Engineering Commons^™

Unveiling Similarities And Differences Between Cutaneous And Ocular Melanomas, Abdallah Badou, Nour El Imane Issam Salah, Mohamed Elbelhadji

Health Sciences

Melanomas are outstandingly aggressive cancers, still their incidence is increasing. They can occur in the skin as cutaneous melanoma or in the eye as ocular melanoma. Their pathogenesis is generally similar; however, the prognosis of ocular melanoma patients is still poor, due to its special genetic profile and tumor microenvironment. Here we review the similarities and differences between cutaneous and ocular melanoma, with a focus on their prognostic significance, their molecular signature, and their tumor microenvironment, in order to understand the strategies adopted to escape immune response. Gathering and understanding available knowledge of melanomas and their specificities may help to …

To Publish Or Not To Publish Phd Parts Before Its Completion Is Also An Ethical Question, Christos Melidis

Health Sciences

No Abstract for this article type.

Artificial Intelligence In Dentistry : Knowledge And Perceptions Of Moroccan Students, Manal Elhijazi, Ihsane Benyahya

Health Sciences

Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a revolution in education, research and health. The aim of this study is to assess the views and perceptions of dental students regarding artificial intelligence and its impact on their future professional practice. Methods: A voluntary anonymous e-questionnaire was sent to all 4th and 5th year dental students of the Faculty of Dentistry after receiving a course on artificial intelligence. The questionnaire consisted of sections to assess students' knowledge of artificial intelligence and its possible applications in dentistry as well as ethical considerations. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using SPSS version 23 …

Instrumental Fracture In Endodontics: A Short Review, Fatima Zohra Rouggani, Ayoub Belkamel

Health Sciences

Oneofthemostfrequentaccidentsthattakeplaceduringstandardendodontictreatment is instrument fracture. The fractured instrument such as a metallic obstruction inthe root canal system, hinders cleaning and shaping operations, and affects the effectivenessofendodontictherapy.Themanagementofinstrumentfracture,factorsthataffe ctinstrumentfracture,andprecautionsforinstrumentfracturearethethreeheadingsusedtoel aborateonthistopicin thisreview.

Prepubertal Periodontitis In Children: For An Adequate Diagnosis And Optimal Care, F.Z. El Mouatarif, S. Chemlali, M. Hamza, J. Kissa, S. El Arabi

Health Sciences

Prepubertal periodontitis (PP) is a rare and rapid progressive condition found a young cohort of patients that results in destruction of the periodontal support of the primary dentition. Its generalized form, prepubertal periodontitis is often associated with a significant gingival tissue inflammation and fast bone loss with attachment loss leading to the tooth loss. The localized form of PP is characterized by a much more discreet inflammation and slow evolution. It can be associated with a known underlying systemic disease or may occur as part of a recognized syndrome or as an isolated finding. Different treatment modalities can be used …

Cancer Immunotherapy: A Breakthrough In Patient Care, Abdou-Samad Kone, Nour El Imane Issam Salah, Amina Ghouzlani, Abdallah Badou

Health Sciences

Cancer is one of the world's leading causes of death. Conventional therapies, such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, have improved patient management and have shown overwhelming progress. However, the incidence and mortality rates among cancer patients are still extremely high, at approximately 20,5 % and 10,6 % for both sexes, respectively. This may be due to the heterogeneity of tumors, their special microenvironment, and the development of resistance to certain conventional therapies. The concept of immunotherapy provided a new perspective on patient treatment. The interaction of tumor cells with their microenvironment depends on different factors and conditions that promote …

Biological Parameters And The Histological Response In Rectal Cancer Treated By Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A Moroccan Cohort, A. Naim, N. Bouanani, F. Safini, S. Mounaime, Soumaya Rafii, L. Lachker, F. Guessous, M. Khaliss, N. Tawfiq, A. Badou

