Health Information Technology Commons^™

Ai-Driven Biomarker Discovery & Progression Modeling For Precision Diagnosis Of Glaucoma, Cheng Huang

Computer Science and Engineering Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a comprehensive study on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) for glaucoma diagnosis and retinal image analysis. Leveraging multimodal imaging data including fundus photography, Optical Coherence Tomography Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA), the research develops a suite of deep learning frameworks designed to detect early glaucomatous changes with high precision, robustness, and interpretability. A series of novel architectures are introduced, spanning vessel segmentation networks, biomarker discovery pipelines, and multimodal fusion models, all designed to enhance diagnostic accuracy and generalizability across diverse populations. To facilitate reproducible and scalable ophthalmic AI research, this work …

Comparative Analysis Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Implications For Active Learning And Assessment At Various Curricular Levels Of Stem And Health Sciences In Developed Versus Underprivileged Countries, Vinay Munlapudi, Santanu De

FDLA Journal

Today’s all-pervasive emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of its role in education, especially for occupational disciplines in health sciences and STEM. AI has reshaped student learning and instructors’ navigation of the evolving, post coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) global academic landscape. This study aimed at encapsulating evidence-based AI implications for student-centered, active learning and assessment at various curricular levels of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and health sciences education in developed versus underprivileged or less developed countries. An extensive, scoping review of 65 recent, scholarly publications was conducted over six months through diverse search engines (PubMed, Google …

Evaluating Machine Learning Models On Classification Of Novel Cyber Attacks In The Healthcare Domain, Promise Ehimen

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The increasing adoption of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has improved healthcare delivery through connected medical devices while simultaneously expanding the cybersecurity risks facing healthcare organizations. Although machine learning based intrusion detection systems have demonstrated high detection accuracy, their ability to respond reliably to previously unseen cyberattacks remains uncertain. This study investigated how a Neural Network model and a Logistic Regression model classified novel cyberattacks within the IoMT environment. The Neural Network and Logistic Regression models were both trained and tested using a subset of the CICIoMT2024 benchmark dataset. The Neural Network achieved 99.82% test accuracy and a 0.94 …

Familybloom: Examining Ecologies Of Collaboration In Family-Centered Health Tracking, Lucas M. Silva, Aehong Min, Evropi Stefanidi, Franceli L. Cibrian, Jesus A. Beltran, Cassie Zeiler, Sabrina E. B. Schuck, Kimberley D. Lakes, Gillian R. Hayes, Daniel A. Epstein

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Family health informatics tools can help support well-being with shared data tracking. Prior work typically focused on shared data review, but often in specific moments, like bedtime, or centered on caregiving of children or elderly members. To investigate how tracking can support mutual health collaboration between family members pervasively across daily contexts, we designed and deployed FamilyBloom, a glanceable smartwatch and home display system for mood and goal tracking. Twelve families with both neurotypical and ADHD members used FamilyBloom for three months on average. Our findings reveal how family-centered tracking created collaboration opportunities and tensions across multiple ecological systems: individual …

Impediments To Transforming The Healthcare Delivery System: Shifting The Paradigm From Provider Centric To Patient Centric, Elizabeth A. Regan, Manasa Devi Chinta

Faculty Publications

Introduction: 

Stated aims for digital healthcare transformation frequently cite goals for better coordinated patient-centric systems. However, despite advances in medical science, digital technologies, health policies, and billions of dollars invested over the past 25 years, most healthcare providers are far from fully realizing the demonstrated benefits of today's digital technologies for improving patient care. Sharing information across healthcare systems remains challenging. Problems with fragmentation, quality, inequities, and rising costs of care delivery persist. A recent study of 1,026 U.S. hospital systems found that only 15.8 percent achieved a digital maturity level needed to provide digitally enabled healthcare services to better …

