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Assessment Of Nephroprotective Properties Of Vitex Agnus Castus Extract In Cisplatin-Treated Wistar Rats: A Pilot Study, Aparna Tripathy, Babi Dutta, Archana Parampalli Raghavendra, Sudarshan Surendran

Open Access archive

Cisplatin (CP) is used to treat various solid tumors but is associated with nephrotoxicity, which varies with dose and duration. Vitex Agnus castus (VAC) berries, known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, may alleviate CP-induced renal toxicity. To investigate the gender-specific responses to cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and evaluate VAC extract's nephroprotective effects. Four-month-old Wistar rats (n=36) (24 male, 12 female) were used. In phase 1, gender-based differences in CP-induced nephrotoxicity were assessed. The gender group with higher nephrotoxicity was selected for phase 2 to evaluate VAC's nephroprotective properties. Animals were randomly grouped as Normal Control (6 males & 6 females), CP …

Iot And Smart Sensors For Remote Sensing Healthcare And Agriculture Applications, Vijayalaxmi Kadrolli, Gauri Kalnoor

Open Access archive

In order to better serve patients and make better decisions, the healthcare industry is always adapting to incorporate new technology. In this in-depth analysis, we look at how geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) have revolutionised contemporary medicine. Improving healthcare planning, illness management, and environmental health evaluation are just a few of the many potential outcomes of integrating remote sensing and GIS, two technologies that can gather data from great distances and then analyze it spatially. We explore the many facets of SR and GIS in health care in this paper. To guarantee the inclusion and relevance of …

Convolutional Neural Network For Colorimetric Glucose Detection Using A Smartphone And Novel Multilayer Polyvinyl Film Microfluidic Device, Mithun Kanchan, Prasad Kisan Tambe, Sanjay Bharati, Omkar S. Powar

Open Access archive

Detecting glucose levels is crucial for diabetes patients as it enables timely and effective management, preventing complications and promoting overall health. In this endeavor, we have designed a novel, affordable point-of-care diagnostic device utilizing microfluidic principles, a smartphone camera, and established laboratory colorimetric methods for accurate glucose estimation. Our proposed microfluidic device comprises layers of adhesive poly-vinyl films stacked on a poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) base sheet, with micro-channel contours precision-cut using a cutting printer. Employing the gold standard glucose-oxidase/peroxidase reaction on this microfluidic platform, we achieve enzymatic glucose determination. The resulting colored complex, formed by phenol and 4-aminoantipyrine in …

Correction: Paediatric Oncologists’ Perspectives On Strategic Solutions To Develop Integrated Cancer Palliative Care: Feedback Intervention Theory As An Explanatory Framework (Bmc Palliative Care, (2024), 23, 1, (130), 10.1186/S12904-024-01462-Y), Naveen Salins, Krithika Rao, Anuja Damani, Sean Hughes

Open Access archive

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported an error in Figure 1.“Task Motivation “ is printed twice in error. The bottom tier should be “Task-Learning Process “. The correct figure is shown below. (Figure presented.) Feedback Intervention Theory The original article has been updated.

Relation Of Skinfold Thickness With The Serum Lipids, Glucose And Blood Pressure Among Indian Sedentary Office Workers, Nikhil Gopal Naik, Baskaran Chandrasekaran, Rakshith N. Patil, Saritha U. Kamath

Open Access archive

Background: Serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are established cardiovascular disease (CVD) markers, however accessibility to these markers is less in individuals from low-middle income countries. The non-invasive CVD risk marker especially skinfold measured fat percentages are less explored for its relevance with established serum biochemistry markers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 70 sedentary office workers (aged 30–40 years) who were healthy. Peripheral fat percentages were estimated from four skinfold thickness measurements and biochemistry markers were measured and analysed using standard laboratory measurements. Blood pressure was also measured. Multivariate linear regression models were drawn to establish …

Correction To: Oncologists’ Palliative Care Referral Behaviour: Testing Utility Of Social Exchange Theory As An Explanatory Framework (Bmc Palliative Care, (2024), 23, 1, (183), 10.1186/S12904-024-01517-0), Naveen Salins, Sean Hughes, Nancy Preston

