Digital Commons Network^™

Burden And Depression Among Caregivers Of Visually Impaired Patients In A Canadian Population, Zainab Khan, Puneet S. Braich, Karim Rahim, Jaspreet S. Rayat, Lin Xing, Munir Iqbal, Karim Mohamed Mohamed, Sanjay Sharma, David Almeida

Ophthalmology Publications

Purpose/Background. This study reports the degree of burden and the proportion at risk for depression among individuals who provide care to visually impaired patients. Study Design. This is clinic-based, cross-sectional survey in a tertiary care hospital. Methods. Caregivers were considered unpaid family members for patients whose sole impairment was visual. Patients were stratified by vision in their better seeing eye into two groups: Group 1 had visual acuity between 6/18 and 6/60 and Group 2 were those who had 6/60 or worse. Burden was evaluated by the Burden Index of Caregivers and the prevalence of being at …

Burden And Depression Among Caregivers Of Visually Impaired Patients In A Canadian Population, Zainab Khan, Puneet S. Braich, Karim Rahim, Jaspreet S. Rayat, Lin Xing, Munir Iqbal, Karim Mohamed, Sanjay Sharma, David Almeida

Ophthalmology Publications

Purpose/Background. This study reports the degree of burden and the proportion at risk for depression among individuals who provide care to visually impaired patients. Study Design. This is clinic-based, cross-sectional survey in a tertiary care hospital. Methods. Caregivers were considered unpaid family members for patients whose sole impairment was visual. Patients were stratified by vision in their better seeing eye into two groups: Group 1 had visual acuity between 6/18 and 6/60 and Group 2 were those who had 6/60 or worse. Burden was evaluated by the Burden Index of Caregivers and the prevalence of being at risk for depression …

Integration Of Attributes From Non-Linear Characterization Of Cardiovascular Time-Series For Prediction Of Defibrillation Outcomes, Sharad Shandilya, Michael C. Kurz, Kevin R. Ward, Kayvan Najarian

Computer Science Publications

Objective

The timing of defibrillation is mostly at arbitrary intervals during cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), rather than during intervals when the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OOH-CA) patient is physiologically primed for successful countershock. Interruptions to CPR may negatively impact defibrillation success. Multiple defibrillations can be associated with decreased post-resuscitation myocardial function. We hypothesize that a more complete picture of the cardiovascular system can be gained through non-linear dynamics and integration of multiple physiologic measures from biomedical signals.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective analysis of 153 anonymized OOH-CA patients who received at least one defibrillation for ventricular fibrillation (VF) was undertaken. A machine learning …

What Is Safe Cycling?, Julie Arendt

Great VCU Bike Race Book Faculty Reflections

Faculty reflection on VCU Great Bike Race Book course.

Course Description: Students will find and read sources about bicycle safety, observe cyclists during the race and create a Web presentation.

Tuning The Plasmonic Properties Of Silver Nanopatterns Fabricated By Shadow Nanosphere Lithography, Whitney Ingram, Yizhuo He, Keenan Stone, William M. Dennis, Dexian Ye, Yiping Zhao

Physics Publications

Regular silver (Ag) nanopatterns, from disconnected nanotriangles to well coupled triangular clusters of nanoparticles, were prepared by shadow nanosphere lithography at different incident angles θ from 0 degrees to 20 degrees with continuous azimuthal rotation. The resulting nanopatterns were consistent with predictions by numerical calculations and Monte Carlo simulations of adatoms with high diffusivity. The visible localized surface plasmon resonance of these nanopatterns was tuned by θ systematically due to the change in size, shape, and arrangement of Ag nanopatterns. These resonances were consistent with finite-difference time-domain simulations using realistic nanopatterns based upon scanning electron micrographs. Such a simple fabrication …

Treatment Of Menorrhagia And Irregular Menstruation: Cryo-Fluid Ablation Of The Endometrium, Baha Endisha, Benjamin Green

Capstone Design Expo Posters

Menorrhagia and irregular menstruation, characterized as dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB), is a condition that affects 15 to 20% of reproductive and pre-menopausal women. Common treatments are invasive, painful, or have low success rates; there is a need for new treatment. A 2014-2015 senior design team developed a prototype treatment based on the hypothesis that if free fluid was circulated in the uterine cavity at temperatures between 0 and -15ᵒC, cell death of the 2cm reproductive endometrial layer in the uterine cavity could be achieved and induce long term amenorrhea. The current senior design team significantly modified the prototype to reach …

