Digital Commons Network^™

Hospice Care: Comprehensive And Compassionate Care Of The Terminally Ill, Gerald H. Holman M.D.

Journal of Health Occupations Education

This article outlines crucial elements of Hospice care stressing Hospice philosophy, types of care provided, the Interdisciplinary approach to patient and family support, specific experiences with dying patients, and the responsibility of Hospice to the care of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome patients. Most of the information was based on experiences of St. Anthony’s Hospice and Life Enrichment Center, the first free-standing hospice in the Southwestern United States in Amarillo, Texas.

Targeted Drug Delivery: Dendrimer Technology For The Delivery Of Biologically Active Therapeutics, Keryn Effie Hughes

Open Access Dissertations

This proof of principle study explores dendrimer based technology in designing and implementing tissue-specific targeting dendrimers that can act as carriers of biologically active proteins in the treatment of disease. Here, we show a dendrimer based delivery system is effective in delivering a functionally active protein to a tissue-specific target, in this case skeletal muscle, and show in vivo therapeutic effects in the treatment of Type II Diabetes. Out of the many proteins involved in glycolysis within skeletal muscle cells whose mis-regulation can be observed in the diabetic disease state, we have selected one, PROTEIN A, for use in this …

Scaling Limit Of A Generalized Pólya Urn Model, Zhe Zhang

Open Access Dissertations

We derive a fluid limit for a multi-type urn model, also known as a hydrodynamic limit, in the sense that random trajectories of the microscopic process are shown to follow, as the scaling factor L, proportional with the initial population, approaches infinity, a unique trajectory characterized as the strong global solution of a specific dynamical system (the macroscopic equation). The result is a weak Law of Large Numbers of random variables with values in the Skorokhod space of right continuous with left limits functions with values in R^k , where k is the number of types. We obtain that while …

Karenia Brevis Hot Spots In The West Florida Shelf And Their Associated Socio-Economic Implications, Diana A. Moanga

Open Access Theses

Harmful algal blooms are almost an annual occurrence on the West Florida Shelf. They are caused by the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (K. brevis). Intense bloom events result in significant environmental, economic, and human-health impacts associated with the release of potent natural toxins, known as brevotoxins. If inhaled or ingested they can produce substantial adverse health effects. In order to mitigate and minimize the vast array of impacts associated with K. brevis blooms, an overarching interdisciplinary framework is needed. A critical factor in understanding K. brevis dynamics requires mapping and monitoring bloom development and transport, and identifying areas of localized …

Enzymatic Fuel Cells: Review Of Current Research And Preliminary Characterization Using Neutron Radiography, Erin Elizabeth Looney

Honors Capstone Projects and Theses

No abstract provided.

Activation Of Protein Kinase C And Protein Kinase D In Human Natural Killer Cells: Effects Of Tributyltin, Dibutyltin, And Tetrabromobisphenol A, Krupa Rana, Margaret Whalen

Chemistry Faculty Research

Up to now, the ability of target cells to activate protein kinase C (PKC) and protein kinase D (PKD) (which is often a downstream target of PKC) has not been examined in natural killer (NK) lymphocytes. Here we examined whether exposure of human NK cells to lysis sensitive tumor cells activated PKC and PKD. The results of these studies show for the first time that activation of PKC and PKD occurs in response to target cell binding to NK cells. Exposure of NK cells to K562 tumor cells for 10 and 30 min increased phosphorylation/activation of both PKC and PKD …

Fundamental Problems In Porous Materials: Experiments And Computer Simulation, Zhanping Xu

Department of Engineering Mechanics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Porous materials have attracted massive scientific and technological interest because of their extremely high surface-to-volume ratio, molecular tunability in construction, and surface-based applications. Through my PhD work, porous materials were engineered to meet the design in selective binding, self-healing, and energy damping. For example, crystalline MOFs with pore size spanning from a few angstroms to a couple of nanometers were chemically engineered to show 120 times more efficiency in binding of large molecules. In addition, we found building blocks released from those crystals can be further patched back through a healing process at ambient and low temperatures down to -56 …

Competitive Halide Binding By Halogen Versus Hydrogen Bonding: Bis-Triazole Pyridinium, Binod Nepal, Steve Scheiner

