Digital Commons Network^™

Religion, Psychological Distress, And Discrimination Among Arab Americans, Najwa Alharbi

All ETDs from UAB

A growing body of research has focused on the experiences of Arab Americans post-9/11. These studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between ethnic discrimination and mental health among Arab Americans. However, these studies show some gaps. Specifically, no study has explored the differences between Muslim and Christian Arabs after the 9/11 attacks in terms of religion, including how religious attendance influences the levels of psychological distress and discrimination among the two religious groups. This paper is dedicated to exploring religion (religious affiliation and religious attendance) as a key factor to understand the different levels of psychological distress and …

[68ga] Labeled Radiopharmaceuticals For Diagnostic Applications Beyond Sstr And Psma Imaging, Abdullah Alosaimi

All ETDs from UAB

Imaging with radiolabelled peptides is an important technique used in medical imaging fields that can lead to significant advances in patient care. These tracers are utilized to target a variety of receptors, in particular, specific-receptors which are overexpressed on tumor cells. Recently, the application of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) radiotracers for medical imaging has grown significantly due to the high sensitivity and specificity of this technique. In particular, 68Ga is one of the most favorable PET radioisotopes, due to its short half-life, low radiation dose, generator production, and same day imaging procedures. [68Ga]-DOTATATE, which targets somatostatin receptors (SSTR) overexpressed on …

Spun Prestressed Concrete Pole Options As An Alternative To Wood Utility Distribution Poles, Paula Alvarez Alvarez Pino

All ETDs from UAB

The purpose of this research project is to analyze the current state-of-the-art, including use and design practices, of utility distribution poles and to evaluate the performance of spun prestressed concrete poles with different reinforcement schemes as a viable alternative to wood utility poles. There are an estimated 185 million utility distribution poles in place in the United States, and over 130 million are made out of wood. Most of the existing distribution poles are now approaching or have surpassed their useful lives since they were designed with a life expectancy of 50 years and were installed in the 1950s and …

Perceived Difficulty And Satisfaction With Treatment Outcomes Of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy In Chronic Stroke, Mudasir Saleem Andrabi

All ETDs from UAB

Constraint Induced Movement (CI) therapy has been demonstrated to be an efficacious rehabilitation therapy for upper extremity (UE) hemiparesis after stroke. Despite this, CI therapy is not widely used in neurorehabilitation in the United States. One barrier to its acceptance is the perception of its difficulty among therapists and patients. However, this opinion has been influenced by two published surveys in which responses were obtained from therapists with no direct exposure of CI Therapy. Patients’ perception that a treatment is difficult to undergo has an important role in determining whether it will be provided clinically. Besides the perception of difficulty, …

Towards Safeguarding Users Against Phishing And Ransomware Attacks, Arsh Arora

All ETDs from UAB

Over the past decade, malicious software (malware) attacks have skyrocketed and increased at a considerably faster pace than predicted. The variety in the number of malware categories is one of the contributing factors to this rapid insurgence. According to Microsoft statistics, a range of 300,000-400,000 malware binaries is observed on average per day. With this increase, there is an unmet need for innovative approaches to detect new malware, as current nomenclature is not equipped to handle the prevention against continuous growth. Developing appropriate preventive measures to stop these malware attacks has been an ongoing struggle for security experts. The most …

Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors In The Treatment Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Tiffany Sandra Wai Ling Khoo, Arif Rehman, John K. Olynyk

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Locoregional therapy is used for early stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been the mainstay of treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Sorafenib was the first drug approved based on data from two pivotal phase III trials. Although sorafenib provided a survival benefit, development of adverse events limits its use in some patients. These adverse events, such as hand–foot syndrome and diarrhea, have a significant impact on the quality of life and, in some circumstances, are severe enough to prompt cessation of the drug. In recent times, …

Vitamin B-12 Deficiency In Type 2 Diabetic Patients On Metformin: A Cross-Sectional Study From South-Western Part Of Ghana, Maryam Yakubu, Edwin Ferguson Laing, Paul Nsiah, Richard Anthony, Emmanuel Acheampong, Samuel Kojo Asamoah, Enoch Odame Anto, Gabriel Djokoto, Evans Adu Asamoah, Eddie-Williams Owiredu