Open Access archive

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-024-01517-0. Following publication of the original article [1], the author wants to update the Acknowledgements and Funding sections by removing the data in bold. We thank the Tata Trusts, Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation, Hamied Foundation, and Cipla Foundation for supporting this study. We also extend our thanks to faculty of Lancaster University and Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, for their invaluable assistance, both directly and indirectly, in our research. We thank the Tata Trusts and Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation for supporting this study. We also extend our thanks to faculty of Lancaster University and Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, for their invaluable assistance, both …

Literature Review And Case Study: Unveiling The Complexities Of Mandibular Second Molar With Three Distal Canals, Anoushka Yadav, Anushka Arora, Karthik Shetty, Mohmed Isaqali Karobari

Open Access archive

The occurrence of morphological deviations in root canal anatomy is challenging and can influence treatment outcomes. While mandibular second molars typically have 2 roots and 3 canals, a unique case emerged in a 23-year-old Indian male with a symptomatic permanent left mandibular second molar showing three distal, two mesial canals, and two roots. The tooth presented as non-mobile but tender on percussion. The patient was diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis with symptomatic apical periodontitis. The presence of mid distal canal was radiographically and visually confirmed with the aid of limited FOV cone-beam computed tomography and the dental operating microscope. Successful …

Association Of Maxillofacial Injuries With Traumatic Brain Injuries In Paediatric Patients: A Case–Control Study, Baranya Shrikrishna Suprabha, Michael Lowery Wilson, Joanna Baptist, Sadhvi Shankar Subramanian

Open Access archive

Background: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most challenging conditions to accurately diagnose in children, and many TBIs are underdiagnosed. Patients with maxillofacial injury may be at risk for TBI. The objective of this study was to analyse the association between maxillofacial injuries and TBI among paediatric patients. Analysis of the factors associated with the occurrence of TBI among paediatric patients with maxillofacial injuries was the secondary objective. Method: This case-control study included 192 cases defined as paediatric patients with maxillofacial injuries and 192 controls defined as all paediatric patients with traumatic injuries to other body locations and with …

Correction To: Role And Promise Of Health Policy And Systems Research In Integrating Rehabilitation Into The Health Systems (Health Research Policy And Systems, (2024), 22, 1, (143), 10.1186/S12961-024-01235-2), Abdul Ghafar, Abdulgafoor M. Bachani, Adnan A. Hyder, Alarcos Cieza

Open Access archive

Following publication of the original article [1] it was reported that there was an error in the affiliations of Pierre Côté and Rajiv Reebye. Pierre Côté was mistakenly assigned affiliation 5 instead of 15, and Rajiv Reebye was mistakenly assigned affiliation 15 instead of their missing affiliation, now affiliation 16. The incorrect affiliations were: Pierre Côté⁵, Rajiv Reebye¹⁵⁵Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, Rehabilitation and Disability, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. ¹⁵Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University, Ontario, Canada. The correct affiliations are: Pierre Côté¹⁵, Rajiv …

D-Prism: A Global Survey-Based Study To Assess Diagnostic And Treatment Approaches In Pneumonia Managed In Intensive Care, Luis Felipe Reyes, Cristian C. Serrano-Mayorga, Zhongheng Zhang, Isabela Tsuji

Open Access archive

Background: Pneumonia remains a significant global health concern, particularly among those requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Despite the availability of international guidelines, there remains heterogeneity in clinical management. The D-PRISM study aimed to develop a global overview of how pneumonias (i.e., community-acquired (CAP), hospital-acquired (HAP), and Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)) are diagnosed and treated in the ICU and compare differences in clinical practice worldwide. Methods: The D-PRISM study was a multinational, survey-based investigation to assess the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia in the ICU. A self-administered online questionnaire was distributed to intensive care clinicians from 72 countries between …

Global, Regional, And National Burden Of Hiv/Aids, 1990–2021, And Forecasts To 2050, For 204 Countries And Territories: The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2021, Austin Carter, Magdalene K. Walters, Deepa Jahagirdar, Edmond D. Brewer

Open Access archive

Background: As set out in Sustainable Development Goal 3.3, the target date for ending the HIV epidemic as a public health threat is 2030. Therefore, there is a crucial need to evaluate current epidemiological trends and monitor global progress towards HIV incidence and mortality reduction goals. In this analysis, we assess the current burden of HIV in 204 countries and territories and forecast HIV incidence, prevalence, and mortality up to 2050 to allow countries to plan for a sustained response with an increasing number of people living with HIV globally. Methods: We used the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and …

