46 minute read
Graduate Oral Presentations
AGRO- SCIENCES
Aragonite Saturation as an Indicator for Oyster Habitat Health in Delaware Inland Bays
Ms. Tahera Attarwala, Amin Boukari, Memory Nakazwe, Jackie Maina, and Gulnihal Ozbay, Ph.D Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Delaware State University
Oyster farming in Delaware is a crucial industry, bringing in $300,000 to $500,000 in sales every year. Oysters use calcium carbonate ions in the form of aragonite and calcite to form their shells. Ocean acidification can lead to a decrease in carbonate ions making forming these shells difficult. When aragonite saturation state falls below 1, it is considered undersaturated and may cause calcifying organisms to become stressed and their shells to dissolve. Therefore, measuring the aragonite saturation state yields crucial insight into the suitability of habitats to support oyster growth. This project aimed to calculate the aragonite saturation state from seven sites within Delaware Inland Bays to determine their feasibility in supporting the establishment of oyster farms and additional reef efforts.
Monitoring was conducted biweekly from July to November 2020 and 2021. Temperature, salinity, alkalinity and pH were measured using YSI methods. Using the Seacarb program package in the R programming language, aragonite saturation state was calculated with the water quality parameters: temperature, salinity, alkalinity, and pH as inputs. In 2020, a majority of the aragonite saturation states were undersaturated, with the average values of all sites remaining below a saturation state of 3. The highest registered average aragonite saturation value in 2020 was 1.31 at the Redefer control site and the lowest value was 0.55 from the Bay City control site. These values may impact the suitability of these sites for sustainable oyster farming and reef efforts. The 2021 data will expand on aragonite saturation trends in the Bay.
Funder Acknowledgment: USDA NIFA Capacity Building, Grant Award No. 2016-06642
Identifying Plant Structural Variations among Different Germplasm of Strawberry for Potential Resistance to Anthracnose Fruit Rot
Mr. Venkata Hemanth Limmada, V. H. Limmada*1, A. R. Vennapusa1, Michael Moore2, K. Melmaiee1 . 1 Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Delaware State University 2 OSCAR Imaging Facility, Delaware State University
Strawberry (Fragaria ? ananassa) is highly profitable specialty crop in the United States and the world's second largest producer. Strawberry fruits are well-known for their color, sweetness, and nutritional value, but their production is threatened by various viruses. Among, the anthracnose fruit rot and root necrosis produced by the fungus Colletotrichum acutatum is a devastating fungal disease in strawberry and causes significant losses to its production. Introducing the anthracnose-resistant strawberry cultivars is an alternative approach for minimizing disease incidence. The study concentrated on discovering anthracnose resistant lines to achieve this goal. In the present research, we have characterized thirty-one strawberry accessions for their morphological attributes, such as leaf trichomes using environmental scanning electron microscopy to identify the resistance factors associated with the number and type of trichomes in the genotypes. Trichomes (leaf appendages) are important constitutive defense mechanisms which acts as a physical barrier against the locomotion and feeding of pests and pathogens. There are two types of trichomes described in strawberry plants, first were unicellular long and thin simple trichomes (non-glandular), located mainly on leaf veins and leaf margins, mostly on the underside of the leaf. The second were multicellular uniseriate glandular trichomes. These trichomes consisted of one basal epidermis cell, several stalk cells, and a single rounded head cell. Glandular trichomes are known to release chemical compounds and are associated with the plant resistance mechanism. Resistance was correlated with the density of trichomes, both glandular and non-glandular, present on the surface of the leaflets of strawberry genotypes. These structural differences were integrated with in vitro leaf-disc assay method and measured disease incidence, chlorophyll content and lipid peroxidation upon fungal infection. The results revealed an intrinsic relationship between the number of trichomes on the cultivar and the disease incidence rate of the anthracnose and physio-biochemical mechanisms. Resistant genotypes, morphological traits and resistant mechanisms that were identified in the present study will provide a promising tool for exploitation of breeding programs aimed at developing anthracnose resistant cultivars and genetic diversity.
Funder Acknowledgment: USDA-NIFA
AGRO- SCIENCES
Comparing Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopes to Examine Feeding Trends in Blue Crabs (Callinectes sapidus) across Vegetation Zones in Blackbird Creek, Delaware
Ms. Jackie Maina, Matthew Stone Gulnihal Ozbay, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Evaluating the feeding habits of aquatic species is vital as it provides insight into aquatic management in aquaculture and conservation. Carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes are used as tracers of nutrient flow in food webs. The carbon isotope δ13C is used primarily to trace the source of food mainly from primary producers, while the nitrogen isotope δ15N indicates the trophic level of species and dietary shifts. In this study, stable C and N isotope ratios were compared in blue crabs collected from different sited in Blackbird Creek, Delaware. The sites comprised of varying adjacent marsh vegetation. In the preliminary results, we found significant difference in δ13C in blue crabs from different sites with a reported average range of -19.47 % to -21.28 %. There was also a significant difference in δ15N values, which ranged from 9.32 % to 13.44 % in blue crab tissues. These preliminary results from the N isotope suggests difference in feeding habits of blue crabs collected from various sites.
Funder Acknowledgment: USDA NIFA CBG Award# 2017-38821-26439
Microplastic Formation and Their Interactions with Microflora
Miss Cassandra Miller, Ali Parsaeimehr, Ph.D. and Gulnihal Ozbay, Ph.D
Microplastics (MPs) are defined as plastic particles that are less than five millimeters in size. MPs are found globally at different ecosystems and due to their small size MPs are easily intake by a wide variety of species from zooplankton, fish, penguins and even humans. Studies reveal MPs have been linked to pathological stress, false satiation, reproductive difficulties, local enzyme synthesis, decreased growth rate, and oxidative stress in organisms. MPs may interact with soil fauna by altering the soils texture, structure and biophysical environment, and it potentially affects the fertility and functionality of the soil. Changes in soil hydrologic characteristics caused by MPs may influence soil microbial biodiversity, and it potentially affects critical symbiotic connections in terrestrial ecosystems, such as mycorrhizal and nitrogen fixing bacteria. Evidences point to this fact that, MPs have a direct negative impact on 700 aquatic species worldwide, including sea turtles, penguins, and various crustaceans. MPs may quickly accumulate and release organic pollutants such as DDT, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and other additives present in water during manufacturing, increasing their concentration. Furthermore, since MPs have high hydrophobicity, some contaminants, such as heavy metals, antibiotics, and chemical compounds, become adsorbent on their surface, in this regard MPs may serve as a vector to spreading these hazardous compounds with a negative higher impact to our ecosystem. The objective of this study is to share the global concerns on the MPs impacts on Microflora. We expect to find opportunistic microflora on the microplastic particles that may serve as threat to the aquatic species.
