Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Fabrication And Comparative Study Of Horizontal And Vertical Electrospun Protein-Polysaccharide Nanofiber Biomaterials, Ashley Rivera-Galleti

Theses and Dissertations

The use of biocompatible and biodegradable composite materials for biomedical applications has attracted the attention of many researchers in the past few years. In this study, we fabricated nanofibers of silk fibroin and cellulose and its derivatives to amalgamate their unique properties into a single material. The production of these nanofibers via electrospinning is of particular interest, and whereas several studies have been done on normal nanofibers, the formation of branched nanofibers is an exciting area not currently explored. Blend solutions are formed by dissolving silk and cellulose/cellulose acetate in formic acid separately and mixing to achieve the desired ratios. …

Investigation Of The Role Of Hydrophobic Amino Acids On The Structure-Activity Relationship In Ponericin L1 From Neoponera Goeldii, Nicholas Patrick Schifano

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the increase prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) antibiotic alternatives have been of great interest. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and polymers like polymethacrylates that mimic AMPs are two non-traditional antimicrobial agents that have been investigated thoroughly over the years as a potential solution to the AMR problem. This study will further the understanding of the L1 peptide by investigating the role hydrophobic amino acids have on the antimicrobial activity. Biophysical and microbiological techniques were utilized to show that the L1 hydrophobic derivative showed enhanced binding to anionic lipid bilayers while maintaining low hemolytic activity. This study also elucidates the effect …

Kualiteti I Jetës Së Pacientëve Në Hemodializë, Arlinda Salihu

Theses and Dissertations

Hyrje: Kushtet ekonomike të mira, përkrahja nga familja dhe miqtë, pjesëmarrja në seancat e hemodializës(HD)me rregull ,kufizimi i lëngjeve, respektimi i dietës, marrja e medikamenteve sipas rekomandimeve janë thelbësore për përmirësimin e kualitetit të jetës te pacientët në hemodializë. Qëllimi: Objektivi kryesor i këtij hulumtimi është vlerësimi i kualitetit të jetës te pacientët në hemodializë. Të vlerësohet regjimi dietik, dieta ushqimore, kushtet ekonomike, mbështetja familjare, përdorimi i rregullt i barnave të përshkruara nga mjeku, si dhe të vlerësohet roli i edukimit të profesionistëve shëndetësor. Metodologjia: Për hulumtim është zgjedhur Qendra e Hemodializës në Ferizaj, ku pjesëmarrësit në këtë …

Advancing Proper Dataset Partitioning And Classification Of Visual Search And The Vigilance Decrement Using Eeg Deep Learning Algorithms, Alexander J. Kamrud

Theses and Dissertations

Electroencephalography (EEG) classification of visual search and vigilance tasks has vast potential in its benefits. In future human-machine teaming systems, EEG could act as the tool for operator state assessment, enabling AI teammates to know when to assist the operator in these tasks, with the potential to lead to increased safety of operations, better training systems for our operators, and improved operational effectiveness. This research investigates deep learning methods which utilize EEG signals to classify the efficiency of an operator's search and to classify whether an operator is in a decrement during a vigilance type task, and investigates performing these …

Endeavors Toward Novel Synthetic Roadmaps In The Synthesis Of Pertinent Pharmacological Molecular Scaffold Moieties, Justin David Horgan

Theses and Dissertations

One of the main goals in the GML lab group is the development of novel, economical, and environmentally friendly organic methods for the synthesis of pharmacologically relevant molecular moieties. The most salient pieces of data to the GML lab group members, reading dependable organic journals, are finding organic moieties that are largely unexplored, finding organic moieties which various research groups are having difficulty synthesizing, and finding complex organic procedures to key organic structures that can be easily reduced, or reconstructed, into novel methods that are more economical and environmentally friendly. By looking at these unexplored molecules, as well as hard …

The Exploration Of Novel Synthetic Methods Of Biologically Relevant Nitrogen And Halogen Containing Molecules, Rebekah Erin Strong

Theses and Dissertations

Visible light has become a highly useful, and regarded, tool to the organic chemist. The additions and transformations of an abundance of molecules can be achieved with the use of visible light and photocatalysts, when appropriate. More specifically compounds that contain nitrogen, halogens, or both are highly useful structures in nearly every chemical industry. They are elements found in naturally occurring molecules and have the capacity to mimic biologically active and relevant structures. This makes them useful targets for pharmaceutical compounds. Bromine and chlorine can act as leaving groups; this property makes molecules with these elements reactive and thus able …

