Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Estimating Effects On Rare Outcomes: Knowledge Is Power, Laura B. Balzer, Mark J. Van Der Laan

Laura B. Balzer

Many of the secondary outcomes in observational studies and randomized trials are rare. Methods for estimating causal effects and associations with rare outcomes, however, are limited, and this represents a missed opportunity for investigation. In this article, we construct a new targeted minimum loss-based estimator (TMLE) for the effect of an exposure or treatment on a rare outcome. We focus on the causal risk difference and statistical models incorporating bounds on the conditional risk of the outcome, given the exposure and covariates. By construction, the proposed estimator constrains the predicted outcomes to respect this model knowledge. Theoretically, this bounding provides …

The Santa Clara, 2013-05-09, Santa Clara University

The Santa Clara

No abstract provided.

10th Annual Symposium Of The School Of Science, Engineering And Health, Messiah College

School of Science, Engineering & Health (SEH) Symposium

Welcome to the 10th Annual Symposium of the School of Science, Engineering and Health! This symposium continues a strong tradition of annual events designed to showcase student and faculty innovation, creativity and productivity in academic departments that were formerly housed in different schools within the college. This will be the third year in which we are holding the event as the School of Science, Engineering and Health. We have maintained many customs while blending to establish new traditions. We look forward to incorporating your suggested improvements into future symposia.

The Santa Clara, 2013-05-02, Santa Clara University

The Santa Clara

No abstract provided.

Geographic And Temporal Epidemiology Of Campylobacteriosis, Jennifer Weisent

Doctoral Dissertations

Campylobacteriosis is a leading cause of gastroenteritis in the United States. The focus of this research was to (i) analyze and predict spatial and temporal patterns and associations for campylobacteriosis risk and (ii) compare the utility of advanced modeling methods. Laboratory-confirmed Campylobacter case data, obtained from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network were used in all investigations.

We compared the accuracy of forecasting techniques for campylobacteriosis risk in Minnesota, Oregon and Georgia and found that time series regression, decomposition, and Box-Jenkins Autoregressive Integrated Moving Averages reliably predict monthly risk of infection for campylobacteriosis. Decomposition provided the fastest, most accurate, user-friendly …

Place Events 2012-2013, Place

PLACE Historical Documents

This document describes PLACE events at Linfield College for 2012-2013.

Linking And Retaining Hiv Patients In Care: The Importance Of Provider Attitudes And Behaviors, Manya Magnus, Jane Herwehe, Michelli Murtaza-Rossini, Petera Reine, Damien Cuffie, Deann Gruber, Michael Kaiser

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

Retention in HIV treatment may reduce morbidity and mortality, as well as slow the epidemic. Myriad barriers to retention include stigma, homophobia, structural barriers, transportation, and insurance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient perceptions of provider attitudes among HIV-infected persons within a state-wide public hospital system in Louisiana. A convenience sample of patients attending HIV clinics throughout the state participated in an anonymous interview. Factors associated with negative perceptions of care were evaluated in conjunction with a validated stigma measure. Factors associated with having a delayed entry into or break in care were evaluated in conjunction with …

Progression Magazine, 2013 Spring, Coastal Carolina University

Progression Magazine

Magazine of the College of Science at Coastal Carolina University.

Algorithms And A Software Application For The Discovery Of Heparin-Binding Proteins For Chemical Analysis, Christopher Dempewolf

Computer Science and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Heparin is a biological molecule that plays a vital role in anticoagulation. As such, it is used for the prevention of blood clotting in a variety of medical disorders. However, it is easily contaminated with foreign substances, and this can prove fatal for a person receiving heparin. In order to prevent this, proteins that easily bind to heparin need to be added to the solution. Then, the unwanted substances can easily be filtered out. Certain sequences or patterns of amino acids are known to have a high probability of binding to heparin. Thus, proteins that contain large numbers of these …

Patients With Disabilities As Teachers (P-Dat) Training In Medical Education, Rebecca Royce-Hickey Do, Sweety Jain Md, Susan E. Hansen Ma, Nyann Biery Ms

Department of Family Medicine

No abstract provided.

Statistical Investigation Of The Immune Response In Non-Human Primate Models, Annika Laser

Theses and Dissertations

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was first detected more than 30 years ago. Since then, intensive research has been done to develop a broadly protective vaccine, though without success. Our goal is to unveil some features of the protective immunity in non-human primate lentiviral infections in order to emulate HIV-infection. Two primate species have been studied, rhesus macaques (Rh) (Macaca mulatta) and African

green monkeys (Ag) (Chlorocebus spp.). Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection is non-pathogenic to Ag while Rh develop an AIDS-like illness. In this study, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 8 Ag and 27 Rh were stimulated with …

Integrative Biomarker Identification And Classification Using High Throughput Assays, Pan Tong

