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Diagnostic Outcomes Of Digital Images For Comprehensive Examination In Pediatric Dentistry: An Intraexaminer Agreement Assessment, Maria Fernanda Montoya Jan 2023

Diagnostic Outcomes Of Digital Images For Comprehensive Examination In Pediatric Dentistry: An Intraexaminer Agreement Assessment, Maria Fernanda Montoya

All ETDs from UAB

Purpose: To Assess intra-examiner diagnoses obtained via traditional oral clinical examination (TCE) versus digital oral examination (DOE) completed from digital video images of pediatric patients. Methods: Fifty pediatric patients 5 to 10 years of age, who attend the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) for initial consultations or regular visits were included in this study. Individual oral comprehensive examinations were done by five second-year pediatric dentistry residents. A trained dental hygienist recorded a full mouth intraoral video for each patient via MouthWatch intraoral camera and stored using existing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure. After …


Synthesis, Characterization, And Evaluation Of A Bionanomatrix And Antibiotic-Releasing Liposomes On Osseointegration, Vascularization, Inflammation, And Antibacterial Efficacy, Benjamin Kade Estep Jan 2023

Synthesis, Characterization, And Evaluation Of A Bionanomatrix And Antibiotic-Releasing Liposomes On Osseointegration, Vascularization, Inflammation, And Antibacterial Efficacy, Benjamin Kade Estep

All ETDs from UAB

Percutaneous osseointegrated prostheses (POP) implants combat the multitude of issues and limitations of contemporary prosthetic sockets/limbs, including range of motion, comfort/fit, irritation, gait, and osseoproprioception. However, POP implants lack long-term clinical success; specifically, several risks exist at the bone-implant interface, including superficial/deep infections, inflammation, poor vascularization, and inadequate osseointegration, resulting in implant loosening over time and ultimately removal of the implant. The goal of this thesis is to evaluate a multifunctional, nitric oxide-releasing bionanomatrix incorporated with antibiotic-releasing liposomes on osseointegration, inflammation, vascularization/angiogenesis, and bacterial infection. We successfully synthesized the bionanomatrix, and the antibiotic-releasing liposomes readily encapsulated the antibiotics. The antibiotic-releasing …


Flexural Behavior Of Composite Frp-Concrete-Steel Poles, Krenar Krasniqi Jan 2023

Flexural Behavior Of Composite Frp-Concrete-Steel Poles, Krenar Krasniqi

All ETDs from UAB

A new composite pole is being developed. The pole consists of an outer fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) shell, inside steel tube, and concrete filled between the two tubes (The composite FRP-concrete-steel pole is hereafter referred to as CFCSP). The FRP tube used in this research is produced using a centrifugal casting technique with glass-fibers oriented in the longitudinal and hoop direction. The longitudinal fibers provide flexural resistance to the section, whereas the hoop fibers confine the concrete and give shear resistance to the pole. The steel tube acts as longitudinal reinforcement, and the concrete is confined by the two tubes. …


Preceding Footsteps In Revolution: The History Of The Southern Negro Youth Congress, Donnae' Hampton Jan 2023

Preceding Footsteps In Revolution: The History Of The Southern Negro Youth Congress, Donnae' Hampton

All ETDs from UAB

This thesis is a comprehensive history of the Southern Negro Youth Congress including the social circumstances that led to its formation, the work and people of the organization, and its impact and influence on future civil rights organizations and Black leftist movements of the late 1960s. The Southern Black communist organization was formed in 1937 and officially disbanded in 1949. SNYC committed itself to unionizing, educating, registering people to vote, and exposing racial horrors in the South for Black southerners. In 1939, SNYC moved its headquarters to Birmingham, Alabama. The segregated city of Birmingham in 1939 was the industrial center …


Persuasion In Descriptions Of Medical Crowdfunding On Gofundme: When Children Fundraise For Their Mothers' Lung Cancer, Ziyu Zhao Jan 2023

Persuasion In Descriptions Of Medical Crowdfunding On Gofundme: When Children Fundraise For Their Mothers' Lung Cancer, Ziyu Zhao

All ETDs from UAB

Medical needs have become one of the top categories in online crowdfunding in the United States (Chandler, 2015). However, the level of donations falls short of what is needed to cover the high costs of healthcare (Norton, 2022; Young & Scheinberg, 2017). Therefore, more successful promotion of medical crowdfunding campaigns is crucial. This thesis research examined the influence of two persuasive factors, appeal type and cover images, in medical crowdfunding of lung cancer on backers’ donation behaviors on GoFundMe with manual coding and Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC). The study found no statistically reliable support for the hypotheses, perhaps …


