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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Sociodemographic Factors To Dengue Hemmorrhagic Fever Case In Indonesia, Desy Nuryunarsih Aug 2015

Sociodemographic Factors To Dengue Hemmorrhagic Fever Case In Indonesia, Desy Nuryunarsih

Kesmas

Demam berdarah dengue (DBD) adalah penyebab utama rawat inap dan kematian pada anak-anak. Indonesia adalah salah satu negara yang oleh WHO dikategorikan hyperendemicity dengan empat serotipe virus tersebar di daerah perkotaan. Faktor sosiodemografi dianggap sebagai faktor pendukung terjadinya DBD di Indonesia. Studi ini menggunakan data sekunder yang diunduh dari Basis Data Kesehatan Provinsi tahun 2010 Kementerian Kesehatan Republik Indonesia untuk menentukan korelasi antara ketiga faktor sosiodemografi dengan insiden DBD. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuantitatif deskripsi korelasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dua faktor sosiodemografi terpilih memiliki korelasi linier dengan insiden DBD. Analisa regresi multivariat menunjukkan kecilnya korelasi antara insiden DBD dengan …


Penerapan Sistem Remunerasi Dan Kinerja Pelayanan, Tri Wisesa Soetisna, Dumilah Ayuningtyas, Misnaniarti Misnaniarti Aug 2015

Penerapan Sistem Remunerasi Dan Kinerja Pelayanan, Tri Wisesa Soetisna, Dumilah Ayuningtyas, Misnaniarti Misnaniarti

Kesmas

Remuneration can influence worker`s motivation, and improve their performance. Likewise in hospital as capital-intensive, human resources-intensive as well as knowledge and technology-intensive health care institution. This study aimed to analyze employee’s perception of remuneration system implementation and adult cardiac surgery services unit’s performance at hospital. This study used a mixed method approach (quantitative and qualitative). Quantitative study design was cross-sectional using questionnaire for self-assesment. Meanwhile, qualitative study design was descriptive conducted through focus group discussion and document review on data in forms of schedule book, registration book, nursing notes and medical records. Data collection was conducted in 2013 at one …


Tradisi Dan Lingkungan Sosial Memengaruhi Dukungan Menyusui Pada Bayi Berat Badan Lahir Rendah Di Kota Malang, Muladefi Choiriyah, Elsi Dwi Hapsari, Wiwin Lismidiati Aug 2015

Tradisi Dan Lingkungan Sosial Memengaruhi Dukungan Menyusui Pada Bayi Berat Badan Lahir Rendah Di Kota Malang, Muladefi Choiriyah, Elsi Dwi Hapsari, Wiwin Lismidiati

Kesmas

Berat badan lahir rendah (BBLR) merupakan salah satu penyebab utama kematian bayi di dunia. World Health Organization tahun 2003 telah merekomendasikan menyusui sebagai salah satu penanganan BBLR. Namun, ibu yang memiliki bayi BBLR mengalami kesulitan di awal persalinan. Selain itu, menyusui di Indonesia juga dipengaruhi oleh sosial dan budaya yang dipercayai sehingga memengaruhi keputusan ibu untuk memilih tetap menyusui atau tidak sama sekali di periode awal postpartum. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengeksplorasi makna pengalaman ibu untuk tetap menyusui bayi dengan BBLR. Penelitian kualitatif ini dengan pendekatan fenomenologi. Tujuh orang partisipan adalah ibu yang pernah menyusui bayi BBLR. Pengumpulan data dilakukan …


Characterization Of Physical, Thermal And Spectral Properties Of Biofield Treated 2, 6-Diaminopyridine, Mahendra Kumar Trivedi, Rama Mohan Tallapragada, Alice Branton, Dahryn Trivedi, Gopal Nayak, Rakesh K. Mishra, Snehasis Jana Aug 2015

Characterization Of Physical, Thermal And Spectral Properties Of Biofield Treated 2, 6-Diaminopyridine, Mahendra Kumar Trivedi, Rama Mohan Tallapragada, Alice Branton, Dahryn Trivedi, Gopal Nayak, Rakesh K. Mishra, Snehasis Jana