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

It is well accepted that tumorigenesis is a multi-step procedure involving aberrant functioning of genes regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, genome stability, angiogenesis and motility. To obtain a full understanding of tumorigenesis, it is necessary to collect information on all aspects of cell activity. Recent advances in high throughput technologies allow biologists to generate massive amounts of data, more than might have been imagined decades ago. These advances have made it possible to launch comprehensive projects such as (TCGA) and (ICGC) which systematically characterize the molecular fingerprints of cancer cells using gene expression, methylation, copy number, microRNA and SNP microarrays …

Interaction Between Lubricants Containing Phosphate Ester Additives And Stainless Steels, David W. Johnson, Matthew Bachus, John E. Hils

Chemistry Faculty Publications

One way to improve fuel efficiency in today’s jet aircraft engines is to create an environment for higher operating temperatures and speeds. New and improved lubricants and bearing materials must be developed to remain stable in these elevated operating temperatures. Three lubricants, with varying amounts of tricresyl phosphate added as an anti-wear/extreme pressure additive were tested on two different stainless steels at varying temperatures ranging from 300 °C to 350 °C in vacuum. Significant decomposition of the lubricant base-stocks and the phosphate ester additive did occur in most of the trials resulting in the formation of carboxylic acids and phenols. …

A Mathematical Model For Antibiotic Resistance In A Hospital Setting With A Varying Population, Edward H. Snyder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria(ARB) is causing increased health risk and cost to society. Mathematical models have been developed to study the transmission of resistant bacteria and the efficacy of preventive measures to slow its spread within a hospital setting. The majority of these models have assumed a constant total hospital population with the admission and discharge rates being equal throughout the duration. But a typical hospital population varies from day to day and season to season. In this thesis, we apply variable admission and discharge daily rates to existing deterministic and stochastic models which examine the transmission of single and dual resistant …

Concurrent Neurological And Behavioral Assessment Of Number Line Estimation Performance In Children And Adults, Joseph Michael Baker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Understanding the brain’s response to common math-learning activities may help improve math education. For example, by imaging the brains of typically developing children and adults throughout a number line estimation task, it is possible to establish a baseline of what “typical” brains do in such situations. Thus, comparisons may be made to determine the degree to which brain functioning differs between typical and atypical math learners. Moreover, by identifying methods that may increase the brain’s response to real-world math activities, it may be possible to improve the math learning process for typical and atypical learners alike.

Brain imaging devices such …

Comparison Of Methodologies For Synthesis Of 3-(Cyclopropylethynyl)Benzisothiazole 1,1-Dioxide, Rachel Lee Naramore

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Genetic Variation On Birth Defects In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Daniel Robert Kepple

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

In my Renee Crown Honors Capstone project, I studied how genetic variation influences birth defects that cause death in C. elegans embryos. I performed high-throughput hatching assay experiments of recombinant inbred advance intercross lines of C. elegans. These lines are genetically distinct from each other. I found significant variation in birth defects causing embryo death in these recombinant inbred advanced intercross lines. My results give evidence that gene interaction may play a significant role in causing birth defects resulting in death. My data also provides a starting point for studies making statistical arguments linking these birth defects to specific …

91st Annual Meeting Of The Virginia Academy Of Science: Proceedings

Virginia Journal of Science

Proceedings of the 91st Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, held at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, May 22-24, 2013.

The Association Of Diet And Physical Activity With Stroke Mortality Results From The Adventist Health Study-1, Tahereh Zamansani

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability, with major global public health implications. Stroke ranks No. 4 among all causes of death, behind heart disease, cancer, and chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD). Stroke accounts for almost 1 of every 18 deaths in the United States. Women accounted for 60.6% of stroke deaths. Death certificate data show that the mean age at stroke death was 79.6 years; males had a younger mean age (76.3) than females.

There is still a great scientific uncertainty among researchers and epidemiologists about the magnitude of any preventive effect, mechanisms of action …

A Novel Mechanism For Mechanosensing By Endothelial Cells, Jennifer Macdowell

Honors College

The formation of new vasculature is an essential process, but can also be utilized by cancerous cells. Angiogenesis requires the directed migration of the endothelial cells lining the nascent blood vessels. This process is largely mediated by integrin, which plays a key role in the interplay between sensing a force in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and transducing this signal, a process termed mechanotransduction. Through cell-ECM focal adhesions, integrin mediates the signaling both into and out of the cell, promoting growth of focal adhesions and subsequent cell spreading and migration. In order to study focal adhesion dynamics related to force, we …

Using Optimal Control Theory To Optimize The Use Of Oxygen Therapy In Chronic Wound Healing, Donna Lynn Daulton

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Approximately 2 to 3 million people in the United States suffer from chronic wounds, which are defined as wounds that do not heal in 30 days time; an estimated $25 billion per year is spent on their treatment in the United States. In our work, we focused on treating chronic wounds with bacterial infections using hyperbaric and topical oxygen therapies.