Cationic Poly(Glucosamine)-Based Polymers Bind To Glycans With Varying Affinity Facilitating Transport Across The Glycocalyx Of Endothelial Cells, Claire Bridges, Lu Fu, Dan Wang, James D. Sterling, Susanna Liang, Shenda M. Baker, Jonathan Yeow, Megan S. Lord

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Natural polysaccharides, such as chitosan, offer promising avenues for drug delivery due to their cytocompatibility and ability to interact with cell surfaces. However, the endothelial glycocalyx, a glycan-rich extracellular matrix, presents a barrier that must be navigated for effective intracellular delivery. This study investigates how cationic poly(glucosamine)-based polymers, functionalized with guanidinium or ammonium groups, interact with key glycocalyx components including hyaluronan (HA) and heparan sulfate (HS). We demonstrate that these cationic polymers form tunable biomolecular condensates with glycans, with stronger binding observed for sulfated glycans, HS and heparin, than unsulfated HA. Derivatized chitosan polymers with varied cationic side chains exhibit …

Humanity Is Evolving Its Consciousness: The Role Of Archetypal Energies As Guides During An Unfolding Weeding Out And Alignment Process, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

Humanity is evolving its consciousness at individual and collective levels.  Given these seemingly tumultuous times, as of this writing (January 2026), to make such a statement may sound like a strange thing to say.  However, I suggest that if you are alive today and if you are reading these words, these are the very times for which you were born—to assist Humanity as it evolves its consciousness with your unique gifts, whatever they may be.  That is, this period of our individual and collective human being-ness may be characterized as an unfolding period of weeding out and alignment with the …

Using Machine Learning To Predict Women At Risk Having A Child With Congenital Heart Defects, Amany M. Abdo Prof., Asmaa M. Mosallam Ms., Laila M. Abdelhamid Assoc.Prof.

Information Systems

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are heart malformations present at birth, affecting heart function and circulation, and are a leading cause of infant mortality. CHD can result from genetic, environmental, and maternal health factors, making early detection essential. Early diagnosis allows for timely intervention, reducing risks like heart failure or stroke. In countries like Egypt, CHD often remains undiagnosed due to limited healthcare resources. Artificial intelligence (AI) can improve early detection by analyzing risk factors. This study presents a predictive model for CHD using maternal and paternal health factors. Data was collected from 571 families: 260 with a CHD-affected child and …

Parentcoach: Designing An Mhealth Parenting App To Enhance Parental Involvement In Adhd Support, Franceli L. Cibrian, Nancy Herrera, Jesus A. Beltran, Lucas M. Silva, Mikaela Pulse, Kayla Anderson, Cassie Zeiler, Luc Rieffel, Daniel I. Lee, Sabrina E. B. Schuck, Kimberley D. Lakes

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Parents play a vital role in supporting self-regulation and managing behaviors in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, many face barriers to accessing consistent, evidence-based support. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies offer a promising way to deliver flexible, low-burden guidance for parents on best practices and strategies to support their children's self-regulation. However, designing them is non-trivial.

Objective: This paper introduces ParentCoach, a mobile application designed to support parents of children with ADHD through brief daily lessons, reflection prompts, and skill-building activities.

Methods: ParentCoach was developed in two phases: (1) secondary analysis of qualitative data from over 30 families …

Design And Assembly Of A Lightweight, Multi-Cannula Tetrode Drive For Bilateral Hippocampal And Acc Recordings, Homero Phelps, Jasmine Sidhu, Jonathan V. Trinidad, Talha Soluoku

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Implants and Electrophysiology:

Electrophysiology is the study of the electrical properties of cells and tissues, neuronal implants enable high-resolution recordings of neuron action potentials and their locations in the brain.

Data gathered is key in investigating/mapping cognition and effects of neurological pathologies on regular neural systems.

Hyperdrive Model:

Previous model was restricted to two implant sites, and displayed frequent tetrode deformation

Hyperdrive was modified to support four implant sites and 16 independently movable tetrodes using 3D modeling software, while keeping its weight below 1.5 grams.