Comparing The Efficiency Of Molar Protraction Using Herbsts And Temporary Anchorage Devices, Ishita Zem Taneja Jan 2023

Comparing The Efficiency Of Molar Protraction Using Herbsts And Temporary Anchorage Devices, Ishita Zem Taneja

All ETDs from UAB

Objective: The purpose of this study is twofold. First, to assess the utilization of the Herbst device in mandibular molar protraction. Second, to compare the effectiveness of the protraction Herbst and TADs in patients with congenitally missing mandibular second premolars. Methods: This project was designed as a retrospective study. Orthodontic patients with unilateral or bilateral congenitally missing mandibular premolars, who received the protraction Herbst appliance or TADs as part of their treatment were included in the study. We excluded patients treated with maxillary counterbalancing extractions. Our final patient sample included a total of 33 patients (22 females and 11 males). …


Strategic Balance In Healthcare Organizations, Corey Spraberry Jan 2023

Strategic Balance In Healthcare Organizations, Corey Spraberry

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The purpose of this dissertation was to assess the relationship between service mix offerings relative to competitors and firm performance. Specifically, this study explores if an optimal point of service offerings in the competitive market is associated with financial performance. This study is important to both researchers and healthcare leaders as it helps understand the relationship between optimal service mix and firm performance. The results find a relationship that suggests a differentiated service mix compared to a generalized service mix is associated with financial performance. Additionally, hospital characteristics are associated with service duplication and differentiation. The findings of this research …


Increasing Naloxone Access For Persons Who Use Opioids: An Online Recruitment And Training Approach To Opioid Overdose Education And Naloxone Distribution, Michelle L. Sisson Jan 2023

Increasing Naloxone Access For Persons Who Use Opioids: An Online Recruitment And Training Approach To Opioid Overdose Education And Naloxone Distribution, Michelle L. Sisson

All ETDs from UAB

Drug overdose is the primary cause of accidental death in the United States, with a majority of those fatalities involving opioids. Annual rates of fatal opioid overdoses have exponentially increased over the past two decades, leading to the declaration of the current opioid epidemic. The severity of the epidemic has increased due to an upsurge in the use of heroin, synthetic opioids (e.g., fentanyl), and the lacing of other substances with synthetic opioids. As such, federal agencies have made recommendations aimed at combating fatal opioid overdose including the enhancement of naloxone distribution. Administration of naloxone has been expanded from emergency …


Quantitative Analysis Of The Impact Of Automatically Generated Normal Tissue Contours On Knowledge-Based Planning Model Quality, Samuel Christopher Baker Arnold Jan 2023

Quantitative Analysis Of The Impact Of Automatically Generated Normal Tissue Contours On Knowledge-Based Planning Model Quality, Samuel Christopher Baker Arnold

All ETDs from UAB

While radiotherapy has become one of the primary standards of treatment for cancer in areas such as the brain, treatment plans are limited by the time it takes physicians to contour CT images used for dose distribution calculations. Automation of the contouring process can not only improve the rate of plan formation but establish an improved standard of care. With the development and implementation of knowledge-based planning (KBP) in radiation oncology, information derived from treatment plans provide machine learning models with years of experience to assess and create future treatment plans. Since KBP model quality rely on contouring from training …


Rates, Presentation, & Effects Of Public Autism Stigma, Monica Abdul-Chani Jan 2023

Rates, Presentation, & Effects Of Public Autism Stigma, Monica Abdul-Chani

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Limited availability of resources regarding developmental issues, health literacy, linguistic-sensitivity (i.e., use of linguistically appropriate resources and measures), structural barriers (i.e., appointment length, transportation), and cultural values and beliefs are commonly-cited barriers in identifying Latine autistic children. Stigma may also play a role, as it is negatively related to both knowledge/awareness within ASD and to acculturation in other disorders (i.e., HIV). Stigma can have detrimental, pervasive effects on daily living for those stigmatized and their families. Limited research examined the rate, presentation, and effect of ASD stigma within the Latine community, and all available studies explored stigma as reported by …


An Exploration Of The Values Elicitation Experiences Of Patients With Heart Failure And Their Family Caregivers, Avery Bechthold Jan 2023

