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Development Of Extracellular Vesicle Isolation And Model Systems Toward Early Ovarian Cancer Diagnostics, Tyler Slonecki

All Dissertations

Ovarian cancer (OC) is characterized by late stage discovery and low survivability. However, when diagnosed early (Stages I or II) the 5-year survival rate is 92% up from 29%.5 The extreme dichotomy in survivability is what makes OC a prime candidate for early diagnosis techniques. Exosomes, a subtype of extracellular vesicles, may bridge the gap between early and late diagnosis, but are lacking consistent isolation and detection technologies. Here poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) capillary channeled polymer (C-CP) fibers employing an HIC protocol are investigated as a novel exosome isolation method and a quick, inexpensive, and easy-to-use platform for OC diagnosis. The …

Towards Development Of A Remote Charting System For Connected Healthcare, Alex Bodurka

Masters Theses

Health Care Providers play a crucial role in a patients well-being. While their primary role is to treat the patient, it is also vital to ensure that they can spend adequate time with the patient to create a unique treatment plan and build a personal relationship with their patients to help them feel comfortable during their treatment. Health Care Providers are frequently required to manually record patient data to track their healthcare progress during their hospital stay. However, with hospitals continuously trying to optimize their workflows, this crucial one-on-one time with the patient is often not practical.

As a solution, …

Dc House Network Design And Modeling, Timmy Huu Nguyen, Joseph Shafie

Electrical Engineering

Although electricity is a necessity for nearly everything in daily life, many developing countries are unable to provide easy access to this utility. Often times within these developing countries, many renewable energy sources exist that are readily accessible to these same people that don’t have access to electricity within their homes, such as solar energy. However, the nature of renewable energy is that most renewable energy lacks consistency in power delivery throughout the day. An example of this is that solar energy isn’t available during the night. These small communities are often comprised of people that are familiar with each …

Smart Motor Syringe System, Conard Chan, Jenny Chiao

Electrical Engineering

Syringe pumps are widely used in many research applications especially in the applications that need precise control. Today most medical research utilizes syringes to control the fluid being pumped to the experiment objects. In most cases microscopic or nano-scopic motion control is required to acquire optimal results, such application includes purification of DNA/RNA from contaminants[1]. The high precision required to control the syringe pump makes it difficult to perform manually. This paper focuses on the design of an intelligent syringe pump motor control system to achieve reliable and precise control for biomedical experiments. This project improves medical research quality with …

Stewart Platform, Matthew Claudio

Recent Advances in Real-Time Systems

The purpose of this project is to showcase the utilization of the Stewart Platform design for PID control system applications that require quick and precise stabilization in real-time.

What Can Covid-19 Teach Us About Using Ai In Pandemics?, Krzysztof Laudanski, Gregory Shea, Matthew Dimeglio, Mariana Rastrepo, Cassie Solomon

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

The COVID-19 pandemic put significant strain on societies and their resources, with the healthcare system and workers being particularly affected. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers the unique possibility of improving the response to a pandemic as it emerges and evolves. Here, we utilize the WHO framework of a pandemic evolution to analyze the various AI applications. Specifically, we analyzed AI from the perspective of all five domains of the WHO pandemic response. To effectively review the current scattered literature, we organized a sample of relevant literature from various professional and popular resources. The article concludes with a consideration of AI's weaknesses …

Monitoring Salt Diapir Related Land Deformation And Distribution: A Geophysical And Remote Sensing Approach Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia, Hannah G. Pankratz

Dissertations

Salt diapirs are rarely preserved on the surface and seldom considered as environmental hazards. The Jazan city diapir (JZD) is located in southwest Saudi Arabia along the Red Sea coastal plain and outcrops in the middle of a rapidly growing port city. The intrusion of the diapir (~ 2 km²) into the overburden sediments continues to cause uneven surfaces, compromises building foundations and infrastructure, caused dissolution sinkholes, and limits the expansion of the city along the coastline. This research aims to better understand the distribution and deformation associated with salt diapirs in arid environments.

Using integrated Interferometric Synthetic …

Female Graduate Students’ Experiences And Career Orientations In Stem: A Comparative Case Study, Jasvir K. Pannu

Dissertations

Regardless of implementation of government policies to promote STEM education and eradicate the underrepresentation of women and minorities, the number of women choosing STEM throughout their educational career remains low. In 2018 65% doctorate degrees were awarded to men and only 35% to women. Moreover, 40% of all students enrolled in doctorate programs drop out before completion. The process of socialization in graduate school and students’ non academic responsibilities play critical roles in graduate students’ success and future career orientations. Processes of socialization involve interactions with faculty, peers, and administration while taking courses and conducting dissertation research. Non academic engagements …

Atmospheric Turbulence Distortion In Video: Restoration Utilizing Sparse Analysis, Benjamin J. Sanda

Dissertations

The removal of atmospheric turbulence (AT) distortion in long range imaging is one of the most challenging areas of research in imaging processing with an immediate need for solutions in several applications such as in military and transportation systems. AT exacerbates distortion due to non-linear geometric blur and scintillations in long-distance images and videos, severely reducing image quality and information interpretation. AT negatively impacts both human and computer vision systems, compromising visibility essential for accurate object identification and tracking.

