Multiple Structural Breaks Detection through Genetic Algorithm Under stimuli and workloads, the human body tends to display discomforts and covert proximal cognitions that can manifest through physiological responses. One such response can be in a form of skin sweats, easily capturable via wearable sensors. The sensors capturing electrodermal activities (EDA) record big data serially (4Hz, 8Hz), per subject, over a duration of an experiment (approximately 35 min). This project aims to study serial EDA data collected on subjects from an experiment being conducted in neuropsychology at the University of Iowa, with the goal to detect structural breaks corresponding to epochs of learning activities and assess the role that biofeedback plays in efforts to engage people in a learner space. The project mobilizes technological innovations in neuroimaging (fNIRS), wearable sensors monitoring covert cognitive activity, monitoring arousal states under workload, and video data outputs to address learners’ emotional discomfort. The project will focus on structural breaks detection though a genetic algorithm stochastic search across the spectrum of EDA data.
An Investigation of the role of GLP-1 Receptors in Vision Loss: The Case of NAION patients Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a class of anorectic drugs that help reduce blood sugar and energy intake by activating the GLP-1 receptor. GLP-1 receptor agonists are being used for weight loss and diabetes and are becoming the most widely used medications for these conditions. Recent research provided some evidence of an increased risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) in patients using GLP-1 receptor agonists. NAION is a condition that is easily associated with the risk of a permanent vision loss. However, clinicians are not settled on the underlying causal mechanism of NAION. Although there have been suggestions that NAION conditions are linked to abrupt decrease in blood flow toward the optic nerve, there appears to be a paucity of research work in support of this hypothesis. Is there any viable association between NAION and GLP-1 receptor agonists? Are subjects under GLP-1 more likely to develop visual loss? The current research study will embark on an exploratory retrospective chart review of the record of n = 400 NAION patients, their pattern of vision loss if ever, their visual imaging data, their pattern of GLP-1 receptor agonists usage or lack thereof, their health history, their diabetics and obesity status, and other prognostic factors that can contribute toward elucidating on time to visual loss in both with or without GLP-1 receptor agonists usage. The project will mix time to event modeling and image analysis to explore this potential association amidst a host of prognostic factors.
Burnout Among Servicemen: A case of the Russian-Ukraine War Studies of war veterans estimated that 95% of military members consider burnout to be the leading cause of separation, retirement, and interpersonal disorders. Burnout, defined as a syndrome of emotional exhaustion and feelings of workplace failure that occurs in response to chronic exposure to occupational stressors, if not attended to and properly addressed, can trigger, or induce emotional disorders, feeling of discouragement, frustrations, worthlessness, and depression among servicemen. The current project involves researchers from the University of Iowa and investigators in the Psychology Department at Tara Shevchenko University in Kiev, Ukraine. The data were gathered on Ukraine’s servicemen at the frontline of the Russian-Ukraine war (n = 400). Burnout Assessment Tools (BAT), Interpersonal Guilt Rating Scale Self Report (IGRS-SR), Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale measurements (BPNSFS), will be cross-studied as functions of servicemen socio-demographic characteristics such as: gender, age, education, marital status, number of children, combat operation and other characteristics. Specific hypotheses will be studied and tested, and recommendations will be made with direct policy implications regarding burnouts among frontline servicemen.