Rnaseq Analyses Identify Tumor Necrosis Factor-Mediated Inflammation As A Major Abnormality In Als Spinal Cord, David G. Brohawn, Laura C. O'Brien, James P. Bennett

Human and Molecular Genetics Publications

ALS is a rapidly progressive, devastating neurodegenerative illness of adults that produces disabling weakness and spasticity arising from death of lower and upper motor neurons. No meaningful therapies exist to slow ALS progression, and molecular insights into pathogenesis and progression are sorely needed. In that context, we used high-depth, next generation RNA sequencing (RNAseq, Illumina) to define gene network abnormalities in RNA samples depleted of rRNA and isolated from cervical spinal cord sections of 7 ALS and 8 CTL samples. We aligned >50 million 2X150 bp paired-end sequences/sample to the hg19 human genome and applied three different algorithms (Cuffdiff2 …

Intra- And Inter-Fractional Variation Prediction Of Lung Tumors Using Fuzzy Deep Learning, Seonyeong Park, Suk Jin Lee, Elisabeth Weiss, Yuichi Motai

Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications

Tumor movements should be accurately predicted to improve delivery accuracy and reduce unnecessary radiation exposure to healthy tissue during radiotherapy. The tumor movements pertaining to respiration are divided into intra-fractional variation occurring in a single treatment session and inter- fractional variation arising between different sessions. Most studies of patients' respiration movements deal with intra-fractional variation. Previous studies on inter-fractional variation are hardly mathematized and cannot predict movements well due to inconstant variation. Moreover, the computation time of the prediction should be reduced. To overcome these limitations, we propose a new predictor for intra- and inter-fractional data variation, called intra- and …

Postpartum Visit Attendance Increases The Use Of Modern Contraceptives, Saba W. Masho, Susan Cha, Rashel Charles, Elizabeth Mcgee, Nicole Karjane, Linda Hines, Susan G. Kornstein

Family Medicine and Population Health Publications

Background. Delays in postpartum contraceptive use may increase risk for unintended or rapid repeat pregnancies. The postpartum care visit (PPCV) is a good opportunity for women to discuss family planning options with their health care providers. This study examined the association between PPCV attendance and modern contraceptive use using data from a managed care organization. Methods. Claims and demographic and administrative data came from a nonprofit managed care organization in Virginia (2008–2012). Information on the most recent delivery for mothers with singleton births was analyzed (N = 24,619). Routine PPCV (yes, no) and modern contraceptive use were both dichotomized. Descriptive …

Using Discussion To Promote Learning In Undergraduate Biology, Ariana E. Sutton-Grier, Emily S.J. Rauschert, Jennifer Momsen

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Summary and Comments from Workshop 40: “Looks Who's Talking! Using Discussion as an Effective Learning Tool” presented at the 100th Ecological Society of America Meeting

Creating A New University In A Time Of Political And Economic Conservatism, Alyson King Ph.D., Shirley Van Nuland Ph.D

System and Institutional Design and Transformation

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) was the first new university to be established in Ontario in forty years and was created in a time of fiscal austerity by a Conservative government led by a Premier with a reputation for anti-intellectualism. In many ways, UOIT represents a new way of thinking about the nature of higher education that was prevalent at the time; in other ways, it was unable to effect a significant redesign of curriculum, administration, or structure.

