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Molecular Response Of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells To Oxidized Lipoproteins: Global And Targeted Studies, Diwa Koirala

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Global-scale examinations of biological systems at the molecular level complement targeted approaches to scientific inquiry that focus on specific subsets of biomolecules, or on a single molecule of interest. In this dissertation, we utilized both the discovery-based approach to evaluate the proteomics workflows centered around mass spectrometry as the key technology, and the targeted approach to examine the molecular response of RPE due to oxidized lipoproteins (oxLDL) treatments. A crucial aspect in proteomics studies is the design of bioanalytical strategies that maximize coverage of the complex repertoire of a proteome. A comprehensive, unbiased examination of the proteome represents a powerful …

The Role Of Exosomal Transport Of Viral Agents In Persistent Hiv Pathogenesis, Benjamin J. Patters

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, despite great advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART), remains a lifelong affliction. Though current treatment regimens can effectively suppress viral load to undetectable levels and preserve healthy immune function, they cannot fully alleviate all symptoms caused by the presence of the virus, such as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Exosomes are small vesicles that transport cellular proteins, RNA, and small molecules between cells as a mechanism of intercellular communication. Recent research has shown that HIV proteins and RNA can be packaged into exosomes and transported between cells, to pathogenic effect. This review summarizes the current knowledge on …

Genetic Exploration Of Hereditary Immune Diseases, Cheng Tian

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

An autoimmune disease is a condition arising from an abnormal immune response to a normal body part. There are at least 80 types of autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis are two of them. My study focuses on these two diseases. Our hypothesis is that mutated genes lead to autoimmune diseases that cause the immune system to attack the human body. The mutated genes cause the gene expression levels to change which fail to properly regulate the body's functions, resulting in immune system diseases. I used existing mouse models to improve the understanding of these two diseases.

The first …

Roles Of Cytosolic Nucleic Acid Sensors In Cancer And Infection, Qifan Zhu

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Pattern recognition receptors are innate immune sensors that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) with crucial roles in host defense against microbial infection, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Cytosolic nucleic acids including DNA and RNA originate from pathogens or self-cells, which form major groups of PAMPs and DAMPs. A range of nucleic acid sensors have evolved to sense various types of nucleic acids. How different DNA-sensing pathways regulate microbial infection and cancer is the focus of this dissertation.

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) is a cytosolic innate immune sensor for cyclic dinucleotides that also serves a dual …

A Phenomenological Study On Persistence To Program Completion Of Students Of A Second Language In Associate’S Degree In Nursing Programs In Central New York, Christina Granato

Education Doctoral

With an increasingly diverse U.S. general population and an increased need for nursing staff, the Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing (IOM, 2010) has called for a needed increase of racial/ethnic and gender diversity in the nursing workforce to reduce health disparities. The purpose of this study was to explore factors that influence academic success of nursing students who speak English as a second language (ESL) in Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) Programs. This qualitative, phenomenological study used semi-structured, face-to-face, individual interviews with a convenience sample of eight nursing students. Essential themes included cultural and language differences limiting learning and …

The Principal Pipeline: A Qualitative Exploration Of Strategies For The Recruitment And Retention Of Black Male Public School Principals, Stephen Jackson

Education Doctoral

Given the recent decline in the number of Black male principals, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the teacher-to-principal pipeline recruitment process and retention strategies for Black male principals from the perspective of Black male principals in two urban school districts. Nine current and retired Black male principals from the New York City and Washington, DC public school districts were interviewed. Prior to becoming principals, these nine participants worked as teachers and as assistant principals. There were seven major findings: these nine participants (a) were unaware of any specific initiatives used to recruit Black male principals, (b) …

U.S. Millennials And The Hook-Up Culture: An Online Descriptive Survey Of Hook-Up Attitudes, Beliefs, And Experiences, Allyson S. Maida