Funder Acknowledgment: NSF EPSCOR WICCED Project
AGRO- SCIENCES
Eastern Oysters Spawning and Impact on Recruitment, Water Quality, and Species Diversity in Rehoboth Bay, Delaware
Mr. Marcus Teat, Jacqueline Maina, Memory Nakazwe, Theresa Venello, Ph.D., Gulnihal Ozbay, Ph.D.
Rehoboth Bay is part of Delaware's Inland Bay system and spans thirteen square miles. It is connected to the Indian River Bay in the south, the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal to the north, and other freshwater bodies. Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) populations in the bays have decreased due to overharvesting and disease. Without eastern oysters, the frequency of algal blooms can increase in areas that reduce dissolved oxygen and lower the survivability of marine wildlife. However, eastern oysters' ability to be natural filter feeders may help control nutrient levels and improve water quality, species diversity, and the productivity of fisheries. The purpose of this project is to understand how artificial oyster reefs and aquaculture can affect water quality, biodiversity, and oyster recruitment in Rehoboth Bay. Two oyster reefs, two oyster farms, and three control sites were chosen. Four oyster shell bags were deployed at every site and are left in the bay for five weeks before being retrieved. Each site is also monitored by a YSI-556 Multiprobe to collect dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, ORP, and salinity data. Water samples are also processed in the lab for TSS, nitrate, nitrite, orthophosphate, and turbidity. Total Chlorophyll-a is monitored at each site using Turner Design Fluorometer. Recent results from Dr. Ozbay's lab show that artificial reefs have the highest and oyster farms have the second highest, species richness, and recruitment. Control site Sally Cove Control had the highest species diversity, while aquaculture performed the best overall between habitat types. Literature also shows that eastern oysters begin spawning between mid-June and mid-September and our further efforts will target this timeline to obtain better data outcomes.
Funder Acknowledgment: We acknowledge NOAA LMRCSC Grant #NA16SEC4810007, National Science Foundation EPSCoR Grant No. 1757353 and the State of Delaware.
BEHAVIORAL & HEALTH SCIENCES
The Impact of Racism and Violence on College-Aged Students
Miss Mone't Williams, Dr. Kevin Ralston Dr. Kimeu Boynton
Previous research examining the trauma associated with racism has primarily focused on health issues experienced by older adults, and less research has specifically examined a college-aged population. The current study examines how experiences with racism and threats of violence impact psychological and emotional trauma for college-aged adults and how this trauma impacts their daily lives. A sample of young adults aged eighteen to twenty-five who were currently enrolled at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) completed an online survey consisting of open-ended and close-ended questions that asked about their experiences with racism and violence, and how these experiences have impacted various aspects of their lives. Specifically, the online survey focused on information about participants' experiences with various types of racism, threats of violence, the impact of their experiences with racism and threats of violence, and their recommendations for how to reduce these impacts for those who reported experiences of racism and threats of violence. A sample of an equal number of young adults aged eighteen to twenty-five who were not currently enrolled in college completed the same online survey. The qualitative data from the survey was examined using a grounded theory approach and the quantitative data from the survey was analyzed using multivariate statistics to assess and compare the impact of trauma between the participants who were currently enrolled and not currently enrolled in college. Results of this study provide insight into trauma experienced by young adults, especially young adults of color. The information can assist practitioners with developing strategies for working with young adults, especially counseling centers on college campuses. While the young adults who were currently enrolled in college were enrolled at a HBCU, the results can still provide insight for practitioners primarily working with young adults enrolled at other types of universities. Limitations of the study and implications for future research are discussed.
BEHAVIORAL & HEALTH SCIENCES
COVID-19's Impact on Adolescent's Perception of Mental Health Upon the Return of In-Person Learning
Miss Malone Lowry, Sydney Bliss Morgan Brady Kristen Maltman Ashley Pope
Adolescence marks a critical time to develop patterns of mental and physical health for continued quality of life throughout the lifespan. Developing these patterns in a healthy manner could have been maladapted from the pandemic's effects, causing schools to reverse their style of learning and make them change from in-person learning to online learning. In turn, it created barriers to access adequate resources, feelings of low motivation, decreased attention, and social isolation. This cross-sectional study specifically looks at the following aspects of mental health- self-efficacy, social supports, anxiety, and depression in school-aged adolescents (14-18 years of age), to bring awareness to this population and the need for occupational therapy (OT) services. This study was conducted in Delaware and New Jersey through St. Elizabeth and Smyrna high school. The students took the survey via computer. All demographic information was kept confidential, excluding age, grade level, and gender. Participants were free from any intellectual disability the school is aware of and understood/spoke English. To participate, the student must have obtained a completed caregiver consent form stating yes for participation. Some exclusionary factors included adolescents who receive accommodations or those with a learning disability, as well as students who are in a hybrid learning platform or students who received an education fully virtual. It is hypothesized that school-aged adolescents will display a higher level of their self-perception of mental health when they return to in-person education. A total of 12 questions were provided for each student to answer on a scale of 1-5 (1- being not confident and 5- being very confident). The 12 questions consisted of 9 multiple choices and 3 open-ended questions. Upon collection of those results, a thorough analysis of the responses was done through the use of SPSS. An outcome evaluation will be completed at the end of the next school year to see if changes have been implemented in the school system after our research has concluded. This evaluation is beneficial to express the distinct value of occupational therapy as mental health practitioners in the school setting.
Perceptions of Delaware Beach Accessibility Between Individuals with Mobility Aids and Those Without
Miss Sarah Asbury, Dantzler Lambert, Donata Leckie, Morgan Madonna, Shea McFarland, Brittany Weiner Master of Occupational Therapy, Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences
This study aims to determine how individuals who use and do not use mobility aids perceive Delaware beach accessibility. It is hypothesized that people with mobility aids will have reduced participation in beach activities compared to people who do not use mobility aids, based on the perception of beach accessibility. A survey distributed to the public measured the perception of beach accessibility and data was compared through statistical analysis.