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction: Metformin is the most widely administered anti-diabetic medication among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. However, metformin induces vitamin B12 malabsorption which may increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency among T2DM patients. We determined the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency and related risk factors among Ghanaian T2DM patients on metformin therapy. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 196 T2DM patients attending the outpatient diabetic clinic at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Ghana. Fasting venous blood was collected for biochemical analysis. Vitamin B12 deficiency was defined as serum B12 < 100 pg/ml and methylmalonic acid (MMA) ≥ 0.4µmol/L. Results: The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency based on serum vitamin B12, MMA, and the combination of both methods were 32.1%, 14.8%, and 14.3%, respectively. Longer duration of metformin use [5-9 years, aOR= 2.83, 95% CI (1.03-7.81), p=0.045 and ≥ 10 years, aOR= 4.17, 95% CI (1.41-12.33), p=0.010], higher daily dose of metformin [1000-2000 mg/day, aOR= 1.34, 95% CI (0.25-2.74), p=0.038 and > 2000 mg/day, aOR= 1.13, 95% CI (0.39-2.97), p=0.047], and very high …

Attitudes Of Doctors And Nurses Toward Patient Safety Within Emergency Departments Of A Saudi Arabian Hospital: A Qualitative Study, Naif Alzahrani, Russell Jones, Mohamed E. Abdel-Latif

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Background: The attitudes of doctors and nurses toward patient safety represent a significant contributing factor to hospital safety climates and medical error rates. Yet, there are very few studies of patient safety attitudes in Saudi hospitals and none conducted in hospital emergency departments. Aims: The current study aims to investigate and compare the patient safety attitudes of doctors and nurses in a Saudi hospital emergency department. Materials and Method: The study employed a qualitative research design via semi-structured interviews with Saudi and non-Saudi doctors and nurses working in a Saudi hospital emergency department to determine their attitudes and experiences about …

Occupational Exposure Of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene And Xylene (Btex) To Pump Attendants In Ghana: Implications For Policy Guidance, Francis Atta Kuranchie, Prosper Naah Angnunavuri, Francis Attiogbe, Esi Nana Nerquaye-Tetteh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Gasoline plays an important role as fuel for engines, but its use is replete with a high probability of adverse health to persons along the distribution chain, especially pump attendants. This study is a systematic review of the literature on gasoline exposure and the specific risks of adverse health on pump attendants by benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and xylene (BTEX) to instigate policy in Ghana. A careful review of the literature indicates that pump attendants are at risk of developing cancer and non-cancer health hazards. This is particularly so in Ghana due to poor safe work practices and controls at pump …

Students’ And Their Supervisors’ Evaluations On Professional Identity In Work Placements, Denise Jackson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This study explored the extent to which undergraduates demonstrate capabilities associated with professional identity (PI), an individual’s connection with the ideology of professional practice and a critical element of graduate employability. It gathered quantitative and qualitative data from 212 Australian business undergraduates and their workplace supervisors on 17 capabilities associated with PI. It also examined the value of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) in developing these capabilities. Findings indicated broad agreement on areas of strength and weakness yet supervisors assigned consistently higher ratings than students. Areas for development aligned with the advanced stages of PI and ratings were fairly uniform by gender, …

Incidentally Found Metastatic Prostatic Carcinoma In A Therapeutic Orchiectomy Specimen, Zeeshan Uddin, Muhammad Bilal, Mohammad Ayaz Khan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Metastatic tumour involving the testis is a rare event. Incidental discovery of metastatic cancer in a therapeutic orchiectomy is even rarer. We report a case of metastatic adenocarcinoma prostate found incidentally in one of the bilateral therapeutic orchiectomy specimens. The patient was a 55-year-old man presenting with back ache and generalized body aches. Clinical examination showed malignant feel of prostate. Bone scan revealed metastatic disease and a serum PSA level of >100 ng/ml. Clinical diagnosis of carcinoma prostate was established and subsequent bilateral orchiectomy for hormonal deprivation was performed. On gross examination of left testis, there was a small 0.7 …

Online Brand Advocacy (Oba): The Development Of A Multiple Item Scale, Violetta Wilk, Geoffrey Norman Soutar, Paul Harrigan

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Purpose: Despite an increasing interest in online brand advocacy (OBA) and the importance of online brand conversations, OBA’s conceptualization, dimensionality and measurement are unclear, which has created confusion. This paper aims to answer calls from researchers and practitioners for a better understanding and measurement of OBA. The development and validation of a parsimonious and practical OBA scale is outlined in this paper.