Student Nurse Knowledge And Confidence Regarding Childhood Immunizations, Heather Westergard

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Immunization training is essential for nursing students. However, Brigham Young University's (BYU) Nursing Program lacks data regarding the current curriculum's effect on vaccination knowledge and confidence. Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore BYU nursing students' knowledge and confidence regarding vaccinations. Methods: Nursing students at BYU in the second and fourth semesters were surveyed using pre-and post-test questionnaires designed to measure student nurses' knowledge of and confidence about immunizations. To help evaluate current curricula established immunization content was taught during both the public health course and pediatric course via direct instruction, assigned reading, quizzes, exams, lab, and …

Protein-Based Nanofibers And Thin Films For Drug Delivery Applications, Christopher R. Gough

Theses and Dissertations

Corn zein and silk are both widely available, easy to extract proteins making them valuable replacements for synthetics. Zein and silk are also promising biomaterials in several applications. This work explores the use of both proteins as drug delivery vehicles by loading 1-Dimensional micro-nanofibers and 2-Dimensional thin films with model drugs or the topical therapeutic sodium citrate. Using a formic acid solvent, powdered zein protein or silk fibers were dissolved into solution and then casted into 2D films or spun into 1D fibers through air-spraying. During dissolution, therapeutic products are added. SEM images showed that fibers maintain their small diameter …

Kujdesi Infermieror Në Trajtimin E Plagëve Kirurgjikale, Adelina Krasniqi

Theses and Dissertations

Plaget operatore jane plage ne lekure ose ne inde te thella te kryera gjate nje procedure kirurgjikale nga nje mjet kirugjikal .si ne rastin konkret me instrumentin kirugjikal.bisturia. . Në kuptimin që ne përdorim sot plaga është dëmtimi apo prishja e tërësisë së lëkurës dhe elementeve anatomike të saj. Na duket i arsyeshëm se klasifikimi që i ndan plagët në dy tipa kryesorë: në plagë që kanë humbur ind dhe në plagë që nuk kanë humbur ind dhe lidhur me këtë pikë shumë të rëndësishme bëhet edhe vlerësimi i plagëve në vartësi të shkaktarit, karakteristikat anatomiko-patologjike.

Qëllimi parësor i hulumtimit: …

Përdorimi I Antibiotikëve Te Fëmijët, Habibe Gjinolli

Theses and Dissertations

Qëllimi i këtij hulumtimi është të identifikohen antibiotiket më të përdorur te fëmijët si dhe të analizohen diagnozat më të përshkruara te fëmijët gjatë 1 muaji. Antibiotikët janë lëndë kimikisht të përcaktuara me origjinë biologjike, të cilët, edhe pse nuk zotërojnë karakter enzimatik, në përqendrime të ulëta ndalojnë proceset e rritjes.

Pjesëmarrësit ishin fëmijë të moshës 0-17 vjeç nga vende të ndryshme të Komunës së Ferizajit. Instrumenti i përdorur është libri i Protokolit i reaprtit të pediatrisë i cili tregon për moshën, gjinin, diagnozën dhe terapinë më të përdorur.

Rezultatet në këtë hulumtim treguan se antibiotiku më i përdorur ishte …

Kujdesi Infermieror Tek Pacientët Me Diabet, Arianë Zogaj

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Kujdesi Infermieror Te Pacientet Me Karcinome Te Gjirit, Fjolla Shabani

Theses and Dissertations

Profesioni universal i infermierit, shumë i respektuar dhe i nderuar nga të gjithë, historikisht është parë si mëshirim i vlerave humane në shërbim të individit dhe të kolektivit, si një mision I lartë për të ndihmuar ata që vuajnë nga sëmundjet. Personeli infermieror, në aktivitetin për të kryer kujdesin infermieror, aplikon tërë kapacitetin profesional e shpirtëror për parandalimin e kurimin e sëmundjeve, për tu shërbyer atyre që kanë nevojë për ndihmë jo vetëm mjekësore por edhe shpirtërore, psikologjike e morale. Sa më të përgaditur profesionalisht të jenë infermierët, aq më i kualifikuar e rezultativ është shërbimi dhe aq më të …

Kujdesi Infermieror Tek Pacientët Me Hipertensioni Arterial, Endrin Sahiti

Theses and Dissertations

Hipertensioni po bëhet një epidemi globale dhe kërcënim për popullatën botërore. Ky studim ndër-sekcional u krye me pacientët me hipertension arterial që gravitojnë në QKMF e Lipjanit

për të studiuar njohuritë, qëndrimet dhe praktikat në lidhje me hipertensionin.

