Digital Commons Network^™

Telemedicine Infectious Diseases Consultations And Clinical Outcomes: A Systematic Review, Jason P. Burnham, Stephanie A. Fritz, Lauren H. Yaeger, Graham A. Colditz

Open Access Publications

Background: Telemedicine use is increasing in many specialties, but its impact on clinical outcomes in infectious diseases has not been systematically reviewed. We reviewed the current evidence for clinical effectiveness of telemedicine infectious diseases consultations, including outcomes of mortality, hospital readmission, antimicrobial use, cost, length of stay, adherence, and patient satisfaction.

Methods: We queried Ovid MEDLINE 1946-, Embase.com 1947-, Scopus 1823-, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and ClinicalTrials.gov 1997- through August 5, 2019, for studies looking at clinical outcomes of infectious diseases in the setting of telemedicine use. We did not restrict …

Signal Regulatory Protein Alpha Initiates Cachexia Through Muscle To Adipose Tissue Crosstalk, Jiao Wu, Jiangling Dong, Daniela Verzola, Keith Hruska, Giacomo Garibotto, Zhaoyong Hu, William E Mitch, Sandhya S Thomas

Open Access Publications

BACKGROUND: Muscle wasting from chronic kidney disease (CKD) or from defective insulin signalling results in morbidity and, ultimately, mortality. We have identified an endogenous mediator of insulin resistance, signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα), which leads to cachexia in mice and is associated with cachexia in patients with CKD.

METHODS: We assessed insulin signalling and mechanisms causing muscle atrophy plus white adipose tissue (WAT) metabolism in mouse models of CKD or acute diabetes (streptozotocin treatment). We then examined these factors in mice with global knockout (KO) of SIRPα and sought mediators of metabolic responses in muscle and adipose tissues of mice …

A New Model For The Protection Of Consumer Interests In The European Union And Its Possible Implementation Into Polish Law, Jagna Mucha

internetowy Kwartalnik Antymonopolowy i Regulacyjny (internet Quarterly on Antitrust and Regulation)

In the draft of a Directive on representative actions, the European Commission proposed an extension of the existing model of the protection of collective consumer interests by the inclusion, therein, of the possibility of compensatory redress. The current model, based on the provisions of Directive 2009/22/EC, does not contain the possibility of consumers to claim compensation, but it enables bringing an action for an injunction by qualified entities designated by the Member States. The above mentioned provision of Directive 2009/22/EC was implemented by the Polish legislator in the Act on Competition and Consumer Protection, which provides separate proceedings concerning practices …

Tuning Networks For Prosocial Behavior: From Senseless Swarms To Smart Mobs [Commentary], Sun Sun Lim, Roland Bouffanais

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

Social media have been seen to accelerate the spread of negative content such as disinformation and hate speech, often unleashing a reckless herd mentality within networks, further aggravated by malicious entities using bots for amplification. So far, the response to this emerging global crisis has centered around social media platform companies making reactive moves that appear to have greater symbolic value than practical utility. Proposes a solution to favor prosocial behavior via social networks.

Singapore Case Note: Enforceability Of Settlement Agreements, Nadja Alexander, Shou Yu Chong

Research Collection Yong Pung How School Of Law

Since the signing of the Singapore Convention on Mediation in August this year, there has been an increased interest on the enforceability of settlement agreements, particularly those arising from mediation. The case of Law Chau Loon v Alphire Group Pte Ltd [2019] SGHC 275 from the Singapore High Court provides us with some general legal principles to consider when a settlement agreement is drafted. Although mediation did not take place between the parties in dispute, the principles stated by the High Court here remain relevant to the drafting of binding mediated settlement agreements (MSAs). This case is essential reading for …

Comparison Of Naïve Bayes Algorithm And Decision Tree C4.5for Hospital Readmission Diabetes Patientsusing Hba1c Measurement, Utomo Pujianto, Asa Luki Setiawan, Harits Ar Rosyid, Ali M. Mohammad Salah

Knowledge Engineering and Data Science

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder disease in which the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body cannot use insulin produced effectively. The HbA1c examination, which measures the average glucose level of patients during the last 2-3 months, has become an important step to determine the condition of diabetic patients. Knowledge of the patient's condition can help medical staff to predict the possibility of patient readmissions, namely the occurrence of a patient requiring hospitalization services back at the hospital. The ability to predict patient readmissions will ultimately help the hospital to calculate and manage the quality of patient care. …

Handwriting Character Recognition Usingvector Quantization Technique, Haviluddin Haviluddin, Rayner Alfred, Ni’Mah Moham, Herman Santoso Pakpahan, Islamiyah Islamiyah, Hario Jati Setyadi