An Exploration Of The Values Elicitation Experiences Of Patients With Heart Failure And Their Family Caregivers, Avery Bechthold

All ETDs from UAB

Values, defined as abstract, subjective, and significant core beliefs, which function within a system and priority, are integral to how individuals make decisions, and cope with stressors, including serious illness. However, little research has been conducted to explore the experiences of patients with heart failure (HF) and their family caregivers. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to explore how values are discussed, reflected upon, and acted on by patients with HF and their family caregivers. This purpose was accomplished through four manuscripts and a mixed methods analysis: 1) a concept analysis of values elicitation in the context of health …


I Would Be Shocked If Someone’S Not Depressed With That Diagnosis”: An In-Depth Exploration Of The Manifestation And Management Of Depression And Anxiety In Patients With Cancer, Carmen Rainey Brown Jan 2023

I Would Be Shocked If Someone’S Not Depressed With That Diagnosis”: An In-Depth Exploration Of The Manifestation And Management Of Depression And Anxiety In Patients With Cancer, Carmen Rainey Brown

All ETDs from UAB

Patients diagnosed with cancer experience depression and anxiety at higher rates compared to the general population. Most individuals diagnosed with cancer will experience symptoms of depression and anxiety at some point during their cancer trajectory and not seek care leaving their mental health conditions undiagnosed and untreated, which impact quality of life and cancer outcomes. Patient and providers perspectives are vital to understand the manifestation, care-seeking behaviors, and provider management of depression and anxiety in patients with cancer. This study sought to explore the manifestation of depression and anxiety among patients with cancer and their care seeking behaviors for mental …


Socioeconomic Challenges Of Long Covid, Justin Catt Jan 2023

Socioeconomic Challenges Of Long Covid, Justin Catt

All ETDs from UAB

Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection or PASC, is a condition resulting from a SARS-CoV-2 infection characterized by continuing or novel symptoms across multiple organ systems occurring at least four weeks after infection. Symptoms of Long COVID can include cognitive impairment, memory loss, and fatigue. Although associations between COVID-19 and social determinants of health have been studied, noting that disadvantaged socioeconomic or racial groups have higher incidence and mortality rates from COVID-19, the associations between Long COVID and social determinants of health have not been robustly examined. Using data from the Household Pulse Survey in Summer …


Conceptual Architecture For Digital Twin Implementation In A Smart City Framework, Wesley Conwell Jan 2023

Conceptual Architecture For Digital Twin Implementation In A Smart City Framework, Wesley Conwell

All ETDs from UAB

More than 9 billion people are expected to live on the planet in 2050, about two-thirds in cities. This substantial population growth in urban areas increases demands on cities' resources, services, and infrastructure. Hence, many cities leverage intelligent technologies to ensure urban communities' efficiency in integrating massive infrastructure components and services. Cities define this reconstruction of their operational framework as a smart city. Effective resource consumption management in a smart city integrative structure presents a problem with solutions concerning the distribution of city services. This dissertation aims to establish a conceptual framework to effectively manage resource consumption in a smart …


The Er Stress-Pathogen Nexus In Regulation Of Cell Death In Arabidopsis Immunity, Danish Diwan Jan 2023

The Er Stress-Pathogen Nexus In Regulation Of Cell Death In Arabidopsis Immunity, Danish Diwan

All ETDs from UAB

Pathogens and plants are involved in a coevolutionary battle for dominance. As plants lack adaptive immune systems, they rely on their innate immunity to protect themselves from infectious agents. Upon pathogen attack, plant cells activate their pro-survival strategy by recognizing the pathogen and actively transcribing and translating proteins to effectively defend against the pathogen infection. As the intensity of infection increases, the heightened demand for proteins places an excessive burden on the ER machinery resulting in the accumulation of misfolded or unfolded proteins within the ER. To restore the protein homeostasis, a cellular relief signaling pathway called Unfolded Protein Response …


Transdiagnostic Symptom Clusters Among Idiopathic Pain And Fatigue Disorders, Chloe Lisette Jones Jan 2023

Transdiagnostic Symptom Clusters Among Idiopathic Pain And Fatigue Disorders, Chloe Lisette Jones

