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Open Access Publications from the University of California

Scholarly Works (6 results)

  • Thesis
  • Peer Reviewed
UC Irvine Electronic Theses and Dissertations (2019)

This thesis investigates multiple collaborative modes that choreographers and composers employ to create new movement and new music for dance; and it documents the journey I took, as a choreographer, engaging in these types of collaborations. Throughout my research, I studied various collaborative methods utilized by choreographers and composers throughout the 20th century. These historical examples informed the methods I chose to use with three different composers to make new works. In each collaboration, the order of creating dance and music varied, resulting in three methods — choreography-first, music-first, and simultaneous creation. By working with the composers to create these dances, I gained valuable knowledge and made self-discoveries that will influence my future choreographic work. The results of this research will hopefully aid other collaborations that correlate music and dance and advance our understanding of the choreographer-composer dynamic.

    Cover page: Investigating the Relationship Between Choreographer and Composer: Mapping the Journey of an Emerging Artist with a Movement-Music Emphasis
    • Thesis
    • Peer Reviewed
    UC San Diego Electronic Theses and Dissertations (2012)

    ...after a mountain stream rainfor six Chinese instruments was composed for the Chai Found Music Workshop Formosa Landscape/2011 Sizhu Music Composition Contest, for which it won third place. across an ocean, across the land... for laptop ensemble was composed for the Florida International University Laptop and Electro-Acoustic Arts (FLEA) Ensemble that I direct. Each of these two compositions uses strongly contrasting media and technical means to explore some of my primary aesthetic interests from different angles.

    ...after a mountain stream rain solely uses acoustic instruments and carefully notated music. For this piece, I studied traditional Chinese musical culture and aesthetics starting with ancient music for the guqin and continuing through to contemporary works for Chinese instruments. This cultural background serves as the basis for the music's focus on a nature as well as the symbolic meanings of the sounds and their relationships. In addition, when writing the music I applied certain stochastic algorithms without the aid of a computer to intuitively create a sense of multiple emerging phenomena.

    across an ocean, across the land... uses solely electronically produced sounds and a flexible graphic score. The sound sources come from recordings and transformations of Tibetan bells and a gigantic tam-tam. In this piece, the performers control stochastic algorithms that determine how the computer will generate the sonic results. As a result, during performances, the performer and audience constantly engage with different manifestations of the algorithms. Structurally, the work focuses on how one can observe the relationship of similar materials interacting through many different overlapping layers of tempi and register.

    Although sonically different, both pieces use the same primary harmonic fields. In addition, both pieces focus on my interest on the emergent phenomena that result from the interaction of simple scientifically and culturally informed structures or behaviors. Finally, in sum, both works also reflect my strong aesthetic interest in representing my own personal interactions with the spiritual in its many external, internal, and transforming manifestations.

    • 1 supplemental PDF
    • 2 supplemental audio files
    • 2 supplemental ZIPs
    Cover page: ...after a mountain stream rain (谿山遇雨) for six Chinese instruments and across an ocean, across the land... for laptop ensemble
    • Article
    • Peer Reviewed
    Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, Volume 43 (2021)
    We use a model to explore the implications of ACT-R's learning and forgetting mechanisms to understand learning and retention on a complex task. The model performs a spreadsheet task that has 14 non-iterated subtasks. The model predicts a learning curve and knowledge decay for different learning stages. The model's learning curve fits the human data well for the first four trials without decay. When decay is examined, however, we have to make modifications to the retention equation for the model's predictions to match data and the shapes predicted by the other learning theories. To fix this anomaly, we modified the effect of time on decay (adjusting time outside the experiment to less than the effect of time in the experiment) and the strength of newly learned memories (less well known than the previous default value). From these results, we learn that training and testing have been confounded in many studies.
      Cover page: Predicting Learning and Retention of a Complex Task Using a Cognitive ArchitectureCreative Commons 'BY' version 4.0 license
      • Article
      • Peer Reviewed
      UC Irvine Previously Published Works (2023)

      Background

      The Veterans Health Administration (VA) is the largest integrated healthcare organization in the US and cares for the largest cohort of individuals with hepatitis C (HCV). A national HCV population management dashboard enabled rapid identification and treatment uptake with direct acting antiviral agents across VA hospitals. We describe the HCV dashboard (HCVDB) and evaluate its use and user experience.