Targets:

Researchers targeted the hippocampus (CA1, CA3) and ACC, using the novel bilateral model

The Interplay Between Endothelial Glycocalyx Maturity And Both The Toxicity And Intracellular Uptake Of Charged Nanoparticles, Claire A. Bridges, Lu Fu, Jonathan Yeow, Xiaojing Huang, Miriam Jackson, Rhiannon P. Kuchel, James D. Sterling, Shenda M. Baker, Megan S. Lord

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nanoparticles are widely studied for delivering treatments to target tissues, but few have reached clinical use. Most nanoparticles encounter blood vessels on their way to target tissues. The inner surface of these vessels is lined with endothelial cells covered by a glycocalyx, an extracellular matrix rich in anionic glycans. The role of the glycocalyx in nanoparticle interactions is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that endothelial cells need extended culture times to synthesize a mature glycocalyx. Our research shows that branched polyethyleneimine functionalized gold nanoparticles bind to endothelial cells expressing either a developing or mature glycocalyx, with the interaction involving …

The Interplay Between Endothelial Glycocalyx Maturity And Both The Toxicity And Intracellular Uptake Of Charged Nanoparticles, Claire A. Bridges, Lu D. Fu, Jonathan A. Yeow, Xiaojing D. Huang, Miriam D. Jackson, Rhiannon P. Kuchel, James D. Sterling, Shenda M. Baker, Megan S. Lord

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Nanoparticles are widely studied for delivering treatments to target tissues, but few have reached clinical use. Most nanoparticles encounter blood vessels on their way to target tissues. The inner surface of these vessels is lined with endothelial cells covered by a glycocalyx, an extracellular matrix rich in anionic glycans. The role of the glycocalyx in nanoparticle interactions is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that endothelial cells need extended culture times to synthesize a mature glycocalyx. Our research shows that branched polyethyleneimine functionalized gold nanoparticles bind to endothelial cells expressing either a developing or mature glycocalyx, with the interaction involving …

Machine Learning And Shap Interpretability For Chronic Disease Understanding, Nnaemeka Charles Igwe, Khandaker Mamun Ahmed

SDSU Data Science Symposium

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, are major global health concerns influenced by various health parameters and lifestyle choices. Traditional methods struggle to efficiently predict and manage these conditions due to the complexity and diversity of medical data. There is a need to leverage machine learning algorithms and modern computational tools to accurately predict diabetes, improve diagnosis, and provide actionable insights for better healthcare outcomes. In this project we study the application of machine learning methods for predicting NCDs such as diabetes. Moreover, we leverage hyperparameter tuning techniques for model development and SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) for results interpretations and …

Evaluating Lidar Technology In Iphone Mobiles For 2d Mapping Applications, Nasr Mohammady Saba, Salem Salama Saleh

Journal of Engineering Research

Abstract- LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology has revolutionized mapping applications, offering enhanced precision and accuracy in spatial data collection. The integration of LiDAR technology in the latest iPhone models, beginning with the iPhone 12 Pro, has introduced new capabilities for 2D data measurement and plan creation directly on the mobile device. The iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max models support LiDAR techniques within their mobile phone cameras, enhancing the performance of various applications such as Measurements and Photos. LiDAR operates by emitting pulsed light waves into the surrounding space, which bounce off nearby objects and return to the …

Experimental And Numerical Investigation For Optimum Design Of Hydraulic Steel Gates, Basma Hassan Mohamed Eng, Ahmed Mohamed Anwer Dr, Hanan Eltobgy Prof., Gamal Helmy El-Saeed Prof

Journal of Engineering Research

Conventionally, steel gates are widely used in hydraulic structures for their superior mechanical properties in sustaining hydrostatic pressure. Maintenance and operational costs should be considered while studying the feasibility of these gates. In the current research, three prototype steel gates with different configurations were prepared and examined experimentally. The three gates have the same surface dimensions of (width x height) equal to (1.0 x 1.25 m). The first steel gate represents a typical traditional gate made of skin plate and stiffened laterally using standard steel channels and will be kept for comparison. The second gate represents a standard thicker plate …

Performance And Emissions Characteristics Of Multi-Cylinder Direct Injection Diesel Engine Fuelled With Diesel/Biodiesel And Toluene Additives, Hagar Alm-Eldin Bastawissi, Medhat Elkelawy Prof. Dr. Eng., Mohammed Osama Elsamadony Dr. Eng., Moustafa Ghazaly Eng.