In this dissertation, a novel sparse analysis framework is developed to address efficient AT blur and scintillation removal in video. Operating …

Effectiveness Of A High-Fidelity Simulation-Based Training Program In Managing Cardiac Arrhythmias In Icu, Ru-Yu Lien, Wen-Ju Yang, Pei-Yu Zhu, Dung-Hung Chiang, Shih-Hsin Hung, Shu-Fen Lu

Journal of Medical Education

The disease severity and patient complexity are extremely high in the intensive care unit (ICU). The objective structured simulation training can effectively improve clinical management, caring ability, decision-making skills and teamwork communication, and hence. Purpose: This study aims to utilize the high-fidelity patient simulator in the ICU when clinical staff handles the emergent situation of arrhythmia, and to also evaluate the ability of handling emergent situations and the effectiveness of teamwork. Methods: The study was conducted in a mixed ICU of a medical center in the northern Taiwan, with a total of 13 training sessions and 87 trainees. The one-group …

Construction And Validation Of A Teacher Self-Evaluation Scale To Measure Teaching Performance In A Medical University, Chien-Feng Wang, Ruey-Hsia Wang, Po-Yu Yen, Shu-Ling Huang, Yaw-Bin Huang, Yu-Chih Lin

Journal of Medical Education

Purpose: The evaluation of teaching performance should be multidimensional, and a validated self-evaluation scale is lacking. This study aimed to construct and validate a self-evaluation scale of teaching performance in a medical university. Methods: A 5-dimensional teaching performance framework and an initial pool of 129 items were generated through literature reviews, eight rounds of expert panel discussions, external expert reviews, and a survey with open-ended questions. A pool of 46 items was extracted through the Delphi method and administered to 153 faculty members of a medical university. Item analysis and exploratory factor analysis were performed, and 27 valid items were …

Liver Cancer-Specific Serine Protease Inhibitor Kazal Is A Potentially Novel Biomarker For The Early Detection Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Felix Lu, Pir Ahmad Shah, Abhishek Rao, Cynthia Gifford-Hollingsworth, Anne Chen, Gary Trey, Mina Soryal, Arslan Talat, Aysha Aslam, Bilal Nasir, Saad Choudhry, Rizwan Ishtiaq, Hanna Sanoff, Lanla F Conteh, Anne Noonan, Ke-Qin Hu, Carl Schmidt, Janssen Research & Development, Jesse M. Civan, Gary Xiao, Daryl T-Y Lau, Xuanyong Lu

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Faculty Papers

Introduction: Liver cancer-secreted serine protease inhibitor Kazal (LC-SPIK) is a protein that is specifically elevated in cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We assessed the performance of LC-SPIK in detecting HCC, including its early stages, in patients with cirrhosis, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Methods: We enrolled 488 patients, including 164 HCC patients (81 early HCC) and 324 controls in a blinded, prospective, case-control study. Serum LC-SPIK levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based assay. The performance of serum LC-SPIK and α-fetoprotein (AFP), including area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity, are compared. The performance …

Mixed Methods Study Of Special Education Training In Educational Leadership Preparation Programs In Rural Georgia, Robert Lewis-Vice

Theses and Dissertations

This research study addressed the problem that school leaders may not be adequately prepared to address the needs of an increasing population of students with special needs. The purpose of the study was to examine the difference between beliefs and perceptions of middle and high school leaders and special education teachers about the knowledge and skills necessary to implement special education programs effectively. The conceptual framework of this study focused on the preparation of principals and assistant principals at the university level through certification programs and district level programs. For this causal-comparative research design study, the quantitative and qualitative data …

In-Depth Analysis Of College Students’ Data Privacy Awareness, Vernon D. Andrews

Theses and Dissertations

While attending university, college students need to be aware of issues related to data privacy. Regardless of the age, gender, race, or education level of college students, every student can relate to the advancement of the internet within the last decades. The internet has completely transformed the way the world receives and stores messages. Positively, the internet allows messages to be sent across the globe within the fraction of a second and provides students with access to potentially unlimited information on a variety of subjects. On the downside, there are issues on the internet that can cause more harm than …

An Association Between Perceived Social Support And Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Severity Among Women With Lifetime Sexual Victimization: The Serial Mediating Role Of Resilience And Coping, Michiyo Hirai, Ruby Charak, Laura D. Seligman, Joseph D. Hovey, John M. Ruiz, Timothy W. Smith

