Digital Commons Network^™

A 9-Year-Old Boy With A Chest Mass And Eosinophilia., Laura E. Norton, Sean N. Curtis, Jennifer L. Goldman

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Stars In Cytoplasm: Pediatric Neuroblastoma, Monazza Chaudhary, Shahzad Sarwar, Natasha Bahadur Ali

Section of Haematology/Oncology

We report a case of a 2-year-old female child who presented with abdominal distention and fever. On examination, there was a palpable mass in the right hypochondrium. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a large mass in the right suprarenal area. Biopsy of the mass revealed malignant round blue cell neoplasm. Bone marrow examination showed diffuse infiltration with atypical mononuclear cells and cytogenetic studies showed positivity for NMyc translocation.

The Dis Or Interested Politics Of Discipleship: Some Reflections From The New Testament, Rubén Muñoz-Larrondo

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Sexual Determination From Frontal Sinus Analysis In A Subadult Population Using Archival Radiographic Records, Erica Crosta

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The goal of this study is to use the improved imaging capability of cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) to investigate the development and sexual dimorphism of the frontal sinus and surrounding supraorbital region in the subadult population of urban Southern Nevada. CBCT radiographs were obtained from the UNLV School of Dental Medicine archival dental records. Five hundred and fifty six of these radiographs were reviewed for the study. Two hundred and sixteen patients (92 males, 124 females) between the ages of 7 and 20 years were included based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Samples were categorized into 3 subadult age groups for analysis: …

The Relationship Between Pediatric Asthma And Obesity In Nevada, Jennifer Anne Lucas

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Asthma and obesity are two of the most common comorbid health problems in the U.S. Currently nearly 8% of Nevada youth are affected by asthma and more than 30% are overweight or obese. Obesity is a risk factor for asthma, yet asthma-related factors such as decreased physical activity and use of oral corticosteroids for asthma control can lead to obesity. This study examined the relationship between asthma and obesity in two pediatric populations in Nevada. It was hypothesized that children with asthma and elevated BMI would have more severe asthma symptoms, decreased lung function, poorer quality-of-life measures, and different atopic …

University Fundraising Through Special Events: An Application Of The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Megan Elizabeth Hobbs

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to apply the Revised Theory of Planned Behavior and EVENTQUAL models to explore (1) event qualities that significantly impact guests’ satisfaction with a university event that they attend, (2) significant factors influencing university loyalty as a result of an event, and (3) willingness to make a charitable donation to a university as a result of attending an event. An online survey was sent to attendees of an annual Cal Poly auction event between 2002 and 2016 that directly benefits Cal Poly students. The data were used to test a series of hypotheses to determine …

Quantifying Parkinson's Disease Symptoms Using Mobile Devices, Charles R. Aylward

Master's Theses

Current assessments for evaluating the progression of Parkinson’s Disease are largely qualitative and based on small sets of data obtained from occasional doctor-patient interactions. There is a clinical need to improve the techniques used for mitigating common Parkinson’s Disease symptoms. Available data sets for researching the disease are minimal, hindering advancement toward understanding the underlying causes and effectiveness of treatment and therapies. Mobile devices present an opportunity to continuously monitor Parkinson’s Disease patients and collect important information regarding the severity of symptoms. The evolution of digital technology has opened doors for clinical research to extend beyond the clinic by incorporating …

Evaluation Of Efficiency Of Various Materials To Shield From Radiation In Space Using The Monte Carlo Transport Code Called Fluka, Roman Savinov

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to improve spacecraft shielding from radiation in space. It focuses on the evaluation of shielding efficiency of different materials. The efficiency of a shield is evaluated by the dose profile within the shield and the amount of dose absorbed by a target using the Monte Carlo transport code called FLUKA. The output of this code is validated by recreating the experiments from published papers and comparing the results. Once the FLUKA’s output is validated, the efficiency of sixteen materials, subject to SPE and GCR sources, are evaluated. The efficiency comparison is made by fixing …

Metabolic Regulation And Cryotolerance Of In Vitro-Produced Holstein Embryos, Melissa Ann Roberts