Journal of Engineering Research

This study explores the impact of using a diesel, biodiesel, and toluene additive fuel blend in a multi-cylinder direct injection diesel engine, focusing on both performance and emissions characteristics. Biodiesel, made from renewable sources like vegetable oils, is often added to diesel to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and improve combustion due to its higher oxygen content. In this work, a 45% biodiesel blend (B45) led to significant reductions in particulate matter (PM) emissions by up to 40% compared to conventional diesel. Additionally, carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions decreased by up to 30% and 25%, respectively, due to …

Effect Of Dual-Fuelled Cng And Gasoline On Spark Ignition Engine Performance And Emissions Behaviors At Different Loads, Medhat Elkelawy Prof. Dr, Eng., M.M. Bassuoni Prof. Dr., Hagar Alm-Eldin Bastawissi, Saied I. Haiba Eng.

Journal of Engineering Research

Engine emissions are one of numerous factors that have detrimentally affected the environment, such as global warming, which is the result of growing exhaust gases, practically carbon dioxide (CO2). These emissions have substantially influenced researchers to develop strategic initiatives to minimize the carbon contents of fuels. The purpose of this research is to investigate the characteristics of internal combustion (SI) engines fueled by gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG) blends. The experiments are performed using a HONDA 4-stroke, single-cylinder, and air-cooled SI engine. Five CNG concentrations are evaluated, the concentrations range from 0.5 to 2.5 L/min with a 0.5 L/min …

A Quantitative Analysis Of The Commercial-Additive Effects On Diesel Engine Combustion And Emissions Characteristics, Medhat Elkelawy Prof. Dr. Eng., Hagar Alm-Eldin Bastawissi Prof. Dr. Eng., E. A. El Shenawy Prof. Dr., Mahmoud Mohamed Soliman Mahmoud Mohamed Mahmoud Soliman

Journal of Engineering Research

Petroleum fuel prices fluctuate in response to global political and economic issues. Government regulations should be followed when it comes to engine emissions, as these dangerous pollutants have a negative impact on the environment. One such effect is global warming, which raises global temperatures. The purpose of this study is to develop the additives for use as a fuel mix with diesel fuel, which will be used to feed the diesel engine of a single cylinder, four strokes. The engine will be tested experimentally with varying loads at fixed speed of 1500 rpm, using blends of [(5% PRETSONE additive + …

Design And Implementation Of A Low-Cost Educa-Tional Robot For Engineering Curriculums, Diana Refaat Henry Jacob, Ashraf Mohamed Hafez, Mohamed Tarek Elawa

Journal of Engineering Research

The role of educational robots is becoming increasingly important. Many commercial educational robots differ in their abilities and price. In general, the cost of these robots presents the main cause of their limited use in the teaching process, especially in countries with limited financial resources. This work attempts to solve this problem by designing and implementing an educational robot with a limited budget. The robot was initially intended to serve higher education students' needs, especially in engineering curriculums but can be extended to other application areas. This work presents robot hardware functional blocks, mechanical struc-ture design, and 3D printing implementation. …

A Greening The Diesel: Vegetable Oil Biodiesel Blends For Cleaner Emissions And Improved Direct Injection Diesel Engine Performance, Medhat Elkelawy Prof. Dr, Eng., Hagar Alm-Eldin Bastawissi, E. A. El Shenawy Prof. Dr., Mustafa Mohamed Ouda