Violence In The Administrative State, Emily R. Chertoff

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Drawing on an original, interview-based case study of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and a synthesis of six decades of social science literature, this Article offers a theory of physical violence in the administrative state that challenges foundational assumptions about administrative law. Approximately one-fifth of federal employees work for administrative agencies that police, fight wars, enforce immigration law, or incarcerate people—in other words, agencies that use force to execute the laws. These agencies are saturated with administrative law that obligates front-line administrators to confer due process, give notice, behave non-arbitrarily, and comply with law. Yet this law often fails to …

The Impacts Of Using Geogebra On Students’ Perceptions And Achievement In Learning Trigonometric Ratios, Robert Carlos Trejo

Theses and Dissertations

GeoGebra, a dynamic mathematics software, was used to study high school students’ perceptions and achievements in learning trigonometric ratios. The study addresses a critical gap in the literature concerning the use of GeoGebra for understanding trigonometric concepts, particularly in fostering conceptual clarity and problem-solving skills. Rooted in a constructivist pedagogical framework, the research examines how GeoGebra facilitates interactive and exploratory learning environments that encourage active student engagement and deeper comprehension of trigonometric ratio principles.

The study employed a quantitative approach to evaluate the efficacy of GeoGebra. Quantitative data focused on student achievement in solving trigonometric ratio problems through pre- and …

A Genotyping Array For The Globally Invasive Vector Mosquito, Aedes Albopictus, Luciano Veiga Cosme, Margaret Corley, Thomas Johnson, Dave W. Severson, Guiyun Yan, Xiaoming Wang, Nigel Beebe, Andrew Maynard, Mariangela Bonizzoni, Ayda Khorramnejad, Ademir Jesus Martins, José Bento Pereira Lima, Todd P. Livdahl

Biology

Background: Although whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is the preferred genotyping method for most genomic analyses, limitations are often experienced when studying genomes characterized by a high percentage of repetitive elements, high linkage, and recombination deserts. The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), for example, has a genome comprising up to 72% repetitive elements, and therefore we set out to develop a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip to be more cost-effective. Aedes albopictus is an invasive species originating from Southeast Asia that has recently spread around the world and is a vector for many human diseases. Developing an accessible genotyping platform is essential in …

How Many Tiny Snails? Circumscription Of Three Species Of Pyrgulopsis (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae)In Nevada Mountain Springs, Trenton Meadows

Theses and Dissertations

The springsnail genus Pyrgulopsis is one of the most diverse groups of freshwater gastropods in North America (Hershler, 2014), with many species displaying high levels of endemism (Hurt, 2003). This study attempts to circumscribe three putative species of springsnails: Pyrgulopsis serrata, Pyrgulopsis marcida, and a newly identified clade, referred to as Lineage C, from the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada, USA and nearby springs. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, we combined morphological, anatomical, and molecular data to examine species boundaries and evolutionary relationships.

Many lines of evidence were considered to determine species boundaries. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial …

Densenet Model For Binary Glaucoma Classification Performance Assessment With Texture Feature, Wildan Jameel Hadi, Amal Sufiuh Ajrash, Sahar Muneam Salman, Mays Jalal Jasim, Mina Taha Ibrahim

Baghdad Science Journal

The retina is an important portion of the eye because images of it are used by doctors to diagnose numerous eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts. Indeed, segmented retinal imaging is a powerful tool for detecting unusual growths in the eye area as well as determining the size and structure of the optic disc. The combination of digital image processing and deep learning techniques enables the development of automated approaches for detecting glaucoma. Within this framework, the objective of this study is to achieve prompt detection of glaucoma by utilizing a DenseNet-121 Network in conjunction with texture …

The Positivity Principle: Investigating A School Administrator Training Series Designed To Promote Systemic Positivity, Catherine Gillach

Theses and Dissertations

Education has historically been recognized as a stressful profession, yet the Covid-19 pandemic (2020) paired with intensified socio-political influences have exacerbated educator stress, anxiety, and negativity, prematurely pushing more career educators to leave the profession. Teacher and principal pre-service preparation programs largely neglect to train educators in strategies for personally managing negative stressors, and negativity mitigation strategies are often overlooked as a critical facet of school climate and culture. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation in practice was to examine the degree to which a school administrator training series could stimulate personal and systemic positivity within participants’ schools in a …

