University of Illinois at Chicago
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Modeling of Therapeutic Drugs, Polymers, and Self-Assembling Peptides
No full textIn this thesis, we collaborated with several experimental groups on designing and testing of new therapeutics and peptide-based materials. In particular, we conducted atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to study systems in three main areas: A) small drugs and therapeutic polymers, B) therapeutic peptides, and C) materials based on self-assembled peptides.
A) We designed and investigated antivirals based on sulfoglycodendrimers and polystyrene sulfonate polymers of different topologies and sizes that can mimic heparan sulfate proteoglycans. We also investigated cucurbit[n]urils and small drugs capable of encapsulating charged viral residues and performing other inhibitory activities.
B) First, we developed methods capable of designing small therapeutic peptides. These methods were used to design peptides for proteins involved in immune evasion by tumor cells. Second, we explored self-assembling functionalized peptides as localized therapeutics against viruses, bacteria, and fungi. These fibril-forming peptides were also examined as binders for human proteins to promote endogenous activity. Finally, we studied a hypothetical coupling between amyloids and Spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2.
C) We explored materials based on peptides self-assembled into porous crystals. We examined how mutations introduced in these peptides affect the stability of the observed modified crystals. We also investigated how small molecules intercalated in these crystals influenced their structural changes
Understanding Home Care Aides’ Roles in Health Care for Older Adults
No full textAs Americans live longer, an increasing number experience limitations in daily activities, such as bathing, and reduced capacity, such as reduced joint flexibility. Older adults residing at home with these challenges often require support from various individuals, including home care aides (HCAs). Home care aides provide personal care (e.g., bathing) and housekeeping (e.g., laundry) and are not considered part of medical care. Mounting research demonstrates that HCAs encounter older adults’ medical problems and may have more extensive roles in older adults’ health than their job description entails. However, there is a lack of published research on their contributions to medical care. Enhancing our understanding of HCAs’ roles in relation to others working in the home may improve care quality and positive health outcomes. The purpose of this dissertation is to understand the critical yet often overlooked roles of HCAs in publicly funded home-based care for older adults with daily activity limitations, with a focus on HCAs’ contributions to older adults’ medical care. The dissertation addresses three key aims: how HCAs contribute to older adults’ medical care, how HCAs help adapt older adults’ home environments, and the convergent and discriminant validity of an ankle range of motion measure intended for use with older adults in home care settings. Using existing and newly collected qualitative data, we found that HCAs perform care functions that are part of older adults’ health care in that they maintain or improve health and well-being, but not entirely either custodial or medical care. Additionally, we used assessment and survey data collected as part of a larger study to establish the validity of a portable ankle range of motion measure designed for older adults with limitations in daily activities, who may not be able to stand. The measure can accurately identify reduced ankle range of motion in older adults, enabling HCAs and rehabilitation professionals to support strategies that enhance ankle range of motion and adapt the home environment accordingly. By centering HCAs’ perspectives, this dissertation generates new insights into HCAs’ roles in health care and opportunities for coordination and communication between HCAs and medical professionals
Gallium Oxide Photocathode Data
No full textRaw data used to characterize a gallium oxide photocathode; .tif files obtained from the experimental system which may be analyzed to determine spectral MTE and QE characteristics for this photocathode.</p
<i>Accelerating Graph Rendering in </i><i>the Web</i>
No full textMy research at UIC is on data visualization, with an emphasis on building web-based applications that can improve accessibility and enable end users to make scientific discoveries. In this project, I implemented new algorithms to allow for fast rendering of graph data in the web, which is important for data exploration and knowledge discovery for researchers in many domains. Compared to the state-of-the-art, my work greatly improves performance and enables much larger scale data than previously possible. In this moving image, I compare rendering large scale graphs with my application and the previous work, then showcase my method on a variety of input graph data. This application is deployed online, and can be accessed directly at: https://harp-lab.github.io/GraphWaGu/</p
Art Teacher Agency in Technology Integration: Evolving Media Art Practices
No full textDigital technology has revolutionized cultural production in the arts, yet persistent barriers exist to advancing its integration into K-12 art classrooms. While the latest standards now include media arts as a distinct discipline, technology has profoundly transformed practices in all art disciplines. It has reshaped the mediums through which art is created, the ways it is shared, and the dominant aesthetics (Ito et al., 2013; Peppler, 2010). With these evolving forms of cultural production, this dissertation study asked how teachers understood their own agency in making sense of technology integration and in shaping learning conditions to meet their goals.