Health Sciences

Introduction: Multimodal management of rectal cancer, combining neoadjuvant Radio chemotherapy followed by total Mesorectal therapy (TME), has been shown to improve locoregional control. However, the histological response is variable independently of the initial tumor stage. Some recent data suggest the usefulness of the lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in predicting the histological response to neoadjuvant therapy. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the complete histological response (pCR) after neoadjuvant radio chemotherapy and biological parameters (LMR, NLR and PLR) in rectal cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in three Moroccan …

Psychological Burden Of Second Line Healthcare Workers In Morocco During Covid-19 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study, Roukaya Benjelloun, Ismail Hanine, Khadija Benallel, Mohamed Kadiri

Health Sciences

Background: Second-line healthcare workers have played a crucial role during the covid-19 pandemic, providing essential support to frontline workers and ensuring the smooth functioning of healthcare systems. Aim: Our subjects were not the focus of many research studies. Our aim was to explore the relationship between the outbreak and the experience of the second line of defense and if they endured the psychological burden of the pandemic as much as those on the frontline, despite not being in direct contact with infected or suspected cases in the first wave. Methods: In this study, we focused our attention on those not …

Chronic Anemia Revealing An Idiopathic Watermelon Stomach: Case Report, Hanane Delsa, Imane Rahmouni, Yassamin Benhayoun Sadafyine, Fatima Belabbes, Anass Nadi, Fedoua Rouibaa

Health Sciences

Watermelon stomach, also known as gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) syndrome, is a rare entity. Patients often present with profound unexplained anemia with or without bleeding externalization. We made the diagnosis during a digestive endoscopy for an etiological assessment of this anemia. Endoscopically, antral erythematous lesions in stripes with a punctate appearance, sometimes hemorrhagic, may suggest a watermelon stomach. The pathophysiology of the watermelon stomach remains complex and unclear. Although several pathologies remain implicated, sometimes, it can be idiopathic. The effectiveness of numerous treatments has been evaluated with relatively satisfactory results. This is a rare case of an idiopathic watermelon …

The Strength Of Motivation For Dental Students, Manal Elhijazi, Ihsane Benyahya

Health Sciences

Context: Motivation plays a key role in academic success. It is a dynamic process that maintains perseverance and tenacity in the face of difficulty. The purpose of our study was to measure and compare the strength of dental students' motivation at the beginning and the end of their training Material and methods: an anonymous self-administered voluntary questionnaire was distributed to 1st and 6th year students at the Faculty of Dentistry in Casablanca This questionnaire consisted of 30 closed questions divided into 3 sections, the first of which provided information on socio-demographic data, the second is devoted to measuring the strength …

Portable Hepa Filtration Successfully Augments Natural-Ventilation-Mediated Airborne Particle Clearance In A Legacy Design Hospital Ward, Mehael Fennelly, S. Hellebust, J. Wenger, D. O'Connor, G.W. Griffith, B.J. Plant, A.P.C. Microbiome Institute

Articles

As the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 pandemic has proceeded, ventilation has been recognized increasingly as an important tool in infection control. Many hospitals in Ireland and the UK do not have mechanical ventilation and depend on natural ventilation. The effectiveness of natural ventilation varies with atmospheric conditions and building design. In a challenge test of a legacy design ward, this study showed that portable air filtration significantly increased the clearance of pollutant aerosols of respirable size compared with natural ventilation, and reduced spatial variation in particle persistence. A combination of natural ventilation and portable air filtration is significantly more …

Optimizing Sample Collection And Data Interpretation For Effective Wastewater-Based Epidemiology In Combined Sewer Systems, Christopher Allen Anderson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

COVID-19 has spurred growth in the science surrounding wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) pertaining to the detection of severe acute respiratory virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in waste streams as an early warning signal for public health. However, the highly variable wastewater environment has made it difficult to standardize an approach for sampling and analysis, especially in locations using combined sewer infrastructure. This study addresses knowledge gaps of WBE via three specific aims: (1) to compare diurnal fluctuations of SARS-CoV-2 and the human fecal indicator, pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent samples collected during dry versus wet weather conditions; …