Directivity Improvement Of A Broad-Beam Patch Antenna By Means Of A Flat Metamaterial Lens, Tyler Midas

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis demonstrates the development of a flat metamaterial lens intended to enhance antenna directivity in RF applications. Development and evaluation was performed with ANSYS HFSS, where a theoretical convex lens model was developed and used as a basis for unit cell refractive indices of the metamaterial lens. The unit cell demonstrated in this study leverages the properties of a nested split-ring resonator merged with a center column. Adjusting the rings allow for refractive index optimization and effective beam focusing. The work presented also provides a 2x2 antenna array with a feed network, which enables the future work of bench …

Behavioral Health Workforce Modeling To Assist In Prioritizing Educational Pathways Programs In North Dakota, Mandi-Leigh Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

Background. The need for behavioral health services in North Dakota has grown in recent years. As part of the response to the need for services, a state definition of behavioral health workforce was enacted in state statute to assist in addressing this need. Thus far, no empirical evaluations of the status of that workforce have been conducted.Purpose. The primary purpose of this work was to quantify the supply and demand for the behavioral health workforce in North Dakota to assist in identifying and prioritizing those educational pathways that can assist in growing the identified needed workforce. Sample. This study examined …

The Fcc 5-Year Deorbit Rule’S Impact On The Space Industry Including Non-Traditional Scientific And Environmental Stakeholders, Kristin Shahady

Theses and Dissertations

In pursuit of a safer and more sustainable space environment, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) introduced the 5-year deorbit rule, a regulatory mandate aimed at mitigating space debris by requiring satellite operators to remove their spacecraft from LEO within 5 years after their mission is complete. While the intent behind this rule is admirable in the desire to remediate and limit the generation of orbital debris, it raises questions whether it was crafted with consideration of all stakeholders, whether it will truly mitigate the creation of orbital debris, and whether it exhibits characteristics of arbitrariness and capriciousness. Agencies’ actions be …

Barriers To Faculty Adoption Of Assessment: A Case Study In Engineering, Melodie A. R. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

This case study at an undergraduate teaching-focused engineering program in a small faith-based liberal arts university is designed to evaluate tools for assessing the engineering accreditor ABET’s Student Outcome Five – teamwork skills of engineering students. This evaluation would set the foundation for developing an assessment program that meets the needs of faculty, administrators, and accreditors. Activity theory is used as the theoretical framework for the study. A literature review lays the foundation for a novel conceptual framework asserting “faculty resistance” is actually “systemic friction.” The methodology is described, including data collection procedures, data analysis methods, and the approaches to …

Elementary Teacher Instructional Self-Efficacy In Leader In Me Lighthouse Schools, Lara Storm

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a secondary data comparative analysis using the Leader in Me Measurable Results Assessment (MRA) to examine whether teachers at Leader in Me Lighthouse certified schools have a greater degree of instructional self-efficacy than teachers at non-Lighthouse certified Leader in Me schools. Literature shows that students in classes with teachers that have a higher degree of instructional self-efficacy experience higher student achievement and a more supportive classroom climate. In addition, those teachers with higher efficacy experience lower levels of stress and burnout and are more engaged in professional development. The guiding notion of this investigation is that implementing …

Researching Chlorophyll-Α Levels In Freshwater Lakes To Understand The Environmental State Of The Turtle Mountains Using Ndci Through Remote Sensing Techniques, Elliot Quinn Peltier

Theses and Dissertations

Chlorophyll α is one of the main indicators of water quality. Increasing levels have various triggers such as agricultural runoff, wastewater from treatment plants, sewage, and humus. Addressing chlorophyll α is crucial since high concentrations are precursors to eutrophication and are hazardous to human health. The Turtle Mountains in North Dakota and Manitoba is an island forest laden with lakes and trees. However, the noticeable extent of agricultural surface on the United States side of the border has made obvious the disintegration of forested area. Also, a lack of information and studies do not allow anyone to comprehend the level …

Using Problematic Sexual Behaviors And The Developmental Life Course Model To Predict Criminal Justice Involvement And Psychopathology By Early Adulthood, Amanda Schwartz