Funder Acknowledgment: Delaware State University
The Effect of the Type of Occupational Therapy Service Delivery on the Perceived Stress Levels of Caregivers
Erin Benson, Sara-Ashley Kinney, Anyssa Mesa, Colin Nulty, Emily Rafferty, and Rachel Simmons. Marcella Legath OTR/L, Department of Occupational Therapy, Delaware State University
The aim of this research was to examine the perceived stress levels of caregivers whose child is participating in telehealth OT services vs. inperson OT services. The purpose of this research was to examine teletherapy as an emerging practice due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. With new ways of delivering and receiving therapy services, it was important to gain a better understanding of the perceived stress levels of caregivers whose children were attending OT services in person or online. Caregivers were being utilized as the primary participant as they are directly involved in the care of the child's OT services. With that, the OT practitioners improve the quality of care through telehealth by decreasing barriers and increasing reach to rural and underserved communities. To gain a better understanding of caregivers' perceived stress levels, a survey was distributed to participants. Survey questions asked the caregivers to rate their perceived stress levels during various situations and how frequently they experienced the stress related to the child's OT services. It was hypothesized that caregivers with children receiving inperson occupational therapy services would have higher perceived stress levels than those whose children receive telehealth services.
BEHAVIORAL & HEALTH SCIENCES
The Impact of COVID-19 Quarantine on Play Skills
Laura Cursi, Caitlin Alaimo, OTS; Mackenzie Babb, OTS; Abigail Beachy, OTS; Abby Krupa, OTS
Play is an integral part of childhood development. As children grow, play is how they learn about themselves and their world. Through play, children can practice physical, cognitive, and social skills needed throughout their lives. The population for this study included occupational therapy practitioners, physical therapists, certified occupational therapy assistants, speech language pathologists, and teachers who work with children ages six-eight years old. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Delaware in March 2020, students could no longer attend school in person. This limited their social interaction with other children their age, thus restricting their play and socialization opportunities. The teachers that fit the inclusionary criteria were recruited from these school districts: Appoquinimink, Brandywine, Christina School District, Capital, and Smyrna. The healthcare professionals were recruited from outpatient clinics, hospitals, private clinics, and the schools listed above. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected through surveys completed by the participants working with children ages six to eight years old. The surveys measured the perceived effect of COVID-19 quarantine on cooperative play in children ages six to eight.
Funder Acknowledgment: Delaware State University
Attitudes and Access to Evidence Based OT Practice Between the U.S. and West Africa
Ms. Elizabeth Dziuba, Anita Asare, Ashley Calandra, Kabrina Horsey, Priscilla Ntiamoah, and Khai Roberts Master of Occupational Therapy Department, Delaware State University
Attitudes and Access to Evidence Based Occupational Therapy Practice Between the United States and West Africa is a mixed method study which compares how occupational therapy practitioners in West Africa feel that their accessibility to evidence-based research is affecting their service delivery outcomes compared to occupational therapy practitioners in the United States. This study targets the adult population residing in West Africa and in the United States. A qualitative and quantitative evaluation was performed to evaluate occupational therapy practitioners' accessibility and perception of utilizing evidence-based practice. In addition, the study examines how accessibility to evidencebased research affects service delivery outcomes in occupational therapy between West Africa and the United States. If there is increased accessibility to evidence-based research, then there is an increase in service delivery outcomes.
Funder Acknowledgment: Delaware State University
Effect of Occupational Therapy-Based Sleep Interventions on Perceived Sleep Quality for Individuals with Insomnia
Miss Lana Kaykov, Eugene Hong, Joshua Steinman, Madison Tillem, Breanan Whalen
Insomnia is classified under the DSM-5 as a sleep disorder that can cause disruptions in daily occupations. Efficient routines, environmental factors, and emotional state of mind are factors affecting both falling asleep and sustaining sleep. The purpose of this study is to determine if occupational therapy-based sleep interventions involving these factors are effective in enhancing sleep quality for patients diagnosed with insomnia. It is hypothesized that OT-based sleep interventions do have a positive impact on sleep quality for individuals with insomnia. The participants fit the inclusionary criteria and were recruited from Colorado State University's sleep clinic run by a CBT-I trained occupational therapist. Quantitative data was collected from this retrospective study through surveys completed by the participants. These surveys measured participants' perceived sleep quality while receiving occupational therapy interventions. Results of the surveys supported the hypothesis.
Funder Acknowledgment: Delaware State University
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Calcium Elevations and Synaptobrevin Role in Glutamate Exocytosis by Astrocytes
Tobenna Amanfo, Dr. Van Talabattula and Dr. Murali K. Temburni
Synchronous neuronal activity is a hallmark of developing as well as fully developed neuronal networks and is necessary for the functional organization of the brain. However, the mechanisms of the development of these synchronous oscillations are poorly understood. While existing models assume it as a process intrinsic to neurons, recent evidence suggests that astrocytes have an important role in the development of synchronous activity. We established pure neuron only and mixed (astrocyte and neuron) cultures on multielectrode arrays (MEAs) from the embryonic chick optic tectum. Our preliminary results indicate that astrocytes are necessary for synchronous activity of neurons in culture. Mixed neuron and astrocyte cultures show random spiking activity which synchronizes over time whereas astrocyte-free neurons only show random activity without synchronization. Our model predicts that glutamate sensing at tripartite synapses via mGluRs elevates local calcium stores within astrocyte processes. With sufficient activation, the localized calcium elevation crosses a threshold causing a calcium induced calcium release (CICR) within the astrocyte leading to glutamate exocytosis. We targeted the SNARE protein Synaptobrevin (Vamp2) within astrocytes as crucial for communication with neurons via exocytotic release of glutamate. We proposed to test this model by expressing a truncated Vamp2 subunit (Vamp2 DN) which acts as a dominant negative to block exocytotic release. Astrocytes expressing the Vamp2 DN are expected to release significantly less glutamate upon calcium elevation thereby reducing synchrony of neuronal activity. We have generated astrocyte lines expressing the Synaptobrevin dominant negative (Vamp2 DN) along with the glutamate sensor iGluSnFR. We demonstrate that Vamp2 DN expressing astrocytes have significantly reduced glutamate exocytosis when CICR is induced with Ionomycin. With these tools a more comprehensive molecular model for astrocyte involvement in the generation of neuronal synchrony can be developed.
