Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of Multiple Microemulsion Eye Drops For Sustained Release Of New Glaucoma Drug, Doaa Nabih Ahmed Maria

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Persistent or repeated elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) is a primary risk factor of visual field loss in glaucoma, therefore IOP reduction is the first-line therapeutic option in the disease management. Unfortunately, the current therapies are associated with a lot of deficiencies including several daily dosing, reduced efficacy and systemic side effects all of which resulted in poor patient compliance. Previously we have identified Calcium voltage-gated channel auxiliary subunit Alpha2delta 1 gene (Cacna2d1) as a novel modulator of IOP and confirmed that pregabalin targeted CACNA2D1 in eye tissues (ciliary body and trabecular meshwork) to lower IOP in a …

The Tumor Microenvironment Regulates Retinoblastoma Cell Survival, Zachary K. Goldsmith

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Retinoblastoma (Rb) is the most common intraocular malignancy in children comprising 4% of all pediatric tumors. Early intervention increases survival rates up to 95% in developed countries; being survival rates associated to socio-economic status. Despite the high survival rates in developed countries, preservation of the eye and vision are continuing challenges in the management of Rb. Vitreous seeds constitute the greatest challenge in treatment of Rb. The unique location of these seeds within the vitreous makes them difficult to treat. Viable seeds showed reduced proliferative capacity and metabolism. making the majority refractory to current chemotherapeutics. This prompted the development of …

Four Hs Of Financial Wisdom, Ron Blue Institute

Ron Blue Financial Literacy Resources

No abstract provided.

The Sociality Of Post-Truth: Neoliberal Culture And Its Rationality, Debbie Sonu

Publications and Research

As said by Hannah Arendt (1951), “being right has nothing to do with the objective truthfulness of the Leader's statements which cannot be disproved by facts, but only by future success or failure” (p. 383). Thus, the only reassurance audiences need in a post-truth culture is the constant reassurance that he, the leader, is winning, winning, winning. If post-truth signifies an appeal to the emotional drive irrespective of factual or rational truth, how does post-truth emerge and what are the conditions that feed this possibility? What in this society has ignited the affirmation of white nationalism, authoritarian leadership, and the …

Instructor Humor As A Tool To Increase Student Engagement, Carl Christman

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

As various stakeholders examine the value and quality of higher education, a greater emphasis is being put on educational outcomes. There is constant focus on improving the quality of undergraduate education and one of the keys to this is understanding what makes a good instructor. Effective instructors rely on a variety of tools and techniques to engage their students and help them learn. One common tool that instructors in higher education rely on in the classroom is humor.

The primary research question this study is attempting to answer is: In what ways, if any, does humor infused instruction promote high …

The Effects Of Emotion Socialization On Internalizing Behaviors In Young Adults, Cristina Ramirez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Parents play a significant role in how children learn to express their emotions as well as their child’s overall emotional well-being. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of positive and negative emotion socialization experiences on internalizing disorders in young adult males and females. One-hundred and forty-two young adults between the ages of 18-28 years from a southwestern university participated in the current study. It was hypothesized that early negative emotion socialization experiences would be related to higher levels of anxiety and depression in young adulthood (and, conversely, early positive emotion socialization experiences would be related to …

Prioritizing Chemical Constituents In Tobacco Products And Smoke To Predict Developmental Osteotoxicity In Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Joseph Madrid

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Though it is well known that tobacco related products can cause prenatal maldevelopment, very little is known on how tobacco products affect bone tissue as it develops in the embryo. Identifying which chemicals can induce the greatest harm to the prenatal skeletal system is an improbable task as there are over 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke alone. We hypothesized that the Toxicological Priority Index (ToxPI) program can be used to rank osteogenic cytotoxicity potential to aid in the assessment of what chemicals out of the thousands can cause osteogenic differentiation inhibition. ToxPI aggregates information from various assays and incorporates them …

Meeting “The One” At Midnight Is Your Destiny: The Role Of Yuan In Use Of The Taiwanese Social Network, Dcard, Wen-Yueh Shu

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study examines how Taiwanese college students understand the traditional, culturally Chinese concept of Yuan and its role in their use of a new and distinctive Taiwanese social networking site—Dcard. Particular attention is paid to the Dcard’s unique friending mechanism, which provides users the opportunity to connect (or not) with one, seemingly random new friend each day at midnight. Through thematic analysis of 15 semi-structured long interviews, the study finds that Dcard users understand Yuan as a multi-faceted concept pertaining primarily to interpersonal relationships (relationalism). Users perceive Yuan to influence relationships in a predetermined, causal fashion (fatalism), but they still …