Master's Theses

In vitro production and transfer of embryos has become a common practice within the dairy industry to efficiently breed superior animals and meet the consumption demand of the growing population. Cyropreservation is necessary for the application of commercialized embryo transfer, however, in vitro-produced embryos show morphological and physiological defects which negatively impact their ability to withstand cryopreservation in comparison to their in vivo counterparts. These artifacts result from culture conditions that cause stress to the embryo during development, leading to an accumulation of intracellular lipids, mitochondrial dysfunction, and ultimately poor ability to withstand freezing and thawing. The objective of …

The Importance Of The Multicomponent Display In Sexual Selection Of Black Morph Girardinus Metallicus (Pisces: Poeciliidae), Erin M. Wojan

Master's Theses

Multicomponent displays are composed of traits, such as coloration, structural ornaments, and behavior, that become integrated and signal information to conspecifics. Estimation of multicomponent displays in fishes often involves measurement of color traits. Fish color measurements are often obtained following immobilization via chemical anesthesia; however, the anesthetics may alter the resulting measurements, for example by darkening the skin. Girardinus metallicus, a poeciliid fish endemic to Cuba, has a multicomponent courtship and aggressive display. Black morph males exhibit black ventral coloration including the gonopodium (copulatory organ) and yellow in the non-black areas of their bodies. I investigated the effects of …

Social And Cultural Integration Process Among Syrian Refugees In The United States, Sheren Iskandar Shihadeh

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the cultural and social integration process among Syrian refugees in the United States, and to what extent the direct and indirect challenges have played a role in the process of their social and cultural integration. The challenges include, but are not limited to, cultural conflicts, religious values, stereotypes, and English language proficiency. In order to investigate my research questions, interviews as a research methodology were used as a theoretical framework for this project to collect and analyze data. I conducted semi-structured interviews with ten Syrian refugees who currently live in the United …

Being A Scholar In The Digital Era: Transforming Scholarly Practice For The Public Good, Polly Thistlethwaite, Jessie Daniels

Publications and Research

What opportunities do digital technologies present scholars? How do developments in digital media support scholarship and teaching, and how can academics apply them to further social justice activism? The authors, a sociologist and a librarian, examine scholarly practice in the digital era to explore how academics, journalists, and activists can combine efforts to support social justice issues. With scholarly communication undergoing rapid change, and with digital innovation applied in higher education for many reasons, authors outline what scholars can do to channel their work to benefit the public good.

Say Hello To My Little Friend Civil Rico: The Third Circuit Green Lights Insurance Shakedown Of Big Pharma With In Re Avandia, Marie Bussey-Garza

Villanova Law Review (1956 - )

No abstract provided.

Doctor's Orders: The Third Circuit Approves Short-Term Annuities As A Viable Planning Tool In Zahner V. Secretary Pennsylvania Department Of Human Services, Jennifer A. Ward

Villanova Law Review (1956 - )

No abstract provided.

Role Of Homoeopathic Medicines In Prostate Enlargement: A Retrospective Observational Study, Girish Gupta, Santosh Singh

Indian Journal of Research in Homoeopathy

Background: Prostatic enlargement (prostatomegaly) is a common condition in aging men which can be progressive and lead to acute urinary retention and ultimately need for surgery. Although clinical evidence of disease occurs less commonly, symptoms of prostatic obstruction are also age related and if untreated affect quality of life. Patients with huge prostatic enlargement mostly undergo surgical intervention. Objective: To assess the usefulness of homoeopathic medicines in patients with huge prostatomegaly, a clinical study was conducted at Gaurang Clinic and Centre for Homoeopathic Research, Lucknow, India. Materials and Methods: A total of 116 patients have been shortlisted with prostate weight …

Techniques To Improve The Retrieval Efficiency And Usability Of G-Bean, Yuanyuan Zhang

All Dissertations

Mary E. Kurz, Committee Chair

Spatial Analysis Of The Nutritional Risk Of Older Adults Participating In The Older Americans Act Program In South Carolina, 2013, Maciel Ugalde

All Dissertations

Malnutrition is a prevalent, serious, and often unrecognized health threat for older adults in the United States. The prevalence estimates of malnutrition in the elderly are highly variable as methods for detection are not standardized. It is dependent on the use of the different available tools, the population being studied, and the different settings (living at home, institutionalized, or hospitalized) The purpose of this study was to determine the spatial variation of the nutritional risk of Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) service recipients in South Carolina (SC) using factors that influence the nutritional status of older adults included in the …