Knowledge Engineering and Data Science

This paper seeks to explore Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) processing stage to recognize The Buginese Lontara script from Makassar as well as explaining its accuracy. The testing results of LVQ obtained an accuracy degree of 66.66 %. The most optimal variant of network architecture in the recognition process is a variation of learning rate of 0.02, a maximum epoch of 5000 and a hidden layer of 90 neurons which was the result of recognition based on feature 8. Based on these variations, the obtained performance with a mean square error (MSE) of 0.0306 and the time required during the learning …

Development Of A Simulated Tangle-Based Microgrid Communications System, Adrian Vincent T. Tayag

Undergraduate Theses

The emergence of renewable energy sources (RES) brought up the potential advantages of more granular controls that Microgrids offer. In this study, Tangle-based-decentralized ledger technology was implemented to the communications system of a fabricated prototype microgrid. The microgrid controls were managed by a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ minicomputer, where the energy manager, protection coordinator, and microsource controller agents are running. Through the Masked Authenticated Messaging (MAM) module of the IOTA Tangle ledger, the grid operator was able to act as an energy manager to send commands and receive status reports from the protection coordinator and microsource controller. The fabricated …

Vastly Extended Drug Release From Poly(Pro-17Β-Estradiol) Materials Facilitates In Vitro Neurotrophism And Neuroprotection, Anthony R. D'Amato, Devan L. Puhl, Samuel A.T. Ellman, Bailey Balouch, Ryan J. Gilbert, Edmund F. Palermo

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Central nervous system (CNS) injuries persist for years, and currently there are no therapeutics that can address the complex injury cascade that develops over this timescale. 17β-estradiol (E2) has broad tropism within the CNS, targeting and inducing beneficial phenotypic changes in myriad cells following injury. To address the unmet need for vastly prolonged E2 release, we report first-generation poly(pro-E2) biomaterial scaffolds that release E2 at nanomolar concentrations over the course of 1–10 years via slow hydrolysis in vitro. As a result of their finely tuned properties, these scaffolds demonstrate the ability to promote and guide neurite extension ex vivo and …

Missouri S&T Magazine Fall/Winter 2019, Missouri S&T Marketing And Communications Department, Miner Alumni Association

Missouri S&T Magazine

No abstract provided.

Genistein Modulates Signaling Pathways And Targets Several Epigenetic Markers In Hela Cells, Madhumitha Kedhari Sundaram, Sreepoorna Unni, Pallavi Somvanshi, Tulika Bhardwaj, Raju K. Mandal, Arif Hussain, Shafiul Haque

All Works

© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Background: Several epigenetic changes are responsible for transcriptional alterations of signaling pathways and tumour suppressor genes (TSGs) contributing to carcinogenesis. This study was aimed to examine the effect of the phytochemical, genistein on various molecular targets in HeLa cells. Methods: Quantitative PCR was used to analyze the expression of various molecular targets. Biochemical assays were employed to study the epigenetic enzymes. To correlate the transcriptional status of the selected TSGs and epigenetic modulation, their promoter 5’CpG methylation levels were evaluated by quantitative methylation array followed by methylation specific restriction digestion. Results: …

The President And Nuclear Weapons: Authorities, Limits, And Process, Mary B. Derosa, Ashley Nicolas

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

There is no more consequential decision for a president than ordering a nuclear strike. In the Cold War, the threat of sudden nuclear annihilation necessitated procedures emphasizing speed and efficiency and placing sole decision-making authority in the president’s hands. In today’s changed threat environment, the legal authorities and process a U.S. president would confront when making this grave decision merit reexamination. This paper serves as a resource in the national discussion about a president’s legal authority and the procedures for ordering a nuclear strike, and whether to update them.

Why Nebraska Is A Quintessential Movie About The American Midwest, Joshua Matthews

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Better Beware: Comparing Metacognition For Phishing And Legitimate Emails, Casey I. Canfield, Baruch Fischhoff, Alex Davis

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Every electronic message poses some threat of being a phishing attack. If recipients underestimate that threat, they expose themselves, and those connected to them, to identity theft, ransom, malware, or worse. If recipients overestimate that threat, then they incur needless costs, perhaps reducing their willingness and ability to respond over time. In two experiments, we examined the appropriateness of individuals' confidence in their judgments of whether email messages were legitimate or phishing, using calibration and resolution as metacognition metrics. Both experiments found that participants had reasonable calibration but poor resolution, reflecting a weak correlation between their confidence and knowledge. These …

Effect Of Education About Pediatric Immunization Schedule And Vaccine Administration On Family Medicine Clinic Providers And Clinical Staff Knowledge And Confidence, John Matthew Derfelt

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Project

Significance: In this original research, the purpose of this project is to compare and promote increased pediatric immunization knowledge among healthcare providers and clinic staff of a family medicine clinic. In turn, there is greater compliance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommended immunization schedule and adherence to vaccinations against the 17 vaccine-preventable diseases.