Funder Acknowledgment: NSF
Assessing the Role of Cortical Astrocytes in Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Miss Tiffany Bamfo, Melissa Harrington, Ph.D. Jianli Sun, Ph.D.
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a debilitating disease that has long been characterized by the loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord. As it pertains, there is evidence indicating that increasing levels of SMN protein in SMN-deficient motor neurons alone is not effective in providing long-term rescue of the phenotype. Such findings suggest that non-neuronal cells, such as astrocytes, may play an important role in the pathology of SMA by promoting synaptic connections among motor neurons. In this study, it is hypothesized that both the physical and functional properties of cortical astrocytes are affected by SMN-deficiency and may serve as a viable target area for treatment in those diagnosed with SMA. These cortical astrocytes were isolated from the brains of mice pups of the SMA ?7 mouse model to form primary astrocyte cultures. Once cultured, these cells were used to perform western blot and immunocytochemistry experiments. Results show that reduced SMN protein levels are detected in these non-neuronal cell types and may contribute to morphological changes observed in SMNdeficient cortical astrocytes. Ultimately, these findings suggest that outside of lower motor neurons, other necessary components of the motor circuitry system may be impaired by reduced SMN protein levels. Future studies will include multi-electrode array (MEA) and calcium imaging techniques to observe how such differences may affect the functional properties of both cortical and cerebral astrocytes, as well as their ability to support neuronal growth.
Funder Acknowledgment: This proposal was supported in part by the Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGI) Program at DSU, Title III Grant.
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Cerebella of SMA-Affected SMND7 Mice Exhibit Cellular, Structural, Functional, and Connectivity Abnormalities
Nicholas Cottam, Christine Charvet, Melissa Harrington, Jianli Sun
Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a disease that affects 1 in every 6,000-10,000 individuals at birth, making it the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. SMA is best defined by motor neuron dysfunction due to a deletion or mutation in transcripts of survival motor neuron protein (SMN), leading to degeneration and dysfunction in the anterior horn of the spinal cord. However, due to the key roles of SMN in cellular function, a growing number of studies support that SMA is a multi-system disease. The cerebellum has received little attention, even though it plays an important role in motor function and widespread pathology has been reported in the cerebellum of SMA patients. Previously, using the SMNδ7 mouse model, we used T2w and DTI scans from MRI of ex-vivo P12 mouse brains to acquire volumetric measurements and connectivity information. We found that cerebellar volume was differentially affected relative to the whole brain. We found an overall decrease in connectivity, and inferior peduncular tracts were the main tract diminished by SMA. We also documented diffusivity metrics that can represent axonal health. Fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity were most affected, indicating altered axonal structure in the cerebellum. Analysis of Purkinje cell (PC) robustness revealed PC loss and structural degeneration specific to posterior cerebellar lobules. DCN and peduncular astrocyte robustness was analyzed; DCN neurons showed higher staining density, while peduncles showed significant loss in area, density, and stain intensity. Analysis of cerebellar layer thicknesses showed a decrease in the molecular (ML) and external granule cell layer (EGL), yet only in the posterior lobes. Astrocytic stain density and optic intensity were also analyzed for all lobes, and posterior lobes of SMA-affected cerebella showed decreased stain density in the ML and internal GL. Additionally, migrating granule cell density was calculated in the ML and increased in both affected and unaffected lobes of SMA cerebella. We conclude that the cerebellum is showing distinct phenotypes in response to SMA, and more work is required to fully document whether the cerebellum exhibits defects in response to SMN depletion or as a downstream effect of lower motor neuron degeneration.
Funder Acknowledgment: This study was supported by NIH P20 Grant No. GM103653.
CHEMISTRY
The Implementation of Group IV Elements in Polymeric Electron Donor and Acceptor Materials for Energy and Optoelectronic Application
Mrs. Wafaa Abousamra, Destinee Thomas, Tasia Walker, Young-Gi Kim* Energy and Organic Electronics Lab, Department of Chemistry, Delaware State University
The use of traditional energy sources based on fossil fuels has caused many negative affects to the environment. Recent years society has encouraged the discovery and improvement of alternative energy sources more beneficial to the restoration of the environment. Renewable sources such as solar energy are one of the best candidates for the energy solutions. Previously, solar cells utilized inorganic materials for harvesting the solar energy. Studies have shown the development of solar cells using light harvesting polymers to be promising. The main idea in polymer solar cells (PSCs) is utilizing the concept of electron donating and accepting characteristics of conjugated polymers. Polymers such as conjugated electron donor and acceptor (D-A) polymers are known to show the advancement of variable optical properties, flexibility, light weight and good processability. These advancements have introduced them to many optoelectronic applications including polymer solar cells, light emitting diodes, biosensors, and organic field effect transistors. In this research, we adopt a molecular engineering strategy for enhancing the optical, electronic, and processing properties of the conjugated D-A polymers. The modification of the electronic properties is one of major interests in this research to improve the power conversion efficiency (PCE) via the molecular engineering. Group IV elements including silicon, germanium and tin offer unique chemical and electronical properties which makes them suitable candidates for the utilization in organic and inorganic semiconductors as active layers. Implementation of group IV in the D-A polymer backbone offers niche energy levels for improving the light harvesting capability. In this presentation, we demonstrate the use of group IV materials of tin and germanium to address the advancement of application in the solar cells. Promising characterization techniques have been considered to evaluate the materials including proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction.
CHEMISTRY
The Synthesis Methods of Hemp-Biofuel and its Properties
Genell Addison
In the recent years, there has been a push in the Cannabis industry to utilize a multitude of its products for several usages in research. Cannabis sativa, or hemp is a major focal point in current studies due to its diverse properties and various applications. A specific application is its ability to be converted into a sustainable biofuel. In the diesel industry there has been an advancement towards the use of lignocellulosic biomass such as hemp. There are numerous synthesis methods to produce hemp biofuels. One technique that has been identified to produce biodiesel via base-catalyzed transesterification. Whereas another process, cellulolysis, uses Cannabis sativa plant material to release cellulose to be fermented into an alcohol that is then converted into a biofuel. Both methods yield similar products that differ in their properties. Again, hemp has many applications and in the current climate, anything that promotes an alternative means to harvesting energy, automotive gasoline, and fuels encourages a promising future for the global environment.
