina Herrera, Amarendra Pegu, Theodore C. Pierson, Thanh D. Nguyen, Gustavo F. Doncel

CONRAD Publications

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) are advancing as a preventative or treatment option for HIV infection, but currently must be administered parenterally, typically as a large injection or infusion, an invasive method of delivery, especially for the pediatric population. Here, we present proof-of-concept data on a minimally invasive microneedle (MN) patch platform codelivering three bnAbs, PGT121, VRC07-523LS, and PGDM1400LS, from separate MN patch units or pixels. Each 1 cm² patch pixel, fabricated via solvent casting, contained similar to 2 mg of one bnAb. In ex vivo porcine skin tests, the MNs effectively penetrated the skin. When tested in vitro in PBS …

Refining Aicardi Syndrome Diagnostic Criteria: An Expert-Based Consensus Using A Modified Delphi Approach, Silvia Masnada, Valentina De Giorgis, Umberto Carugo, Nadia Bahi-Buisson, Mara Cavallin, Mark Corbett, Manuela Formica, Jozef Gecz, Natalia Petros, Emilio Perucca, Anna Pichiecchio, Paolo Fusar Poli, Elliott H Sherr, Ignatia B Van Den Veyver, Federico Zara, Martin Geroldinger, Pierangelo Veggiotti, Alexis Arzimanoglou

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Background and objectives: Aicardi syndrome (AIC) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder historically characterised by the presence of chorioretinal lacunae, corpus callosum agenesis, infantile spasms and several supporting features that aid in diagnosis. However, the unclear aetiology and evolving diagnostic tools have led to ongoing reconsideration of the criteria, based on individual approaches. Our study aimed to establish, for the first time, an expert-based consensus on diagnostic criteria for AIC by integrating both existing and novel ones.

Methods: A geographically diverse and multidisciplinary group of expert physicians was invited to participate in a modified Delphi study, to achieve consensus on major, …

Telethon Undiagnosed Disease Program: Structured Approach To Solving Rare Childhood-Onset Genetic Diseases, Annalaura Torella, Manuela Morleo, Carmine Spampanato, Raffaele Castello, Mariateresa Zanobio, Giulio Piluso, Pasquale Di Letto, Maria Elena Onore, Sarah Iffat Rahman, Francesco Musacchia, Michele Pinelli, Giuseppina Vitiello, Giulia De Riso, Angelo Selicorni, Milena Mariani, Cecilia Daolio, Valeria Capra, Marcello Scala, Francesca Nardecchia, Serena Galosi, Mario Mastrangelo, Filippo Manti, Donatella Milani, Corrado Romano, Donatella Greco, Claudia Ciaccio, Stefano D'Arrigo, Arianna De Laurentiis, Antonietta Coppola, Marcella Zollino, Domizia Pasquetti, Federica Francesca L'Erario, Albina Tummolo, Claudia Santoro, Livia Garavelli, Carla Marini, Stefania Bigoni, Alfonsina Tirozzi, Viviana Cetrangolo, Giancarlo Parenti, Diego Di Bernardo, Angela Peron, Silvia Maitz, Andrea Accogli, Gerarda Cappuccio, Sandro Banfi, Giorgio Casari, Andrea Ballabio, Nicola Brunetti-Pierri, Vincenzo Nigro, Telethon Undiagnosed Disease Study Group

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Purpose: Many children with severe genetic disorders remain undiagnosed despite advanced genomic technologies. Early diagnosis is vital for prognosis, genetic counseling, and targeted treatment development. This study aims to increase diagnostic rates in complex pediatric cases and foster research into disease mechanisms.

Methods: Launched in 2016, the Telethon Undiagnosed Diseases Program provides a structured, multicenter approach to rare disease diagnosis. Standardized case submission criteria ensured consistent clinical data collection. Children with severe, multisystemic disorders and prior negative genetic tests were eligible. After case approval, trio-based exome sequencing was performed, with regular reanalysis for unsolved cases until December 2024.

Results: Between …

Information Technology Dashboard Design Research, James Myers

Dissertations and Theses

Dashboard displays in command center environments benefit from design guidelines informed by perceptual and cognitive research. This dissertation examines how spatial hierarchy and chartjunk affect knowledge retention from dashboard displays, using a mixed-methods approach that combines formative qualitative studies with controlled experiments. Three formative studies, an expert review, a heuristic analysis with three reviewers, and semi-structured interviews with IT professionals identified spatial hierarchy and chartjunk removal as the design guidelines most likely to affect dashboard comprehension. A subsequent co-creation study with IT professionals refined these findings and informed experimental stimulus development. Two experiments tested these guidelines using a dashboard knowledge …

Adverse Experiences Of D/Deaf Individuals, Lily Buchholz

Graduate Research Papers

With over 1 million people making up the Deaf and hard of hearing community in the United States, this population faces Adverse Childhood Experiences and intimate partner violence at rates higher than the hearing population. D/deaf people experience adversity specifically related to their inability to hear, including discrimination and daily microaggressions. Researching the adverse experiences of the D/deaf population allows for greater awareness to better serve them in professional settings. Clinicians using this information can provide more trauma-informed services, schools can create healthier and safer learning environments for D/deaf students, and D/deaf communities can support each other through connection and …

Hemisphere: Visual Cultures Of The Americas Volume Xvii 2026

Hemisphere: Visual Cultures of the Americas

No abstract provided.