Mahendra Kumar Trivedi

2, 6-Diaminopyridine (2, 6-DAP) has extensive use in synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds. The objective of present research was to investigate the influence of biofield treatment on physical, thermal and spectral properties of 2, 6-DAP. The study was performed in two groups, control and treated. The control group remained as untreated, and biofield treatment was given to treatment group. The control and treated 2, 6-DAP samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), Laser particle size analyzer, surface area analyzer, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy. XRD analysis revealed decrease in intensity …


Rapid Label-Free Detection Of E. Coli Using Antimicrobial Peptide Assisted Impedance Spectroscopy, Keren Jieng, Hashem Etayash, Sarfuddin Azmi, Selvaraj Naicker, Mahtab Hassanpourfard, Parmiss Mojir Shaibani, Garima Thakur, Kamaljit Kaur, Thomas Thundat Aug 2015

Rapid Label-Free Detection Of E. Coli Using Antimicrobial Peptide Assisted Impedance Spectroscopy, Keren Jieng, Hashem Etayash, Sarfuddin Azmi, Selvaraj Naicker, Mahtab Hassanpourfard, Parmiss Mojir Shaibani, Garima Thakur, Kamaljit Kaur, Thomas Thundat

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

There is an increasing demand for rapid detection of waterborne pathogens to monitor drinking water safety. We demonstrate a compact, label-free sensor array for rapid detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in contaminated water samples using antimicrobial peptide assisted impedimetric sensor platform. Interdigitated electrode arrays immobilized with the antimicrobial peptide Colicin V (ColV) were used to screen the affinity towards different bacterial strains by monitoring impedance variations in real-time. This ColV assisted impedance biosensor exhibited high selectivity towards Gram-negative strains particularly towards E. coli strains. This selective detection of E. coli from other strains was observed at 10 …


Physical, Thermal And Spectroscopic Studies On Biofield Treated P-Dichlorobenzene, Mahendra Kumar Trivedi, Alice Branton, Dahryn Trivedi, Gopal Nayak, Ragini Singh, Snehasis Jana Aug 2015

Physical, Thermal And Spectroscopic Studies On Biofield Treated P-Dichlorobenzene, Mahendra Kumar Trivedi, Alice Branton, Dahryn Trivedi, Gopal Nayak, Ragini Singh, Snehasis Jana

Mahendra Kumar Trivedi

Para-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB) is widely used as a chemical intermediate in manufacturing of dyes, pharmaceuticals, polymers and other organic synthesis. The aim of present study was to evaluate the impact of biofield treatment on physical, thermal, and spectroscopic properties of p-dichlorobenzene. The p-dichlorobenzene sample was divided into two groups that served as treated and control. The treated group received Mr. Trivedi’s biofield treatment. Subsequently the control and treated samples were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. XRD result showed an increase in crystallite size (4.93%) along with alteration in peak intensity of …


Evaluation Of Biofield Treatment On Atomic And Thermal Properties Of Ethanol, Mahendra Kumar Trivedi, Alice Branton, Dahryn Trivedi, Gopal Nayak, Omprakash Latiyal, Snehasis Jana Aug 2015

Evaluation Of Biofield Treatment On Atomic And Thermal Properties Of Ethanol, Mahendra Kumar Trivedi, Alice Branton, Dahryn Trivedi, Gopal Nayak, Omprakash Latiyal, Snehasis Jana

Mahendra Kumar Trivedi

Ethanol is a polar organic solvent, and frequently used as a fuel in automobile industries, principally as an additive with gasoline due to its higher octane rating. It is generally produced from biomass such as corn, sugar and some other agriculture products. In the present study, impact of biofield treatment on ethanol was evaluated with respect to its atomic and thermal properties. The ethanol sample was divided into two parts i.e., control and treatment. Control part was remained untreated. Treatment part was subjected to Mr. Trivedi’s biofield treatment. Control and treated samples were characterized using Gas chromatography-mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Differential …


Conduits Of Communion: Monstrous Affections In Algonquin Traditional Territory, Ian S.G. Puppe Aug 2015

Conduits Of Communion: Monstrous Affections In Algonquin Traditional Territory, Ian S.G. Puppe

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This project investigates the legacies of shifting land tenure and stewardship practices on what is now known as the Ottawa Valley watershed (referred to as the Kitchissippi by the Omamawinini or Algonquin people), and the effects that this central colonization project has had on issues of identity and Nationalism on Canadians, diversely identified as settler-colonists of European or at least “Old World” descent and First Nations, Métis and Inuit (Lawrence 2012).