Design/methodology/approach: A multi-methods, multi-stage approach was followed to develop a parsimonious OBA scale. From an initial pool of 96 items obtained from qualitative research and from items used in prior general brand advocacy scales, a test-retest reliability study …

Common Alternative Diagnoses Among A Pediatric Hospital-Based Cohort Evaluated For Tuberculosis In Karachi, Pakistan: The Need For Facilitated Referral In Tuberculosis Clinics, Sadia Shakoor, Fatima Mir, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background: Children evaluated for tuberculosis (TB) are often diagnosed with miscellaneous conditions that mimic TB. Knowledge of differentials informs policy on service provision through liaison with referral centers offering definitive diagnosis and treatment for common alternative disorders.
Methods: We reviewed medical records of children who were offered diagnostic testing for TB (culture or Xpert MTB/RIF) at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan to identify common alternative diagnoses among children who are evaluated for TB.
Results: From January 2014 to December 2015, of 126 culture or Xpert MTB/RIF negative children presenting with chronic symptoms, 31 were diagnosed and treated for …

Most Cancers Are Caused By Bad Luck Mutations: Scientific Explanation?, Shahid Pervez

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

No abstract provided.

Nurse Practitioner Leadership And Research Activity [Slides], Mary Ryder, Elisabeth Jacob, Joyce Hendricks

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Conclusion:

• Nurse Practitioners in both Ireland and Australia identify themselves as leaders of the nursing profession.
• NP work practices are primarily focused on provision of direct patient care.
• Research activity is lacking among NPs.
• Leadership ability influences research outcomes for NPs in both Ireland and Australia.

Nurse Practitioners Perceptions On Leadership And Research [Slides], Mary Ryder, Elisabeth Jacob, Joyce Hendricks

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Conclusion:

• Participants identified themselves as clinical leaders focused on direct patient care
• The NP role was misunderstood
• Support from nursing academics and management was identified as a research opportunity
• Confidence in research abilities was a barrier to research
• The NP role was similar in Ireland and Australia

From Territorial To Universal-The Extraterritoriality Of Trademark Law And The Privatizing Of International Law, P. Sean Morris

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

Legal doctrines, aided and abetted by interpretations of the courts, carry the force of law. The implication is that when courts settle matters, they often go beyond the scope of current intellectual property legislation. Furthermore, global problems in intellectual property may require the participation of private intellectual property rights owners to bring suit. This, in turn, often creates more problems due to the territorial, trans-territorial, and extraterritorial reach of the law, especially with respect private trademark rights. I explore this and other legal conundrums in this Article. The key concern addressed in the Article is how far trademark law is …

Exploration Of The Nfl Franchise Tag Functioning As A Non-Compete Clause, David B. Borsack

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

A Comparative Overview On Esports Against Traditional Sports Focused In The Legal Realm Of Monetary Exploitation, Cheating, And Gambling, Sok Min Yun

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Redefining "Life": The Constitutional Implications Of Patenting Immortality, Julia Spivak

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Decrease In P3-Alcb37 And P3-Alcb40, Products Of Alcadein B Generated By G-Secretase Cleavages, In Aged Monkeys And Patients With Alzheimer’S Disease, Saori Hata, Chiori Omori, Ayano Kimura, Haruka Saito, Nobuyuki Kimura, Veer Gupta, Steve Pedrini, Eugene Hone, Pratishtha Chatterjee, Kevin Taddei, Kensaku Kasuga, Takeshi Ikeuchi, Masaaki Waragai, Masaki Nishimura, Anqi Hu, Tadashi Nakaya, Laurent Meijer, Masahiro Maeda, Tohru Yamamoto, Colin L. Masters, Chris C. Rowe, David Ames, Kazuo Yamamoto, Ralph N. Martins, Sam Gandy, Toshiharu Suzuki