Education Doctoral

The purpose of this online survey study was to collect and analyze the attitudes and experiences of 18-24-year-old U.S. millennials. Previous studies have focused exclusively upon hook-up attitudes and experiences among college students using mostly paper-and-pencil surveys or interviews, this study described hook-up experiences and attitudes using a sample of U.S. millennials who were not enrolled full-time in college. Using a Qualtrics panel, 106 respondents (54 males and 52 females), 66 with prior hooking-up experience and 40 with no prior experience, completed an online demographic survey and The Millennial Hook-Up Attitudes and Beliefs Survey. The results revealed more than half …

Improving Transitions Of Care In Primary Care By Standardizing Discharge Summary And Medication Reconciliation Practices, Christine Virk

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Communication breakdown happens between transitions of care because healthcare disciplines function as silos. Medication and treatment plan changes are not always communicated to the next healthcare provider resulting in fractured care and preventable unnecessary cost. The purpose of this project was to create a standardized transition of care process from the acute care setting to the primary care setting in adult patients using evidence-based practice. The objectives of the project were the following: (1) to have a follow-up appointment within 14 days of discharge from an acute care setting, (2) to have a medication reconciliation performed and documented by the …

Implementing Evidence-Based Dietary Instruction Strategies In A Specialty Care Clinic, Jacobie Landers

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Cardiovascular disease is a significant health concern that increases risks for stroke, escalates the development of renal disease, and significantly increases morbidity and mortality risk. Dietary changes can significantly reduce complications in patients with heart and vascular disease. This project was designed to effectively implement and sustain provider and cardiovascular staff instructions on dietary modifications to improve hypertension control and lower cholesterol in patients with cardiac disease using staff support. The project facilitated provider evaluation of patients’ dietary habits to promote wellness in a patient population which was not receiving dietary education. Project interventions included establishing structured methods of providing …

Establishing A Coumadin Clinic In A Rural Family Medicine Practice, Kathleen E. Zeledon

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background. Coumadin is the most commonly prescribed oral anticoagulant worldwide and is safe and effective in the prevention and treatment of stroke and venous thromboembolism (Stoudenmire, DeRemer, & Elewa, 2014). Coumadin is dangerous when poorly managed due to high risk for bleeding and mortality. It is best managed using evidenced-based models of care such as point-of-care (POC) International Normalized Ratio (INR) testing (Garcia et al., 2008; Harrison, Shaw, & Harrison, 2015; Rossiter, Soor, Telner, Aliarzadeh, & Lake, 2013). Purpose. Establish a Coumadin Clinic in a rural family medicine practice with POC INR testing to improve anticoagulant management. Methods …

Hiv Screening In Non-Pregnant Patients Age 13 – 64 Years Old In Primary Care Through The Implementation Of The Cdc Guidelines For Hiv Screening, Ashten M. Martin

Doctor of Nursing Practice

As many as 216,000 people living with HIV are unaware they have the disease. In order to combat the inadvertent spreading of HIV, the CDC recommends screening everyone 13 – 64 years of age. The purpose of this Quality Improvement project was to implement the 2015 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines as it pertains to HIV screening within a Southeast Texas rural health clinic. The objectives were 1) educating all staff and patients regarding the CDC recommendations for HIV screening, and 2) increase the number of eligible patients who were offered and received HIV screening. A colored checklist served as …

The Role Of Human Capital And Innovative Entrepreneurship In Developing Countries, José Rolando Torrech Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Human capital, innovation and entrepreneurship have long been associated with economic development in different contexts. However, in the recent past, several research studies carried out show that the complexity and technical nature of the everchanging business environment necessitated by technology have superseded the current human capital required to address innovative strategies in developing countries. Several scholars assert that although inadequate skills are a great challenge for entrepreneurs, more research needs to be done to break down the varying units affecting the impact of human capital on entrepreneurial development and economic growth. The purpose of the study was to investigate the …