Journal of Engineering Research

In this study, we conducted comprehensive experiments to assess and compare the performance of pure diesel fuel against biodiesel produced from corn oil in various blend ratios (15/85, 30/70, 45/55, and 60/40) in a conventional four-stroke, direct-injection diesel engine, fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber at the end of the compression stroke, allowing for efficient combustion and power generation over four distinct phases: intake, compression, power, and exhaust. Each fuel blend was tested at an engine speed of 16,000 rpm across different load conditions (low, medium, and high). Key performance metrics, including volumetric fuel consumption, exhaust smoke, and …

A Survey On Food Ingredient Substitutions, Hyunwook Kim, Revathy Venkataramanan, Amit P. Sheth

Publications

Diet plays a crucial role in managing chronic conditions and overall well-being. As people become more selective about their food choices, finding recipes that meet dietary needs is important. Ingredient substitution is key to adapting recipes for dietary restrictions, allergies, and availability constraints. However, identifying suitable substitutions is challenging as it requires analyzing the flavor, functionality, and health suitability of ingredients. With the advancement of AI, researchers have explored computational approaches to address ingredient substitution. This survey paper provides a comprehensive overview of the research in this area, focusing on five key aspects: (i) datasets and data sources used to …

Exploring Large Language Models For Summarizing And Interpreting An Online Brain Tumor Support Forum, Christy Muasher-Kerwin, M. Courtney Hughes, Michelle L. Foster, Ibrahiim Al Azher, Hamed Alhoori

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

Objective

Methods

Modeling Ion-Specific Effects In Polyelectrolyte Brushes: A Modified Poisson-Nernst-Planck Model, William J. Ceely, Marina Chugunova, Ali Nadim, James D. Sterling

Business and Information Technology Faculty Research & Creative Works

Polyelectrolyte brushes consist of a set of charged linear macromolecules, each tethered at one end to a surface. An example is the glycocalyx which refers to hair-like negatively charged sugar molecules that coat the outside membrane of all cells. We consider the transport and equilibrium distribution of ions and the resulting electrical potential when such a brush is immersed in a salt buffer containing monovalent cations (sodium and/or potassium). The Gouy-Chapman model for ion screening at a charged surface captures the effects of the Coulombic force that drives ion electrophoresis and diffusion but neglects non-Coulombic forces and ion pairing. By …

A Governance-Centric Framework For Strengthening Healthcare Cybersecurity: A Systems Perspective, Sujatha Alla, Sai Gireesh Komaragiri, Teresa Duvall, Satluk Karahan, Nagesh Bheesetty, Vijay Kumar Chattu

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Healthcare systems face unprecedented security and privacy challenges due to increasing digitization and interconnectedness. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of these challenges by examining various cyberattacks, defensive mechanisms, and governance frameworks within modern healthcare infrastructure. The research systematically categorizes prevalent security threats, such as ransomware, insider threats, and data breaches, identifying vulnerabilities specific to healthcare systems. Furthermore, the study evaluates current defensive strategies, including encryption techniques, access control systems, and intrusion detection tools, assessing their effectiveness against complex cyber threats. A key focus is placed on governance structures and their role in cybersecurity resilience. The research explores how regulatory …

Leveraging Physiological Signal Activity And Self-Report Data To Assess Students’ Trust In “My Friendly Mind” App And Its Impact On Their Mental Health Knowledge: A Mixed-Method Phase 1 Clinical Trial Focusing On Depression And Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder From Human Factors Standpoint., Yeganeh Shahsavar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mental health issues have become a significant global public health concern, especially among younger generations. The growing number of mental health challenges, combined with limited access to quality care, makes the problem even worse. Studies reveal that over 70% of individuals worldwide in need of mental health services do not receive appropriate care. Digital health technologies have the potential to enhance mental health services by making them more accessible and affordable. Despite the increasing popularity of mental health mobile applications (mHealth), there remains a lack of robust evidence of their effectiveness and the level of user trust, particularly in areas …