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The binding of F-, Cl-, Br-, and I- anions by bis‐triazole‐pyridine (BTP) was examined by quantum chemical calculations. There is one H atom on each of the two triazole rings that chelate the halide via H bonds. These H atoms were replaced by halogens Cl, Br, and I, thus substituting H bonds by halogen bonds. I substitution strongly enhances the binding; Br has a smaller effect, and Cl weakens the interaction. The strength of the interaction is sensitive to the overall charge on the BTP, rising as the binding agent becomes singly and then doubly positively charged. The strongest preference …

Genetic Variability Of The 5-Enolpyruvylshikimate-3-Phosphate (Epsp) Synthase Gene In Round-Up™ Resistant Soil Bacteria, Seth Steenwyk, Hannah Van Maanen, Jeff Ploegstra

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

Global use of Round-up™ has had a profound effect on agricultural systems. While there is a clear challenge with the emergence of resistant weeds, less emphasis has been placed on its impacts regarding the soil ecosystem. In this study, we sought to identify glyphosate resistance in two specific soil bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea. To accomplish this purpose, selective media and colony PCR were used to isolate and identify colonies with glyphosate resistance. The presence of glyphosate resistance in soil bacteria was verified, and continuing work is being done to analyze sequence data that may lead to …

Benthic Invertebrate Communities And Habitat Characterization Of The Pourtalès Terrace, Florida With Analysis Of The Deepwater Coral Habitat Areas Of Particular Concern And The East Hump Marine Protected Area, Jana K. Ash

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

The Pourtalès Terrace is a gently curved, narrow triangular platform that parallels the Florida Keys for 213 km running from southern Key Largo to between Key West and the Marquesas Keys. The main Terrace surface begins in 200 m and dips gently to approximately 450 m, where the Pourtalès Escarpment slopes steeply to the deep floor of the southern Straits of Florida. The Terrace platform exhibits a wide variety of Neogene-age geological features, including high-relief ledges, mounds, sinkholes and deep-water biogenic build-ups called bioherms. Previous research revealed dense and diverse benthic assemblages dominated by stylasterid hydrocorals, octocorals and sponges.

Many …

2015-07-31-Learning Scientific Methods, In Class And In The Field, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

Accent [newsletter]

No abstract provided.

2015-07-31-New Employees, University Marketing And Communications, East Tennessee State University

Accent [newsletter]

No abstract provided.

2015 Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, University Of Northern Iowa. Summer Undergraduate Research Program.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium Programs

The program for the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium of the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences.

Using Stochastic Differential Equations To Model Gap-Junction Gating Dynamics In Cardiac Myocytes, Will Consagra

Theses

The cell-to-cell propagation of the cardiac action potential allows for the electro-mechanical coupling of cells, which promotes the coordinated contraction of cardiac tissue, often referred to as the heartbeat. The main structures that promote electrical coupling between adjacent cardiac cells are pore-like proteins called gap junctions that line the membranes of such cells, allowing a channel for electrically charged ions to travel between cells. It is known that the conformational, and hence conducting, properties of gap-junction channels change as a function of local gap-junctional voltage and local ionic concentrations and are stochastic in nature. Many previous models of gap junctions …

Admissions Report - Detailed Data - July 2015, Office Of Institutional Research & Effectiveness, Wright State University

Admissions Reports

Detailed report of applicants to Wright State including data on county of residency, intended major, and ethnicity for Fall Semester 2015.

Evaluating Effective Communication And Thorough Explanation In Promoting Participation In Clinical Research, Yin Yue

Research Scholars Poster Presentation

Evaluating Effective Communication and Thorough Explanation in Promoting Participation in Clinical Research

Yue (Sandra) Yin¹

Anita Kurt, PhD, RN^1,2

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network

²Research Scholar Program Mentor

Abstract

The historic gender disparity in participation in clinical research has resulted in many difficulties in generalizing research study results. The purposes of this pilot were to investigate experience, attitudes and barriers for women's participation in clinical research and find the strategies to enhance recruitment as well as supportive resources to facilitate their participation. Eligible female patients at LVHN Center for Women's Medicine (CWM) were …

The Clinical Utilization Of Inhaled Pulmonary Vasodilators, Troy Halteman

Research Scholars Poster Presentation

The Clinical Utilization of Inhaled Pulmonary Vasodilators

Troy Halteman, The Pennsylvania State University

Abstract

Inhaled Nitric Oxide (INO) and other inhaled pulmonary vasodilators, like Flolan, have demonstrated positive physiological responses in select patients; however, there are no clinical studies that have demonstrated any long term outcome benefits in mortality and morbidity. Because of this, their use is somewhat controversial. Still, INO and Flolan are commonly used as rescue therapy in various clinical situations. Currently, Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) utilizes both drugs and has a titration protocol for Flolan, but not for INO. A retrospective analysis of 158 patients was …