Funder Acknowledgment: Historically Black Graduate Institute (HBGI) section of the Title III Grant
Shehu-Alimi Elelu, Kimberly Milligan, Cherese Winstead
Novel Cellulose/chitosan/polysulfone (CA/CS/PS) Mix Matrix Membrane membranes were prepared via interfacial polymerization method and studied by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy (UV–vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDX). The characterization revealed that PS nanoparticles dispersed homogeneously within the Cellulose/chitosan matrix. The mechanical properties of the product were investigated. The results showed that the PS content influenced the mechanical properties of CA/CS/PS Mixed Matrix Membrane membranes.
Mrs. Jamie Holmes
My presentation will encompass an overview of COVID-19 and its variants, as well as current scientific evidence on the impact of HEMP on COVID-19, specifically cytokine storm. Since cannabinoids regulate the immune system, have anti-inflammatory properties, and have an effect on respiratory and cardiovascular function, I present the use of cannabis and its influence on COVID-19 symptoms and based on cannabinoids' mechanism of action and hypotensive properties.
Funder Acknowledgment: HGBI
CHEMISTRY
Electrochemical Reductive Grafting of Bromine Film on Glassy Carbon Electrode from Aryldiazonium Gold (III) Salt and Photothermal Mirror Property
Daniel Orefuwa, Bizuneh Workie, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry, and Aristides Marcano, Ph.D., Department of Physics, Delaware State University
Modifying the surfaces of materials such as metals, semiconductors, carbon, and polymers is an important step in making them useful in many different applications because it changes the properties of the materials. Electrografting aryldiazonium gold (III) of [Br-4-C6H4N2] AuCl4 complex at a glassy carbon electrode in acetonitrile (CH3CN) with tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAHFP) as a supporting electrolyte leads to the formation of gold-aryl film. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies of 1.00 mM solution of the complex showed one irreversible reduction peak at 0.0762V vs Ag/AgCl, KCl (satd.) with glassy carbon electrode. K3[Fe(CN)6]3-/4- electron transfer, and sonication experiments in organic solvents and water showed an efficient grafting and robustness of the grafted film with the glassy carbon electrode. The photothermal mirror (PTM) property of time evolution of PTM signal of the glassy carbon substrate in the absence of film, and glassy carbon with bromide (Br) aryl gold film showed no significant difference indicating that the limited coating effect is probably because of absorption of light photons occurs mostly in bulk. Further studies will examine other inorganic anions such as chloride (Cl), fluoride (F), and iodide (I) diazonium salts to determine the films effect on photothermal mirror properties.
Funder Acknowledgment: This study was supported by the Department of Chemistry, Delaware State University.
Utilizing Machine Learning to Treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Mr. Joshua Patterson, Kimberly Milligan, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry, Delaware State University Cherese Winstead, Ph.D., Department of Chemistry, Delaware State University
A major factor in the disease influence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the expression of ADAM17; if this protein can be blocked, IBD symptoms can be reduced. Cheminformatics was employed to accomplish this effect. A large non-redundant data set of compounds with reported IC50 values against ADAM17 (the receptor of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α) was obtained from ChEMBL and employed in a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study. The inhibitors were described by a set of 12 fingerprint descriptors and predictive models were constructed from 100 different data splits using decision tree/random forest algorithms. A bioactivity app was then constructed to predict the pIC50 values of newly discovered compounds.
Funder Acknowledgment: LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate; HGBI
Ms. Tasia Walker, Dan Yang, Leila Mouhtarim, Young Gi-Kim*
Low Bandgap (LBG) electron donor and acceptor molecules has grown in increasing interest within the past several decades. Recently LBG optoelectronic molecules are gaining momentum for many commercial applications due to their excellent thermal stability, good electrical conductivity, relative ease of synthesis, and environmental stability. The synthesis of LBG electron donor and acceptor molecules has been widely studied varying the choice of functional group and monomer; thus, tailoring their performance on the final properties. This discussion will delve into the influence of monomer and different intermediates on the band gap. The future applications of LBG electron donor and acceptor molecules are surmised to be dependent upon the aforementioned variables which could achieve different performance; therefore, it is possible to engineer the properties of LBG electron donor and acceptor molecules according to the requirement and needs for optoelectronic applications.
Funder Acknowledgment: DE NASA EPSCoR RID Seed Grant Program, HBGI and PDF
CHEMISTRY
Dan Yang, Marshall Fahey, Tasia Walker, Leila A Mouhtarim and Dr. Young-Gi Kim
Dual dopable electroactive macromolecules (DEMs) are promising energy materials, for which the p- and n- dopable conjugated materials can serve for building modern energy devices including OSCs, FETs, SCs and ECDs. The use of interfacial layer of nanostructured modulating layer is one of the promising methods, inducing desirable optoelectronic characteristics from the energy devices. In this presentation, we report the utilization of DEMs for building up the dual p- and n-dopable DEM electrodes. The electrode can be used for making various types of energy devices. The charge transfer between DEM and charge collector was reported to be modulated by using nanostructured interfacial layer, which used to be characterized using optical, electrochemical and electrical instrumental analysis techniques. We will address the process and merits of the utilization of DEMs based on the nanostructure interfacial layer in the presentation.
Funder Acknowledgment: DE NASA EPSCoR RID Seed Grant Program and PDF-DSU
EDUCATION
K-12 Mathematics and the STEM Curriculum for the 21st Century: Gender Transformation in Primary and Secondary School Mathematics for College and the Workforce Preparation
Ms. Charmaine Allen, Dr. R. Marsteller
Tawbush et al., (2020) and Banilower (2012) research revealed that the role of mathematics has been traditional and was individually placed as part of a curriculum set of subjects, designed for teachers to impart content in order to prepare students to sit a final exam. Hom, (2014) shared that other countries diversified integration of Math with science, technology and English. Different level exams were given for K-12 students (Grades 1-6 at the primary level), and for Jamaica, in the primary school system, Primary Exit Profile (PEP), the primary school achievers began preparation at Grade 4 and continued to Grade 6 for an exit examination. Consequently, Furner et al., (2007) conciliated the integration of math and science, as the disciplines have shared variables for ease of understanding. STEM Curriculum refers to the secondary/ high schools, where the high schools tend to the arts and sciences of the curricula, while the secondary schools trains in vocational learning along with prerequisite subjects. They are supervised by the Overseas Examination Commission (OEC), a Cambridge International Partner, also managed the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and Cambridge International Examinations (GCE) for CSEC, CAPE, GCE and CCSLC. The expected option for mathematics certification should have envision a passing rate increase. Spencer-Ernandez (2016) discussed the concerns of the variety of exams, approaches, pass rate not substantially improved, and girls that excelled over boys irrespective of the exams. Bourne (2019) related to the yearly reality of general exposure of low grade levels in mathematics faced by Jamaica as an issue. Also, the onslaught of the invariable challenges of Covid-19, made the quest for improvement more problematic. Subsequently, Williams, (2021) reported that math passes for CSEC and CAPE were not satisfactory, which attested to the current state of mathematics in Jamaica. Additionally, Smith, (2021) Jamaica Teachers Association President, commented that he was not surprised by the decline in CXC Maths and English passes on the recent CXC 2021 results; DSU Public Forum (2021), revealed views of scholars and public arena influencers, on the impact of Jamaica's Primary and High School Math Education on the workforce on questionable concerns of its delivery.