Focusing on historical and contemporary political and social issues related to Algonquin Provincial Park and its establishment, this project explores; 1) Competing claims levied by First Nations Peoples, local …


Teleradiology As A Foundation For An Enterprise-Wide Health Care Delivery System, John David N. Dionisio, Ricky K. Taira, Usha Sinha, David B. Johnson, Benjamin Y. Dai, Gregory H. Tashima, Stephen Blythe, Richard Johnson, Hooshang Kangarloo Aug 2015

Teleradiology As A Foundation For An Enterprise-Wide Health Care Delivery System, John David N. Dionisio, Ricky K. Taira, Usha Sinha, David B. Johnson, Benjamin Y. Dai, Gregory H. Tashima, Stephen Blythe, Richard Johnson, Hooshang Kangarloo

John David N. Dionisio

An effective, integrated telemedicine system has been developed that allows (a) teleconsultation between local primary health care providers (primary care physicians and general radiologists) and remote imaging subspecialists and (b) active patient participation related to his or her medical condition and patient education. The initial stage of system development was a traditional teleradiology consultation service between general radiologists and specialists; this established system was expanded to include primary care physicians and patients. The system was developed by using a well-defined process model, resulting in three integrated modules: a patient module, a primary health care provider module, and a specialist module. …


The Next Step, Benjamin Y. Dai, Lynn Thompson, John David N. Dionisio, Hooshang Kangarloo, Ricky K. Taira Aug 2015

The Next Step, Benjamin Y. Dai, Lynn Thompson, John David N. Dionisio, Hooshang Kangarloo, Ricky K. Taira

John David N. Dionisio

In traditional radiology practice, reports are typically dictated and then transcribed.? While the free-text reports represent the semantic knowledge interpreted and conveyed by a physician, the information can be hard to access. The advantages of representing medical data in a structured format using standard terminology are clearly recognized. These include the ability to implement a standardized electronic medical record, automatically invoke medical guidelines when appropriate, and conduct outcomes research. Standard structured reports facilitate intelligent indexing, searching, and retrieval of documents from clinical databases. Recent attempts have been made in the industry to enable structured data entry using preformatted templates, but …


Integrated Multimedia Timeline Of Medical Images And Data For Thoracic Oncology Patients, Denise R. Aberle, John David N. Dionisio, Michael F. Mcnitt-Gray, Ricky K. Taira, Alfonso F. Cárdenas, Jonathan G. Goldin, Kathleen Brown, Robert A. Figlin, Wesley W. Chu Aug 2015

Integrated Multimedia Timeline Of Medical Images And Data For Thoracic Oncology Patients, Denise R. Aberle, John David N. Dionisio, Michael F. Mcnitt-Gray, Ricky K. Taira, Alfonso F. Cárdenas, Jonathan G. Goldin, Kathleen Brown, Robert A. Figlin, Wesley W. Chu

John David N. Dionisio

A prototype multimedia medical database has been developed to provide image and textual data for thoracic oncology patients undergoing treatment of advanced malignancies. The database integrates image data from the hospital pieture archiving and communication system with textual reports from the radiology information system, alphanumeric data contained in the hospital information system, and other electronic medical data. The database presents information in a timeline format and also contains visualization programs that permit the user to view and annotate radiographic measurements in tabular or graphic form. The database provides an efficient and intuitive display of the changing status of oncology patients. …