Using 19 interview transcripts from arts teachers in a three-year professional development program for technology integration, I employed grounded theory methods (Charmaz, 2014; Glaser, 1978) to generate a theoretical framework by exploring the following questions 1) how did teachers describe their agency and students’ agency in media art projects? and 2) What tensions and possibilities in agency, if any, were described around technology integration? Art teachers described their agency in expanding their art discipline using technology to increase relevance by bridging in-school and out-of-school artmaking practices, and to support their students to deepen artistic meaning by using more modalities and roles for creative production. Teachers described student agency in how they shifted authority to students to 1) be teachers, 2) source technology-based artmaking tools, and 3) use technological tools to support self-assessment and revision processes. In navigating new disciplinary terrain, teachers drew upon past and future orientations to make sense of how technology has and will continue to impact their discipline. This theoretical framework for how teachers integrated technology offers ways of reimagining art disciplines as evolving cultural practices (Warren et al., 2020) that also belong to students. These concepts will increasingly need analytic attention as new technological tools, such as artificial intelligence, can center efficiency over intention, completion over process, and leave values and bias unexamined. Openly grappling with how digital technology impacts learning and artmaking is a critical part of agency for teachers and students in evolving media arts practices
Stability of Vector Bundles and Rational Curves
No full textThis thesis is based on two research papers, each addressing distinct but interconnected topics within algebraic geometry. In the first part, we study the stability of general kernel bundles on projective space P^n. Let a, b, d > 0 be integers. A kernel bundle E_{a,b} on P^n is defined as the kernel of a surjective map φ from O_{P^n}(-d)^a to O_{P^n}^b. Here, φ is represented by a b×a matrix (f_{ij}), where the entries f_{ij} are polynomials of degree d. We give sufficient conditions for semistability of a general kernel bundle on P^n, in terms of its Chern class. In the second part, we study whether a given morphism f from the tangent bundle of P^1 to a balanced vector bundle of degree (n+1)d is induced by the restriction of the tangent bundle T_{P^n} to a rational curve of degree d in P^n. We propose a conjecture on this problem based on Mathematica computations of some examples and provide computer-assisted proof of the conjecture for certain values of n and d
Fundamental Component Modeling within Recommender Systems
No full textThe proliferation of online platforms has significantly increased the scope and complexity of recommender systems. As users engage with diverse content, products, and social groups, it is increasingly important to develop models that can capture the nuanced relationships between users, items, and their interactions. This thesis proposes a comprehensive framework for modeling the core components of recommendation: users, items, and interactions. In user
modeling, two published papers explore how users’ participation in groups and social interactions reveal latent interests. I propose two novel methods: one that disentangles these interests to improve recommendation personalization, and another that captures users’ dual roles as initiators and participants in social commerce contexts. In item modeling, a published paper
focuses on enhancing recommendation diversity using knowledge graphs (KGs), introducing new techniques to balance accuracy and diversity. One paper focuses on interaction modeling, aiming to optimize Click-Through Rate (CTR) prediction by capturing the dynamic interactions between users and items. All experiments are conducted on public datasets (e.g., Steam, Amazon, MovieLens) and an industrial dataset from Meta, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed models across different domains
Assessment of the Brava CAD/CAM Independent Force and Moment System to Achieve Predictable Outcomes
No full textBrius Technologies has developed the Brava® Independent Mover System (Brava), a novel orthodontic appliance designed to enhance treatment efficiency, function, and aesthetics. This system uses lingualized brackets connected to Nickel Titanium (NiTi) arms to move teeth independently and simultaneously. However, no studies have evaluated the accuracy of simulated vs. actual orthodontic treatment with Brava.
The first aim of this study is to assess the precision of Brava Plus system in achieving predicted outcomes for maxillary and mandibular treatment using the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) Discrepancy Index (DI) and Cast-Radiograph Evaluation (CRE) to evaluate digital stereolithographic (.stl) files. The collected .stl files include maxillary and mandibular digital scans for pre-treatment (T0), post-treatment (T1), and a virtual simulation of treatment (TV). This analysis was performed on a set of records from 28 patients treated with a single Brava Plus appliance. No additional Brava appliances or finishing aligners were used in this study sample.