Management Of Patients Treated With Antithrombotic Drugs In Dentistry: Comparison Of Sfco And Baos Recommendations, Meryem Lahlou, Yousef Naji, Ossama Nabih, Ihsane Ben Yahya

Health Sciences

Background Patients on antithrombotic drugs are at risk of thrombosis; when prescribed these medications they develop a risk of haemorrhage. To our knowledge, there is no published global consensus on the management of these patients and only expert panels guidelines exist. Objectives The aims of this study were to (1) compare the clinical guidelines issued by the French Society of Oral Surgery (SFCO) and the clinical guidelines issued by the British Association of Oral Surgery (BAOS), and (2) to summarize the guidelines recommendations. Methods This article is a descriptive comparative review based on published clinical guidelines issued by the French …

Exposure To Pcb126 During The Nursing Period Reversibly Impacts Early-Life Glucose Tolerance, Brittany B. Rice, Keegan W. Sammons, Sara Y. Ngo Tenlep, Madeline T. Weltzer, Leryn J. Reynolds, Cetewayo S. Rashid, Hollie I. Swanson, Kevin J. Pearson

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Faculty Publications

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental organic pollutants known to have detrimental health effects. Using a mouse model, we previously demonstrated that PCB126 exposure before and during pregnancy and throughout the perinatal period adversely affected offspring glucose tolerance and/or body composition profiles. The purpose of this study was to investigate the glucose tolerance and body composition of offspring born to dams exposed to PCB126 during the nursing period only. Female ICR mice were bred, and half of the dams were exposed to either vehicle (safflower oil) or 1 µmole PCB126 per kg of body weight via oral gavage on postnatal …

Biocybersecurity And Deterrence: Hypothetical Rwandan Considerations, Issah Samori, Gbadebo Odularu, Lucas Potter, Xavier-Lewis Palmer

Community & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Digitalization and sustainability are popular words within modern disciplines as practitioners each look toward the future of their respective fields. Specifically for the African continent, which is making great strides in developmental targets, those two terms are central to core aspects of policy initiatives that may foster cooperation across its varied lands and nations. One of the underlying challenges that confront Africa is a lack of strong regional integration across socioeconomic and political programs; there is value in African regions having more regional connectedness. We assess the rate of regional integration and development in Africa and discuss how to alleviate …

A Comparison Of Techniques Of Boron Removal From Water And Wastewater, Abdolmajid Fadaei

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Boron is a vital trace element required by plants, humans, and animals. It is also a significant element used in several industries. Along with the widespread usage of boron, boron waste progressively contaminates the potable water sources as well as causing a chain of environmental and health challenges to occur. This study reviews the techniques used for boron removal from aqueous solutions, including ion exchange, resin adsorption, reverse osmosis (RO), electrocoagulation, microfiltration, chemical coagulation, solvent extraction, electro dialytic, and hybrid processes. A review search was carried out from the databases Scopus, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, and Embase using the following …

Models And Algorithms For Trauma Network Design., Sagarkumar Dhirubhai Hirpara

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trauma continues to be the leading cause of death and disability in the US for people aged 44 and under, making it a major public health problem. The geographical maldistribution of Trauma Centers (TCs), and the resulting higher access time to the nearest TC, has been shown to impact trauma patient safety and increase disability or mortality. State governments often design a trauma network to provide prompt and definitive care to their citizens. However, this process is mainly manual and experience-based and often leads to a suboptimal network in terms of patient safety and resource utilization. This dissertation fills important …

Automated Approach For The Enhancement Of Scaffolding Structure Monitoring With Strain Sensor Data, Sayan Sakhakarmi