Metodat: Një total prej 30 të intervistuarve të moshës 18 vjeç e lart u zgjodhën me anë të marrjes të rastësishme të mostrave. Të dhënat u mblodhën duke përdorur një pyetësor të strukturuar të drejtuar nga intervistuesit me zgjedhje përgjigjesh në shkallën Likert.

Rezultatet Të gjithë të intervistuarit ishin me moshën mesatare 54.5 vjeç [Devijimi Standard (SD) = 11.828]. Prej pacienteve te …

Njohuritë E Infermierëve Për Depresionin, Shkëlzen Niko

Theses and Dissertations

Qëllimi kryesor i këtij hulumtimi është vlerësimi në dallimet e njohjes dhe qëndrimeve të infermierëve ndaj të të sëmurëve depresivë. Çdo ditë e më shumë janë duke u shtuar rastet e personave me depresion dhe thuja se është duke u bërë shkaktari më i madh i vetëvrasjeve. Gjithashtu, qëllimi i këtij punimi është hulumtimi i shkallës së njohurive të infermiereve dhe i gatishmerise dhe qasjes së tyre ndaj pacientëve me depresion meqë ata duhet të trajtohen me kohë, të marrin terapinë e duhur, kujdesi infermieror të jetë sa më i mirë dhe i përkushtuar ndaj tyre, si dhe të japim …

Relationships Between Perceived Quality Of Life And Spiritual Beliefs, Education Level, Socioeconomic Status, Gender, And Ethnicity In Cancer Patients And Cancer Survivors, Eva Arjona

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify a relationship between perceived Quality of Life and religious/spiritual beliefs. Additionally, it aimed to explore relationships between perceived QOL and age, gender, ethnicity, education level, and Socioeconomic Status (SES). The research question examined in this study was: What is the relationship between perceived quality of life and spiritual beliefs, education level, socioeconomic status, age gender, and ethnicity in cancer patients and cancer survivors? A total of 100 cancer patients or cancer survivors were surveyed for this study. A regression analysis was conducted to explore relationships among the variables; the alpha level was …

Role Of Caspase-8 On Human Retinal Microvasculature Endothelial Cells (Hrmec) Migration In Hyperglycemia, Paola A. Campano

Theses and Dissertations

Pathological angiogenesis is the hallmark of proliferative diabetic retinopathy that results from the advanced stage of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR). In response to prolonged tissue injury, retinal microvascular endothelial cells form new blood vessels to ensure the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the eye; however, progressive fibrovascular proliferation can eventually lead to retinal detachment and blindness. Caspase-8, the responsible protease for apoptosis has also been shown to modulate pathological and developmental angiogenesis but whether it exerts this role in a hyperglycemic environment has not yet been explored. Here we demonstrate that Caspase-8 decreased cell viability and was upregulated in hyperglycemic …

Nurses’ And Patients’ Perceptions Of The Availability Of Post-Hospital Instrumental Support As A Predictor Of 30- And 60-Day Acute Care Utilization, Beth E. Schultz

Theses and Dissertations

Social support is now part of the social determinants of health objective in Healthy People 2030. Positive social support improves health and well-being. Social support is concerned with people having the support they need within the community, including interacting and communicating with others on a regular basis. Instrumental support is a type of social support that is action oriented, involving one person directly assisting another person. A concept analysis of instrumental support was completed and revealed that the concept is well defined, but the terms used to describe it vary. Other terms in the research literature, most commonly “tangible support”, …

Roli I Përkrahjes Në Shëndetin Mental, Lirjeta Mahmuti

Theses and Dissertations

Shëndeti ynë mendor ndikon drejtpërdrejt në mënyrën se si mendojmë, ndjejmë dhe veprojmë gjithashtu ndikon në shëndetin tonë fizik.

Për të gjithë individët, shëndeti mendor, fizik dhe social janë fillesa jetësore dhe të ndërthurura të jetës. Ndërsa kuptimi ynë për këtë marrëdhënie rritet, bëhet gjithnjë e më e qartë se shëndeti mendor është thelbësor për mirëqenien e përgjithshme të individëve, shoqërive dhe vendeve. Në të vërtetë, shëndeti mendor mund të përkufizohet si një gjendje e mirëqenies që u mundëson individëve të realizojnë aftësitë e tyre, të përballen me streset normale të jetës, të punojnë në mënyrë produktive dhe të frytshme …

“Pamjaftueshmëria E Zemrës“, Gentianë Berisha

Theses and Dissertations

Dështimi ose pamjaftueshmëria (insuficienca) e zemrës do të thotë se muskuli i zemrës nuk pompon aq gjak sa organizmi ka nevojë. E cila nënkupton se puna e zemrës nuk ka ndaluar mirëpo nuk punon aq sa duhet.

