Theses (2022)

This thesis examines the relationship between tooth and mandible development with the Cfp1

The population network of a group of Yellowstone elk was investigated to make inferences on how their unique partial migration pattern affects an arising mutation's probability of fixation in the population. A stochastic model was developed for population dynamics from survival and reproduction to migration across habitats and seasons. A mutant allele was then introduced into the population with reproduction rate r. Through simulations in R, it was found that a mutation arising in an adult during the summer season in node 1 is the most likely to fix for beneficial (r > 1) cases. For all circumstances with deleterious mutations (r < 1), the fixation probability is almost surely o. The branching process was used to calculate fixation probabilities of a well-mixed population. It was found that beneficial mutations arising in both adults and newborns in the elk population have lower fixation probabilities than those in a well-mixed population. Therefore, we can infer that the elk's partial migration pattern affects the likelihood of mutation fixation and serves as a suppressor of selection.

As the role of automation and new teclmologies continues to playa necessary role in the delivery of patient care, there is a growing need to improve their integration into the healthcare industry. The benefits of these new iIlllovations are clear, however the process of integrating their use amongst healthcare providers and their patients may not be as simple. The use of automation can be seen throughout the healthcare industry, from virtual telehealth visits supplementing in person care to automated record sharing between healthcare professionals. One area in particular that has provided tremendous advancements to the way in which health is monitored has been the use of wearable health teclmology. These can be fOlllld in many different forms including smart watches, patches, and smart rings which can be integrated nearly seamlessly into patients' lives. They are able to track health data in real time allowing users to make healthier life decisions and identify health issues in real time. Despite the many benefits surrollllding these advancements, there are bamers limiting the ease of their integration with specific demographics. Certain groups such as elderly and child patients may feel intimidated due to a lack ofllllderstanding ofteclmology that may be new to them. There are also growing concerns sUfrollllding the privacy of data collected and stored by new healthcare teclmology such as wearables. Therefore, the need for more efficient and effective integration strategies is greater than ever. It was fOlllld that the use of clear and easy to follow visuals which show the teclmology being used both in real life as well as graphically on a molecular level increase a patient's receptiveness to new teclmologies. Additionally, there was a clear consensus that integration begins with the employees of health care systems, those who will be delivering the care and reconunendations to the patient. This research will provide a framework for the most effective integration strategies for healthcare automation.