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Crown Fatigue Resistance And Enamel Wear Of 3d Printed Resin Compared To Lithium Disilicate, Pranit Vasant Bora Jan 2024

Crown Fatigue Resistance And Enamel Wear Of 3d Printed Resin Compared To Lithium Disilicate, Pranit Vasant Bora

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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the wear characteristics and fatigue resistance of two dental crown materials: SprintRay Ceramic Crown, a 3D-printed resin material, and IPS™ e.Max CAD, a lithium disilicate material. Methods: This study evaluates wear and fatigue characteristics of dental crowns made from Ceramic Crown (SprintRay) and IPS e.max CAD LT (Ivoclar). For fatigue testing, custom fatigue devices were utilized to subject the crowns to cyclic loading, simulating occlusal forces. The specimens underwent 100,000 cycle intervals until 1.5 million cycles at a load of 40N of fatigue loading, with inspections conducted for signs of debonding, …


Utilization Of Romosozumab During Covid-19 Pandemic Among U.S. Medicare Beneficiaries, Ye Liu Jan 2024

Utilization Of Romosozumab During Covid-19 Pandemic Among U.S. Medicare Beneficiaries, Ye Liu

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Osteoporosis is increasingly recognized as a major public health issue in the aging U.S. population. Shortly after the licensure of romosozumab, an injectable medication indi-cated for women with postmenopausal osteoporosis at high risk of fracture administered by health care provider monthly, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, which caused ma-jor disruptions to the delivery of health care across the nation. The pandemic dispropor-tionately affected minority and economically disadvantaged communities, exacerbating many pre-existing health disparities. Romosozumab has the highest dosing frequency among common injectable osteoporosis medications in the U.S. that require an office visit for injection, making romosozumab adherence more susceptible to …


Education Attainment And Health: Outside The Gender Binary, Brianna Patterson Jan 2024

Education Attainment And Health: Outside The Gender Binary, Brianna Patterson

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Transgender and gender nonbinary individuals, hereafter referred to as trans, report worse health outcomes than trans individuals whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth, hereafter referred to as cisgender (Bauer, Hammond, Travers et al. 2009, Cicero, Reisner, Merwin et al. 2020). Past research has indicated that social determinants of health, such as education attainment, may be responsible for these inequities (Low 2006, The Lancet Public 2020). Education’s influence on health is well known from previous research, but the association is not distributed equally. In the United States (US) educational system, state and local governments have control, not the …


Genotype And Sex Specific Effects Of Methionine Restriction On The Life And Healthspan Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Joshua Robert Smith Jan 2024

Genotype And Sex Specific Effects Of Methionine Restriction On The Life And Healthspan Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Joshua Robert Smith

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Reduced dietary intake of the amino acid methionine has been reported to significantly extend the lifespan of common laboratory model organisms including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Mus musculus, and Drosophila melanogaster. Methionine restriction (MR) has also been achieved via non-dietary means such as metabolite supplementation and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. MR along with protein and calorie restriction are known as dietary interventions capable of producing pro-longevity benefits through regulation of nutrient sensing pathways. Recent studies in model organisms have also identified beneficial effects of a low methionine diet on aging-associated phenotypes and markers of overall healthspan. However, the effects of this intervention on …


Effect Bioactive Material Have On Tooth Demineralization, Taillk Gomes Jan 2024

Effect Bioactive Material Have On Tooth Demineralization, Taillk Gomes

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The objective of this in vitro study is to compare the inhibition of demineralization of root dentin caused by the presence of different restorative materials using Vickers Hardness (HV) test (microhardness) test and polarized light microscopy (PLM).


The Association Between Cardiovascular Disease Risk And Fractures In Postmenopausal Women, Rafeka Hossain Jan 2024

The Association Between Cardiovascular Disease Risk And Fractures In Postmenopausal Women, Rafeka Hossain

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Background: Fragility fractures pose a significant healthcare and economic burden in the United States. While age and bone mineral density (BMD) are the primary established risk factors for fragility fractures, the relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and fractures remains underexplored. The primary objective of this analysis was to estimate the association of CVD risk with fractures in postmenopausal women. Methods: Utilizing 30 years of data from the WHI, Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) risk scores were computed using baseline age, race, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, diabetes, anti-hypertension medications, and smoking. Fracture outcomes encompassed any clinical fracture, major osteoporotic …


Investigating Impacts Of Caregiving On Cognitive Function: Role Of Social Support, Lu Tian Jan 2024

Investigating Impacts Of Caregiving On Cognitive Function: Role Of Social Support, Lu Tian