All ETDs from UAB

Background: There are no established etiologies, biomarkers, or approved treatments for myalgicencephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). It is thought that the ME/CFS criteria may be diagnosing individuals within a spectrum of different disease states, or even different diseases. There likely exist shared mechanisms across idiopathic pain and fatigue disorders, and diverse mechanisms underneath each individual diagnosis. The need to compare ME/CFS to similar, overlapping, and distinct disorders is a critical element in progressing our understanding of idiopathic pain and fatigue. Methods: A total of 2,731 comprehensive medical history and symptom reports were collected from respondents across the globe with a variety …


The Critical Period Of Long-Term Plasticity In Adult-Born Granule Cells Is Mediated By T-Type Calcium Channels, William Michael Kennedy Jan 2023

The Critical Period Of Long-Term Plasticity In Adult-Born Granule Cells Is Mediated By T-Type Calcium Channels, William Michael Kennedy

All ETDs from UAB

Neurogenesis occurs in the dentate gyrus of adult rodents leading to a heterogeneous population of dentate granule cells (GCs) in the granule cell layer. Adult-born granule cells (abGCs) exhibit a transient period of elevated synaptic plasticity that contributes to their role in dentate gyrus function. Various mechanisms have been proposed to underlie the critical period of plasticity, including minimal GABAergic synaptic inhibition, robust NMDAR2B currents, and high intrinsic excitability conferred by T-type Ca2+ channels. In this collection of work, we investigate the critical period for long-term potentiation (LTP) in 4–6-week-old abGCs. We conclude that GABAergic inhibition regulates LTP in 4-week-old …


Physiology And Energetics Of Resilient Coral-Dinoflagellate Communities, Elise F. Keister Jan 2023

Physiology And Energetics Of Resilient Coral-Dinoflagellate Communities, Elise F. Keister

All ETDs from UAB

Despite coral reefs declining globally, thermally resilient coral-dinoflagellate communities have been identified, providing insight into how corals can inhabit warmer environments. These corals are able to better resist and recover from thermal stress events compared to adjacent, offshore conspecifics that are found in habitats that have cooler temperatures. To better understand the physiological traits that make corals resilient, I measured the initial tissue biomass and energy reserves of eight coral species. These corals were collected from both warm-water nearshore habitats and offshore reefs with milder temperatures in Palau, Micronesia. Despite contrasting environments, coral tissue similarities between these populations were striking, …


Impact Of Exercise On Antioxidative-Stress Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Dysfunction And Cardiac Remodelling, Arun Jyothidasan Jan 2023

Impact Of Exercise On Antioxidative-Stress Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Dysfunction And Cardiac Remodelling, Arun Jyothidasan

All ETDs from UAB

The gain of function of nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2), in the absence of oxidative stress (or toxic insults), its pathophysiology arising from the endoplasmic reticulum and exercise intervention to mitigate the pathology are the focal point of this dissertation. Nrf2, when constitutively expressed, has been previously associated with cardiomyopathy. Chapter II investigated the hypothesis that cardiac-specific expression of Nrf2 (mNrf2-TG) would establish a pro-reductive state and trigger adaptive cardiac remodeling by enhancing the basal antioxidant defense. Through RNA profiling and imaging techniques, the study underscored that while acute preconditioning might prove advantageous against oxidative stress, prolonged pro-reductive …


Examining The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And Subsequent Vaccine Availability On Children’S Social Play Opportunities With A Focus On The Autism Community, Jenni Koehler Jan 2023

Examining The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And Subsequent Vaccine Availability On Children’S Social Play Opportunities With A Focus On The Autism Community, Jenni Koehler

All ETDs from UAB

Play, especially social play, is crucial to child development and impacts their cognitive, socioemotional, and motor growth. Children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have social and motor impairments that act as barriers to their access to these critical social play opportunities. Those who are able to overcome these barriers through therapy have been shown to have better physical and mental outcomes. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic restricted social play opportunities for all children and disproportionately impacted children with ASD, further widening developmental gaps between them and their non-autistic peers. The development of the COVID-19 vaccine and its availability to children …


Unintended Pregnancy, Postpartum Contraception, And Healthcare Utilization Among Young Married Women Affected By Hiv In Kenya, Liza M. Kimbo Jan 2023

Unintended Pregnancy, Postpartum Contraception, And Healthcare Utilization Among Young Married Women Affected By Hiv In Kenya, Liza M. Kimbo

All ETDs from UAB

Women with an unintended pregnancy are at risk of a repeat unintended pregnancy. Although use of postpartum contraception is an effective way to prevent repeat unintended pregnancies, the majority of unintended pregnancies globally occur in women who are not using contraception. Unintended pregnancies can have negative health and social consequences for both women and their children. This study aimed to better understand the use of postpartum contraceptives and healthcare services by married women with unintended versus intended pregnancy in south-western Kenya, with a special focus on young women. The study followed an exploratory sequential mixed methods design. In the first …