Funder Acknowledgment: DSU Masters in Education faculty, especially Dr. K. Borwn, Dr. N. Rathee, fellow colleagues of Cohort EDUC 61 and 60
EDUCATION
Underperformance Of Unattached/at-risk Adolescent Black Males Students From Inner City Communities
Ms. Ingrid Blackwood
Much is at stake in our societies when we observe at risk adolescent black male students underachieving. The under-achievement is oftentimes as a result of many contributing factors. Therefore, in order to understand these factors these questions were asked: what are some the underlining causes for adolescent black males underperformance? How can educational leaders effectively address this issue and why young adolescent black males are not performing optimally to complete high school and to matriculate to higher learning? In this study it is hypothesized that "at risk adolescent black male students living in inner cities underachieve/underperform." Past and current work were examined which indicated that with some of the challenges faced, they are out of these student's control. However, with urban sprawl emerging, more inner cities are visible. These emerging inner cities come with their own set of challenges from low level income household, unstable parenting, gang violence, etc. Therefore, this phenomenon maybe with us for some time. Information was collected quantitatively with supporting literature review, citing the challenge to adolescent black male under-achievement as a global challenge. One that should never cause educational leaders to lose hope but rather stay focused and positive in eliminating it. Future studies will focus on how this challenge can be eradicated as educators and students push through all odds to succeed.
Funder Acknowledgment: DSU, MED Course -EDUC 682, Robert Marsteller
Social Justice in Education at a Glance, Prospects and Challenges
Mr. Jasper Tamba Chouwoe, Dr. Korsor
Social Justice is a phrase that is increasingly widely-used and for that purpose runs risk of becoming platitude. This Concept Paper clarifies and brings texture to the meaning of the phrase or term "Social Justice" by addressing its relevance and importance to the discipline of Education, to counter injustices, inequality, racism, etc. The concept paper provides an invaluable resource. As one of the landmarks in education, the concept paper provides the conceptual framework, historical background and rationale for understanding the necessity and significance of social justice in education. The concept paper continue to enlighten, educate, and inspire all those teachers, academics, and others who refuse to accept the status quo of oppression and instead insist on working for a better world.
Social and Task-Related Antecedents to Black Male Teacher Retention and Success
Mr. Micah Edwards
School districts across the nation work to increase the representation of Black male teachers and despite those efforts, representations remain low. The purpose of this research study is to understand how a Black male experiences social and task-related challenges while teaching and the impact of those antecedents on retention and success. The experiences of Black male teachers are confounded by social boundaries, the negotiation of interaction between colleagues, and self-doubt that make school-based experiences less rewarding. The findings from this study can contribute to a better understanding of understudied factors that have contributed to the shortage of Black male teachers.
Perceiving a Stress-free Campus: A Mobile App Intervention
Ranita Ganguly
Research with adults suggests that contemplative practices such as meditation and relaxation techniques have a variety of benefits, from improving awareness to reduced stress and anxiety. Increasingly, these practices are being adapted in educational settings to foster the development of key self-regulatory skills required for improved academic achievement as a learning outcome. This research study determines the impact of an adapted meditative strategy and relaxation technique on anxiety and stress level through empirical evidence that supports the introduction of contemplative practices for a stress-free university campus.
EDUCATION
Effective Strategies for Strategic Financial Management for Higher Education Institutions in Jamaica
Mrs. Marlene Lawrence-Grant, Miss Vesta Ancel Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kornel Brown Department of Education, College of Humanities, Education & Social Sciences
In this age of globalization, the key to survival and success for any Higher Education Institution is to cultivate an environment that practices the use of strategic planning and management. Our society is plagued by a slew of geopolitical, social, and economic uncertainty that can cause any institution, individual, or even a country to face adverse times. Thus it's important that the approach to managing uncertainties is strategically taught about and executed. Strategic financial management is the arm of strategic planning that aids institutions in the change process. Strategic Financial Management takes into account the understanding, managing, and organizing of an institutions' assets (fixed or current) and liabilities in such a way that it stares the organization in the line of success. This study aims at providing higher education institutions leaders in Jamaica with strategies that can be adapted and tailored to meet the desired objectives and goals of the institutions. The research was conducted using the appreciative inquiry approach. Three participants were selected using the convenient sampling technique and the data collection method deployed was a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis was used to form the meaning of themes derived from the data. It was revealed that there are ten common well-practiced strategies that Higher Education Institutions in Jamaica can use for effective strategic financial management. Conclusion: Many higher education institutions have mastered financial management but many are yet to master strategic financial management hence it's important that higher education institutions develop the mechanism that will help them sustain their existence in an overpopulated market. Thus the recommendations from this research can be used as guidelines for higher education institutions whether private or public to ensure viability and sustainability.
Nutrition Education in Schools, Is it Beneficial? A Study on the Effects of Nutrition Education on Third Through Sixth Grade Elementary Aged Students and Healthy Food Choices
Mrs. Natashia Morris-Harrison, Phyllis Brooks Collins
In recent years the number of overweight or obese children has climbed to epidemic proportions. Childhood overweight and obesity contribute to chronic health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer. These health disparities will follow children into their adult lives unless an intervention is made. These same health disparities affect children and their families and may affect a child's learning environment. To combat the risk of such disparities, an intervention is needed. Research has shown that nutrition plays a significant role in learning. School leadership must be concerned with school-aged children's health and well-being and willing to support programs that promote health and wellness improvements. Therefore, a nutrition education intervention should be implemented.