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Construction researchers have made a significant effort to improve the safety of scaffolding structures, as a large proportion of workers are involved in construction activities requiring scaffolds. However, most past studies focused on design and planning aspects of scaffolds. While limited studies investigated scaffolding safety during construction, they are limited to simple cases only with limited failure modes and simple scaffolds. In response to this limitation, this study aims to develop an automated scaffold monitoring approach capable of monitoring large scaffolds. Accordingly, this study developed an automated scaffold safety monitoring framework that leverages sensor data collected from a scaffold, scaffold …

Working Out The Kinks: Creating Solutions To Assist Health Care Workers To Take Vital Signs Through Effective Cable Management, Carl R. Russell Iii, Emily J. Linder, Maya A. Godbole

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

EPICS (Engineering Projects in Community Service) is a service-learning design program run through Purdue University. It strives to teach students design skills through providing solutions for individuals, communities, and organizations in the surrounding area while mirroring engineering industry standards. BME (Bio-medical Engineering) is a team within EPICS that strives to serve community partners through biomedical applications. Members of a health care team often spend valuable time organizing cables associated with machines used to take patients’ vital signs. Due to time constraints and the fast-paced work environment, these cables may be mismanaged and damaged. The BME team is working on a …

Assessment And Prevention Of Bacterial Regrowth In Stored Household Water In Eastern Coastal Madagascar, Lauren Judah

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As of 2020, diarrheal diseases were the leading cause of death in Madagascar. A major cause of diarrheal illness is contaminated water, and one crucial aspect of preventing contaminated water is safe household storage. Bacterial regrowth between point-of-collection and household storage has been well established in literature. A frequently implicated source of regrowth is the storage container’s biofilm, which is a community of varying bacteria enclosed in a “slimy” extracellular polymeric substance that forms on surfaces in wet environments and anchors bacteria to those surfaces. The overall goal of this thesis was to quantify and control bacterial regrowth in household …

Wastewater-Informed Public Health Intervention Playbook

Sustain Magazine

As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic quickly spread from country to country and continent to continent in 2020, governments and scientists needed a way to track COVID-19 through populations in order to position public health interventions in the most impactful locations. Having a decision-based risk framework may help to guide policy creation that could minimize or prevent possible outbreaks and surges of infection within communities. The University of Louisville in partnership with Louisville’s Department of Public Health and Wellness tested this strategy in 2021 and 2022. This Wastewater-Informed Public Health Intervention Playbook describes the decisions and actions of that academic and public …

Back And Shoulder Exoskeletons For Occupational Use: A Review, Erkan Ozan

Theses

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for a large portion of all work-related injuries according to OSHA. Back and shoulder-related disorders make the most of work-related MSDs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Exoskeletons emerged in recent years with the potential to reduce the risks of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and injuries. Their use in occupational settings is increasing, and exoskeleton designs are rapidly evolving. This paper reviewed recent scientific articles (2015 and after) that evaluated back and shoulder-support passive industrial exoskeletons. The findings of these articles are summarized and analyzed to assess the benefits of passive upper-body exoskeletons by …

A Patient Risk Minimization Model For Post-Disaster Medical Delivery Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Mark J. Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The purpose of this research was to develop a novel routing model for delivery of medical supplies using unmanned aircraft systems, improving existing vehicle routing models by using patient risk as the primary minimization variable.

The vehicle routing problem is a subset of operational research that utilizes mathematical models to identify the most efficient route between sets of points. Routing studies using unmanned aircraft systems frequently minimize time, distance, or cost as the primary objective and are powerful decision-making tools for routine delivery operations. However, the fields of emergency triage and disaster response are focused on identifying patient injury severity …

A Convergent Approach To Aqueous Lead (Pb) Mitigation Of A Supplemental Self-Supply Shallow Groundwater Source Accessed By Handpumps In Madagascar, Adaline Marie Buerck

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The World Health Organization (WHO) has consistently listed lead (Pb) as one of the ten chemicals of major public health concern. Though the toxic nature of lead has been known since the 20th century it is still utilized in a wide variety of products due to its favorable properties. Exposure to lead still accounts for approximately 900,000 deaths annually and disproportionately impacts those in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) due to a variety of reasons such as poverty, malnutrition, and lack of knowledge on the toxic nature of lead. Lead exposure routes include air, soil, dust, diet, and water. Though …