"I Just Got Out; I Need A Place To Live": A Business Plan For Transitional Housing, Walker Beverly V

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The United States has a serious epidemic of mass incarceration and high recidivism rates. The U. S. must act on these high recidivism rates by implementing social services programs that help the formerly incarcerated stop committing crimes. The formerly incarcerated are being oppressed by a historic process that has continued to incarcerate and control them, even after they had served their time for their crimes. This project attempts to assist in reducing the high recidivism rates by creating an education-based transitional housing facility with a plethora of supportive services that will be open to formerly incarcerated individuals. This project sheds …

Understanding What The 2% Know: A Mixed Methods Study On Grit, Growth Mindset And Vulnerability Among Thriving Community College Students, Mark Hartley

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Currently, the California Community College system is graduating 2.83% of its first-time freshmen from these two-year institutions in a two-year period of time (CCCCO, 2017). In addition, less than 40% of this same group are graduating in a six-year period of time. This study sought to find commonalities between the students who were in the 2.83%, as well as to learn if these thriving students’ experiences centered on possessing the skill sets of grit (Duckworth, 2007), growth mindset (Dweck, 2006), and vulnerability (Brown, 2006).

For this study, thriving students were defined as first-time college students during the fall of 2017, …

Moving Slow To Move Fast-Nursing Handovers-Implementing Electronic To Ed Report To Improve Throughput, Dawn Gilbert, Roni Lyons, Patrick Mugrage, Linda Severs

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

No abstract provided.

Changes In The Content, Composition And Localization Of Foliar Phenolic Compounds Of Strawberries As Influenced By Nitrogen Regimen, Ashwini Sushil Narvekar

All Theses

To meet the increasing food demand, conventional agriculture practices emphasizes on quantitative yield and often involves intensification of nitrogen fertilizers. However, owing to the high mobility in the soil, nitrogen leaching imposes serious consequences on environment and subsequently on human health. Although the quantitative yield is predominantly determined by primary metabolism, the secondary metabolism in the plant not only function as response molecules against biotic and abiotic stress but also determines the qualitative composition of the crop. Nitrogen deficiency limits growth more than photosynthesis, leading to accumulation of the carbon based secondary precursors. Nitrogen deficiency or excess is also associated …

Menstrual Hygiene Management And School Absenteeism Among Adolescent Students In Indonesia: Evidence From A Cross-Sectional School-Based Survey, Jessica Davis, Alison Macintyre, Mitsunori Odagiri, Wayan Suriastini, Andreina Cordova, Chelsea Huggett, Paul A. Agius, Anissa Elok Budiyani, Claire Quillet, Stanley Luchters

Population Health, East Africa

Objective: To assess the prevalence of menstrual hygiene management (MHM) knowledge and practices among adolescent schoolgirls in Indonesia, and assess factors associated with poor MHM and school absenteeism due to menstruation.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey enrolled a representative sample of urban and rural school-going girls aged 12-19 years in four provinces of Indonesia. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire obtained socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, practices and attitudes related to menstruation, MHM and school absenteeism. School water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities were also assessed. Univariate weighted population prevalence was estimated and multivariable logit regression analyses applied to explore associations.

Results: A total of …

In This Issuereview Articleoriginal Articlescase Report

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Risk Factors And Molecular Features Of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Producing Bacteria At Southwest Of Saudi Arabia, Saleh M. Al-Garni, Mabrouk M. Ghonaim, Ali S. Al-Ghamdi, Farooq A. Ganai

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To explore the risk factors, the prevalence rate, and gene types of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria as the causative agents of infection at King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital (KAASH), Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted during the period between February 2017 and January 2018. All samples obtained from the KAASH were analyzed. The MicroScan Walkaway System, bacteriological examination and double disk synergy tests were used to detect ESBL-producing bacteria. To identify ESBL genes, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used. Results: The ESBL phenotype was detected in 351 of 1151 isolates (30.5%); Escherichia …

Knowledge And Practice In The Management Of Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia Among Primary Health Care Physicians In Jeddah, Western Region Of Saudi Arabia, Norah A. Alqarni, Abdul H. Hassan