Methods: This exploratory pilot case study surveyed 34 individuals by using an educational tool with information regarding the current CDC-recommended pediatric vaccination schedule. Prior to reviewing the educational material, the participant tested their baseline knowledge about vaccination scheduling and immunization administration. …

Undergraduate And Graduate Communication Sciences And Disorders Students׳ Views Regarding The Pursuit Of A Doctorate Of Philosophy Degree, Danielle R. Osmelak

Health Professions Education

Purpose: There is a recognized shortage of Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) professionals who hold a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in the field of CSD. The purpose of this study was to explore CSD students׳ views towards pursuing a PhD and to investigate the relationship between CSD students׳ exposure to research and their views regarding the pursuit of a PhD in order to understand and generate possible solutions to the PhD shortage. Method: The quantitative cross-sectional survey study included undergraduate (n = 49) and graduate (n = 51) CSD students from 12 Midwestern CSD institutions in the United States. …

China Maritime Report No. 4: Civil Transport In Pla Power Projection, Conor M. Kennedy

CMSI China Maritime Reports

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has ambitious goals for its power projection capabilities. Aside from preparing for the possibility of using force to resolve Beijing’s territorial claims in East Asia, it is also charged with protecting China’s expanding “overseas interests.” These national objectives require the PLA to be able to project significant combat power beyond China’s borders. To meet these needs, the PLA is building organic logistics support capabilities such as large naval auxiliaries and transport aircraft. But it is also turning to civilian enterprises to supply its transportation needs.

Distal Splenorenal Shunt (Dsrs) In Children With Extrahepatic Portal Hypertension, Zia Ur Rehman, Zafar Nazir

Department of Surgery Docs

Portal hypertension (PH) is infrequent in children as compared to adults. Currently, repetitive endoscopic ablation of varices is standard treatment. However, endoscopic facilities are not readily available in resource-limited settings. We reviewed the indications, operative morbidity, mortality, shunt patency and re-bleeding episodes in nine patients (age range 6-16 years, M:F 6:3) who had DSRS for recurrent GI bleeding not responding to endoscopic treatment and hypersplenism. DSRS is a safe and effective treatment alternative in resource limiting setting for preventing bleeding and improving hypersplenism in children with extrahepatic portal hypertension.

There Is Nothing So Practical As Good Theory For Tracking Destination Image Over Time, Steven Pike, H. S. Jin, Filareti Kotsi

All Works

Destination image has consistently been a popular theme in the tourism literature. This is due to the important role the construct can play in the intangible nature of consumers' travel decisions. However, one temporal aspect, of how destination image might change over time, has attracted little academic research attention. This manuscript attempts to make a contribution to this gap in the literature by reporting key findings from an investigation into perceptions held of one of New Zealand's most popular resort destinations, Rotorua, at three points in time over two decades. The research is narrowly focused on the perceptions of consumers …

Rit Libraries Annual Report 2019, Rit Libraries

RIT Digital Archives

No abstract provided.

Patient Knowledge About Disease Self-Management Of Cirrhosis, Thuy Xuan Trinh

Master's Theses

This study aimed to define the level of understanding of self-management for patients with liver cirrhosis. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Thirty cirrhotic patients (14 females and 16 males) in the Gastroenterology Department of University Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam participated in answering the questionnaire to evaluate their knowledge about liver disease self-management. The majority of cirrhotic patients had an unsatisfactory level of knowledge regarding self management of their disease, particularly in terms of recognizing and preventing complications from hepatic encephalopathy, monitoring for liver cancer, and awareness of medications they should not use. Implications of the …

An Evaluation Of Hybrid Traits, Yield, And Major Qtl Effect On Heterosis In Hybrid Soft Red Winter Wheat, Zachary James Winn

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a self-pollinating species that is most often bred as a recombinant inbred line. When two inbred individuals are crossed, they produce progeny which experience heterosis; heterosis is the increased robustness experienced due to the reintroduction of heterozygosity. Hybrid wheat may be produced through the use of chemical hybridization agents, yet the structure of wheat flowers decreases the efficiency of outcrossing. The objectives of this study were to: assess the amount of heterosis experienced by a population of hybrid wheat and observe the effect of major gene loci on yield and yield components, phenotype anthers extruded …

Extracting Social Network From Literary Prose, Tarana Tasmin Bipasha

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops an approach to extract social networks from literary prose, namely, Jane Austen’s published novels from eighteenth- and nineteenth- century. Dialogue interaction plays a key role while we derive the networks, thus our technique relies upon our ability to determine when two characters are in conversation. Our process involves encoding plain literary text into the Text Encoding Initiative’s (TEI) XML format, character name identification, conversation and co-occurrence detection, and social network construction. Previous work in social network construction for literature have focused on drama, specifically manually TEI-encoded Shakespearean plays in which character interactions are much easier to track …