Implementing A Screening Tool For Homelessness At Lvhn: A Pilot Project - A Subset Analysis On Gender Differences, Shaye M. Glovas

Research Scholars Poster Presentation

Implementing a Screening Tool for Homelessness at LVHN: A Pilot Project
A Subset Analysis on Gender Differences

Shaye Glovas

Mentor: Dr. Marna Greenberg, DO, MPH

Abstract

Housing stability and personal health are closely correlated. A person’s health suffers if he or she identifies as homeless or at risk for being homeless due to limited access to medical care. Homeless persons frequently utilize the emergency departments (EDs) of hospitals. Dedicated to caring for all patients, Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) developed the study titled Implementing a Screening Tool for Homelessness at LVHN: A Pilot Project to determine the prevalence for homelessness …

Antibiotic Delivery Systems For Oral Infections, Caitlin Bryan

Research Scholars Poster Presentation

Antibiotic Delivery Systems for Oral Infections

Caitlin Bryan¹

Michele Pisano-Marsh, DMD ^1,2

¹Department of Dental Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network

²Research Scholar Program Mentor

Abstract

One of the main causes of oral pain is infection in the mouth. The infections can be intraoral or in pockets between the gums and the teeth. Infection in the gum pockets is called periodontitis. Oral infections can cause pain and tooth loss if left untreated and can have other side effects. Systemic or local delivery of the antibiotics can be used for these infections and there are some advantages and disadvantages …

Analyzing The Expression Profile Of Areb/Abf And Dreb/Cbf Genes Under Drought And Salinity Stresses In Grape (Vitis Vinifera L.), Hana Zandkarimi, Ali Ebadi, Seyed Alireza Salami, Houshang Alizade, Niranjan Baisakh

Faculty Publications

Expression patterns of four candidate AREB/ABF genes and four DREB/CBF genes were evaluated in leaf and root tissues of five grape varieties ('Qalati', 'Kaj Angoor', 'Sabz Angoor', 'Siahe Zarghan', 'Bidane Safid') with differential response to drought stress. Among the AREB/ABF genes, AREB1 and ABF2 showed up-regulation in response to drought stress in leaf and root tissues of all varieties while AREB2 and ABF1 showed downregulation in both leaf and root tissues of the sensitive variety 'Bidane Sefid' in response to drought and salt stress. Among the DREB/CBF genes, CBF4 was the most responsive to drought stress in both leaf and …

Teaching Big Data By Three Levels Of Projects, Jianjun Yang, Ju Shen

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Big Data is a new topic and it is very hot nowadays. However, it is difficult to teach Big Data effectively by regular lecture. In this paper, we present a unique way to teach students Big Data by developing three levels of projects from easy to difficult. The three levels projects are initializing project, designing project, and comprehensive projects. They are developed to involve students in Big Data, train students' skills to analyze concrete problems of Big Data, and develop students' creative abilities and their abilities to solve real setting problems.

The Adaptive Change Of Hla-Drb1 Allele Frequencies Caused By Natural Selection In A Mongolian Population That Migrated To The South Of China, Hao Sun, Zhaoqing Yang, Keqin Lin, Shuyuan Liu, Kai Huang, Xiuyun Wang, Jiayou Chu, Xinyu Huang

Faculty Publications

Pathogen-driven balancing selection determines the richness of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles. Changes in the pathogen spectrum may cause corresponding changes in HLA loci. Approximately 700 years ago, a Mongolian population moved from the north of China to the Yunnan region in the south of China. The pathogen spectrum in the south of China differs from that in the north. In this study, changes in the HLA genes in the Yunnan Mongolian population, as well as the underlying mechanism, were investigated. A sequence-based typing method (SBT) was used to genotype HLA-DRB1 in 470 individuals from two Mongolian populations and another …

Nitrogen And Water Effects On Canopy Sensor Measurements For Site-Specific Management Of Crops, Nicholas C. Ward

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Water and nitrogen (N) are undoubtedly the two largest agricultural inputs globally. Coupled with advances in site-specific management technology their integration into production agriculture will allow for the most efficient use these crop input resources. Active canopy sensors offer the ability to measure biophysical plant traits rapidly and make assessments about plant status. Specifically, optical sensor measurements of light reflectance assess plant N status allowing for in-season and on-the-go N recommendations and applications; while infrared thermometers (IRT) measurement of canopy temperature can be used a tool for irrigation management. To evaluate how these technologies work among different plant stress environments …