Are We Safe Yet? Re-Evaluation Of The Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Safety (Pdc-Safety), Nelmar Jacinto Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the utility of the Performance Diagnostic Checklist- Safety (PDC-Safety) (Martinez-Onstott, Wilder, & Sigurdsson, 2016) by comparing the effectiveness of a PDC-Safety indicated intervention with a PDC-Safety nonindicated intervention. The interventions targeted participants’ hand washing behavior at a clinic serving children with intellectual disabilities. Failure to wash hands at appropriate times could pose health risks to both behavior technicians and clients, so efforts should be made to increase the likelihood of hand washing. The results of the PDC-Safety suggested that the antecedents and information domain was most problematic. First, a non-indicated intervention, which included access to additional materials …

Same But Different: Characters With Developmental Disabilities In Current Juvenile Literature, Tina Taylor, Kellie Egan, Kimberly T. Moss, Hannah P. Grow, Sharon Black, Mary Anne Prater

Faculty Publications

As many children first encounter individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) through characters in children’s literature, these individuals must be depicted authentically. Using descriptive analyses, we evaluated 38 books written for children and adolescents (11 picture books, 17 chapter books) for their portrayals of characters with developmental disabilities, comparing the portrayals against those published in three previous studies. All books considered were eligible for the 2018 Dolly Gray Children’s Literature Award. Data were analyzed regarding personal portrayal, social interactions, and exemplary practices. Results indicated that most characters portrayed have ASD (80%) and the majority are male (65%). Generally, characters with DD …

Limited By Design: Expanding The Boundaries Of Schooling Policies From Demanded Passivity To Transformative Practice, Natalia T. Carvalho-Pinto

Masters Theses

Schooling is often imagined as the great equalizer and the primary venue towards personal and collective liberation. However, hegemonic ideals and practices have limited the ability for educators to craft and utilize policy in a way that best benefits their students. In this thesis, I utilize the state of Michigan’s Common Core curriculum to examine the limits beyond policy and practice. Specifically, I argue that the demands for student passivity and institutional measurable as signs of success, prohibit student growth. Throughout the document, I describe hope in the ability to instill a variety of transformative educational theories and practices that …

Revolution In Crime: How Cryptocurrencies Have Changed The Criminal Landscape, Igor Groysman

Student Theses

This thesis will examine the ways in which various cryptocurrencies have impacted certain traditional crimes. While crime is always evolving with technology, cryptocurrencies are a game changer in that they provide anonymous and decentralized payment systems which, while they can be tracked in a reactive sense via the blockchain, are seen by criminals as having better uses for them than traditional fiat currencies, such as the ability to send money relatively fast to another party without going through an intermediary, or the ability to obscure the origin of the money for money laundering purposes. Every week there are new cryptocurrencies …

Differences In Psychopathy And Associated Traits By Police Officer Rank, Rosanne Libretti

Student Theses

Most psychopathy research focuses on its manifestation in forensic populations, however these results may not generalize onto noncriminal, or “successful,” psychopaths. Lykken (1995) conjectured that socialization may enable “heroes,” like law enforcement, to utilize the interpersonal and affective aspects of psychopathy in a manner that benefits society. Previous research (Falkenbach et al., 2018a) suggests that psychopathy and its correlates differ between police recruits and individuals in the community. It is necessary to continue this work with other groups in the police force to see if the patterns found in these studies generalize to veteran officers who have worked in law …

Detection Of In Utero Cannabis Exposure By Umbilical Cord Analysis, Jiyoung Kim

Student Theses

According to 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 7.1% of pregnant women smoked marijuana in the past month in 2017. Although this prevalence is expected to increase as a growing number of states and countries are now considering legalization, there are scarce data on effects of in utero cannabis exposure. For the monitoring of fetal cannabis exposure, two methods are employed; self-report and the analysis of biological matrix. Due to inaccuracy of self-report, the analysis of neonatal matrixes such as meconium, hair, and urine is perferred. Although umbilical cord is becoming a useful objective tool to detect in …