Rapid Door-To-Balloon Time (≤ 30 Minutes) In The Treatment Of Acute St-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (Stemi) Is Associated With Reduced Length Of Hospital Stay And Improved Clinical Outcomes, Yassir Nawaz Md, Ataul Qureshi Md, Navin K. Subrayappa Md, Orlando E. Rivera Rn, Bruce Feldman Do, Nainesh C. Patel Md Aug 2015

Rapid Door-To-Balloon Time (≤ 30 Minutes) In The Treatment Of Acute St-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (Stemi) Is Associated With Reduced Length Of Hospital Stay And Improved Clinical Outcomes, Yassir Nawaz Md, Ataul Qureshi Md, Navin K. Subrayappa Md, Orlando E. Rivera Rn, Bruce Feldman Do, Nainesh C. Patel Md

Bruce A. Feldman DO

No abstract provided.


Development Of A Small Animal Conformal Irradiator With Dual Energy X-Ray Computed Tomography Imaging For Kilovoltage Dosimetry, Michael D. Jensen Aug 2015

Development Of A Small Animal Conformal Irradiator With Dual Energy X-Ray Computed Tomography Imaging For Kilovoltage Dosimetry, Michael D. Jensen

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

External beam radiotherapy has become technically sophisticated with image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). These technologies allow for precise delivery of radiation to geometric targets in cancer patients. However, many questions remain on how to best define targets based on biological information, such as functional imaging, and how to combine radiation with other cancer therapies. To help answer these questions, small animal preclinical studies are needed to generate data to inform clinical trials. However, the precise radiation delivery capabilities of IGRT and IMRT have not been available in the preclinical labs. To enable translational experiments …


Electrochemical Characterization Of Protein Adsorption Onto Yngrt-Au And Vlgxe-Au Surfaces, Hanna Trzeciakiewicz, Jose Esteves-Villanueva, Rania Soudy, Kamaljit Kaur, Sanela Martic-Milne Aug 2015

Electrochemical Characterization Of Protein Adsorption Onto Yngrt-Au And Vlgxe-Au Surfaces, Hanna Trzeciakiewicz, Jose Esteves-Villanueva, Rania Soudy, Kamaljit Kaur, Sanela Martic-Milne

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The adsorption of the proteins CD13, mucin and bovine serum albumin on VLGXE-Au and YNGRT-Au interfaces was monitored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in the presence of [Fe(CN)6]3−/4−. The hydrophobicity of the Au surface was tailored using specific peptides, blocking agents and diluents. The combination of blocking agents (ethanolamine or n-butylamine) and diluents (hexanethiol or 2-mercaptoethanol) was used to prepare various peptide-modified Au surfaces. Protein adsorption onto the peptide-Au surfaces modified with the combination of n-butylamine and hexanethiol produced a dramatic decrease in the charge transfer resistance, Rct, for all three proteins. In contrast, polar peptide-surfaces induced a minimal change in …


Development Of A Scalable Synthesis Of Hp-Β-Cd Pluronic Polyrotaxanes, Joseph L. Skulsky, Elizabeth A. Slepko, Bradley P. Loren, David H. Thompson Aug 2015

Development Of A Scalable Synthesis Of Hp-Β-Cd Pluronic Polyrotaxanes, Joseph L. Skulsky, Elizabeth A. Slepko, Bradley P. Loren, David H. Thompson

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Polyrotaxanes are polymers that have macrocycles threaded onto them, analogous to beads threaded onto a string. These materials are used for a variety of different biomedical applications.1-3 The Thompson group has been developing 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) polyrotaxanes as therapeutics for the treatment of Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) disease. NPC is a debilitating genetic disorder where cholesterol accumulates in the lysosomes of cells.4 Developing a scalable process is crucial for the advancement of these materials as NPC therapeutics. The goal of this project is to optimize the only protocol for the synthesis of HP-β-CD/Pluronic polyrotaxanes in order to develop a …


Bio-Inspired Composite Hydrogels For Osteochondral Regenerative Engineering, Grant N. Gellert, Liangju Kuang, Chunhui Jiang, Nur P. Damayanti, Joseph Irudayaraj, Meng Deng Aug 2015