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Study Aim: Using the stress process model as a framework, this dissertation aims to investigate the role of social support on the influence of informal caregiving on cognitive function of caregivers aged 50 years and older and to look at potential gender and racial differences in this association. Method: Leveraging data from the 2016 to 2020 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), this research employs Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis to examine the influence of caregiving on the cognitive function of older adults. To comprehensively understand the pathways through which caregiving impacts cognitive outcomes, I use mediation …


"Decidedly Good Looking:" Horatio Alger’S Juvenile Heroes And The Racial Subtext Of The American Dream, Madison Robin Owens Jan 2024

"Decidedly Good Looking:" Horatio Alger’S Juvenile Heroes And The Racial Subtext Of The American Dream, Madison Robin Owens

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No abstract provided.


Growing Need For A Standardized Response To Radiopharmaceutical Extravasations, Michael Richard Drelich Jan 2024

Growing Need For A Standardized Response To Radiopharmaceutical Extravasations, Michael Richard Drelich

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Extravasations are medical occurrences where an injected or infused pharmaceutical is unintentionally deposited into the soft tissue near the injection site, rather than into the bloodstream. With radiopharmaceuticals, extravasations can result in potentially large radiation doses to skin and tissue. The current rate of extravasations in clinical settings is estimated to be between 3-23%. In the interest of patient safety, a clearer understanding of the dosimetry and differences in extravasation scenarios to simplify dose estimation is needed. Similarly, the NRC is considering modifying regulations to include extravasations as reportable medical events rather than to continue considering them as patient interventions. …


Functional Analysis Of Mandibular Movements In Three Different Groups Including Patients With Total Joint Replacements, Previous Orthognathic Surgery, And A Control Group, Adriana Morales Buendia Jan 2024

Functional Analysis Of Mandibular Movements In Three Different Groups Including Patients With Total Joint Replacements, Previous Orthognathic Surgery, And A Control Group, Adriana Morales Buendia

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Purpose: To Assess mandibular movements, including mouth opening, lateral excursion, and protrusion among patients with total joint replacements and orthognathic surgery compared to healthy control participants with no known TMJ disorders. Methods: Fifty-two subjects from 18 to 66 years of age were included in this cross-sectional study, distributed in three groups: patients with total joint replacement (n = 16), patients who underwent orthognathic surgery (n=17), and healthy control subjects (n = 19) to quantitatively determine whether there is statistically significant difference among the groups regarding opening, lateral excursion, and protrusion movements. The non-invasive system SiCAT JMT+ device was used to …


Investigating The Electrostatics Of Mucins As Key Contributors To Mucus Stasis In Cystic Fibrosis, Elex Skylar Rose Jan 2024

Investigating The Electrostatics Of Mucins As Key Contributors To Mucus Stasis In Cystic Fibrosis, Elex Skylar Rose

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Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which encodes a channel responsible for the transport of chloride and bicarbonate ions across the apical cell surface. In the respiratory tract, defective CFTR results in viscous and adherent mucus that becomes static within the airway, which leads to chronic infections, progressive lung damage, and early mortality. Historically, CF mucus stasis has been attributed to significant airway dehydration; however, growing evidence has demonstrated that aberrant electrostatic properties of mucins also contribute to mucus stasis in CF. Mucins are large, polymeric glycoproteins …


The Freshman Life And Student Health (Flash) Study: Using Social Network Analysis To Understand How Obesity And Stigma Impact Emerging Adult Health, Alena C. Borgatti Jan 2024

The Freshman Life And Student Health (Flash) Study: Using Social Network Analysis To Understand How Obesity And Stigma Impact Emerging Adult Health, Alena C. Borgatti

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Both racial discrimination and weight stigma have been identified as risk factors for poorer mental, physical, and social health. College students are vulnerable to the effects of stigma, as they greatly value peer acceptance and friendships during a pivotal time of emotional and health behavior development. The present study was the first to use social network analysis to examine the impact of weight and racial discrimination on the development of college social relationships and how these experiences influence students’ physical and mental health. 1330 participants (69% of on-campus freshmen) completed a brief survey on social networks, physical health, mental health, …


Use Of Psilocybin And Other Classic Psychedelics In Fibromyalgia: A Survey Study, Kathleen Hodgin Jan 2024

Use Of Psilocybin And Other Classic Psychedelics In Fibromyalgia: A Survey Study, Kathleen Hodgin