Assessing Public Health Benefits Of Replacing Freight Trucks With Cargo Cycles In Last Leg Delivery Trips In Urban Centers, Jennifer C. Hartle, Ossama (Sam) A. Elrahman, Cara Wang, Daniel A. Rodriguez, Yue Ding, Matt Mcgahan

Mineta Transportation Institute

Increased urbanization, population growth, and demand for time-sensitive deliveries means increased freight movement in cities, which contributes to emissions, noise, and safety concerns. One innovative mode gaining widespread attention for urban deliveries is cargo cycles—bicycles adapted for freight delivery. Despite the recognized potential and possible success of transporting at least 25% of freight via cycle, research remains limited. This research investigates the potential of cargo cycle delivery for last mile freight in Oakland, California, with a focus on the West Oakland neighborhood. The data collection included interviews, focus groups, vehicle field observation and counts, and traffic simulation modeling. The traffic …

A Circular Economy Approach To Improve E-Waste Recycling In California: Economic Potential And Policy Options, Kripa Shah

Master's Projects and Capstones

The higher consumption rates of electronic devices along with their short life cycles and few repair options poses a huge challenge for E-waste industries to manage them effectively. E-waste comprises of hazardous materials and toxic constituents that can affect the environment and public health through improper disposal. However, they also contain few valuable materials that, if recovered, can reduce the dependence on virgin raw materials. Circular economy has the potential to utilize these valuable materials and gain environment and socio-economic benefits. The research explains how the adoption of a circular economy approach can help improve the E-waste recycling in California …

Design And Development Of The Urban Population Health Observatory To Improve Disease Surveillance And Response, Whitney Brakefield

Doctoral Dissertations

Chronic and infectious diseases have a profound impact on the quality and length of life of populations that suffer from these conditions. Scientists, physicians, and health officials are seeking innovative approaches to decrease the morbidity and mortality of deadly diseases. Incorporating artificial intelligence and data science techniques across the health science domain could improve disease surveillance, intervention planning, and policymaking. In this dissertation, we describe the design and development of the Urban Population Health Observatory (UPHO), an explainable knowledge-based multimodal big data analytics platform. A common challenge for conducting multimodal big data analytics is integrating multidimensional heterogeneous data sources, which …

Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault At The University Of Arkansas, Barrett Weidman

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

This work was written to fulfill two main purposes. First, to help survivors of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (DFSA) process their experience by compiling the toxicological, pharmacological, and distribution of the three most used date-rape drugs. Second, to gauge the knowledge and interest of University of Arkansas students regarding drug impairments, sexual assault education, and bystander intervention training. A survey was conducted for the latter and revealed that 91.6% of students believe the University’s existing sexual assault prevention education and bystander intervention training have room for improvement. Also, 37.1% of students who have received this education report that the programming does …

Powering A Sustainable Electric Vehicle Future, Harmony Ruth, Jordan Brickman

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Electric vehicle sales account for roughly 20% of total sales world wide and are projected to be 80% by 2050. China's electric vehicle market holds a 13.3% market share. China exported 550,000 electric vehicles in 2021. China represents a 54% share of the world's coal consumption as of 2020. Why study China on this issue? China is a major player in the World Economy.

Understanding Travel For Families With A Physically Disabled Child Through The Occupational Therapy Lens, Dinah Adams, Karen Park, Susan Macdermott

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Travel is a complex occupation that involves interactions between body function, activity participation, and the environment. For families traveling with a physically disabled child this occupation becomes even more complex. The available literature on the lived experiences of these families is significantly limited. This project aims to determine participants’ experiences of commercial airline travel with a child who has a physical disability. Through the participants experiences, barriers and needs of this population can be identified. Through identification of barriers, the needs of this population are highlighted as well as ways they can be supported and advocated for.