Bio-Inspired Composite Hydrogels For Osteochondral Regenerative Engineering, Grant N. Gellert, Liangju Kuang, Chunhui Jiang, Nur P. Damayanti, Joseph Irudayaraj, Meng Deng

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Treatment of osteochondral defects encompassing injury or degeneration to both the articular cartilage as well as the underlying subchondral bone presents a significant medical challenge. Current treatment options including autografts and allografts suffer from limited availability and risk of immunogenicity, respectively. The long term goal of this work is to develop an integrated scaffold system for treatment of osteochondral defects via in situ regeneration of bone, cartilage and the bone-cartilage interface. Hydrogels composed of polymer networks swollen in water provide an attractive biomaterial platform for regeneration of cartilage. In the present study, we have developed a novel composite hydrogel consisting …


Modern Study Of Environmental Pollution From The Emission Of Alpha Particles In Human Blood Samples In The City Of Najaf, Iraq, Basim A. Almayahi Aug 2015

Modern Study Of Environmental Pollution From The Emission Of Alpha Particles In Human Blood Samples In The City Of Najaf, Iraq, Basim A. Almayahi

21st International Conference on Environmental Indicators (ICEI 2015)

No abstract provided.


Developing An Optimal Model For Infant Home Visitation, Isaac Atuahene Aug 2015

Developing An Optimal Model For Infant Home Visitation, Isaac Atuahene

Doctoral Dissertations

The United States, Great Britain, Denmark, Canada and many other countries have accepted home visitation (HV) as a promising strategy for interventions for infants after births and for their mothers. Prior HV studies have focused on theoretical foundations, evaluations of programs, cost/benefit analysis and cost estimation by using hospital/payer/insurance data to prove its effectiveness and high cost. As governments and private organizations continue to fund HVs, it is an opportune time to develop and formulate operations research (OR) models of HV coverage, quality and cost so they might be used in program implementation as done for adult home healthcare (HHC) …


Evaluating The Effects Of Standardized Patient Care Pathways On Clinical Outcomes, Anna V. Romanova Aug 2015

Evaluating The Effects Of Standardized Patient Care Pathways On Clinical Outcomes, Anna V. Romanova

Doctoral Dissertations

The main focus of this study is to create a standardized approach to evaluating the impact of the patient care pathways across all major disease categories and key outcome measures in a hospital setting when randomized clinical trials are not feasible. Toward this goal I identify statistical methods, control factors, and adjustments that can correct for potential confounding in observational studies. I investigate the efficiency of existing bias correction methods under varying conditions of imbalanced samples through a Monte Carlo simulation. The simulation results are then utilized in a case study for one of the largest primary diagnosis areas, chronic …


Improved Detection By Ensemble-Decision Aliquot Ranking Of Circulating Tumor Cells With Low Numbers Of A Targeted Surface Antigen, Eleanor S. Johnson, Robbyn K. Anand, Daniel T. Chiu Aug 2015

Improved Detection By Ensemble-Decision Aliquot Ranking Of Circulating Tumor Cells With Low Numbers Of A Targeted Surface Antigen, Eleanor S. Johnson, Robbyn K. Anand, Daniel T. Chiu

Robbyn Anand

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are shed from a solid tumor into the bloodstream and can seed new metastases. CTCs hold promise for cancer diagnosis and prognosis and to increase our understanding of the metastatic process. However, their low numbers in blood and varied phenotypic characteristics make their detection and isolation difficult. One source of heterogeneity among CTCs is molecular: When they leave the primary tumor, these cells must undergo a molecular transition, which increases their mobility and chance of survival in the blood. During this molecular transition, the cells lose some of their epithelial character, which is manifested by the …


Synthesis And Flammability Testing Of Epoxy Functionalized Phosphorous-Based Flame Retardants, Vladimir Benin, Xuemei Cui, Alexander Morgan, Karl Seiwert Aug 2015

Synthesis And Flammability Testing Of Epoxy Functionalized Phosphorous-Based Flame Retardants, Vladimir Benin, Xuemei Cui, Alexander Morgan, Karl Seiwert