Theses and Dissertations

The developmental life course (DLC) model explains risk factors and developmental patterns among juveniles who have committed more than one sexual offense by considering the impact of major life events, experiences, and risk and protective factors throughout various developmental stages. Using an archival longitudinal dataset, the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN), this study applied the DLC model to explore the relationship between gender and onset and persistence of problematic sexual behaviors (PSBs) in childhood and adolescence with criminal justice involvement and psychopathology by early adulthood (N = 330, 46% male, M = 18.26 years) after controlling for …

Investigating The Impact Of Urban Areas On Quasi-Linear Convective Systems, Claiborne Wooton

Theses and Dissertations

Urban areas absorb and radiate energy at a higher rate compared to surrounding rural areas due to several factors, including an urban area’s tendency to have sparse vegetation and tree canopies along with high incidences of pavement. Urban areas have been shown to impact both the environment in which thunderstorms form (by altering thermodynamic, microphysical, and wind flow patterns) and the thunderstorms themselves; however, most of this previous work focused on isolated thunderstorms amid weak environmental vertical wind shear. This thesis analyzes how the structure of observed quasi-linear convective systems (QLCSs)—i.e., lines of thunderstorms—are altered as they pass over urban …

America At A Glance: Rural Transit Funding Through The Covid-19 Pandemic, Andrew Myers, Luke Santore

Independent Living and Community Participation

While all people need transportation to meet their basic needs, rural people with disabilities face barriers due to lack of public transportation and not driving. Federal transit funds to improve public transportation doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but most went to metropolitan and micropolitan counties, with many rural counties receiving no transit funds from 2018-2022. This factsheet explores and illustrates these differences in transit funds received in urban and rural counties.

The Impact Of Restorative Practice Implementation On Culturally Responsive Teaching And Student Behavior, Patrice Mccoy

Dissertations

American public schools uphold the policies, standards, and disciplinary practices that guide the belief systems of how students view fairness and deal with conflict. As teachers invest in student knowledge and seek to guide students in the right direction, the challenge is learning the appropriate methods of dealing with student behavior. Behavior management practices have evolved just as many student challenges and needs have changed. With these changes evolves the need to better understand students and families. Teachers gaining cultural responsiveness to student behavior challenges is a relatively new ideology to ensure students feel understood and more engaged in the …

The Role Of Leadership In Embedding Social Emotional Learning For Systematic Change In Chicago’S Elementary Schools, Alexandra K. Dakessian

Dissertations

Students within Chicago Public Schools (CPS) are experiencing an unprecedented level of trauma and displaying an immense need for social emotional support. This work evaluated the implementation of social-emotional learning (SEL) programming in CPS by exploring the roles of stakeholders in implementing SEL support in the district and in individual schools, identifying the barriers to effective implementation, and recommending measures to enhance SEL practices at the local and state levels. Data for the study were collected in 2023 and 2024 through interviews with school leaders and revealed both the progress in SEL integration as well as the significant disparities that …

The Effectiveness Of Mbsr On The Occupational Stress Of Correctional Officers, Nikolas Kerr

Dissertations

This dissertation looks at the negative effects of the work environment and other factors related to correctional officers lived experience. The intervention concentrates on the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the occupational stress of correctional officers. Correctional officers have always dealt with difficult work conditions, but over the last 30 years the increase in the number of incarcerated people, the lack of retention among correctional officers, and the proliferation of inmates with complex mental health issues and gang affiliations have all created a much more complex and dangerous work environment. Combine this with the new understanding of the effects …

Protective Play: The Impact Of A Before-School Play Program On Sixth-Grade Students’ Social-Emotional Well-Being, Luleta Dardovski

Dissertations

This mixed-methods study explored the impact of a daily thirty-minute before-school play program on sixth-grade students' social and emotional well-being, using the five CASEL core competencies and S.A.F.E. (Sequenced, Active, Focused, Explicit) framework as guiding principles. The study addressed the central research question: How does unstructured play before school influence students’ social-emotional learning (SEL) skills and well-being? Data was collected through student surveys, interviews with teachers, and observations to explore how play fosters SEL skill development. Play was found to offer an authentic environment for sixth grade students to actively practice SEL skills, fostering benefits in self-esteem, social connectedness, emotional …