Characterizing Hydrothermal System Groundwater Dynamics Using Conservative And Non-Conservative Tracers: Insights And Implications Drawn From Study At The Taupo Volcanic Zone (New Zealand) And Valles Caldera (Usa), Joshua Michael Blackstock

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hydrothermal systems constitute an important component of heat and mass transport within Earth’s crust having direct and indirect impacts to society. Investigating contemporary hydrochemical differences and change are critical to evaluating and deconvolving factors that influence geothermal systems through time. In this dissertation, groundwater mixing approaches were used to study hydrochemical differences in two globally significant hydrothermal areas, which included fabrication of a low-cost dissolved CO2 monitoring for dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). In the Taupo Volcanic Zone (New Zealand), empirical spatial relations were used to derive low-temperature groundwater end-members of Cl and Cl/Br for end-member mixing analysis (EMMA). Using EMMA, …

The Feedback-Related Negativity Is A Time-Dependent Brain Mechanism That Facilitates Aversive Learning: Implications For The Reinforcement Learning Frn Hypothesis, Eric Rawls

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Organisms encode rewarding and aversive experiences through reinforcement learning, capitalizing on prediction errors (PEs), which adapt action strategies over time. Computational theories are explicit that PE signals should update action weights continuously over the course of a behavioral task, an important time-dependent variation that is eschewed in traditional neuroscience studies that average over large numbers of trials. I examined variation in reaction times and feedback-locked cortical activity over time as a function of PE to critically examine theories indicating that PE signals drive time-dependent learning. We recorded EEG while participants completed a novel reinforcement task that varied prediction error on …

Fractional Order State Feedback Control For Improved Lateral Stability Of Semi-Autonomous Commercial Heavy Vehicles, Rasheed Mazen Abdulkader

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the growing development of autonomous and semi-autonomous large commercial heavy vehicles, the lateral stability control of articulated vehicles have caught the attention of researchers recently. Active vehicle front steering (AFS) can enhance the handling performance and stability of articulated vehicles for an emergency highway maneuver scenario. However, with large vehicles such tractor-trailers, the system becomes more complex to control and there is an increased occurrence of instabilities. This research investigates a new control scheme based on fractional calculus as a technique that ensures lateral stability of articulated large heavy vehicles during evasive highway maneuvering scenarios. The control method is …

Sentiment Analysis, Quantification, And Shift Detection, Kevin Labille

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on event detection within streams of Tweets based on sentiment quantification. Sentiment quantification extends sentiment analysis, the analysis of the sentiment of individual documents, to analyze the sentiment of an aggregated collection of documents. Although the former has been widely researched, the latter has drawn less attention but offers greater potential to enhance current business intelligence systems. Indeed, knowing the proportion of positive and negative Tweets is much more valuable than knowing which individual Tweets are positive or negative. We also extend our sentiment quantification research to analyze the evolution of sentiment over time to automatically detect …

Influencers Of Succession Planning Among Rural Community College Chief Executives, Ashley Aylett

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The challenge of maintaining strong leadership within many community colleges has been exacerbated by many factors including demographic shifts, therefore, succession planning is one tool used by institutions to offset the challenge of dealing with aging leaders, retirements, and a limited pool of competent applicants. Many senior administrators have and will continue to retire at rapid rates and fewer well-prepared individuals seem to be available or willing to move into these roles. Higher education literature has explored the future of community colleges during this time of change, some examining critical factors for the future of community colleges by asking questions …

Evaluation And Analysis Of Null Convention Logic Circuits, John Davis Brady

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Integrated circuit (IC) designers face many challenges in utilizing state-of-the-art technology nodes, such as the increased effects of process variation on timing analysis and heterogeneous multi-die architectures that span across multiple technologies while simultaneously increasing performance and decreasing power consumption. These challenges provide opportunity for utilization of asynchronous design paradigms due to their inherent flexibility and robustness.

While NULL Convention Logic (NCL) has been implemented in a variety of applications, current literature does not fully encompass the intricacies of NCL power performance across a variety of applications, technology nodes, circuit scale, and voltage scaling, thereby preventing further adoption and utilization …

Women In Stem: Strategies And Recommendations For Academic Women And Institutional Leaders, Sarah Jensen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Women still comprise a small number of full professors in STEM disciplines in research universities, which have historically been male dominated. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has recognized the challenge of getting more women to enter the professoriate, earn tenure, and advance to full professor. These women can then encourage more women to enter into STEM as educators and researchers. The purpose of this study was to recognize, explore, and depict strategies used by women full professors to overcome obstacles they faced while advancing in academic STEM fields. The study participants also offered recommendations for women faculty desiring to become …