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Several potential new phosphorus-containing flame retardant molecules were evaluated for heat release reduction potential by incorporation of the molecules into a polyurethane, generated from methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and 1,3-propane diol. The heat release reduction potential of these substances was evaluated using the pyrolysis combustion flow calorimeter (PCFC). The polyurethanes were prepared in the presence of the potential flame retardants via solvent mixing and copolymerization methods to qualitatively evaluate their potential reactivity into the polyurethane prior to heat release testing. The functionality of the flame retardants was epoxide based that would potentially react with the diol during polyurethane synthesis. Flammability testing …


Sexual Networks And Hiv Risk Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men In 6 U.S. Cities, Hong-Van Tieu, Ting-Yuan Liu, Sophia Hussen, Matthew Connor, Lei Wang, Gregory Phillips Ii, + 11 More Aug 2015

Sexual Networks And Hiv Risk Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men In 6 U.S. Cities, Hong-Van Tieu, Ting-Yuan Liu, Sophia Hussen, Matthew Connor, Lei Wang, Gregory Phillips Ii, + 11 More

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

Background

Sexual networks may place U.S. Black men who have sex with men (MSM) at increased HIV risk.

Methods

Self-reported egocentric sexual network data from the prior six months were collected from 1,349 community-recruited Black MSM in HPTN 061, a multi-component HIV prevention intervention feasibility study. Sexual network composition, size, and density (extent to which members are having sex with one another) were compared by self-reported HIV serostatus and age of the men. GEE models assessed network and other factors associated with having a Black sex partner, having a partner with at least two age category difference (age difference between …


Three Essays On Enhancing Clinical Trial Subject Recruitment Using Natural Language Processing And Text Mining, Euisung Jung Aug 2015

Three Essays On Enhancing Clinical Trial Subject Recruitment Using Natural Language Processing And Text Mining, Euisung Jung

Theses and Dissertations

Patient recruitment and enrollment are critical factors for a successful clinical trial; however, recruitment tends to be the most common problem in most clinical trials. The success of a clinical trial depends on efficiently recruiting suitable patients to conduct the trial. Every clinical trial research has a protocol, which describes what will be done in the study and how it will be conducted. Also, the protocol ensures the safety of the trial subjects and the integrity of the data collected. The eligibility criteria section of clinical trial protocols is important because it specifies the necessary conditions that participants have to …


Feasibility Of Using Virtual Unenhanced Images To Replace Pre-Contrast Images In Multiphase Renal Ct Examinations, Dawn Olivia Popnoe Aug 2015

Feasibility Of Using Virtual Unenhanced Images To Replace Pre-Contrast Images In Multiphase Renal Ct Examinations, Dawn Olivia Popnoe

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Multiphase renal CT exams are a commonly used imaging technique for the diagnosis of renal masses. The pre-contrast, or true unenhanced (TUE), image provides a baseline for enhancement measurements which is an important criteria used to characterize renal lesions, consequently it is crucial that CT numbers measured in TUE images be accurate. The purpose of this work is to assess the feasibility of replacing TUE with virtual unenhanced (VUE) images derived from DECT data in renal CT exams. Eliminating TUE image acquisition would reduce patient dose and increase patient throughput, improving clinical efficiency.

A retrospective study was conducted for 60 …


Computational Modeling Of Rna-Small Molecule And Rna-Protein Interactions, Lu Chen Aug 2015

Computational Modeling Of Rna-Small Molecule And Rna-Protein Interactions, Lu Chen

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

The past decade has witnessed an era of RNA biology; despite the considerable discoveries nowadays, challenges still remain when one aims to screen RNA-interacting small molecule or RNA-interacting protein. These challenges imply an immediate need for cost-efficient while predictive computational tools capable of generating insightful hypotheses to discover novel RNA-interacting small molecule or RNA-interacting protein. Thus, we implemented novel computational models in this dissertation to predict RNA-ligand interactions (Chapter 1) and RNA-protein interactions (Chapter 2).