Bumbling In The Dark: The Effect Of The Dark Triad, Online Dating, And Gender On Risky Sexual Behaviors, Rebecca Boudreau

Student Theses

The Dark Triad is used to describe three distinct yet related personality traits: psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism, which share several characteristics such as manipulation, exploitation, emotional coldness, and lack of empathy. The Dark Triad has been associated with several negative behaviors including infidelity and risky sexual behavior, however most of the current research focuses only on males high on the Dark Triad traits. The present study seeks to expand the literature by studying how the Dark Triad traits and online dating usage relate to the composite score of risky sexual behaviors. Further, we seek to examine if gender moderates this …

The Bully And The Beast: Correlations Between Psychopathic Traits And Bullying In A Sample Of University Students, Nascha Streng

Student Theses

Bullying is a concept mostly investigated in children, teenagers, and adults within the workplace. While there is research on bullying in college in general, gaps in the literature remain considering how personality characteristics in bullies relate directly to psychopathy and specific psychopathy traits. Although the literature suggests bullies have a tendency towards psychopathic traits such as violence, impulsivity, egocentricity, manipulativeness, rule-breaking, and intolerance, researchers have yet to assess the connection between college students who bully and psychopathy. The research on psychopathy suggests that those high on psychopathic traits may be more prone to use bullying as an apathetic means to …

Workplace Mental Health: Toolkit Usability Study Of Midwestern Business Leaders, Julie Kiehne

Leadership Education Capstones

The purpose of this research study was to gather Midwest business leader’s feedback on usability of a Workplace Mental Health Toolkit.

In the Workplace Mental Health Toolkit Usability Study, the researcher used a mixed methods approach to gather data using a digital survey. Business leaders were asked to rate the likelihood they would use the following tools in the workplace: Psychologically Safe Workplace Checklist, Mental Health Policy Template , Well-being Checklist, Mental Health First Aid at Work Training Program.

Practicing Justice : Justice In A Millennial, Wesleyan-Holiness Context, M. Andrew Gale

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Risk Of Potential Drug-Drug Interactions In The Cardiac Intensive Care Units: A Comparative Analysis Between 2 Tertiary Care Hospitals, Faisal Shakeel, Jamshaid A. Khan, Muhammad Aamir, Peer A. Hannan, Sabahat Zehra, Irfan Ullah

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To identify and compare the prevalence of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in the intensive cardiac care units (CCUs) of 2 tertiary care hospitals and analyze their association with various predictors. Methods: This one-year prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 tertiary care hospitals of Peshawar, Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) and Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), Peshawar, Pakistan, between January 2014 to Janury 2015. The patient medication profiles from the respective CCUs were evaluated for potential DDIs (PDDIs) using Micromedex DrugReax and Drug interaction facts. Results: The prevalence of PDDIs was 96.5% and 95.7% in the 2 hospitals, with over 1200 PDDIs …

War Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus: An 8-Year Experience At A Tertiary Hospital

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To assess the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection incidence rate through the analysis of data collected before and after implementation of a new palivizumab dosing regimen customized for a high-risk Saudi population. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study performed at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between November 2009 and April 2017 on 1704 high risk Saudi young children and comparing 3 palivizumab regimens: a 4-week interval dosing regimen starting in either November or mid-September and a 3-week interval dosing regimen starting in mid-September. Results: Despite a decrease in the incidence rate of RSV infection with …

Premarital Hepatitis Screening: Attitude Towards Screening And The Risk Factors For Transmission, Ibtehaj M. Alharbi, Badr M. Aljarallah

Saudi Medical Journal

Objective: To explore all research articles investigating hepatitis premarital screening programs (PSPs) worldwide, considering all different outcomes of such programs, including efficacy, possible limitations to screening, and participants’ knowledge and satisfaction regarding the program. Methods: The present systematic review used the databases of PubMed, Ovid Medline, and Google Scholar to search for articles related to both PSPs and the hepatitis viruses. Research articles were identified between October and December 2017, and articles were selected and extracted based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria from the year 1957 up to 2017. The review included all full-length original articles related to premarital …