      Methods

      A user-centered design approach created the HCVDB to include reports based on the HCV care continuum: 1) 1945-1965 birth cohort high-risk screening, 2) linkage to care and treatment of chronic HCV, 3) treatment monitoring, 4) post-treatment to confirm cure (i.e., sustained virologic response), and 5) special populations of unstably housed Veterans. We evaluated frequency of usage and user experience with the System Usability Score (SUS) and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) instruments.

      Results

      Between November 2016 and July 2021, 1302 unique users accessed the HCVDB a total of 163,836 times. The linkage report was used most frequently (71%), followed by screening (13%), sustained virologic response (11%), on-treatment (4%), and special populations (<1%). Based on user feedback (n = 105), the mean SUS score was 73±16, indicating a good user experience. Overall acceptability was high with the following UTAUT2 rated from highest to least: Price Value, Performance Expectancy, Social Influence, and Facilitating Conditions.

      Conclusions

      The HCVDB had rapid and widespread uptake, met provider needs, and scored highly on user experience measures. Collaboration between clinicians, clinical informatics, and population health experts was essential for dashboard design and sustained use. Population health management tools have the potential for large-scale impacts on care timeliness and efficiency.
        Cover page: User experience of a hepatitis c population management dashboard in the Department of Veterans Affairs
        • Article
        • Peer Reviewed
        UCLA Previously Published Works (2019)
        Metabolic obstacles of the tumor microenvironment remain a challenge to T-cell-mediated cancer immunotherapies. To better understand the interplay of immune checkpoint signaling and immune metabolism, this study developed and used an optimized metabolite extraction protocol for non-adherent primary human T-cells, to broadly profile in vitro metabolic changes effected by PD-1 signaling by mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and isotopomer analysis. Inhibitory signaling reduced aerobic glycolysis and glutaminolysis. A general scarcity across the panel of metabolites measured supported widespread metabolic regulation by PD-1. Glucose carbon fate analysis supported tricarboxylic acid cycle reliance on pyruvate carboxylation, catabolic-state fluxes into acetyl-CoA and succinyl-CoA, and a block in de novo nucleoside phosphate synthesis that was accompanied by reduced mTORC1 signaling. Nonetheless, exogenous administration of nucleosides was not sufficient to ameliorate proliferation of T-cells in the context of multiple metabolic insufficiencies due to PD-L1 treatment. Carbon fate analysis did not support the use of primarily glucose-derived carbons to fuel fatty acid beta oxidation, in contrast to reports on T-memory cells. These findings add to our understanding of metabolic dysregulation by PD-1 signaling and inform the effort to rationally develop metabolic interventions coupled with immune-checkpoint blockade for increased treatment efficacy.
          Cover page: Global alteration of T-lymphocyte metabolism by PD-L1 checkpoint involves a block of de novo nucleoside phosphate synthesis
          • Article
          • Peer Reviewed
          UCLA Previously Published Works (2022)
          BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance rates are suboptimal in clinical practice. We aimed to elicit providers opinions on the following aspects of HCC surveillance: preferred strategies, barriers and facilitators, and the impact of a patients HCC risk on the choice of surveillance modality. METHODS: We conducted a web-based survey among gastroenterology and hepatology providers (40% faculty physicians, 21% advanced practice providers, 39% fellow-trainees) from 26 US medical centers in 17 states. RESULTS: Of 654 eligible providers, 305 (47%) completed the survey. Nearly all (98.4%) of the providers endorsed semi-annual HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis, with 84.2% recommending ultrasound ± alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and 15.4% recommending computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Barriers to surveillance included limited HCC treatment options, screening test effectiveness to reduce mortality, access to transportation, and high out-of-pocket costs. Facilitators of surveillance included professional society guidelines. Most providers (72.1%) would perform surveillance even if HCC risk was low (≤0.5% per year), while 98.7% would perform surveillance if HCC risk was ≥1% per year. As a patients HCC risk increased from 1% to 3% to 5% per year, providers reported they would be less likely to order ultrasound ± AFP (83.6% to 68.9% to 57.4%; P < .001) and more likely to order CT or MRI ± AFP (3.9% to 26.2% to 36.1%; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Providers recommend HCC surveillance even when HCC risk is much lower than the threshold suggested by professional societies. Many appear receptive to risk-based HCC surveillance strategies that depend on patients estimated HCC risk, instead of our current one-size-fits all strategy.
            Cover page: Provider Attitudes Toward Risk-Based Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance in Patients With Cirrhosis in the United States.
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