Examining Academic Performance Among Pathway And Non-Pathway Health Sciences Students, Maurice Digiuseppe, Bil Goodman, Jennifer Percival, Arlene De La Rocha, Fabiola Longo

Credit Transfer and Recognition

Pathway programs providing opportunities for students to more efficiently earn university degrees and college diplomas are proliferating in Canada and internationally. In Ontario, Canada, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College (DC) have jointly provided pathway programs for over a decade. These programs, in fields including science, health sciences (allied health sciences, kinesiology, nursing), social science and humanities (legal studies, criminology, commerce), nuclear power, and education (adult education, early childhood studies), facilitate inter-institutional transitions, and enable college graduates to obtain a 4-year (honours) university degree with as little as two additional years of study. This paper …

Development Of A University/College Pathway For Academic Success Remediation, Jennifer Percival, Glen Harvel, Joe Stokes, Alena Shah, Jeff Zakoor

Credit Transfer and Recognition

Some students have difficulty in achieving success in the first year of study. Programs are intensive and do not include capabilities to recover from deficiencies affecting academic performance. A mechanism is needed for students to break off from their program, and address their specific deficiencies, before returning. The University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) and Durham College have developed a pathway for enhanced academic success to support students requiring remediation. The proposed pathway is done in such a way that successful students will be eligible to earn a General Arts and Science certificate concurrently with the continuation of their …

“Dit Get Smart!” – Tailor-Made Mobile Application For The Orientation Of First Year 'Third-Level' Students In The Technological University Dublin, Nevan Bermingham, Mary O'Rawe, Trevor Boland, Mark Prendergast

Books / Book chapters

There is evidence to show that higher education is changing to accommodate the higher ownership rates of mobile devices among students, and that this technology plays an increasingly important part in their lives (Kobus, Rietveld & Van Ommeren, 2013). These technology-savvy students depend on its usage to feel connected to the world around them (Oblinger, Oblinger, & Lippincott, 2005). Other research has suggested that mobile technologies can provide support to students when transitioning to t'hird-level' education by making it easy for them to engage on their own terms with the resources they need to help with the transition (Fotheringham & …

Annual Report Of The Selectmen, Treasurer, And Other Town Officers For The Town Of Newbury, New Hampshire For The Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2015 And The Vital Statistics For The Year 2015., Newbury Town Representatives

Newbury, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire.

How Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (Stem) Project-Based Learning Improves Student Learning, Ho Yeung, Tommy Cheung, Man Hon Chow, Ping Kuen Chiu

Staff Publications

The purpose of this paper is to examine how extra-curricular and academic performance is affected by student participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) under project-based learning (PBL) activities. General observation and quantitative analysis was used to evaluate the two aspects. A solar car team project under the philosophy of STEM and PBL is developed and more than two hundred students from electrical and mechanical engineering field participated in the team project and learnt the STEM PBL core value. The team aims to develop a solar-powered vehicle to demonstrate the viability of a renewable energy through the use of …

Is A Flipped Learning Approach Suitable For Part-Time Engineering Students At Tertiary Level Education?, Kin Ho, Benson Hung

Staff Publications

In a flipped learning model, teachers shift traditional educational arrangement outside the classroom and make teacher-driven instruction to student-centered learning. Meanwhile, students are the agents of their own learning and typical lecture and homework elements of a course are reversed. Very often, flipped classrooms are designed for secondary schools and for full-time courses and programs. As there has been growing interest in incorporating flipped learning into higher education, this calls for more high quality researches to inform practitioners on the use of flipped learning in different study modes. Rarely have they been examined in tandem with part-time study mode, this …

An Enhanced Water Bank For Colorado, Anne J. Castle, Lawrence J. Macdonnell

Books, Reports, and Studies

23 pages.

Introduction and rationale -- Background on Colorado water law -- The initial Colorado water bank -- Water banks in other western states -- An enhanced water bank framework for Colorado -- Overcoming municipal preference for permanent acquisition -- Existing authority and new authority needed -- Conclusion and recommendation -- Attachment: Provisions for consideration in water bank operating guidelines.

Enhancing Watershed Planning In Implementation Of The Colorado Water Plan: An Overview Of Implementation Challenges And Opportunities, Douglas S. Kenney

Books, Reports, and Studies

25 pages.

Introduction -- Review of existing efforts -- Summary of interviews -- The salience of funding -- Recommendations -- Attachment A: Summary of reviewed watershed plans.

