Previous Students

Jessica McElwain (Mathematics with a Concentration in Mathematical Modeling), 2019-2020.

• • • Exploring Global Sensitivity Analysis with a Physiologically-based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Model of Bromochloromethane (BCM)

    • Abstract: Bromochloromethane (BCM) is an unregulated chemical used in water chlorination that can harm the liver and kidneys when inhaled or ingested. This project takes information given by a previous paper, Cuello et al., (2012), and performs global sensitivity analysis on the model. There are certain parameters, Vmax and Kgsh, where metabolites may cause cancer. Performing global sensitivity analysis can point to the most sensitive parameters. It is important to study these sensitive parameters to understand the behavior of the chemical. The next steps are to explore different distributions to see if that affects the order of sensitivity with the parameters in the model.

Contributed to work published in: 

Sawyer, M.E., McElwain, J,. and Kenney, J.W. (2021).  Applications of global sensitivity analysis to the optimization of a dermal PBPK model of bromochloromethane. Missouri Journal of Mathematical Sciences.  33 (2), 137-150. DOI: 10.35834/2021/3302137

More details on this work can be found in the SNHU Publications subpage.

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Cuello, W.S., Janes, T.A.T, Jessee, J.M., Venecek, M.A., Sawyer, M.E., Eklund, C.R., Evans, M.V., (2012). Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling of metabolic pathways of bromochloromethane in rats.  Journal of Toxicology, vol. 2012, Article ID 629781. 

Marisa Jellison (Mathematics and English Language & Literature), 2018–2019. 

• • • Validating a Physiologically-based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Model of Bromochloromethane (BCM)

    • Abstract: Bromochloromethane (BCM) is a byproduct of water disinfection and is potentially toxic to humans. Several studies have been done to determine metabolic parameters. This project is centered around validating a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) BCM model in rats, presented in Cuello et al., (2012). Confidence intervals around parameters will be discussed as well as a general assessment of the model.

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Cuello, W.S., Janes, T.A.T, Jessee, J.M., Venecek, M.A., Sawyer, M.E., Eklund, C.R., Evans, M.V., (2012). Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling of metabolic pathways of bromochloromethane in rats.  Journal of Toxicology, vol. 2012, Article ID 629781. 

Kevin Tasley (Economics and Finance).  2016–2017.

• • • Tasley, K. (2016). Modeling Public-Education Spending vs. Allocation as Independent Factors of Educational Outcomes. Undergraduate Economic Review. 13, 1. http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/uer/vol13/iss1/10

    • Co-Advisor: Adam Gilbert

    • Abstract:  This paper explores and expands upon the work of Hanushek and Wößmann (2007) whose accumulated findings propose increased educational spending provides only marginal returns in terms of student’s cognitive outcomes. This study constructs an OLS regression model to explore the significance of U.S. state education spending and financial allocations as independent factors of state-level average ACT scores over a 10-year time series. The model additionally accounts for self-selection and socio-economic status. The results of this study support Hanushek and Wößmann’s conclusions while also demonstrating evidence that shifts in allocations towards instructional spending, as opposed to increasing total expenditures, could have a more substantial impact on returns to educational quality.