Recent-Onset Of Rheumatoid Arthritis Leads To Increase In Wall Thickness Of Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery: An Evidence Of Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease, Suad Hannawi, Haifa Hannawi, Fahda Alokaily, Esperanza Naredo, Ingrid Moller, Issa Al Salmi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To explore the atherosclerotic changes of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LADCA) in patients with early onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Transthoracic echocardiographic scans were performed on 15 early RA patients and 20 control subjects, free of rheumatological diseases, diabetes mellitus (DM), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Out of 15 RA patients, 10 were matched for age and gender with control. Left anterior descending coronary artery wall thickness was compared between RA subjects and their matched control. Among early RA patients, correlation was assessed between LADCA wall thickness and the demographic features, RA activity features, and cardiovascular risk …

Knowledge And Attitude Toward Hemoglobinopathies Premarital Screening Program Among Unmarried Population In Western Saudi Arabia, Safia M. Binshihon, Manal O. Alsulami, Wed M. Alogaibi, Asmaa H. Mohammedsaleh, Hayfa N. Mandourah, Bushra S. Albaity, Mohamad H. Qari

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To assess the knowledge and attitude toward hemoglobinopathies premarital screening (PMS) program among unmarried population in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1039 unmarried males and females from the general population who fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Data was collected from July-December 2017, using an electronic questionnaire to assess the socio-demographic data, knowledge and attitudes of the participants regarding PMS. Results: Approximately half of the participants had poor knowledge scores (51.1%), while 28.4% of them had fair and 20.5% had good scores. Individuals with an educational level of “university degree and above” had significantly …

Early-Childhood Computer-Based Testing: Effects Of A Digital Literacy Intervention On Student Confidence And Performance, Benjamin-David Christopher Legrand

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Early-childhood digital students grow up in a fast-evolving age of technology requiring them to use and create with technologies and demonstrate core content knowledge. Although third grade students are mandated to master a new language of standardized testing, a large percentage must also learn a language of technology to complete new computer-based tests to measure content mastery. Krashen (1982) defines high affective filter as negative emotional/motivational factors interfering with understanding and cognition. This high affective filter reduces confidence and negatively impacts measuring content mastery on new computerbased tests. Two third grade classrooms at a high-poverty metropolitan school participated in a …

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities In The Precision Agriculture Workforce: An Industry Survey, Bruce Erickson, Scott Fausti, David Clay, Sharon Clay

College of Business Faculty Publications and Presentations

Precision agriculture encompasses a set of related technologies aimed at better utilizing crop inputs, increasing yield and quality, reducing production risks, and enabling information flow throughout the crop supply and end-use chains. As agricultural businesses invest in precision offerings, their capacity to provide these products and services will depend on their ability to hire and retain employees with appropriate proficiency as defined in their knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs). A 2015 survey of agricultural retailers examined the minimum educational requirements retailers were seeking in their hires, along with the importance of a list of KSAs for the various positions that …

Posttraumatic Stress And Hazardous Alcohol Use In College Students: The Moderating Role Of Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies, Hallie R. Jordan

Master's Theses

The present study evaluated the moderating role of alcohol protective behavioral strategy subtypes (Al-PBS; Serious Harm Reduction [SHR], Manner of Drinking [MOD], Stopping/Limiting Drinking [SLD]) and gender on the relationships between traumatic stress symptoms and both hazardous drinking and alcohol-related negative consequences. Participants were 915 traditional age (18 to 25 years old) college students from nine universities in the United States who reported drinking in the past. All participants reported their gender and completed measures of traumatic stress symptoms, Al-PBS use, hazardous drinking, and alcohol-related negative consequences through an online survey. Experiencing greater traumatic stress symptoms was associated with both …