Resilience And Vulnerability: The Impact Of Deprivation, Social Capital, And Distance Sensitivity On Mental Health In Covid-19 Vaccine Seekers, Cesar Ivan Landeros Jan 2023

Resilience And Vulnerability: The Impact Of Deprivation, Social Capital, And Distance Sensitivity On Mental Health In Covid-19 Vaccine Seekers, Cesar Ivan Landeros

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The COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted profound challenges upon California, exacerbating disparities in care, access, and health outcomes within vulnerable and deprived communities. Especially, this crisis has led to a surge in mental health issues, with anxiety and depression emerging as predominant psychopathologies, and the rates of anxiety and depression are alarmingly high in disadvantaged communities. In California, the strikingly high prevalence of these symptoms at 31.7%, compared to the national average of 32.3%, sounds a critical alarm. Despite empirical investigations into anxiety and depression rates across a range of demographic groups worldwide—such as survivors, healthcare professionals, children, adolescents, and adults—the …


Characterizing The Role Of Mapk Phosphatases In Age-Dependent Macrophage Dysfucntion And Increased Suceptiblity To Pneumonia In A Tnf-Dependent Manner, Katherine Lauren Kruckow Jan 2023

Characterizing The Role Of Mapk Phosphatases In Age-Dependent Macrophage Dysfucntion And Increased Suceptiblity To Pneumonia In A Tnf-Dependent Manner, Katherine Lauren Kruckow

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Lower respiratory infections are the primary cause of infectious death among the elderly. One reason for this is ‘inflamm-aging,’ a chronic low-grade inflammatory state that develops with advanced age. Pertinently, our group has shown increases in TNF levels to be responsible for age-dependent macrophage dysfunction (ADMD) and, in turn, enhanced susceptibility to Streptococcus pneumoniae, the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia. The underlying molecular mechanisms responsible, however, remain unclear. Following adoptive transfer of alveolar macrophages (AM) from aged (18+ months) or young (3-6 month) mice into young mice, followed by infection with S. pneumoniae, we found that aged AM were sufficient …


Time-Restricted Feeding Attenuates Obesity-Induced Muscle Dysfunction Through Energy Metabolism And Microbiota Modulation, Christopher Livelo Jan 2023

Time-Restricted Feeding Attenuates Obesity-Induced Muscle Dysfunction Through Energy Metabolism And Microbiota Modulation, Christopher Livelo

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Obesity is a global epidemic that affects countless numbers of people caused by genetic and environmental factors including circadian disruption, which poses significant health risks to skeletal muscle physiology and other tissues. While a feeding fasting intervention known as time-restricted feeding (TRF) has been shown to mitigate obesity-related muscle dysfunction, the underlying mechanisms remain a subject of investigation. In this study, we delve into potential mechanisms underlying TRF's protective effects on muscle physiology in the context of diet- and genetic-induced obesity using Drosophila models. Our findings reveal that TRF triggers the upregulation of key genes involved in glycine production (Sardh …


Cd151+ T Cell Frequencies As An Immunological Clock That Identifies Premature Immunological Aging In People With Hiv, Mildred Perez Jan 2023

Cd151+ T Cell Frequencies As An Immunological Clock That Identifies Premature Immunological Aging In People With Hiv, Mildred Perez

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Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has greatly improved the life expectancy of People With HIV (PWH), but despite ART, PWH show signs of chronic immune hyperactivation (CIH), which results in the development of early-onset comorbidities, such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular complications, neurodegenerative impairment, and can-cer. The underlying causes of CIH are, at best, incompletely understood, with suggested roles of microbial translocation, viral coinfections, T cell imbalances, and persistent HIV replication. Given that the CD4+ T cell population is most affected during acute HIV infec-tion, it is surprising that no T cell populations have been identified as drivers of CIH. Herein, we …


Identifying The Factors Influencing Hiv Testing And Safe Sex Practices: An Ecological Approach, Shekwonya Evelyn Samuel Jan 2023

Identifying The Factors Influencing Hiv Testing And Safe Sex Practices: An Ecological Approach, Shekwonya Evelyn Samuel