Në ketë sëmundje gjaku lëviz nëpër trup me një shpejtësi më të vogël dhe presioni në zemrën rritet, si rezultat zemra nuk arrin dot të transportojë sasinë e duhur të oksigjenit dhe të lëndëve ushqyese për organizmin. Në mënyrë që pompa (zemra) të kryejë funksionin e saj

duhet që muskuli i zemrës të jetë shëndoshë e mirë. Duhet që sistemi elektrik i zemrës …

Roli I Kujdesit Infermieror Në Mjekësinë Familajre, Zahide Halimi

Theses and Dissertations

Hyrje: Para vitit 1989 shërbimet e pacientëve në spital operonin përmes gjashtë spitaleve. Kujdesi primar shëndetësor u ofrua përmes klinikave të mëdha (shtëpive shëndetësore) në 29 komuna që mbikëqyrnin një rrjet të klinikave të vogla (ambulanta dhe punkteve).

Shumica e shqiptarëve të Kosovës u pushuan nga drejtimi dhe pozitat e larta në të gjitha shërbimet publike gjatë viteve 1990 deri në 1992. Shoqata Nënë Tereza krijoi një sistem paralel të kujdesit shëndetësor parësor me 96 klinika në të gjithë Kosovën, të punësuar dhe të përdorur nga kosovarët shqiptarë.

Kujdesi parësor është kujdesi shëndetësorë që është i pranueshëm, i gjithanshëm, i …

“Roli I Infermierit Në Kujdesin E Të Sëmunrëve Në Shtëpi Të Shëndetit”, Fadil Krasniqi

Theses and Dissertations

Hyrje: Kujdesi shëndetësor është identifikuar si përparësia numër një e shumicës së vendeve të botës dhe infermierët luajnë një rol qendror e krucial në ofrimin e kujdesit shëndetësor. Infermierët kanë rol për promovimin e shëndetit, edukojnë pacientët dhe publikun për parandalimin e sëmundjeve dhe lëndimeve, ofrojnë kujdes dhe ndihmojnë në shërim, marrin pjesë në rehabilitim dhe sigurojnë mbështetje.

Qëllimi i punimit: Qëllim i punimit është edhe analizimi i të dhënave statistikore për numrin e pacientëve me sëmundje të ndryshme të trajtuar në Urgjencën e Malishevës më datën 01 dhe 02 të muajt Qershor, viti 2021.

Metodologjia: Punimi është i llojit …

Towards Understanding Therapy Response In Chronic Aphasia, Sigfus Kristinsson

Theses and Dissertations

It remains largely unclear what factors determine who responds to aphasia therapy and to what degree. The current study sought to ameliorate this issue by addressing three aims: 1) To identify baseline predictors that dissociate between therapy responders and nonresponders, 2) to identify predictors of degree of treated recovery in therapy responders, and 3) to examine the generalizability of predictors identified under Aims 1 and 2 in randomly selected subsamples of study participants.

Method: Stroke survivors (N = 102; 43 females; age = 60.5y +/- 11.0y) with chronic aphasia (>12m post-stroke) were recruited as part of a multisite trial. …

Relationship Between Cognitive Performance, Physical Activity, And Socio-Demographic/ Individual Characteristics Among Aging Americans, Imtiaz Masfique Dowllah

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the attenuation of association following adjustments for covariates, participants who engaged in 3–6 hr/wk of vigorous- and > 1 hr/wk of moderate-intensity PA scored significantly higher in tests that assessed executive function and processing speed domains of cognition compared to inactive peers (η2 = 0.005 & 0.007 respectively, p < 0.05). Also, after adjustment, the effects of 1–3 hr/wk of vigorous-intensity PA became trivial for the delayed recall memory domain test scores (β = 0.33; 95% CI: –0.01, 0.67; η2 = 0.002; p = 0.56). There was no clear dose-response relationship between the cognitive test scores and weekly moderate-intensity PA. Interestingly, higher handgrip strength and higher late-life body-mass-index were associated with a higher performance across all cognitive domains. Observed associations provide evidence linking habitual PA with superior cognition health among older adults. Furthermore, increased muscle strength and higher late-life adiposity may …

A Contextual Evaluation Of The Fresh Fruit And Vegetable Program In South Carolina And Related Child Health Behaviors, Kathryn Irene Hoy