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Introduction Neuronal p3-Alcβ peptides are generated from the precursor protein Alcadein β (Alcβ) through cleavage by α- and γ-secretases of the amyloid β (Aβ) protein precursor (APP). To reveal whether p3-Alcβ is involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) contributes for the development of novel therapy and/or drug targets. Methods We developed new sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (sELISA) systems to quantitate levels of p3-Alcβ in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Results In monkeys, CSF p3-Alcβ decreases with age, and the aging is also accompanied by decreased brain expression of Alcβ. In humans, CSF p3-Alcβ levels decrease to a greater extent in those with …

Immobilization Of Magnetite Nanoparticles For The Removal Of Arsenic And Antimony From Contaminated Water, Guangzhi Sun, Mehdi H. Khiadani

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Magnetite (Fe3 O4) nanoparticles were synthesized and immobilized in a synthetic resin poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA). The Fe3 O4 nanoparticle-PMMA composites were studied for their efficiencies of removing dissolved arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb). The effects of major environmental and operating parameters on the removal of As and Sb were investigated in batch experiments. Singular and competitive adsorption of As and Sb onto the composites were studied. The results demonstrated the capability of the Fe3 O4-PMMA composites for removing dissolved metalloids.

The Effects Of Germination And Roasting On Nutraceutical And Antioxidant Properties Of Jirani Variety Of Millet, Oluwatoyin Oluwole, Binosha W. M. A. D. Fernando, Keiron Audain, Olufemi Fasanmade, Oluwatosin Ijabaadeniyi, Kolawole Falade, Adjei M. Yaakwaah, Vijay Jayasena

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of processing variables (germination time, roasting temperature and time) on the phytonutrients and antioxidants activity of millet. The germination time employed in this study ranged from 24 - 72 h, roasting temperature ranged from 112.5 -120.0°C and the roasting time ranged from 15-21 min based on an earlier preliminary study. All samples exhibited antioxidant properties and these properties were dose dependent. Positive correlations were obtained between the antioxidant activity of the samples and the content of the phytochemicals. Both germination and roasting time had an effect on the total antioxidant …

Australian Consumer Perceptions Of Regionally Grown Fruits And Vegetables: Importance, Enablers, And Barriers, Stephanie Godrich, Katherine Kent, Sandra Murray, Stuart Auckland, Johnny Lo, Lauren Blekkenhorst, Beth Penrose, Amanda Devine

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Fresh fruits and vegetables are a cornerstone of a balanced diet; their consumption has health, environmental, ethical, and economic implications. This pilot study aimed to: (i) measure fruit and vegetable consumption; (ii) understand consumer perceptions of the perceived importance of regionally grown fresh fruit and vegetables (RGFFV); and (iii) identify the barriers and enablers of access and consumption of RGFFV. The study took place in Tasmania (TAS) and South Western Australia (SWA). A 54-item survey included questions relating to purchasing and consumption patterns; barriers and enablers related to access and consumption of RGFFV; and sociodemographic information. Survey data were analyzed …

Does Caffeine Ingestion Before A Short-Term Sprint Interval Training Promote Body Fat Loss?, G. A. Ferreira, L. C. Felippe, R. Bertuzzi, David J. Bishop, I. S. Ramos, F. R. De-Oliveira, A. E. Lima-Silva

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

We investigated the effect of caffeine ingestion combined with a 2-wk sprint interval training (SIT) on training-induced reductions in body adiposity. Twenty physically-active men ingested either 5 mg/kg of cellulose as a placebo (PLA, n=10) or 5 mg/kg of caffeine (CAF, n=10) 60 min before each SIT session (13×30 s sprint/15 s of rest). Body mass and skinfold thickness were measured pre- and post-training. Energy expenditure was measured at rest, during exercise, and 45 min after exercise in the first SIT session. Body fat was similar between PLA and CAF groups at pre-training (P>0.05). However, there was a significant …

Quality Of Life Of Colorectal Cancer Survivors In A Ghanaian Population, Joseph Yorke, Emmanuel Acheampong, Emmanuella Nsenbah Batu, Christian Obirikorang, Francis Agyemang Yeboah, Evans Adu Asamoah