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To assess knowledge and practice levels in asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AH) and investigate predictors of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) misprescribing among primary health care (PHC) physicians. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 201 PHC physicians from December 2017 to May 2018. A based clinical guidelines for hyperuricemia management from American Professional Organizations, a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to collect demographic and professional data; knowledge and practice levels in management of AH; and barriers to the management of hyperuricemia and gout, with focus of the misprescribing of ULT in AH. A 2-stage stratified sampling technique was used to select 4 PHC …

Development Of An Oral Anticoagulant-Use Attitude Scale, And Assessment Of Its Validity And Reliability, Ozlem Dogu, Nursan Cinar, Unal Erkorkmaz

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To develop a reliable scale that can measure the attitudes of individuals using oral anticoagulant drugs (OACs). Methods: This methodological study was conducted with 296 followed-up individuals using OACs for at least 6 months and visiting the cardiology and neurology clinics of a hospital in Turkey during 2017. A 20-item pool was used to construct the scale and all items were found suitable after content validity analysis and preliminary testing. Construct validity was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Results: The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value of the scale (0.79) and results of Bartlett’s test showed …

Emergent Surgical Treatment Of Lethal Valve Dysfunction During Pregnancy In A Last-Trimester Patient, Hakan Akbayrak, Ömer F. Çiçek, Atilla Orhan

Saudi Medical Journal

A mechanical heart valve thrombosis during pregnancy is one of the most lethal conditions to experience due to its detrimental effects on both mother and fetus. Cardiac surgery during pregnancy is reserved for cases where medical treatment fails due to harmful maternal and fetal effects. A 24-year-old female in the 38th week of pregnancy was admitted to the emergency room with aggravated dyspnea, tachypnea, and palpitations. She had 2 previous cardiac operations in her medical history. A stuck mechanical valve was diagnosed in the mitral position via transthoracic echocardiography, which had resulted from her decision to cease taking warfarin when …

New Variants In Beta Globin Gene Among The Palestinian Refugees With Sickle Cell Disease In Lebanon, Esraa Y. Moussa, Noura M. Yassine, Jamilah M. Borjac

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To examine the association between beta-globin sequence variations and phenotypes of sickle-cell disease (SCD) complications among Palestinian refugees in Lebanon correlating them with chromatographic readings and co-inheritance with β-thalassemia traits. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 47 Palestinian refugees aged 4 to 54 living in different regions in Lebanon during the year 2015. Participant filled a well-designed questionnaire. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was purified from the blood collected from all participants, followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of exon 1, exon 2, and IVS 1 of hemoglobin beta. Multiple sequence alignment for comparative analysis was performed against normal hemoglobin sequences. …

Trends In The Incidence And Mortality Of Cancer In Saudi Arabia, Mohammad A. Althubiti

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To analyze the overall trends in cancer incidence and mortality in Saudi Arabia between 1990 and 2016. Methods: Data were retrieved through a Global Burden of Disease (GBD, 2016) database (Viz Hub) that is developed by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. Results: The incidence of cancer increased around 26-fold for thyroid cancer; approximately 10-fold in breast, colon, bladder and uterine cancers; 8-fold for prostate cancer; 5-fold for renal cancer; 4-fold for pancreatic and ovarian cancer; 3.5-fold for lung cancer; 3-fold for liver cancer, and 2 folds for lymphoma, leukemia and gastric cancer. …

More Than 90% Of The World’S Children Breathe Toxic Air Every Day

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (Mers-Cov) – Saudi Arabia

Saudi Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Task Sharing And Shifting To Provide Pathology Diagnostic Services: The Kenya Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy Cytology And Bone Marrow Aspiration And Trephine Biopsy Training Program, Shahin Sayed, Andrew Field, Jamilla Rajab, Anderson Mutuiri, Jessie Githanga, Mary Mungania, Nancy Okinda, Zahir Moloo, Abubakar Abdillah, Brian Ayara, Erick Chesori, Julia Muthua, Leah Obosy, Thaddeus Massawa, Okoth Obiero, Elizabeth Kagotho, Peter K. Shikuku, Andrew K. Gachii, Eunidah Migide, Donstefano Muninzwa, Sanford M. Dawsey, Lucy Muchiri

Pathology, East Africa

Purpose: Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) cytology is a simple, inexpensive, and accurate diagnostic test for benign, infectious, and malignant lesions of the breast, thyroid, lymph nodes, and other organs. Similarly, bone marrow aspiration and trephine (BMAT) biopsy procedures are relatively simple and inexpensive techniques that are important for diagnosing and monitoring many hematologic diseases including leukemias and lymphomas. However, the scarcity of pathologists in Kenya limits patient access to these simple diagnostic tests. We describe a task sharing and shifting program that sought to improve the provision of FNABs and BMAT biopsies in tertiary public hospitals in Kenya.

