cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Biodegradable triblock copolymer microspheres for drug delivery based on thermosensitive property of triblock copolymer
Creators: name: Kwon, Young Min
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: Block Copolymers
Drugs

description: Extensive research has recently been focused on injectable polymeric drug delivery system for the delivery of bioactive agents such as anticancer agents, proteins, or DNA in the form of drug-loaded particulate systems (i.e., microspheres and nanoparticles) for the last decade.  Conventional protein-loaded microsphere preparation involves use of water-immiscible organic solvent such as methylene chloride under harsh condition and the resultant microsphere typically exhibits initial burst effect followed by incomplete release of protein drug. An experiment was designed to monitor insulin aggregation induced by water/methylene chloride interface by a turbidimetric method. Insulin at the interface quickly underwent aggregation. This paved the way for a novel approach to prepare biodegradable microspheres without using organic solvent by utilizing unique aqueous sol-gel transition property of triblock copolymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-PEG-PLGA.  A comparative study was carried out using microspheres of the same polymer and drug but prepared by different methods: Msp A (water-based microsphere) and Msp B (w/o/w). Insulin release was carried out in vitro and Msp A showed continuous release over 2 weeks while Msp B exhibited an initial burst effect followed by no release. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy of released insulin demonstrated that insulin from Msp A maintained secondary structure integrity while that from Msp B did not. Confocal microcopy of FITC-labeled insulin showed that fluorescence was homogeneous in Msp A but not homogeneous in Msp B. In an in vivo study using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, Msp B exhibited an initial burst release as shown by hypoglycemic shock while Msp A showed less burst and prolonged release for 10 days.  The versatility of this triblock copolymer led to the design of an aqueous-based nanoparticle carrier for paclitaxel. Drug-loaded nanoparticle demonstrated control of cultured vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation for potential treatment of restenosis.  The unique property of thermosensitive, biodegradable triblock copolymer made it possible to design novel methods of preparing organic solvent-free particulate systems for the delivery of protein and water-insoluble drug.
Data Management for Materials Researchers (14/01/2022) - workshop notes
Creators: name: Pickering, Ed
name: Doyin Mansell
name: Christofidou, Kathy
name: Race, Christopher
name: Da Fonseca, João Quinta
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2022

description: These notes summarise discussions at the Data Management for Materials Researchers workshop, hosted by the Henry Royce Institute on 14th January 2022 (online, UK). Sponsored by the MIDAS and Lightform programme grants, the workshop was aimed at materials science researchers (from any discipline) who collect, store, analyse and share experimental data associated with their samples. It also welcomed inputs from research data management/data infrastructure researchers and specialists. The workshop shared examples of best practice and current initiatives in the area, with the aim of generating discussion and producing a list of actions to enable better data management practices for materials science. Improving data management and sharing culture requires the involvement of everyone in the community and so the meeting was open to all, at all career stages, from all institutions and backgrounds. Discussions were moderated to ensure that everyone had the opportunity to contribute. The workshop was based around discussions of questions, stimulated by short talks from speakers. The following are notes summarising the discussions. They are not a perfect record of everything that was discussed, but nevertheless, it is hoped they prove a useful resource for further activity in this area. These notes have been compiled by multiple authors, and summarise contributions from many more people, and are owned by the community. Many thanks to all those who took part in the workshop and contributed to this write up.
Estimate travel time reliability and emissions for active traffic and demand managment
Creators: name: Lei, Hao
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2014
Subjects: Emission
Traffic State estimation
Travel time estimation

description: The Active Traffic and Demand Management (ATDM) initiative aims to integrate various management strategies and control measures so as to achieve the mobility, environment and sustainability goals. To support the active monitoring and management of real-world complex traffic conditions, the first objective of this dissertation is to develop a travel time reliability estimation and prediction methodology that can provide informed decisions for the management and operation agencies and travelers. A systematic modeling framework was developed to consider a corridor with multiple bottlenecks, and a series of close-form formulas was derived to quantify the travel time distribution under both stochastic demand and capacity, with possible on-ramp and off-ramp flow changes. Traffic state estimation techniques are often used to guide operational management decisions, and accurate traffic estimates are critically needed in ATDM applications designed for reducing instability, volatility and emissions in the transportation system. By capturing the essential forward and backward wave propagation characteristics under possible random measurement errors, this dissertation proposes a unified representation with a simple but theoretically sound explanation for traffic observations under free-flow, congested and dynamic transient conditions. This study also presents a linear programming model to quantify the value of traffic measurements, in a heterogeneous data environment with fixed sensors, Bluetooth readers and GPS sensors.  It is important to design comprehensive traffic control measures that can systematically address deteriorating congestion and environmental issues. To better evaluate and assess the mobility and environmental benefits of the transportation improvement plans, this dissertation also discusses a cross-resolution modeling framework for integrating a microscopic emission model with the existing mesoscopic traffic simulation model. A simplified car-following model-based vehicle trajectory construction method is used to generate the high-resolution vehicle trajectory profiles and resulting emission output. In addition, this dissertation discusses a number of important issues for a cloud computing-based software system implementation. A prototype of a reliability-based traveler information provision and dissemination system is developed to offer a rich set of travel reliability information for the general public and traffic management and planning organizations.
Optical structure-property relations in metal and semiconductor nanoparticles
Creators: name: Borys, Nicholas J.
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: Metal
Nanoparticle
Optical
Properties
Semiconductor
Optoelectric properties
Metal nanoparticles
Semiconductor nanoparticles
Structure-property relations