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Objective: We collected data to evaluate the quality of life of patients who have survived between one and 8 years from the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Data description: We collected quality of life (QoL) data from colorectal patients who were diagnosed between 2009 and 2015 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and have survived until January 2017. The dataset consists of patients' demographic data, clinicopathological characteristics, and QoL data. The validated QoL instruments for data curation was an adopted version of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-CR29. The QLQ-C30 was …

Cannabis Consumption Patterns Explain The East-West Gradient In Canadian Neural Tube Defect Incidence: An Ecological Study, Albert Stuart Reece, Gary Kenneth Hulse

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

While a known link between prenatal cannabis exposure and anencephaly exists, the relationship of prenatal cannabis exposure with neural tube defects (NTDs) generally has not been defined. Published data from Canada Health and Statistics Canada were used to assess this relationship. Both cannabis use and NTDs were shown to follow an east-west and north-south gradient. Last year cannabis consumption was significantly associated (P < .0001; cannabis use–time interaction P < .0001). These results were confirmed when estimates of termination for anomaly were used. Canada Health population data allowed the calculation of an NTD odds ratio) of 1.27 (95% confidence interval = 1.19-1.37; P < 10⁻¹¹) for high-risk provinces versus the remainder with an attributable fraction in exposed populations of 16.52% (95% confidence interval = 12.22-20.62). Data show a robust positive statistical association between cannabis consumption as both …

Characterization And Relative Quantitation Of Wheat, Rye, And Barley Gluten Protein Types By Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Barbara Lexhaller, Michelle L. Colgrave, Katharina A. Scherf

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The consumption of wheat, rye, and barley may cause adverse reactions to wheat such as celiac disease, non-celiac gluten/wheat sensitivity, or wheat allergy. The storage proteins (gluten) are known as major triggers, but also other functional protein groups such as α-amylase/trypsin-inhibitors or enzymes are possibly harmful for people suffering of adverse reactions to wheat. Gluten is widely used as a collective term for the complex protein mixture of wheat, rye or barley and can be subdivided into the following gluten protein types (GPTs): α-gliadins, γ-gliadins, ω5-gliadins, ω1,2-gliadins, high- and low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits of wheat, ω-secalins, high-molecular-weight secalins, γ-75k-secalins and γ-40k-secalins …

Addressing The Environmental, Community And Health Impacts Of Resource Development: Challenges Across Scales, Sectors And Sites, Margot W. Parkes, Sandra Allison, Henry G. Harder, Dawn Hoogeveen, Diana Kutzner, Melissa Aalhus, Evan Adams, Lindsay Beck, Ben Brisbois, Chris G. Buse, Annika Chiasson, Donald C. Cole, Shayna Dolan, Anne Fauré, Raina Fumerton, Maya K. Gislason, Louisa Hadley, Lars K. Hallström, Pierre Horwitz, Raissa Marks, Kaileah Mckellar, Helen Moewaka Barnes, Barbara Oke, Linda Pillsworth, Jamie Reschny, Dionne Sanderson, Sarah Skinner, Krista Stelkia, Craig Stephen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Work that addresses the cumulative impacts of resource extraction on environment, community, and health is necessarily large in scope. This paper presents experiences from initiating research at this intersection and explores implications for the ambitious, integrative agenda of planetary health. The purpose is to outline origins, design features, and preliminary insights from our intersectoral and international project, based in Canada and titled the “Environment, Community, Health Observatory” (ECHO) Network. With a clear emphasis on rural, remote, and Indigenous communities, environments, and health, the ECHO Network is designed to answer the question: How can an Environment, Community, Health Observatory Network support …

Intergenerational Influences Of Hunger And Community Violence On The Aboriginal People Of Western Australia: A Review, Francesca Robertson, David Coall, Dan Mcaullay, Alison Nannup

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

There is a consensus in the literature that hunger and community violence inaugurates adverse health impacts for survivors and for their descendants. The studied cohorts do not include Western Australian Aboriginal people, although many experienced violence and famine conditions as late as the 1970s. This article describes the pathways and intergenerational impacts of studied cohorts and applies these to the contemporary Western Australian context. The authors found that the intergenerational impacts, compounded by linguistic trauma, may be a contributor to current health issues experienced by Aboriginal people, but these are also contributing to the resurgence in population numbers.