Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

How Increased Ransomware Attacks Have Impacted Hospitals In The United States, Mackenzie Dotson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The healthcare industry, particularly hospitals, have fallen prey to the alarming rise of ransomware attacks. In recent years, highly sophisticated cybergroups, armed with substantial funds and advanced technology, have intensified their focus on hospitals. Despite the advice against it, most hospitals have paid the ransom in order to regain access to their electronic systems and patient data, underlining the severity of these attacks.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effects of ransomware attacks on hospitals in the US to determine if the patients were at risk due to hackers withholding patient information …

The Measure Of Efficiency And Effectiveness When Using Artificial Intelligence (Ai) In Radiology, Jordan Watts

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: The use of artificial intelligence in radiology has helped radiologists identify patterns and abnormalities in medical images to diagnose and treat patients. Deep learning and machine learning algorithms have been used to assist physicians in detecting features that are not noticeable to the human eye. The FDA has approved almost 400 AI algorithms for radiology and estimated that the market for AI in medical imaging would grow from $21.48 billion in 2018 to $264.85 billion in 2028.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the use of artificial intelligence in radiology to determine its …

The Impact Of Big Data Utilization On Quality Improvement In Inpatient Facilities, Lakyn Hare

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Poor quality in healthcare has resulted in avoidable patient complications, including readmission rates. Big data in healthcare can be analyzed and built into a tools, with machine learning, to aid in reduced readmission rates and overall positive patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study: The intention of this study was to evaluate the ways that big data can be analyzed to improve healthcare, specifically readmissions, patient outcomes, and show cost savings. This study examined different ways that big data could be used in concordance with machine learning, including predictive analysis, to make these improvements.

Methodology: The hypothesis was the …

The U-Net-Based Active Learning Framework For Enhancing Cancer Immunotherapy, Vishwanshi Joshi

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world. According to the U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics, about 281,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2021 (Smith et al., 2019). The death rate of breast cancer is higher than any other cancer type. Early detection and treatment of breast cancer have been challenging over the last few decades. Meanwhile, deep learning algorithms using Convolutional Neural Networks to segment images have achieved considerable success in recent years. These algorithms have continued to assist in exploring the quantitative measurement of cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment. …

Artificial Intelligence And The Challenge For Rural Medicine, James Denvir

Marshall Journal of Medicine

Recent advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning are beginning to have an impact on everyday experiences, from natural language processing used in automated telephone call centers to semi-autonomous vehicles. These techniques have also been applied to medical care. In this editorial we discuss applications of AI to medicine and argue for a proactive approach to include rural medicine in this paradigm shift.

Global Stability For A 2n + 1 Dimensional Hiv/Aids Epidemic Model With Treatments, Olusegun Michael Otunuga

Mathematics Faculty Research

In this work, we derive and analyze a 2n + 1-dimensional deterministic differential equation modeling the transmission and treatment of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) disease. The model is extended to a stochastic differential equation by introducing noise in the transmission rate of the disease. A theoretical treatment strategy of regular HIV testing and immediate treatment with Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is investigated in the presence and absence of noise. By defining R0, n, Rt, n and Rt,n as the deterministic basic reproduction number in the absence of ART treatments, deterministic basic reproduction number in the presence of …

Global Stability Of Nonlinear Stochastic Sei Epidemic Model With Fluctuations In Transmission Rate Of Disease, Olusegun Michael Otunuga

Mathematics Faculty Research

We derive and analyze the dynamic of a stochastic SEI epidemic model for disease spread. Fluctuations in the transmission rate of the disease bring about stochasticity in model. We discuss the asymptotic stability of the infection-free equilibrium by first deriving the closed form deterministic (R₀) and stochastic (R₀) basic reproductive number. Contrary to some author’s remark that different diffusion rates have no effect on the stability of the disease-free equilibrium, we showed that even if no epidemic invasion occurs with respect to the deterministic version of the SEI model (i.e., R₀ < 1), epidemic can still grow initially (if R₀ > 1) …

Local Sensitivity Analysis Of Acute Inflammation, James Martin

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The inflammatory response is the body's response to some pathogen or foreign invader. When infected by a pathogen, a healthy individual will mount a response with immunological factors to eliminate it. An inflammatory response that is either too strong or too weak can be detrimental to the individual's health. We will look at a qualitative mathematical model of the inflammatory response, in scenarios that represent varying disorders of the immune system. Using sensitivity analysis we determine which parameters of this model are most influential in the different scenarios. By determining which parameters are most influential we can suggest possible targets …

A Few Notes On Nabokov's Childhood Entomology, Victor Fet

Biological Sciences Faculty Research

Nabokov's lepidoptery long posed a question: Was he an amateur or a professional entomologist? Today, it has been amply demonstrated that he was a professional. Kurt Johnson says, "For Nabokov, as with many, fascination with the big picture books of butterflies as a young child grew to concerted collecting as a youngster. As with many scientists, these impressions of youth become a driving life force."³ Nabokov started collecting butterflies in 1906, at age seven, and never ceased; he published his first book of poems ten years later, at age seventeen; his first research paper on butterflies, at age twenty; …