Studies have shown that nutrition education programs such as Choose Healthy Food Fun Fitness (CHFFF) or Brighter Bites have effectively educated children on making healthier food choices which could ultimately reduce childhood overweight and obesity and its effects. This mixed-method cross-sectional study will determine if children in primary schools will make healthier food choices after a nutrition education intervention.
Childhood obesity has been and will continue to be a threat to children in the United States and worldwide. The chronic diseases that follow children who are overweight or obese have lifelong implications. These children are destined to become overweight or obese adults with chronic health conditions unless an intervention is made during earlier life stages (childhood). Implementing effective nutrition education programs in schools is one possible solution. Studies have shown that the CHFFF nutrition education program effectively reduces childhood overweight and obesity, however, this is one of many programs that is aimed at school-aged children. With continued and possibly modified nutrition education intervention, the nutritional needs of the nation's children will be met. This study can support the effectiveness of nutrition education interventions for students. Additional long-term studies to track the participants in these programs would help determine the success of these programs, which would mean that the skills gained are utilized long-term.
EDUCATION
Evrette Samuels-Bailey, Dr Richard Phillips, Ph.D., Department of Education, Delaware State University
The causes of stress among nursing students are multifaceted and include extensive and intrinsic factors. Furthermore, stress may lead to medical disorders, accidental injuries, suicide, poor academic performance, and increased dropout rates from the program. Despite various strategies to alleviate stress, it has become an ongoing global concern among undergraduate nursing students due to its upsurge. The availability of multifactorial strategies is critical for solving this problem. Given this, further studies are recommended. The purpose of this study is to investigate stress and coping strategies among Jamaican Nursing Students at a Community College to deal with stressors they may experience.
The study will employ a descriptive cross-sectional survey approach to answer the research questions: (1) What is the prevalence of stress among nursing students at a community college in Jamaica? (2) What causes of stress among nursing students at a community college in Jamaica? (3) What is the impact of stress on nursing students' social, psychological, and physical wellbeing enrolled at a community college in Jamaica? (4) What coping strategies can be adopted by nursing students in Jamaica to alleviate stress during their nursing training? These students will be chosen by simple random from a population of 162. The researcher will collect quantitative data from 115 year two, three and four nursing students via face-to-face structured questionnaires. The researcher will use standardized previously designed questionnaires and scales by Deasy et al. (2014) and Oketch-oboth and Okunya (2018) to collect the data for the study. The researcher will also obtain data by accessing the academic transcripts of participants one month before the questionnaire is distributed. Data collected quantitively will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Ms. Donna-Neisha Steele and Kornel Brown, Ph.D., Department of Education, Delaware State University
The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light as to the heightened psychological effects associated with the shift from more traditional learning spaces to more remote learning ones on both students and teachers. Education as we know it has been altered to fit our current reality of maintaining social distance. Hence, implications for students and teachers' mental health and wellness unfortunately have arisen. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the main stakeholders of education (students and teachers) have been affected by the pandemic with reference to their mental and emotional health. To garner this information, a qualitative online survey was designed to collect data from sixty (40) respondents from Jamaica. Results showed that all two groups of respondents have experienced a great deal of mental and emotional anguish. Students suffer from a lack of pertinent services offered while physically in school. They also experience academic decline as months of growth have led to significant regression. Teachers have experienced increased levels of stress owing to several factors. Most teachers shared that not only have their work responsibilities increased, but they also have to be concerned with their duties as parents with respect to their own children's education. In conclusion, students and teachers alike have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With this in mind, it is imperative that policy makers consider the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on students and teachers; the unique needs of our most important stakeholders in education and put measures in place to effectively mitigate the mental and emotional effects of the pandemic.
A Qualitative Comparative Study of Higher Education Institutions Mission Statements
Ms. Yu Sun, Zhe Wang, Department of Translation and Interpreting, Changchun Humanities and Sciences College Ying Zhang, Department of Translation and Interpreting, Changchun Humanities and Sciences College
Mission statements prescribe an organization's nature, positioning and future direction, a public image that the organization endeavors to set. There has been an increasing interest among the academia towards how higher education institutions draft their mission statements in which core values are upheld and all stakeholders' concerns are related. This study aims to explore what are most referred aspects of mission statement and how are they related to higher education promises as a whole through content analysis of multiple researches. The result shows that there are significant differences of mission statements narrations due to various cultures, geographic regions, and nations, in spite of common shared core values and distinctive objectives undertook by higher education everywhere. Besides, some countries and regions weigh certain values and missions of higher education sector over others.
EDUCATION
Meta-synthesis Article Reduction Analysis and Process Experience
Mr. Brandon Toole
The dissertation process can be overwhelming with decisions such as committee selection, topic selection, methodology, developing chapters one through three, etc.. It can be overwhelming and stressful. This presentation outlines the process and methodology used in identifying articles and the reduction modeling in selection for inclusion in a meta-synthesis research design.
Rapid, Broadband Sensing of Chemical Warfare Simulants Using Mid-infrared Spectroscopy
Miss yue an, Mohammad A. Khan, Associate Professor Division of Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science Optical Science Center for Applied Research
Several chemical warfare chemicals have fingerprint spectral signatures in the mid-infrared region of the spectrum. For instance, Sarin is one of the most lethal warfare agents that is a highly toxic synthetic chemical organophosphorus compound. Due to complex chemical structure and large absorption and collision cross-section, the molecular linewidths of such chemicals can cover a broad range of spectral width. Detection of such molecules in the mid-infrared region is sensitive which requires broadly tunable sources and detection methods. We show a rapid detection methodology of such chemicals using proxy methane and nitrous oxide atmospheric bands in the 7 µm to 8 µm region which also have fingerprints region of several hazardous chemicals. Methane absorbs strongly in the wavelength range of 3 µm to 8 µm, nitrous oxide has absorption from 5 µm to 8 µm. As the large wavelength range that they have covered, we use molecular rotational-vibrational transitions of CH4-N2O and well-resolved peaks in the spectral region of 6.88 µm to 7.6 µm for detection. The detection was performed by a continuous wave multiplexed quantum cascade laser source capable of an ultra-wide tuning range from 6.88 µm to 11.05 µm.
Funder Acknowledgment: This work was funded by DoD- Army Research (ARO) W911NF-20-1-0316, NSF Award #2011728 and NIGMS (P20 GM103446).