Conservation Of Energy Using Variable Frequency Drive For Center Pivot Irrigation Systems In Nebraska, Dilshad Brar

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The study introduces a novel approach to lower the operating pivot point pressure by varying the motor speed with the help of variable frequency drive (VFD) in contrast to the commonly used fixed speed approach. By varying the speed of motor, the required minimum pivot point pressure can be provided at any required flow rate. This was investigated through a GIS-assisted simulation on 100 randomly selected pivots located in 10 Nebraska counties using high resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) datasets. Center pivot irrigation systems are usually equipped with corner watering attachments like end guns and corner extensions to irrigate additional …

Assessment Of Disturbance Effects Of An Existing Wind Energy Facility On Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus Cupido Pinnatus) Breeding Season Ecology In The Sandhills Of Nebraska, Jocelyn O. Harrison

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Recent wind energy development in the Great Plains of North America has given rise to concerns of potential impacts on the greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus). Recent studies in fragmented landscapes have suggested greater prairie-chickens may avoid wind facilities, which may lead to habitat loss and negative impacts on reproduction and survival. But, it is unknown if there is a similar effect in contiguous grass landscapes. Thus, we investigated the effect of a pre-existing, 36-turbine wind energy facility on greater prairie-chicken nesting, brood-rearing, and spatial ecology in the Nebraska Sandhills. We captured and marked 78 female greater prairie-chickens …

Discovery And Delimitation: Criconematid Nematodes Of North American Grasslands, Magdalena Jean Olson

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Approximately 200 years ago, North American landscapes were dominated by vast expanses of grassland. The Great Plains, an ecologically complex and diverse ecoregion, extended from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Rocky Mountains to the border of the eastern hardwood forest in Indiana. Now the original tallgrass prairie exists in small widely dispersed remnant patches surrounded by agroecosystems. This study is an effort to characterize soil nematode diversity and population structure within those remnant patches. The plant parasitic nematode family Criconematidae serves as our indicator for nematode diversity, due to its global distribution, high abundance in natural …

Sweat Gland Density And Response During High-Intensity Exercise In Athletes With Spinal Cord Injuries, Robert C. Pritchett, A. M. Al-Nawaiseh, K. K. Pritchett, V. Nethery, P. A. Bishop, J. M. Green

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

Sweat production is crucial for thermoregulation. However, sweating can be problematic for individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI), as they display a blunting of sudomotor and vasomotor responses below the level of the injury. Sweat gland density and eccrine gland metabolism in SCI are not well understood. Consequently, this study examined sweat lactate (S-LA) (reflective of sweat gland metabolism), active sweat gland density (SGD), and sweat output per gland (S/G) in 7 SCI athletes and 8 able-bodied (AB) controls matched for arm ergometry VO₂peak. A sweat collection device was positioned on the upper scapular and medial calf of …

Summer Commencement Ceremonies, University Of North Florida

Commencement Printed Materials

Program for the Summer Commencement ceremonies.

The Road To Precautionary Review Of Financial Products, Hilary Allen

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

Financial innovation introduces new and complex products into the financial system, providing market participants with more bespoke ways to manage their risk, return and liquidity. However, by increasing the complexity of the financial system, financial innovation also compromises financial stability. Faced with the rapid pace of financial innovation, regulators have two options. One is to seek to meet the complexity of the industry with complex regulation, in an arms race that under-resourced regulators are bound to lose. The less explored (and more controversial) path is for regulators to try to reduce the complexity of the financial system by limiting financial …

Agave Chewing And Dental Wear: Evidence From Quids, Emily E. Hammerl, Melissa A. Baier, Karl Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

Agave quid chewing is examined as a potential contributing behavior to hunter-gatherer dental wear. It has previously been hypothesized that the contribution of Agave quid chewing to dental wear would be observed in communities wherever phytolith-rich desert succulents were part of subsistence. Previous analysis of coprolites from a prehistoric agricultural site, La Cueva de los Muertos Chiquitos in Durango, Mexico, showed that Agave was a consistent part of a diverse diet. Therefore, quids recovered at this site ought to be useful materials to test the hypothesis that dental wear was related to desert succulent consumption. The quids recovered from the …