Theses and Dissertations

Children in vulnerable communities are at increased risk for poor diet.1,2 The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) child nutrition program that increases vulnerable children’s access to and consumption of fruits and vegetables.3,4 FFVP is inherently flexible,5 has few regulations, and helps identify and develop best practices for individual schools to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among low-resource children.6 Flexibility built into the FFVP at the federal level naturally results in a variation of program adoption and implementation at both the state and school-levels.7 These variations affect outcomes in complex health promotion …

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status, Green Space, And Walkability And Risk For Falls And Fracture Among Postmenopausal Women: The Women’S Health Initiative, Marilyn Elizabeth Wende

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess whether neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES), walkability, and green space impacts fall and fracture incidence among postmenopausal women, and to assess important modifiers for these relationships, such as fall history, physical activity, physical impairment, race/ethnicity, and rurality. Data from the Women’s Health Initiative study from 1993 to 2012 (N=161,808) was used.

SES had a significant relationship with falling after adjustment (intermediate vs low SES OR=0.99, p=0.0309; high vs low SES OR=0.99, p=0.1192). Study arm participation and fall frequency at baseline significantly modified this relationship. Walkability had a significant relationship with falling incidence after …

Applying Health Stigma Framework To Examine The Mechanisms Of Hiv-Related Stigma On Clinical Outcomes, Chengbo Zeng

Theses and Dissertations

Background: HIV clinical outcomes including CD4 count, viral suppression, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), are important indicators reflecting immunologic functioning, treatment efficacy, and overall health quality. However, due, in part, to HIV-related stigma, many people living with HIV (PLWH) experience suboptimal clinical outcomes. The Health Stigma Framework introduced the potentially distinct mechanisms underlying internalized, anticipated, enacted stigma and health outcomes through psycho-behavioral pathways. Based on this framework, this dissertation investigated the impacts and mechanisms of HIV-related stigma on clinical outcomes among PLWH in Guangxi, China from a longitudinal perspective. Methods: Data at baseline, 6-, 12-, 18- month follow-ups …

Race Is Not A Risk Factor: Examining The Influence Of Models Of Care, Race, And Discrimination On Racial Disparities In Maternal Outcomes, Curisa Mae Tucker

Theses and Dissertations

Maternal health outcomes are worst for racial and ethnic minority patients in the United States. There are disparities in pregnancy-related death and severe maternal morbidities where Black women suffer the most disparate outcomes. However, much of the previous scholarly work in this arena has charged that race is a risk factor for adverse maternal outcomes in which this dissertation refutes.

To better understand this phenomenon, we first conducted a scoping review of literature. Our aim was to examine the current state of literature on group prenatal care and its impact on maternal outcomes and racial disparities in adverse maternal outcomes. …

Market Segmentation And Targeted Messaging To Improve Hpv Vaccine Intentions In The College Aged Population, Ashley Caitlin Godwin

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that can lead to 6 different types of cancer, including cervical, vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancer. Every year in the United States, nearly 35,000 cancer cases are estimated to be caused by HPV infection. While catch-up HPV vaccination is recommended through age 26 for those not previously vaccinated, only 21.5% of adults age 18-26 have completed the recommended number of HPV vaccine doses as of 2018. Many interventions have been tested to increase vaccination rates, and one such intervention, framed messaging, has shown promise in increasing intention to vaccinate. …

Household Food Security, Lifestyle Factors, And Glycemic Control Among Youth And Young Adults With Diabetes, Lauren A. Reid

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between household food insecurity (HFI) and glycemic control, physical activity, and diet quality in youth and young adults (YYA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Among older adults, HFI has been shown to complicate diabetes management due to the essential role of diet in diabetes management and the financial stress associated with HFI. Although HFI is more prevalent among YYA with diabetes than the general population, there are only a handful of studies that have focused on this population and, studies that include YYA with T2D …

Dysbiosis-Related Medications And The Association With Cognitive Decline, Cognitive Impairment, And Dementia, Nicholas Victor Resciniti

Theses and Dissertations

The main objectives of this dissertation were to quantitatively assess whether there is an association between medications (e.g., antibiotics, PPIs, antipsychotics) and cognitive performance over time, conduct a causal mediation analysis to evaluate the role of inflammation (C-reactive protein) in the association between medications and subsequent cognitive decline, and examine if dysbiosis-related medications (DRM) are associated with a greater risk of dementia for participants that were cognitively normal and had MCI at baseline.

The Health and Retirement Study (HRS) was used to conduct a secondary data analysis that used longitudinal data from 2004 to 2016. The HRS is an ongoing, …