The Brava Plus appliance achieved a mean ABO-DI reduction of 4.04 points, though it fell short of the planned 6.86-point reduction outlined in the Brius planning software. While overbite and crowding demonstrated statistically significant improvements, aligning closely with the planned treatment outcomes, other DI variables—including overjet, anterior and lateral open bite, occlusion, lingual and buccal posterior crossbites, and the "other" category—showed no significant changes between initial (T0) and post-treatment (T1) assessments. Overjet and occlusion showed significant discrepancies between planned (TV) and post-treatment (T1) outcomes, indicating that the Brava Plus appliance did not fully align with the treatment projections generated by the Brius software. These findings suggest that while the Brava Plus appliance effectively reduces certain aspects of malocclusion, its overall impact on DI score may be limited in comparison to initial treatment projections.
Significant differences in ABO-CRE scores were observed for overall CRE, alignment, marginal ridges, overjet, occlusal contacts, and occlusal relationships (P < .001), with a mean discrepancy of 15.57 points between post-treatment and virtual treatment models. In contrast, buccolingual inclination and interproximal contacts showed no significant differences between post-treatment and virtual models
The second aim of this study is to assess the precision of Brava system in achieving predicted outcomes for maxillary and mandibular arch expansion. This analysis was performed on a second data set of 30 patients treated with a single Brava appliance. No additional Brava appliance or finishing aligners were used in this study sample. The analysis of transverse expansion with Brava showed significant variability depending on the type of tooth, reference points, and dental arch analyzed. The Brius Planning Software generally predicted more bodily expansion than the Brava system can achieve, with greater dental tipping observed in the maxillary premolars and all mandibular teeth than predicted. Incorporating overcorrection and additional buccal root torque during the planning phase may enhance clinical outcomes for transverse expansion with Brava
AI-Based Cephalometric Landmark Detection via Deep Learning Networks Evaluation
No full textCephalometric X-rays are essential in orthodontics for assessing skeletal relationships and treatment planning. However, manual tracing is time-consuming and prone to interobserver variability. AI-driven analysis has evolved from early rule-based methods to deep learning models like Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), improving accuracy but still facing challenges in standardizing imaging protocols and addressing measurement discrepancies.
YOLO-based models, such as DR. ANNIE™, enhance efficiency by detecting multiple landmarks simultaneously, eliminating anchor boxes, and reducing manual calibration. While AI shows promise in increasing precision and reproducibility, dataset diversity, calibration accuracy, and imaging standardization remain critical challenges for clinical adoption.
The sample was composed of 80 lateral cephalometric radiographs taken from the UIC-COD Dolphin Imaging Database. Manual tracings formed the Manually Detected Landmark Group (MDL), while AI-generated landmarks created the AI Identified Landmark Group (ADL). Both groups were aligned using Sella (0,0) as the origin and the Frankfort Horizontal (FH) plane to ensure direct spatial comparisons.
Statistical analysis assessed differences in X and Y coordinates, revealing: Mean differences: X: 2.2 ± 1.8 mm, Y: 3.0 ± 2.6 mm with an overestimation trend in measurements as well with Linear: 1.4 ± 1.1 mm, Angular: 2.3 ± 1.8°. No significant mean difference in X-coordinates of Orbitale, ST A Point, Menton, L1 Tip, U1 Root, Basion, and PNS. All Y-Axis coordinates were statistically significant. Nine cephalometric measurements showed discrepancies, including Convexity, Lower Lip to E-Plane, Molar Relation, Porion Location, U1-FH, U1-APo, Facial Axis, Mandibular Arc, U1-FH, and U Incisor Inclination
SUMMARY (continued)
AI-assisted cephalometric analysis demonstrated promising accuracy but tended to overestimate linear and angular measurements. While AI showed consistency in select X-coordinates, Y-axis errors remained significant, and multiple cephalometric measurements exhibited discrepancies. These findings highlight AI's potential in orthodontic diagnostics but emphasize the need for further refinement in landmark detection, calibration, and dataset standardization to enhance clinical reliability
Success through Support: Community College as a Pathway to Academic Success for Latinx Students
No full textThere is an increase of Latinx students attending college in the United States. Previous research indicates a large majority of Latinx students start their education in community colleges. Community Colleges serve predominately underrepresented students such as Black, Latinx, and adult learners. These intuitions struggle with retention rates and students are on average taking 6 years to finish an associate’s degree. This study included 12 Latinx students who attend Angelo College a two-year Jesuit institution who caters to first generation students. The study explores the academic supports that Latinx students rely on in the classroom and outside of the classroom as they navigate higher education. Using the validation frame created by Rendón (1994), this study identifies four major themes of support: academic validation, interpersonal validation, and cultural and social factors
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