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Psilocybin and other classic psychedelics may have potential for treatment of fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and other symptoms including fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and sleep problems. In this exploratory, descriptive study, an online survey was distributed among individuals with fibromyalgia to gather reports of any changes in pain related to past classic psychedelic use. Sixty-four participants with fibromyalgia completed the study, with most having used psilocybin mushrooms or LSD. In addition to recreational use and other reasons, use of psychedelics for mental health or pain-related reasons was frequently endorsed. Of the participants who reported experiencing any …


North Oakdale, John Gallagher Jan 2024

North Oakdale, John Gallagher

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NORTH OAKDALE JOHN GALLAGHER ENGLISH ABSTRACT North Oakdale is a collection of poems about a family, a woman, a man, and their daughter, coping during the first fifteen months of the Covid-19 pandemic. The family experiences an upheaval when they are not able to work due to the lockdown. The dynamics between the man and the woman alter. The family decides to plant a garden and vegetable patch. The woman, as a journalist, tries to freelance but to no avail. The man decides to wait it out and spends most of his time watching their daughter and gardening. As the …


"Stitched By An Indifferent Hand: Recognizing The Marginal In Cormac Mccarthy's 'Suttree'", Michael Wayne Boody Jan 2024

"Stitched By An Indifferent Hand: Recognizing The Marginal In Cormac Mccarthy's 'Suttree'", Michael Wayne Boody

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For centuries, philosophers have been kept busy by the question of what it means to be recognized. In the early 1990’s the Critical theorist Axel Honneth synthesized ideas put forth by Hegal and George Herbert Mead to propose his theory of Recognition, which suggests that society advances forward when humans exercise moral recognition of each others’ positive attributes; only then can people within society achieve a positive-relation-to-self. While Recognition is not greatly applied to literary theory, I believe that we can use it to explain the main character’s interactions with the people in his community in Cormac McCarthy’s Suttree (1979). …


Environmental Influences On The Physiology Of Cnidarians And Their Symbionts, Shelby Gantt Jan 2024

Environmental Influences On The Physiology Of Cnidarians And Their Symbionts, Shelby Gantt

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Corals and other cnidarians maintain complex symbioses that include photosynthetic endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodiniaceae), protozoans, fungi, bacteria, archaea, and other metazoans, collectively known as the holobiont. The stability of these associations is crucial for holobiont resilience and adaptation to environmental conditions and are the results of long-term ecological and evolutionary processes. Environmental factors such as light availability, seasonal environmental fluctuations, and warmer, more acidic conditions can disrupt these symbiotic associations and alter holobiont functioning. To understand the influence of different environments on cnidarian host and symbiont physiology, two framework coral species (Acropora palmata and Orbicella faveolata) from nursery-raised and wild populations …


“Then Let Them Use Us Well”: How The Folger Edition Of Shakespeare’S Othello Limits Sexuality And Character Agency, Ann Elizabeth Mulherin Jan 2024

“Then Let Them Use Us Well”: How The Folger Edition Of Shakespeare’S Othello Limits Sexuality And Character Agency, Ann Elizabeth Mulherin

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Since Shakespeare’s first folio and quartos were initially published directly after his death in the early seventeenth century, various editors have altered his plays for their desired goals. With this in mind, the primary focus of my thesis centers around the Updated Folger edition of The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, edited by Barbara Mowat and Paul Werstine, which was published in 2017. The Folger edition repeatedly points out that they have tailored their rendition of Othello to allow modern audiences to understand Shakespeare’s language; they present the intention to accurately and helpfully gloss confusing, antiquated, or significant …


Exploring The Associations Between Cognitive Training, Social Determinants Of Health, And Driving Behaviors: A Longitudinal Analysis Of The Active Study, Katie Wheeler Jan 2024

Exploring The Associations Between Cognitive Training, Social Determinants Of Health, And Driving Behaviors: A Longitudinal Analysis Of The Active Study, Katie Wheeler

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As the average lifespan increases, older adults are remaining independent into older ages than before. The ability to drive a vehicle is an essential part of daily living that helps older adults maintain independence. Cognitive training, specifically speed of processing training (SOPT), is an intervention that has consistently shown to benefit older adult’s driving abilities and driving behaviors. This dissertation examined the longitudinal association between cognitive training and primary driving location on crash risk across 20 years (Paper 1), investigated the effects of cognitive training and dosage on driving mobility across 10 years (Paper 2), and explored social determinants of …


The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program And Its Effect On Drug Overdose Mortalities, Charles Lee Jan 2024

The Prescription Drug Monitoring Program And Its Effect On Drug Overdose Mortalities, Charles Lee