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Introduction: HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is still a major health issue in the United States and the world. Emerging adults are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors such as multiple sexual partners and unprotected sex. HIV testing contributes to ending the HIV epidemic by identifying at-risk individuals and promoting early diagnosis.Methods: Secondary data analyses of the City Health II dataset were conducted to 1) identify the association between HIV testing and risky sexual behaviors among Black/African American emerging adults ages 18-25 years living in Birmingham metro area, 2) use social network …


Perceptions Of Comfort And Vison In Center Distance Multifocal Contact Lenses In Non-Presbyopic Adults, D'Ajanee Smallwood Jan 2023

Perceptions Of Comfort And Vison In Center Distance Multifocal Contact Lenses In Non-Presbyopic Adults, D'Ajanee Smallwood

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Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the subjective performance of four different multifocal contact lenses (MFCLs) amongst a population of adults excluding presbyopes. Methods: Forty-three subjects were fit with up to four different lenses (Biofinity “D” MFCL, NaturalVue MFCL, MiSight 1 Day contact lens, & Intelliwave MFCL). Information about vision and comfort were gathered using subjective assessments. Pupil size data were gathered as secondary outcome measurements. Results: There were no significant differences in ghosting, haloes, and visual clarity between larger and smaller pupils. All MFCLs had reduced overall visual clarity compared to habitual correction except for Biofinity. …


The Effects Of Mobile Shielding On Scatter Radiation In The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Lancer Smith Jan 2023

The Effects Of Mobile Shielding On Scatter Radiation In The Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Lancer Smith

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This research evaluates the effectiveness of a Specialized Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Shielding Device (SCCLSD) compared to traditional shielding methods in reducing occupational exposure to scattered x-rays, contributing to the ongoing enhancement of radiation safety in the cardiac catheterization laboratory (CCL) setting. The upper component of the SCCLSD comprises a mobile, transparent barrier with lead-equivalent malleable drapes designed to conform to the patient's body contours. It is height-adjustable, creating a protective shield against scatter radiation generated during CCL procedures. The lower portion of the SCCLSD replaces traditional lead-lined drapes, extending further down the table and incorporating additional shielding for staff protection.An …


Effectiveness Of The Invisalign System For Deep Bite Correction, Jerry D. Spillers Jan 2023

Effectiveness Of The Invisalign System For Deep Bite Correction, Jerry D. Spillers

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Objective: To assess the dental and skeletal changes resulting from correction of a deep bite using Invisalign (Align Technology, Santa Clara, CA, USA).Methods: This is a retrospective case series study which analyzed pre and post treatment cephalograms for 37 adult deep bite patients. Each patient was treated by one, experi-enced clinician using the same treatment protocols. Nineteen variables, ten linear and nine angular. The Wilcoxon analysis was used to determine if there was a significant dif-ference in pre and post treatment variables. Results: Statistically significant differences (P<0.05) occurred for 14 of 19 variables. These include a decrease in Overjet (-0.97 mm), decrease in overbite (-4.07 mm), extru-sion of the upper first molar (0.47 mm), intrusion of the upper incisor (-0.67mm), extru-sion of the lower second molar (1.01 mm), lower first molar (1.20 mm), lower second premolar (1.70 mm), and lower first premolar (1.74 mm), intrusion of the lower incisor (-1.88 mm), proclination of lower incisor, (4.09 ̊), and increase in SN-MP (0.54 mm). A decrease in anterior occlusal plane (AOP) was also statistically significant. Conclusions: Invisalign is an effective treatment modality for correcting dental deep bites through posterior extrusion and anterior intrusion. Minimal skeletal changes are seen when correcting deep bites with Invisalign.


The Impact Of Diabetes On At-Fault Motor Vehicle Collisions In Older Adults: Visual Function, Medication, And Crash Characteristics, Thomas A. Swain Jan 2023

The Impact Of Diabetes On At-Fault Motor Vehicle Collisions In Older Adults: Visual Function, Medication, And Crash Characteristics, Thomas A. Swain

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Older drivers represent one of the fastest growing age groups of drivers in the United States. Crash risk among older adults, who have the highest prevalence of vision impairment, has been shown to be related to worse visual function. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic health condition affecting more than 23.1 million Americans, and one in three have pre-diabetes. Persons with diabetes are at increased risk of conditions which cause vision loss. Research indicates those with diabetes have higher rates of MVCs. Despite the increased MVC risk among each of these groups, work has yet to evaluate if diabetes modifies the …