Targeting RNA has not garnered comparable interest as protein, and is restricted by lack of computational tools for structure-based drug design. To test the potential …


Quantification Of Imrt Severity Scores For Improvement Of Fmea Results, Jacqueline T. Faught Aug 2015

Quantification Of Imrt Severity Scores For Improvement Of Fmea Results, Jacqueline T. Faught

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Accurate delivery of intensity modulation radiation therapy (IMRT) requires perfect execution of a long, complicated chain of events; failure of any component of this process may contribute to dose delivery errors, compromising treatment quality and, more importantly, patient safety. Prospective, process-wide risk mitigation techniques are becoming more prevalent in radiotherapy to establish comprehensive quality management (QM) programs, such as failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA). The subjective nature of the ordinal scores used for FMEA leads questionable reliability and validity of the results. Additionally, physics components are commonly grouped together, leaving out valuable details important to physics QM. While the …


The Presence Of Clostridium Difficile On Environmental Surfaces In Healthcare Facilities Pre- And Post-Decontamination Of Patient Rooms, Theresa Trice Aug 2015

The Presence Of Clostridium Difficile On Environmental Surfaces In Healthcare Facilities Pre- And Post-Decontamination Of Patient Rooms, Theresa Trice

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections related to receiving medical care. HAIs are responsible for an excess of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. Though most HAIs rates are on the decline, Clostridium difficile infection rates are at an all-time high, primarily due to the persistence of C. difficile spores in the environment. In the United States, Clostridium difficile-related mortality rates per million have increased from 5.7 in 1999 to 23.7 in 2004, with an estimated 26,642 deaths due to Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs). Clostridium difficile is transmitted via the fecal-oral route or aerosolized endospores, but it can also be transmitted …


Improving Attenuation Correction In Hybrid Positron Emission Tomography, Hua Asher Ai Aug 2015

Improving Attenuation Correction In Hybrid Positron Emission Tomography, Hua Asher Ai

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Hybrid positron emission tomography imaging techniques such as PET/CT and PET/MR have undergone significant developments over the last two decades and have played increasingly more important roles both in research and in the clinic. A unique advantage PET has over other clinical imaging modalities is its capability of accurate quantification. However, as the most critical component of PET quantification, attenuation correction in hybrid PET systems is challenged in several different aspects, including the spatial- temporal mismatch between the PET emission images and the associated attenuation images provided by the complementary modality, and the difficulty in bone identification in the MR-based …


Extended Followup Of A Cohort Of Chromium Production Workers, Herman Jones Gibb, Peter St. John Lees, Jing Wang, Keri O'Leary Aug 2015

Extended Followup Of A Cohort Of Chromium Production Workers, Herman Jones Gibb, Peter St. John Lees, Jing Wang, Keri O'Leary

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

Background

The current study evaluates the mortality of 2,354 workers first employed at a Baltimore chromate production plant between 1950 and 1974.

Methods

The National Death Index (NDI Plus) was used to determine vital status and cause of death. Cumulative chromium (VI) exposure and nasal and skin irritation were evaluated as risk factors for lung cancer mortality.

Results

There are 91,186 person-years of observation and 217 lung cancer deaths. Cumulative chromium (VI) exposure, nasal irritation, nasal perforation, nasal ulceration, and other forms of irritation (e.g., skin irritation) were associated with lung cancer mortality.

Conclusion

Cumulative chromium (VI) exposure was a …


Quality Assurance Of Advanced Treatment Modalities Using Presage® Dosimeters, Ryan G. Lafratta Aug 2015

Quality Assurance Of Advanced Treatment Modalities Using Presage® Dosimeters, Ryan G. Lafratta

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Computer-controlled therapy machines allow for increasingly complex plans, as there are more variables that can be tuned to produce the ideal result. This makes it increasingly difficult to assure the intended calculated dose is being delivered correctly using current techniques that are 2D-based because the resultant dose distributions can differ markedly in various sections of the target. A measurement of composite dose from the entire plan should be included in patient-specific IMRT QA. A volumetric dosimeter such as PRESAGE® is able to provide a complete 3D measured dosimetry dataset with one treatment plan delivery. It was hypothesized that a …