Climate Change Impacts On Forest Canopy Temperatures: From Mechanisms To Implications, William Hagan Brown

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Forests are a vital interface between the biosphere and the atmosphere. As global temperatures rise due to increasing anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, it is important to understand the response of forest tree canopy leaf temperature (T_can). Additionally, understanding variation in T_can and regulation across species within ecosystems is crucial for understanding how climate change affects plants. Thus, this research aimed to measure T_can in temperate and tropical forests under contrasting environmental conditions to advance understanding of T_can. At the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment (BIFoR-FACE) site, continuous thermal infrared (TIR) …

Evaluating Blanket Mire Vegetation Recovery Following Hydrological Restoration, With Specific Focus On The Influence Of Molinia Caerulea, Oscar Kemble

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

This thesis evaluates the ecological processes involved in passive blanket peatland vegetation restoration following hydrological rewetting and evaluates the role of Molinia caerulea tussock development as a barrier to blanket mire vegetation establishment. Using data collected from restoration pools and terrestrial peat surfaces across blanket bog habitats on Dartmoor National Park, vegetation responses to rewetting over timescales of up to 10 years were evaluated. Observations were made on the restorative processes of terrestrialisation in pools and paludification of the terrestrial peat surface, and on the role of M. caerulea tussocks in shaping microclimates and vegetation assemblages. Results show that aquatic …

Quantifying The Lower Limits Of Plastic Detection With Absorption Features And Mesma Spectral Unmixing Over Sentinel-2 Satellite Imagery, James Delaney

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Plastic pollution is a widespread environmental issue, with larger macroplastic objects resulting in harm to the environment, economies, and human health. Satellite remote sensing can detect plastic over widespread areas, but quantifying plastic on the spatial scale within sensor pixels (sub-pixel) in imagery poses challenges to medium-resolution sensors. Determining the factors affecting the ability of plastic to be detected at small scales within satellite imagery and testing little-explored spectral unmixing sub-pixel plastic quantification on these open-source satellite images can increase the value extracted from this data source. Spectral measurements of plastic packaging at changing abundances were measured using a hyperspectral …

Characterisation Of Biodegradable Polymers And Their Degradation In The Environment, Robyn Barrett

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

The escalating accumulation of persistent plastic waste necessitates the transition to sustainable materials, with bio-based and/or biodegradable polymers increasingly adopted for applications, such as forestry tree shelters, where retrieval is costly and impractical. However, the true environmental fate and long-term stability of these complex bio-based and/or biodegradable polymer products remain uncertain. This uncertainty is exacerbated by reliance on conventional degradation assessments that employ indirect metrics (e.g., carbonyl index, CO$_2$ evolution) under ideal laboratory conditions, often failing to predict performance in the heterogeneous and complex natural environment. This research addressed this critical analytical gap by establishing a high-resolution, untargeted chemical framework …

Assessing Past Storm And Tsunami Events With Coastal Boulder Deposits: Implications For Offshore And Coastal Renewable Energy Infrastructure, Storm Roberts

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences Theses

Coastal boulder deposits are found on coastlines worldwide, transported inland by extreme storm or tsunami events. These deposits are understudied, yet hold unique information about the magnitude of the waves which emplaced them, enabling the addition of new events to the storm and tsunami record. However, boulder transport by storm waves is commonly misidentified as tsunami events, traditional methods for calculating boulder size are outdated, the influence of boulder shape on transport is understudied, there are difficulties making comparisons between physical experiments and field data, and commonly used equations for estimating wave flow velocities from boulders have been shown to …

“A Loving And Faithful Wife”: A Study Of Dakota Territory Divorce Law And Marital Expectations In The Late Nineteenth Century, Cassidy Amanda Abfalter-Dial

Dissertations and Theses

“A Loving and Faithful Wife” provides a procedural and gender-based analysis of twenty-five Dakota Territory divorce cases, from Clay County, ranging from 1867-1884. This analysis is based on an understanding of the procedural aspects of the territorial divorce court system, as well as nineteenth century gender ideologies, include the ideals of True Womanhood, and Separate Spheres. By employing a close reading method, this research analyzes the language in court filings, allegations used in complaints, and the outcome of the cases. This analysis reveals men and women used unspoken gender scripts to present their marriages to the court and attempt to …