Colorado Acequia Handbook: Water Rights And Governance Guide For Colorado's Acequias, Jens Jensen, Peter D. Nichols, Ryan Golten, Sarah Krakoff, Sarah Parmar, Karl Kumli, Jesse Heibel, Blake Busse, Karoline Garren, Julia Guarino, Megan Gutwein, Cori Hach, Melissa S. Jensen, Shannon Liston, Gunnar Paulsen, Nate Miller, John R. Sherman, Dan Weiss, Michael Weissman, Emily Neiley, University Of Colorado Boulder. Getches-Wilkinson Center For Natural Resources, Energy, And The Environment, Gates Family Foundation, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Sangre De Cristo National Heritage Area, Sangre De Cristo Acequia Association, Colorado Open Lands

Books, Reports, and Studies

51 pages (includes 1 color map)

Introduction -- Definitions -- Water rights -- Change of water right -- Transfers of water rights -- Water sharing agreements -- Losing your water rights ("use it or lose it") -- Preventing the transfer of water out of the acequia -- Conservation easements -- Governing the acequia -- Assessments -- Easements -- Enforcement -- Tort liability -- Water quality -- The Rio Grande Compact -- Main government water entities -- Where can an acequia get legal assistance? -- Appendix I. Water rights : frequently asked questions -- Appendix II. Acequia bylaws : frequently asked …

Investigating Core-Shell Magnetic Nanoparticles For Hyperthermia Treatment And Imaging Of Malignant Neoplastic Tissue, Ronald J. Tackett, Prem P. Vaishnava, Parashu Ram Kharel, Ratna Naik, Jawad Shah, Richard Smith

Physics Grants

No abstract provided.

A Case Study: Law And Emotions Within The Kingdom Of The Netherlands, Nanneke Quik-Schuijt, Irene Broekhuijse

University of Baltimore Journal of International Law

Whether you are a Christian or not, you cannot deny the truth of the proverb “[a] brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarrelling is like the bars of a castle,”1 especially when you study the constitutional relationship between the Netherlands and its former colonies Aruba, Curacao, and St. Maarten.

The Netherlands, Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten are four countries that together constitute the Kingdom of the Netherlands.2 These countries feel so wronged by one another that emotions often take over. In July 2014, for instance, the Prime Minister of Aruba desperately went on a hunger strike …

18th Annual Student Academic Conference, Minnesota State University Moorhead

Student Academic Conference Abstract Books

Minnesota State University Moorhead Student Academic Conference abstract book.

Phasor Measurement Unit Testing And Related Topics, Joe Perigo

Proceedings of the Annual Montana Tech Electrical and General Engineering Symposium

Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) are devices that take three phase voltages as inputs and output A/B/C phase magnitudes, angles, frequencies, and time stamp data that correlates to these outputs. PMU functionality is typically built into protection relays which are used to protect sensitive areas of the power grid such as transformers and substations. PMU’s then become useful tools that can provide critical insight into the power grid, and may have applications in feedback controls as a sensor.

The main goal of this project was to obtain the delay time inherent in SEL-421 and SEL-487 PMU hardware. To test these units …

The Determination Of Caffeine Content In Decaffeinated Blackbird Coffee, Logan Chalmers

The Corinthian

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that increases one’s metabolic rate, alertness and motivation upon consumption. Consumer curiosity sparked the investigation of the caffeine content found in locally brewed Blackbird Coffee. A procedure involving liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane was developed to determine the amount of caffeine in store-bought, brewed caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. The caffeine amounts recovered were reproducible, thus the method was proved reliable and was implemented for the extraction of caffeine from Blackbird decaffeinated coffee. A single serving was determined to contain an average of 39 ± 12 mg of caffeine which is approximately 20% of the …

Godey's, 1865, January-June, Vicki Betts

Godey’s Lady’s Book

Index to Godey's Lady's Book, January-June, 1865

Bellville [Tx] Countryman, July 1860-May 1865, Vicki Betts

By Title

Selected articles from the Bellville Countryman for July 1860 through May 1865.

Marshall Texas Republican, 1861-1862, Vicki Betts

By Title

Articles selected from the Texas Republican, published in Marshall, Texas, from the years 1861 and 1862.

Nashville Daily Union, December 1863-December 1864, Vicki Betts

By Title

Selected articles from the Nashville Daily Union, published in Nashville, Tennessee, from December 1963 through December 1964.

Tyler [Tx] Reporter, 1861-1864, Vicki Betts

By Title

Selected articles from scattered issues of the Tyler Reporter, published in Tyler, Texas, from the years 1861-1864.