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The opioid epidemic is a growing concern, and the health and economic impacts on rural and urban counties are increasing. Between 1999 and 2019, approximately 841,000 people died from drug overdoses involving heroin, synthetic opioids, and prescribed opioids with 71,000 dying in 2019. This study examined the relationship between drug overdose mortalities and three independent variables, (a) Medicaid expansion, (b) Years PDMP active, and (c) Academic detailing engagement. Results of this study will contribute to the literature by determining if the Medicaid expansion, years prescription drug monitoring programs active, and academic detailing engagement decrease drug overdose mortalities. This study includes …


Fundamentals Of Vehicle Modeling For Mobility And Maneuver, Jordan Whitson Jan 2024

Fundamentals Of Vehicle Modeling For Mobility And Maneuver, Jordan Whitson

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The direction of research for off-road ground vehicles is an ever-growing interdisciplinary field. The strategies and modeling methods range from simple terramechanics mathematical models to complex terramechanics that involve the use of high-performance computing (HPC) systems with varying vehicle metric and performance analysis and information extraction. Current advanced methods based on terrain properties and dynamic models utilize conventional performance metrics that have been supported through decades of research. As automated driving systems (ADS) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) research and development progress, more complexities are unraveled and present the need for novel directions of research. Whereas on-road vehicles have the …


[Mis]Representing “India” And Other Colonial Territories In Donne’S Poetry: An Insight Into Colonialism’S Multifaceted Aspects, Urnisha Dutta Jan 2024

[Mis]Representing “India” And Other Colonial Territories In Donne’S Poetry: An Insight Into Colonialism’S Multifaceted Aspects, Urnisha Dutta

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Colonial objects in Donne’s poems embrace multifaceted attributes, offering diverse reading perspectives. Considering their multifaceted aspects, it becomes impossible for a reader to ignore his poems’ interdisciplinary qualities. They often embrace philosophical, religious, political, and historical connotations. The colonial objects, appearing as “black” characters, silent women, or colonized territories in his poems, generate East-West binaries, Western subject consciousness, Eastern [mis]representations, world polarizations, and color contrasts. His female bodies’ misogynistic/sexual portrayal frequently ends in pulling up colonial references, associating their bodies with colonial landmasses. They often associate with his spiritual consciousness, complicating reading and textual interpretations. Critics thus cannot take a …


A Thematic Analysis Of Health Literacy And Education Disparities Regarding Medical Needs For Transgender Individuals, Rachel Mcmullen Jan 2024

A Thematic Analysis Of Health Literacy And Education Disparities Regarding Medical Needs For Transgender Individuals, Rachel Mcmullen

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Transgender individuals experience many challenges within the healthcare system including discrimination, socioeconomic struggles, financial strains, a lack of educated healthcare providers, and a health system framework that makes it even more challenging for them to receive their medical needs (Korpaisarn and Safer). One contributing factor to this lack of education is that on average medical schools in the United States only spend approximately five hours total on the health needs related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals (Miller et al.). Another contributing factor is the stigma around LGBTQ individuals within the medical community. The stigma is concerning …


Identification Of The Synthetic Cannabinoids Bzo-Poxizid And Mda-19 Using Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry, Samantha Way Jan 2024

Identification Of The Synthetic Cannabinoids Bzo-Poxizid And Mda-19 Using Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry, Samantha Way

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Synthetic cannabinoids are synthetic compounds created to mimic the effects of naturally derived cannabis. They are up to 100 times more potent than natural cannabis, and due to their cannabinoid-like activity, they are considered schedule one drugs in Alabama. They are also the most common new psychoactive substance in the state of Alabama. The possible threat to public health and their schedule one status makes it necessary to develop a method for the detection of these substances. BZO-POXIZID and MDA-19 are two synthetic cannabinoids of recent interest. This study was conducted to validate a method for the detection of these …


Barbara Dane: The Forgotten Activist, Jacob Kennedy Jan 2024

Barbara Dane: The Forgotten Activist, Jacob Kennedy

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Barbara Dane is best understood as an unsung hero of the New Left and Folk Revival because since her graduation from high school in 1945, she has used every resource at her disposal to support and grow various movements. She has picketed for the labor movement, canvassed for the Progressive party, traveled to Mississippi to perform for the civil rights movement and SNCC, marched for peace as part of the anti-war movement, and performed and advocated for the Feminist movement throughout her lifetime. Dane has traveled the globe from war-torn Prague in 1947, Cuba in 1966, and Northern Vietnam in …


Filing The Serial Numbers Off: The Role Of The Author In Fanfiction Published As Original Fiction, Lauren Mcinnis Jan 2024