Evaluating Indirect Calorimetry Methodology, Postural Energy Expenditure, And The Effects Of Diet And Exercise Recommendations, Collin Jeffrey Popp

All Dissertations

Scientific research provides the evidence necessary to build an effective framework for health recommendations. In a population of young, healthy adults the recommended duration of an indirect calorimetry measurement period when measuring resting energy expenditure was a minimum of 10 minutes, with the first 5-minutes being discarded. A steady state period was achieved during the second 5-minute segment of a 30-minute period. Furthermore, in a population of young women, short-term standing energy expenditure was statically greater than lying and sitting energy expenditure. However, recommendations to stand instead of sit may be negligible as the magnitude of the effect of short-term …

Mitigating Risks Of Oil Sands Process Affected Water Using Hybrid Constructed Wetland Treatment Systems, Andrew David Mcqueen

All Dissertations

Mining leases in the Athabasca Oil Sands (AOS) region produce extensive volumes of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) containing constituents that limit beneficial uses, including discharge into receiving aquatic systems. The aim of this research is to provide a scalable approach using hybrid constructed wetland treatment systems for the mitigation of problematic constituents in OSPW. In the first experiment in this dissertation, OSPW was characterized to identify constituents of concern (COCs) using chemical, physical, and toxicological analyses. Following identification of COCs, bench-scale manipulations (termed process-based manipulations [PBMs]) were used to remove or alter “classes” of COCs in an effort to …

Study Of Chemical Profiles Of Volatile And Non-Volatile Bioactive Compounds Of Muscadine Grapes (Vitis Rotundifolia) During Ripening Stages And Evaluation Of Their In Vitro Biological Properties, Bolim Lee

All Dissertations

Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) have attracted consumers because of their unique flavors and high concentrations of bioactive phytochemicals. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ripening stages (i.e., stage I, II, and III) of muscadine on physiochemical properties, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and phenolic compounds in the grapes, and explore the enzymatic inhibitory effects of the muscadine extracts and some of its inherent phenolics on some important enzymes, such as angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE), pancreatic lipase (PL), tyrosinase, collagenase and elastase, relevant to human chronic diseases. Physiochemical properties of the muscadine grapes were evaluated in …

Functionalized Cellulose Nanofiber Membranes For Heavy Metals Removal From Impaired Waters, Nithinart Chitpong

All Dissertations

This dissertation describes the development and performance of high-productivity nanofiber membranes for removal of heavy metal ions from impaired waters. Heavy metal pollutants such as cadmium and nickel are present in wastewaters discharged from facilities in various industries. Water purification systems such as ion-exchange processes have been used widely to remove and recover specific metal ion impurities from wastewaters for ensuring that the maximum discharge limits of heavy metals are not exceeded. However, the productivity of an ion exchange resin process is limited by the high pressure drop across the resin bed, which may increase over time due to media …

Genetic Study Of Grain Yield And Quality Traits In Sorghum, Richard E. Boyles Iii

All Dissertations

Farming begins with a seed, and having the proper genetics within that seed to match the environment and management practices is critical. Plant breeders can be more effective at tailoring crop cultivars and hybrids when the genetic mechanisms of key traits are understood. The scope of this study was to investigate the natural diversity, genetic regions, and individual genes that are associated with components of grain yield and quality in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench]. These traits were characterized in different environments, years, and populations to observe the variation and interactions that exist and allow for genome-wide association studies (GWAS) …

Evaluation Of 1,4-Dioxane Biodegradation Under Aerobic And Anaerobic Conditions, Francisco J. Barajas Rodriguez

All Dissertations

Used mainly as a solvent stabilizer, 1,4-dioxane is present at many sites contaminated along with chlorinated solvents and other chemical compounds. Considered a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this contaminant has raised considerable concerns because of its potential adverse effects on health. Therefore, remediation of 1,4-dioxane has gained importance, and although there are several approaches for its treatment, such as ex situ physicochemical processes, bioremediation is a key alternative because it is a low energy demanding process. Anaerobic conditions are present at most contaminated sites, however, there is insufficient scientific evidence for anaerobic biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane. …