Transmission Rate In Partial Differential Equation In Epidemic Models, Alaa Elkadry

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The rate at which susceptible individuals become infected is called the transmission rate. It is important to know this rate in order to study the spread and the effect of an infectious disease in a population. This study aims at providing an understanding of estimating the transmission rate from mathematical models representing the population dynamics of an infectious diseases using two different methods. Throughout, it is assumed that the number of infected individuals is known. In the first chapter, it includes historical background for infectious diseases and epidemic models and some terminology needed to understand the problems. Specifically, the partial …

Using Lectinmicroarrays To Identify Regulatory Mechanisms For Mammalian Glycosylation, John F. Rakus

Chemistry Faculty Research

Glycosylation involves the post-translational addition of carbohydrates to protein molecules and is an intricate and indispensable biochemical process. Study of this complicated network of interactions is hindered by the lack of a coding template analogous to the genetic code, and by the vast structural complexity inherent to carbohydrate polymers. We use lectins (non-enzymatic carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-immunological origin) as microarray probes to identify carbohydrate features expressed on cellular surfaces. Specifically, we utilized lectin microarray technology to investigate the differences in carbohydrates expressed by the cell lines of the Nation Cancer Institute’s NCI-60 panel. Our investigation identified tissue-specific expression differences in …

Modeling Super-Spreading Events For Sars, Thembinkosi P. Mkhatshwa

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

One of the intriguing characteristics of the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemics was the occurrence of super spreading events (SSEs). Super-spreading events for a specific infectious disease occur when infected individuals infect more than the average number of secondary cases. The understanding of these SSEs is critical to under- standing the spread of SARS. In this thesis, we present a modification of the basic SIR (Susceptible - Infected - Removed) disease model, an SIPR (Susceptible - Regular Infected - Super-spreader - Removed) model, which captures the effect of the SSEs.

Accessibility Of Home Blood Pressure Monitors For Blind And Visually Impaired People, Mark M. Uslan, Darren M. Burton, Thomas E. Wilson, Steven Taylor, Bruce S. Chertow, Jack E. Terry

Physics Faculty Research

Background: The prevalence of hypertension comorbid with diabetes is a significant health care issue. Use of the home blood pressure monitor (HBPM) for aiding in the control of hypertension is noteworthy because of benefits that accrue from following a home measurement regimen. To be usable by blind and visually impaired patients, HBPMs must have speech output to convey all screen information, an easily readable visual display, identifiable controls that are easy to use, and an accessible user manual.

Methods: Data on the physical aspects and the features and functions of nine Food and Drug Administration-approved HBPMs (eight of which were …

Convergence Analysis Of Mcmc Method In The Study Of Genetic Linkage With Missing Data, Diana Fisher

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Computational infeasibility of exact methods for solving genetic linkage analysis problems has led to the development of a new collection of stochastic methods, all of which require the use of Markov chains. The purpose of this work is to investigate the complexities of missing data in pedigree analysis using the Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) method as compared to the exact results. Also, we attempt to determine an association between missing data in a familial pedigree and the convergence to stationarity of a descent graph Markov chain implemented in the stochastic method for parametric linkage analysis.

In particular, we will …

Phosphoproteomic Studies Of Smooth Muscle Contraction: Investigation Of Differential Phosphorylation In Relaxed/Contracted Rat Aortic Smooth Muscle Tissue Using Maldi-Tof Ms, Tonya M. Pekar

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Many human disorders are associated with the malfunction of smooth muscle tissue, or are related to the capabilities of its proper function—asthma, glaucoma, renal inefficiency, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Dysfunctional proteins are frequently implicated as the source of such disorders. As the second highest cause of death in the United States, the epidemic of cardiovascular disease makes the study of smooth muscle of utmost concern.

The capabilities of proteomics and mass spectrometry allow the entire proteome complement of a cell or tissue type to be analyzed at once. This investigation employs such techniques in an effort to better understand the …

The Effects Of A Low-Intensity Exercise Program On The Fitness Level Of A 22 Year-Old Female With Congenital Univentricular Heart Repair, Alice A. Elkins

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This case study examined the effects of exercise on a 22 year-old female with a repaired univentricular heart through early, modified Fontan technique. Improvements in oxygen consumption, blood pressure, heart rate and body composition were observed after a 12-week supervised fitness program. This program considers reversing hypoactivity and the subsequent deconditioning and obesity associated with this patient.

The Effects Of A Functional Derotational Knee Brace On The Single-Leg Hop, Timed-Hop, And Stability Of Ncaa Division Ii Athletes, Heidi E. Moran

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Functional knee braces are often used by athletes following an injury to their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). However, few athletes are given information as to whether the knee brace will hinder their ability. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a functional derotational knee brace on the single leg hop for distance, timed hop, and overall stability index of athletes. Twelve healthy knees were tested with and with out an off-the-shelf DonJoy Legend knee brace. A matched T-test showed a significant difference between the single leg hop (T = 2.71, p<.05) and timed hop (T=3.23, p<.05) while wearing the knee brace. There was no significance found when examining the stability index while wearing the brace. It was concluded that the functional knee brace decreased the distance of a single leg hop and increased the time it took to perform a timed hop.