An Automatic Development System for Live Cell Segmentation and Tracking
Mr. Onyekachi Williams, Yibing Wang, Nagasoujanya Annasamudram, and Sokratis Makrogiannis, PhD
Automated cell segmentation and tracking enables the quantification of static and dynamic cell characteristics and is an essential part in medical image processing. The purpose of this research is the development of techniques for fully automated cell segmentation, tracking, lineage construction, and quantification. This work mainly concentrates on two areas: cell segmentation and cell tracking. We first introduce a PDE-based, joint morphological and level-set cell segmentation technique. In this model, a non-linear diffusion PDE model is employed to detect cell motion in the spatio-temporal domain. Feature maps are obtained by feature detectors to detect blob-like features that correspond to cells. Then, a probabilistic edge map is computed by Parzen density estimation method. Watershed transformation is applied next, to delineate the moving cell regions on edge map. The final segmentation result is obtained by a region-based level set method. Clustered cells are separated by a signed distance transform-based approach.
Furthermore, we developed a tracking by detection approach for cell tracking in time-lapse microscopic imagery, after obtaining the cell label map from segmentation. The method employs motion prediction and minimization of a global probabilistic function for each set of cell tracks. We also describe the strengths, applications, challenges of our method. Furthermore, we present an evaluation of our framework and its competitiveness in comparison with other algorithms of the literature that are evaluated using the ISBI Cell Tracking Challenge metrics on various datasets.
Our algorithm has been progressively improved for efficiency and to produce better results in comparison with many other algorithms to track, segment and quantify cells.
Funder Acknowledgment: This study was supported by the Army Research Office of the United States Department of Defense under award #W911NF2010095.
Mr. Zakaria Juracka, Al Alexis, and Mohammad A. Khan
This project investigates the mechanical and thermal stability of laser-based sensors when exposed to thermal cycling under field conditions. To better understand the effects of temperature variations on in-situ field measurements of trace-gas species, we utilized a mid-infrared laserbased portable sensing system for simultaneous sensing of methane and carbon dioxide for different areas around the state of Delaware. Laboratory-based thermal assessment and impact of temperature cycling on the laser-based instrument provide accurate stability metrics for field operations and error correction strategies. The sensing system will provide an in-situ, simultaneous sampling of methane, water, and oxygen isotopes with high resolution and fidelity. These low-power, portable laser-based sensors are ideal for air-quality networks and the creation of high (spatial) resolution maps of emissions in cities, helping identify health-related events in specific areas around the state. Our current precision for open-path sensors is 10 ppmv (1- sec. sampling) of atmospheric CO2 and 25 ppb (10- sec. sampling) of atmospheric CH4. Coupled with 3-D printing technology - a single-step manufacturing process of building an object by creating a layer at a time, we can design and create complex parts faster than traditional manufacturing methods with high accuracy using various materials. Current and future research seeks to acquire ideal methodologies for long-term field deployment of sensor modules by understanding the thermal effects of various materials based on metals and polymers (e.g., aluminum and Delrin) material profiles on mirror mounts and overall sensor design.
Funder Acknowledgment: DoD- Army Research (ARO) W911NF-20-1-0316, NSF Award #2011728 and NIGMS (P20 GM103446) from the National Institutes of Health
Mammographic Imaging Classification using Patch-based Sparse Analysis Techniques
Ms. Chelsea Harris and Sokratis Makrogiannis Division of Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science, Delaware State University
Diagnosis of breast cancer is often achieved through expert radiologist examination of medical images such as mammograms. Computeraided diagnosis (CADx) methods can be useful tools in the medical field with applications such as aiding radiologists in making diagnosis decisions. However, such CADx systems require a sufficient amount of data to train on, in conjunction with efficient machine learning techniques. Our Spatially Localized Ensembles Sparse Analysis (SLESA) machine learning model uses local information within breast imaging (i.e. digital mammograms) to learn and classify imaging patterns. To achieve greater efficiency and robustness within our method when applied to larger datasets, we have integrated dictionary learning techniques into our SLESA model and developed a new method for patch sampling for image decomposition that we denote PatchSample decomposition. The PatchSample method differs from our previous approach, our BlockBoost method, in that larger dictionaries are constructed that hold not only patch specific information, but a grand collective of localized information. These recent model enhancements along with sequential validation on the DDSM dataset according to breast density has improved our classification performance and has given insight into how to effectively apply our methods on larger dataset. Experimental results have reached up to 71.09% classification accuracy (ACC) and 75.17% area under the ROC curve (AUC) using PatchSample decomposition on low breast density subjects of the DDSM dataset.
Funder Acknowledgment: This research was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (award #: SC3GM113754) and by the Army Research Office under grant #W911NF2010095. We acknowledge the support by Delaware CTR-ACCEL (NIH U54GM104941) and the State of Delaware.
TIDAQUNET: Tissue Identification and Quantification Network for Mid-Thigh CT Segmentation
Nagasoujanya Annasamudram, Taposh Biswas, Dr. Sokratis Makrogiannis Division of Physics, Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, Delaware State University
Adipose tissue segmentation and quantification has high clinical importance for assessment of muscle decomposition and tissue depositions. As humans age, adipose tissue increases and muscle mass decreases. Muscle and regional adipose tissue distributions are indicators of chronic diseases like obesity, metabolic disorders, type-2 diabetes, and osteoarthritis. In this work, we developed a fully automated system for segmentation of bone tissues, muscle, and adipose tissue from the CT scans of mid-thigh region. We implemented a deep learning architecture of U-net for segmentation of muscle, intermuscular adipose tissue, subcutaneous adipose tissue, cortical bone, and trabecular bone. One of the major challenges in deep learning is to provide a diverse set of data for training the network. Another limitation of multiclass tissue segmentation is class imbalance, because larger structure may dominate the training process and introduce classification bias. We evaluated the segmentation accuracy of the network by cross-validation techniques using CT scans obtained from the BLSA study. We obtained an overall DSC score of 91.5% for segmentation of the mid-thigh regional tissues. Performance evaluation results leads to the observation that our method produces particularly good accuracy rates and is competitive with current methods used for quantification. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first deep learning techniques used for tissue quantification.
Funder Acknowledgment: This research was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (award #: SC3GM113754) and by the Army Research Office under grant #W911NF2010095.