Teaching Safety Skills To Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities In A School Setting, Nicole Freeman

Dissertations and Theses

his study was designed to determine the effectiveness of using Behavior Skills Training with or without In-situ Training to teach responding to a simulated toxic substance in young adults with intellectual disabilities in a school setting. Simulated safety skills were measured using a task-analysis of independently identifying, avoiding, and reporting the simulated toxic substance to a qualified adult (i.e., teacher, caregiver, classroom support provider). The task analysis of the identification, avoidance, and reporting was an attempt to quantify independent self-help skills on the part of the participants. The measurement procedure was consistent with previous research conducted on similar safety skills …

Iron(Ii)/Cobalt(Ii)-Mediated Silicon And Carbon Quantum Dots For Nanozyme Activity And Fluorescence Sensing Of Hydrogen Peroxide And Glucose, Kang Qin

Dissertations and Theses

Silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have been widely studied as fluorescent nanomaterials for sensing applications. In this thesis, we developed two different nanomaterials, SiQDs and CQDs, and investigated their catalytic activities and applied them for the detection of hydrogen peroxide and glucose. In the first project, Co2+-mediated SiQDs were synthesized through a hydrothermal method. The obtained nanoparticles showed obvious peroxidase-like activity toward the oxidation of tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2 under acidic conditions. Moreover, a weak oxidation of TMB was also observed without H2O2, suggesting the existence of oxidase-like activity. To better understand the …

Invasion Dynamics, Environmental Conditions, And Community Impacts Of Yellow Sweetclover (Melilotus Officinalis) Across The Northern Great Plains, Sakshi Saraf

Dissertations and Theses

Understanding how environmental conditions and invasion dynamics shape native plant Communities is critical for conserving and managing the semi-arid grasslands of the Northern Great Plains (NGP). Invasive plant species are increasingly altering ecosystem structure and function across this region, yet knowledge gaps remain regarding the drivers of invasion, their spatiotemporal dynamics, and their associations with native plant communities. This dissertation investigates three questions: (1) what environmental conditions are associated with the distribution and abundance of the invasive legume Melilotus officinalis (yellow sweetclover; MEOF), (2) how does MEOF vary across space and time under climatic conditions, and (3) how are environmental …

The Impact Of Flight Instructor Feedback On Subsequent Instructor Evaluations Of Student Performance, Ayhan Rozyyev, Jennifer E. Thropp

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

This study examines the impact of feedback tone and feedback order on flight instructors’ evaluations of student performance in an aviation training context. Using a 2×2 mixed factorial design, 40 certified flight instructors reviewed fictitious training records and rated students based on feedback that varied in tone (positive vs. negative) and order (positive-first vs. negative-first). Results showed that positive feedback significantly influenced evaluations across all measured dimensions, while feedback order had no significant effect, challenging assumptions about primacy and recency effects. These findings highlight the role of positive reinforcement in shaping instructor evaluations and suggest that structured training environments can …

Impact Of In-Cabin Human Machine Interface Designs On Passenger Trust In Urban Air Mobility, Ricole A. Johnson, Erika E. Gallegos

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) presents a promising solution for alleviating urban traffic congestion and enhancing transportation efficiency. However, the widespread acceptance of UAM, particularly sustained ridership of autonomous passenger air vehicles (PAVs), is contingent upon addressing critical human factors for building passenger trust, especially in the absence of a human pilot. This paper evaluates how different in-cabin human-machine interface (HMI) designs affect passenger trust in the aircraft and in-cabin display, situation awareness, and pilot preferences. Forty participants, equally split between early and late technology adopters, completed two simulated flights: a baseline flight with no HMI and a second flight featuring …

The Role Of User Experience In Virtual Reality Flight Training: A Comparison With Pc-Based Simulation, Tianxin Zhang, Christina M. Frederick, Barbara Chaparro

Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research

The current project explores how user experience (UX) in virtual reality (VR) flight simulation influences both cognitive learning outcomes and procedural skill acquisition when compared to traditional desktop-based simulation.. Using a quasi-transfer of training design, 48 student pilots were randomly assigned to VR, Desktop, or Control groups and trained on the Chandelle maneuver. UX was measured with the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ), while training effectiveness was evaluated through a post-training knowledge test and recorded maneuver performance on a high-fidelity flight training device. Results indicated that the VR group reported significantly higher UX scores in Attractiveness, Stimulation, and Novelty, and showed …

1967 5bfts First Reunion Dinner Letter (April 1967) From Mod Tracking Those At 5bfts, Jenifer A. Harding

Documents

The First Reunion Dinner for RAF pilots who had trained at 5BFTS during WW2 was held on October 14, 1967, at the Royal Aero Club, London. This letter, dated April 28, 1967, is from the Ministry of Defence in response to a request to help track down those who had been at 5BFTS so that they could be invited to the Reunion.