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

This study examined the association between perceived social support and severity of posttraumatic stress symptoms, serially mediated by resilience and coping among women exposed to different patterns of sexual victimization experiences: childhood sexual abuse (CSA) only, adult sexual assault (ASA) only, and sexual revictimization (SR). A total of 255 sexually victimized women recruited from four U.S. universities completed self-report measures online; 112 participants reported provisionally diagnosable levels of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The proposed model was largely supported in the CSA only group and the SR group. Different patterns of mediational effects were found across the three groups. …

Associative Nitrogen Fixation Linked With Three Perennial Bioenergy Grasses In Field And Greenhouse Experiments, Jayani J. Wewalwela, Yuan Tian, Janet R. Donaldson, Brian S. Baldwin, Jac J. Varco, Brett Rushing, Haoliang Lu, Mark A. Williams

Faculty Publications

© 2020 The Authors. Associative nitrogen (N₂)‐fixation (ANF) by bacteria in the root‐zone of perennial bioenergy grasses has the potential to replace or supplement N fertilizer and support sustainable production of biomass, but its application in marginal ecosystems requires further evaluation. In this study, we first combined both greenhouse and field experiments, to explore the N₂ fixation effects of three temperate feedstocks Miscanthus × giganteus (giant miscanthus, Freedom), Panicum virgatum (switchgrass, Alamo), and Saccharum sp. (energycane, Ho 02‐147). In field studies across three growing seasons, plant and soil pools of candidate feedstocks were partially composed of N …

Coalescence Speed Of Two Equal-Sized Nanobubbles, Eric Bird, Jun Zhou, Zhi Liang

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In This Work, We Use Molecular Dynamics (MD) Simulations Coupled with Continuum-Based Theoretical Analysis to Study the Coalescence Dynamics of Two Equal-Sized Nanobubbles (NBs). We First Derive a Governing Equation for the Evolution of the Capillary Bridge Radius between Two Coalescing NBs from the Axisymmetric Navier-Stokes Equation. to Verify the Prediction from the Governing Equation, We Carry Out MD Simulations of the Coalescence of Two NBs in a Lennard-Jones Fluid System and Directly Measure the Bridge Radius, Rb, as a Function of Time, T. by Varying the Bubble Diameter, We Change the NB Ohnesorge Number from 0.46 to 0.33. in …

A Formalist Theory Of Contract Law Adjudication, Felipe Jiménez

Utah Law Review

Formalism has a bad name. It is often seen as a naïve and unsophisticated approach to the adjudication of legal disputes. This negative view of formalism is widespread in American legal culture and has been particularly influential in contract law. This Article challenges this prevailing view and argues that a formalist theory of adjudication is the best approach to resolve contractual disputes.

The argument of this Article starts from the assumption that contract law is not morally justified because of its enforcement of promissory rights or some other dimension of interpersonal morality. Instead, like contemporary law and economics, this Article …

Show Me The (Data About The) Money!, Nizan Geslevich Packin

Utah Law Review

Information about consumers, their money, and what they do with it is the lifeblood of the flourishing financial technology (“FinTech”) sector. Historically, highly regulated banks jealously protected this data. However, consumers themselves now share their data with businesses more than ever before. These businesses monetize and use the data for countless prospects, often without the consumers’ actual consent. Understanding the dimensions of this recent phenomenon, more and more consumer groups, scholars, and lawmakers have started advocating for consumers to have the ability to control their data as a modern imperative. This ability is tightly linked to the concept of open …

Regulatory Challenges For Treating Failure To Disclose Fcoi As Research Misconduct In Public Health Research, Tammy M. Frisby

Utah Law Review

It is unlikely that a court would find that current HHS regulations provide legal authority for PHS funding-agencies to address “serious noncompliance” with FCOI disclosure requirements as research misconduct. With one exception—the culpability standard for research misconduct—the administrative law governing bias and integrity in PHS-funded research does not support treating even the most serious cases of failure to disclose FCOI in itself as research misconduct in violation of PHS regulations. Indeed, there are at least four features of that law which would support a claim that an HHS action to treat FCOI nondisclosure as research misconduct was “arbitrary and capricious.” …

To Cite Or Not To Cite: Is That Still A Question, Deborah L. Heller

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

Some states still restrict the citation of unpublished opinions, and the rules among the federal circuits vary slightly as well. This article looks at the history of case publication, the controversy over unpublished opinions, and the current rules related to the citation of unpublished cases.