The Lived Experience Of Clinical Nurse Experts Transitioning To The Role Of Novice Educators, Kimberley Ann Tucker

Dissertations

The national nursing shortage is compounded by a critical shortage of nursing faculty. Despite a growing interest in nursing, thousands of qualified applicants are turned away primarily due to lack of faculty to teach. The recruitment of expert nurses from clinical practice is one strategy being utilized by many colleges and universities to fill faculty vacancies. Many novice educators enter academia lacking formal preparation in teaching and learning; orientation and mentoring programs vary greatly between institutions, making the transition challenging. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to gain insight into the experiences of clinical nurse experts transitioning to …

Directly Comparing Handoff Protocols For Pediatric Hospitalists., Elizabeth H. Lazzara, Robert Riss, Brady Patzer, Dustin C. Smith, Y Raymond Chan, Joseph R. Keebler, Sarah D. Fouquet, Evan M. Palmer

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Handoff protocols are often developed by brainstorming and consensus, and few are directly compared. We hypothesized that a handoff protocol (Flex 11) developed using a rigorous methodology would be more favorable in terms of clinicians' attitudes, behaviors, cognitions, or time-on-task when performing handoffs compared with a prevalent protocol (Situation Background Assessment Recommendation [SBAR]).

METHODS: Using a between-groups, randomized control trial design (Flex 11 versus SBAR) during a pilot study in a simulated environment, 20 clinicians (13 attending physicians and 7 residents) received 3 patient handoffs from a standardized physician, managed the patients, and handed off the patients …

When Giving Birth Becomes A Liability: The Intersection Of Reproductive Oppression And The Motherhood Wage Penalty For Latinas In Texas, Dania Y. Pulido

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

Abstract forthcoming.

Practicing Emotionally Biased Retrieval Affects Mood And Establishes Biased Recall A Week Later, Janna N. Vrijsen, Paula T. Hertel, Eni Sabine Becker

Psychology Faculty Research

Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) can yield clinically relevant results. Only few studies have directly manipulated memory bias, which is prominent in depression. In a new approach to CBM, we sought to simulate or oppose ruminative processes by training the retrieval of negative or positive words. Participants studied positive and negative word pairs (Swahili cues with Dutch translations). In the positive and negative conditions, each of the three study trials was followed by a cued-recall test of training-congruent translations; a no-practice condition merely studied the pairs. Recall of the translations was tested after the training and after 1 week. Both recall …

A Pilot Trial Of The Effectiveness Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Self-Help For Problematic Pornography Viewing, Scott Thane Heninger

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Although problematic pornography viewing (PV) is quite prevalent (Carroll et al., 2008), very few studies have been done to test treatments addressing this issue. Preliminary research indicates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a promising potential treatment for problematic pornography viewing, but this has only been evaluated in face-to-face therapy trials to-date. This study sought to determine the effectiveness of a general ACT self-help book on PV. A sample of 19 participants were recruited and given a copy of the book with directions to read and apply its principles over the course of 8 weeks. Assessments were completed at baseline, …

Measuring The Effects Of High-Altitude Flight And Upper Atmospheric Radiation On Muscle Cells, Annelise Dykes

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

There are several physiological barriers to long-term space travel, including the effects of launch, landing, and microgravity on muscle cells. A payload capsule was designed to maintain cell growth during a high altitude balloon flight to model some of these physiological processes. Murine muscle cells (strain C2C12) were cultured and launched in a capsule on a balloon satellite in November 2016. Cells were monitored for changes due to temperature, flight motion, radiation, and gravity differences by quantifying cell characteristics before and after the flight using physical measurements and cell viability. Instruments were selected to monitor flight data, and a payload …

Language Brokering Consequences As A Function Of Development, Brent M. Gage

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Language brokering can be defined as a child mediating linguistically for a parent or other adult figure, either in spoken or written communication. This situation is a common occurrence among migrant and refugee families as children tend to acquire a new language at an accelerated rate in comparison with adults. As the immigrant and refugee populations continue to grow in comparison with native groups within the United States, it is increasingly important to understand the phenomenon of child language brokering. Moreover, it is particularly relevant to understand how the expectations for and consequences of language brokering may help to shape …