Filing The Serial Numbers Off: The Role Of The Author In Fanfiction Published As Original Fiction, Lauren Mcinnis

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With the increase of authors altering and publishing fanfiction as original works of fiction, the practices and attitudes of fan communities cross over into the realm of traditional fiction. Throughout its history, fandom is a community built on the shared love of a piece of media or celebrity. The importance of community appears in fanfiction through Author’s Notes and comments sections; both of which traditionally published novels generally lack. When authors choose to make the transition to traditional publication which provides legitimacy that fanfiction lacks, they must remove most of their own identity and the fan-community that they originally relied …


Comparative Enzymatic Analysis Of Different Isoforms Of Group A Streptococcal Bacteriophage H4489a Hyaluronidase, Urvi Prakash Rawal Jan 2024

Comparative Enzymatic Analysis Of Different Isoforms Of Group A Streptococcal Bacteriophage H4489a Hyaluronidase, Urvi Prakash Rawal

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The Hyaluronate Lyase derived from Group A streptococcal bacteriophage H4489A gene (HylP) is known for cleaving the glycosidic bonds of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMWHA), a substance often overexpressed in certain types of cancer cells. This enzymatic action produces HA oligosaccharides. Previous research, conducted by our team, has demonstrated that these oligosaccharides play a significant role in reducing the invasion, migration, and proliferation of breast cancer cells. This effect occurs through the disruption of Erk1/2 activation and RhoA expression. This bacteriophage hyaluronate lyase (HylP), a 40kDa protein, possesses a unique collagen-like sequence, consisting of 30 amino acids in a …


Associations Between Grit, Life Satisfaction, And Academic Outcomes In Elementary And Middle School Students, Charles Jaylon Williams Jan 2024

Associations Between Grit, Life Satisfaction, And Academic Outcomes In Elementary And Middle School Students, Charles Jaylon Williams

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Grit is used to predict various positive benefits within students. Grit is trying to get back up to attempt another try at one’s goal after failure. Recently, grit has been seen as a potential candidate in improving the life satisfaction and academic performance of individuals. Grit is conceptualized as having two components, perseverance of effort and consistency of interest. Perseverance of effort is trying again until you finally accomplish your goal, while consistency of interest is a constant drive to complete one’s goals over a long-time span. This study measured the effects that grit has on elementary and middle school …


Investigating Hiv-1 Transmission To Human Cervix Using Reporter Virus Technologies, Dana Frances Indihar Jan 2024

Investigating Hiv-1 Transmission To Human Cervix Using Reporter Virus Technologies, Dana Frances Indihar

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Around 39 million people globally are currently infected with Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), more than half of whom are women. HIV-1 is a retrovirus that infects and depletes an individual’s immune cells, culminating in the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if not managed with anti-retroviral therapies (ART). Most women acquire HIV-1 through heterosexual intercourse. However, the early mechanisms and virologic determinants of HIV-1 transmission to women remain unclear. Herein, we demonstrate transmitted/founder (TF) HIV-1 representing two genetically and pathogenically distinct subtypes (A and D) in vivo have distinct replication phenotypes in an ex vivo cervical explant tissue (CET) …


Physical And Optical Properties Of Material Used For Injection Molding, Nadia Christine Farias Machado Jan 2024

Physical And Optical Properties Of Material Used For Injection Molding, Nadia Christine Farias Machado

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Background: This project investigates the materials used in injection molding dental resin composites which involves injecting flowable composite into a clear mold. Understanding the physical and optical properties of both the resin composite and the clear mold material is crucial for successful clinical outcomes. For the clear mold material, its translucency, curing light transmission, and rigidity are vital factors. Correlations may be present between trans-lucency and curing light transmission. For the resin composite, comparing wear, hardness, translucency, radiopacity, shrinkage stress, flexural strength, and modulus will affect mate-rial performance. Finally, the depth of cure of the material will be dependent on …


Trends In Reported Sexual Behaviors Among Alabama High School Students From 2011-2021, Sarah Franklin Jan 2024

Trends In Reported Sexual Behaviors Among Alabama High School Students From 2011-2021, Sarah Franklin

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Background: Sexual health education is associated with better outcomes among adolescents proper use of contraception, STI prevention methods, and lower rates of teenage pregnancy and STIs. In Alabama, sexual health education is not mandated in public schools. It is unknown how the lack of mandated sexual education has impacted trends in the sexual health of Alabama high school students. Methods: Using 2011-2021 data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), this study evaluated trends in sexual behaviors, including: 1) sexual history, 2) current sexual activity, 3) risky or protective sexual behaviors, and 4) history of HIV testing, over time among …