Secondary Content Area Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Impact Of Teaching Explicit Reading Strategies On Reading Comprehension And Student Academic Performance, Sandra Dance Weaver

Education Doctoral

Many students are entering high school unable to read proficiently. Other students are graduating from high school with reading skills below proficiency and are unprepared to meet the literacy demands of college or the workplace. The negative outcomes for these students graduating from high school and entering society as young adults with reduced literacy skills include an increased dropout rate, affiliation with the criminal justice system, unemployment, and reduced income earning power. Federal and state education reforms and standards continue to be implemented in an effort to improve the literacy crisis and academic performance of students. Secondary content area teachers …

Medical Marijuana In Public Schools: A Narrative Study Of Parents’ Experiences With Policy Implementation, Donise Robinson Dr.

Education Doctoral

Parents of children with conditions such as epilepsy, cancer, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can choose medical marijuana (MM) as a treatment plan for their children. The purpose of this narrative study is to describe parents’ experiences when implementing medical marijuana treatment plans in K-12 schools in New Jersey, Maryland, and Colorado. This study addressed the success and challenges parents faced with the chosen treatment plan. Many schools grapple with allowing the administration of MM to students because of the conflict between federal and state laws. This study identifies the experiences of parents of children prescribed MM as they …

Through The Funnel: A Critical Policy Analysis Of Educational Policy Relating To The School-To-Prison Pipeline., Jesse V. Hall

Special Education ETDs

The purpose of the present study involved analyzing the policies of the Trump administration to determine the ways it impacted the school-to-prison pipeline. The focus of the study included the Departments of Education and Justice. The findings revealed educational policies and deregulatory practices that maintained and intensified the school-to-prison pipeline.

Preparation And Characterization Of Silicon-Metal Fluoride Reactive Composites, Siva Kumar Valluri, Mirko Schoenitz, Edward Dreizin

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fuel-rich composite powders combining elemental Si with the metal fluoride oxidizers BiF3 and CoF2 were prepared by arrested reactive milling. Reactivity of the composite powders was assessed using thermoanalytical measurements in both inert (Ar) and oxidizing (Ar/O2) environments. Powders were ignited using an electrically heated filament; particle combustion experiments were performed in room air using a CO2 laser as an ignition source. Both composites showed accelerated oxidation of Si when heated in oxidizing environments and ignited readily using the heated filament. Elemental Si, used as a reference, did not exhibit appreciable oxidation when heated under the same conditions and could …

Taking Nitrogen By Storm: Spatial And Temporal Controls On Nitrogen Processing In A Small Reservoir, Eliza Balch

Master's Theses and Capstones

Nitrate inputs pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems, leading to eutrophication, algal blooms, and habitat loss in downstream coastal marine and estuarine habitats. Rivers and streams can attenuate nitrogen between inputs and coastal outputs, moderating ecosystem harm. While nitrogen dynamics in streams and rivers have been studied for decades, less is known about the wetlands through which they flow, namely small reservoirs. Storms can have a large influence on nitrogen processing in reservoirs through hydrologic changes and introduction of new solute sources, but are poorly understood. To understand the spatial and temporal variability of nitrogen processing in a small reservoir, …

Occupational Health Nursing - Musculoskeletal Disorders & Stretching, Katherine Hale

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

For employees who work in food processing plants, work related injuries can take a serious physical toll because of the continuous repetition of the tasks that they perform. Occupational health nurses work hard to encourage correct body mechanics in the workplace and are often the ones to treat those injuries. An internship at a food manufacturing plant allowed me to step into the shoes of an occupational health nurse and witness the difficulties that come with the position. The purpose of my position was to educate the food processing plant employees on proper ergonomics as well as create a stretching …

Procedural Whipsaw: Allocating The Burden Of Proving Reasonable Notice To Prisoners Of Forfeiture Proceedings And The (Renewed) Call For Actual Notice, Jamison Wynn

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Theological Education As An Exercise In Limits, Noah Matthysse

CTS Student Publications and Creative Works

The study of theology is by nature an exercise in limits. When we decide to study at the Seminary, we are entering into a field that is impossible to master. However, we have a unique opportunity to model a culture of humility that can shape our churches for years to come by embracing our limits.

Rational Design Of 2,4-Disubstituted Quinazoline Small Molecules To Inhibit The Inflammatory Cytokine Oncostatin M, Riley Olsen

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Inflammation is one of the body's most important natural defense mechanisms involved in wound healing. It is usually triggered by a harmful event, such as physical trauma or exposure to external stimuli including bacteria, fungi, viruses, harmful chemicals, or environmental particulates. The inflammatory process brings blood containing inflammatory mediators consisting of leukocytes, hormones, and cytokines to the site of trauma to begin healing. However, the lack of a proper inflammatory response or an overactive response can lead to further progressive tissue damage resulting in chronic inflammatory conditions or death. The cytokine oncostatin M (OSM) is of particular interest due to …