We used a mathematical model describing the interaction between bacteria, neutrophils and oxygen. Optimal control theory was then employed to study oxygen treatment strategies with the mathematical model. Existence of a solution was shown for both therapies. Uniqueness was also …

Design And Fabrication Of Nanofluidic Systems With Integrated Sensing Electrodes For Rapid Biomolecule Characterization, Taylor Bradley Busch

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A transparent nanofluidic system with embedded sensing electrodes was designed and fabricated by integrating Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) nanolithography, Focused Ion Beam (FIB) milling and metal deposition, and standard microfabrication processing. The fabrication process started with the evaporation of chrome/gold (Cr/Au) onto a Pyrex 7740 wafer followed by photolithography and wet etching of the microchannels. The wafer was patterned a second time to form Au microelectrodes with 15-45 micrometer separation gaps in the nanochannel region. Sensing electrodes (up to one micron wide) were then deposited using FIB to bridge the gaps. The nanochannels were realized through both AFM nanolithography and …

Effect Of Leaving Ligands Of Platinum(Ii) Diamine Complexes On Dna And Protein Residues, Ramya Kolli

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Platinum compounds are widely used drugs in cancer treatments. Although DNA is the biological target, reaction of platinum compounds with proteins is also potentially significant. Our objective is to study the effects of leaving ligands on the relative reactivity between 5'-GMP (guanosine 5' phosphate), a key DNA target, and N-Acetyl - L-Methionine (N-AcMet), a key protein target. We have used NMR spectroscopy to monitor reactions with N-AcMet and 5'-GMP added to a platinum complex to see which products are formed preferentially. Previous research showed that both a non-bulky complex such as [Pt(en)(D₂O)₂]²⁺ [en=ethylenediamine], and a …

Alpcs(2a)-Mediated Photochemical Internalization Of Bleomycin And Concurrent Hyperthermia Of Multicellular Tumor Spheroids, Aaron Andersen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Treatments for glioblastoma multiforme and invasive ductal carcinoma involve surgical resection and adjuvant or concurrent targeted therapies. The goal of the secondary treatment is to reduce the cancer cells in the resection margin and other areas of suspected involvement. Photochemical internalization is a targeted therapy using light to activate photosensitizers embedded in cellular structures to improve the delivery of macromolecules within the cell.

In a previous study, optimized treatment parameters including radiant exposure, and irradiance, concentration of AlPcS(2a), temperature, and the concentration of bleomycin were determined for human ACBT glioma multicell spheroids. The current study investigates the effectiveness of the …

Master Physician Scheduling Problem, Aldy Gunawan, Hoong Chuin Lau

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

We study a real-world problem arising from the operations of a hospital service provider, which we term the master physician scheduling problem. It is a planning problem of assigning physicians’ full range of day-to-day duties (including surgery, clinics, scopes, calls, administration) to the defined time slots/shifts over a time horizon, incorporating a large number of constraints and complex physician preferences. The goals are to satisfy as many physicians’ preferences and duty requirements as possible while ensuring optimum usage of available resources. We propose mathematical programming models that represent different variants of this problem. The models were tested on a real …

Statistical Analysis Of Correlated Ordinal Data: Application To Cluster Randomization Trials, Ruochu Gao

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Cluster randomization trials have become increasingly popular when theoretical, ethical or practical considerations preclude the use of traditional trials that randomize individual subjects. Although some methods for analyzing clustered ordinal data have been brought to wide attention, these are less developed as compared to methods for analyzing clustered continuous or binary outcome data. The aim of this thesis is to refine existing strategies which may be applicable to clustered ordinal data as well as extensions which have been previously considered only for clustered binary responses. The approaches include adjusted Cochran-Armitage tests using an ICC estimator, and correction and modification strategies …

The Santa Clara, 2013-04-25, Santa Clara University

The Santa Clara

No abstract provided.

2013 - The Eighteenth Annual Symposium Of Student Scholars

Symposium of Student Scholars Program Books

The full program book from the Eighteenth Annual Symposium of Student Scholars, held on April 25, 2013. Includes abstracts from the presentations and posters.

The Santa Clara, 2013-04-18, Santa Clara University

The Santa Clara

No abstract provided.

A Pilot Study Of The Effect Of An Acute Vestibular Therapy On Postural Stability And Gaze Patterns Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Stander Symposium Projects

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) struggle with sensory regulation, resulting in abnormal gaze patterns and decreased postural stability. Sensory integration (SI) therapy is a common therapy used to help children with ASD with these issues, however, there is insufficient quantitative research concerning its effectiveness. A pilot study is currently being conducted to quantify the acute effects of a SI vestibular treatment on postural stability and gaze patterns. Both children diagnosed with ASDs and typically developing children are participating in the study, and test methods include quiet standing posturography and analysis of socially relevant visual fixations recorded by a mobile …