Methods: Between …

Borderplex Business Barometer, Volume 2, Number 12, Thomas M. Fullerton Jr., Aaron Nazarian, Steven L. Fullerton, Sergio Olivas

Border Region Modeling Project

No abstract provided.

The Business Of Accelerating The Acceleration Of Startups, David Wai Lun Ng

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The cross-domain and cross-border aspects of the Business Accelerator sector has resulted in an ecosystem that has seen actors in the space jostle for clear and competitive positioning. The evolution of Business Accelerators as a business entity, seeking to supply positive interventions to the journey of start-ups, is common to all growth and innovation orientated ecosystems. The ability for Business Accelerator managers to demonstrably impact their subject acceleratees positively has been an under-researched area. Against this background is the rising volume of capital being channeled into funding startups due to the widespread drive for innovation led growth which is increasingly …

An Exploratory Study Of How To Navigate Brand Management And Improve Sales Performance Through Control Policies, Pavuth Sriaranyakul

Dissertations and Theses Collection (Open Access)

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of alcohol and tobacco control policies on sales performance when two central elements of marketing, communication and promotion programs, are significantly restricted. The study took place in Thailand, which has some of the strongest tobacco control regulations in the world, along with moderately strong alcohol control regulations. Under these regulations, tobacco firms operate in a dark market, with near-total regulatory prohibition on advertising, promotion, and even the display of their products. Alcohol firms operate in a less restrictive or “grey” market, as they face restrictions on advertising and promotion content, …

Unexpected Setbacks When Excavating – Using Gpr For Mitigating Risk: A Case Study, Samuel L. Marcum

Construction Management

Whether constructing on undeveloped land or on an existing developed site, there is a risk of encountering unexpected objects when excavating. With today’s technology in Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), this risk can generally be mitigated. Using Whiting-Turner’s construction of Stanford University’s new ChEM-H & SNI Building as an example, this case study discusses the use of GPR for underground mapping, as well as various ways to implement GPR technology. The ChEM-H & SNI site had many underground utilities that required precise pot-holing to verify locations. Although pot-holing is widely used, it is a destructive method, it is time and labor …

Unexpected Setbacks When Excavating - Using Gpr For Mitigating Risk: A Case Study, Sam Marcum

Construction Management

Whether constructing on undeveloped land or on an existing developed site, there is a risk of encountering unexpected objects when excavating. With today’s technology in Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), this risk can generally be mitigated. Using Whiting-Turner’s construction of Stanford University’s new ChEM-H & SNI Building as an example, this case study discusses the use of GPR for underground mapping, as well as various ways to implement GPR technology. The ChEM-H & SNI site had many underground utilities that required precise pot-holing to verify locations. Although pot-holing is widely used, it is a destructive method, it is time and labor …

Case Study: The Implementation Of Tool Box Talks At A Steel Subcontracting Shop, Joseph M. Freschet

Construction Management

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing tool box talks at a small iron working shop. A case study of workers at Ironstone Metal Works, Inc. based out of San Carlos were given a series of tool box talks then evaluated on the effectiveness of the implementation of regular safety meetings. The impact focused on this paper will be the effectiveness of the implementation of regular safety training and how it relates to a safer work environment, reduced cost of workplace injuries, and workers knowledge of safe practices. An analysis of worker interviews and survey …

Overcoming The Challenges Of Asbestos Containing Materials In Remodels - A Case Study, Noah W. Champlin

Construction Management

This is a study of one project’s experience with delays caused by the need for asbestos abatement. It will also cover the best approaches for limiting both safety and financial risks to the contractor, subcontractors and owner. I wanted to gather information on this type of issue within our industry because there will be an increased need for large scale remodeling within major cities to keep them up to the level of standard people expect. This includes the more modern infrastructure of a building to accommodate for the technological improvements made in recent years and to provide a more comfortable …