Personalized Prediction Of Tumor Recurrence With Image-Guided Physics-Informed Computational Model In High-Grade Gliomas, Walia Farzana, Khan M. Iftekharuddin

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

High grade gliomas are infiltrating tumors characterized by their diffusive invasion and proliferative growth. Across and within patients heterogeneity of tumors makes it challenging to determine tumor spatial extent after surgical resection. Traditionally, tumor growth predictions after surgical resections rely on generalized models and population-based observations, which do not account for individual patient differences. To address this gap, we propose a personalized approach with image-guided computational model (digital twin) that incorporates physics-based modeling to predict tumor recurrence. Our digital twin involves an inverse modeling step, followed by a recurrence model that accounts for varying surgical effects. The physics-guided inverse model …

Hypnosis And Mindfulness Audio Recordings For Reducing Fatigue In Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Study, Mark P. Jensen, Susan Robles, Michael G. Nash, Susanne May, Dwan M. Ehde, Melissa A. Day, Owen Gottlieb, Laurence I. Sugarman, Kevin N. Alschuler

Articles

Background

Fatigue is a common problem in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective

The objective was to evaluate the effects on fatigue of having 4 weeks of

access to audio recordings of therapeutic hypnosis (HYP) and mindfulness meditation

(MM) practices.

Methods

A total of 333 individuals with MS and fatigue were randomly assigned to

one of the three treatment conditions for 28 weeks: (1) access to therapeutic HYP audio

recordings, (2) access to MM audio recordings, or (3) no access to recordings

(treatment as usual or TAU). Fatigue impact (primary outcome) and other outcomes

were assessed at 4, 16, and …

An Open Approach To Clinical Study Recruitment Automation, Andrew Bouras, Andrew Bouras, Dhruv Patel, Rahul Kataria

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Objective: To present an innovative Patient Recruitment Automation System that leverages open standards and promotes open data in clinical research. Background: Patient recruitment for clinical studies faces challenges in efficiency, data security, and regulatory compliance. These issues can delay research timelines and impact healthcare advancements. Methods: We developed a system that integrates with Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems to identify potential participants using predefined criteria. The platform employs Azure-based infrastructure with advanced data protection techniques, ensuring HIPAA compliance. It features an automated screening process using adaptive questionnaires and a communication module for participant engagement. Results: The system demonstrates improved efficiency …

Digital Health Intervention For Children With Adhd To Improve Mental Health Intervention, Patient Experiences, And Outcomes: A Study Protocol, Nancy Herrera, Franceli L. Cibrian, Lucas M. Silva, Jesus Armando Beltran, Sabrina E. B. Schuck, Gillian R. Hayes, Kimberley D. Lakes

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent childhood psychiatric condition with profound public health, personal, and family consequences. ADHD requires comprehensive treatment; however, lack of communication and integration across multiple points of care is a substantial barrier to progress. Given the chronic and pervasive challenges associated with ADHD, innovative approaches are crucial. We developed the digital health intervention (DHI)—CoolTaCo [Cool Technology Assisting Co-regulation] to address these critical barriers. CoolTaCo uses Patient-Centered Digital Healthcare Technologies (PC-DHT) to promote co-regulation (child/parent), capture patient data, support efficient healthcare delivery, enhance patient engagement, and facilitate shared decision-making, thereby improving access to …

Irl For Restless Multi-Armed Bandits With Applications In Maternal And Child Health, Gauri Jain, Pradeep Varakantham, Haifeng Xu, Aparna Taneja, Prashant Doshi, Milind Tambe

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Public health practitioners often have the goal of monitoring patients and maximizing patients’ time spent in “favorable” or healthy states while being constrained to using limited resources. Restless multi-armed bandits (RMAB) are an effective model to solve this problem as they are helpful to allocate limited resources among many agents under resource constraints, where patients behave differently depending on whether they are intervened on or not. However, RMABs assume the reward function is known. This is unrealistic in many public health settings because patients face unique challenges and it is impossible for a human to know who is most deserving …