description: The optoelectronic properties of nanoscale metal and semiconductor material systems are notably sensitive to their corresponding physical structure. Contemporary  synthesis techniques enable careful control of nanoparticle con figurations and therefore provide a wide array of systems where the eff ects of physical morphology on the interaction between nanoscale materials and light can be carefully probed. The investigated properties are immediately relevant to light-harvesting and ultra-sensitive trace-analysis and sensing applications.  In this work, the structure-property relationships of both individual semiconductor nanocrystal heterostructures and aggregates of plasmonic silver nanoparticles in  rough metal fi lms are probed. The semiconductor heterostructures behave as model light-harvesting systems where optical energy absorbed by one portion of the structure is funneled, on the nanoscale, to a model light-harvesting center, in analogy to photosynthesis. In the plasmonic silver nanostructures, collective optical excitation of the conduction electrons - plasmons - con es electromagnetic radiation to well beyond the traditional  diraction limit of light in nanoscale regions called "hot spots." Within these hot spots, light-matter interactions are greatly enhanced and thus enable trace-sensing applications such as Raman scattering from a single molecule. Thorough application of relatively simple single particle spectroscopy techniques is combined with high resolution electron microscopy to elucidate the subtle details on how physical structure controls the optical properties of both material systems.  There are four main results of this work. (1) The linear and nonlinear optical response of rough silver fi lms is shown to be enhanced by the excitation of surface  plasmon polaritons. (2) The enhanced nonlinear response of rough metal  films is conjectured to originate from metal clusters, and the observation of stark  fluctuations in their efficiency of second-harmonic generation is reported for the fi rst time. (3) The presence of and enhanced emission from silver clusters of only a few atoms plays an important role in the intrinsic optical response of the silver  films with considerable implications for surface-enhanced Raman scattering. (4) The e ffects of physical anisotropy on the electronic states of semiconductor nanocrystals are explicitly identifi ed through correlated optical and electron microscopy of single particles. These eff ects are shown to have important rami cations in the internal energy-transfer process of single nanocrystals.
Anxiety in siblings of children with cance.
Creators: name: Nobis, Marcia
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: Tumors
Children
Anxiety

description: Although much research attention has been given to children with cancer and their parents, limited information is available regarding their siblings and the anxieties they may experience.  The purpose of this study was to assess the anxieties that school-age siblings of children with caner experience and explore the variables suspected to affect the amount and type of anxiety expressed.  Patterned after a study by Waechter (1968, 1970), two measures were utilized to assess anxiety.  Sarason's General Anxiety Scale for Children was used to measure general anxiety and a modification of the Thematic Apperception Test was used to measure anxiety regarding body integrity.  Thirty-two healthy children between the ages of 6 and 10 years, whose sibling had been treated for cancer within the previous three years, and 28 healthy children, serving as a comparison group, were tested.  Results showed that as a group, sibling of children with cancer did not express greater anxiety than children of the comparison group.  However, when these same siblings were grouped according to the patient's treatment status, significant differences were noted.  Whereas siblings of children currently receiving or have completed treatment did not express greater anxiety, those siblings of children who had died expressed significantly greater anxiety.  Sex differences were also noted, with males whose sibling had died expressing significantly greater anxiety.  Analyzing, the mother's perceptions of children's behavior changes as an indicator of children's anxiety revealed mild to moderate intermittent changes after diagnosis, but pronounced and sometimes persistent behavior changes after the death of the child.  These  findings combined with future research with siblings could provide better understanding of anxieties and adaptation processes, and could assist health professionals to provide appropriate intervention and primary prevention for families adapting to life with a potentially life-threatening, potentially curable illness.
The targum (1923:May 1 - 1923:May 22)
Creators: name: No Name Supplied
Publisher: name: Targum Association
Year: 1923

description: Some University historians indicate that the Targum was first published as an annual in 1867, but of this we have no extant evidence. In January 1869, the Targum as we now know it, made its appearance as a monthly paper that concerned itself with student “literary contributions” and college news as well as serving as a vehicle for bringing news to alumni and the general public. The newspaper, which originally was for sale, varied in frequency over the years as did its title (The Targum, Rutgers Targum, Rutgers Daily Targum, and Daily Targum). The newspaper has continuously been published since 1869 with the exception of 19 months during the second world war, between February 1944 and October 1945. The Targum was published by the students of Rutgers College, and later Rutgers University—New Brunswick represented through the years as the Targum Association, Rutgers Targum Association, and Rutgers College Targum. As a student organization, the Targum operated under the oversight of the dean of students and student government but in October 1980, the Targum became an independent college paper.
Pedigree analysis of hereditary hemochromatosis
Creators: name: Kravitz, Kerry Dean
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: Hemochromatosis
Medical genetics

description: A theoretical study, aimed at the quantification of the discriminating power of various pedigree structures, provided evidence that : (1) large sibships are the single most informative pedigree feature.  (2) the complete phenotypes of parents should be gathered before deciding whether to test the offspring, and (3) a collection of individuals in a single pedigree is more informative than two pedigrees each of half the size of the original.  Likelihood analysis of a large Mormon pedigree, using transferring saturation as the quantitative phenotypic trait, indicated that the inheritance of hemochromatosis was recessive, with partial expression in heterozgotes.  The lod score of 6.88 (? = 0) was strongly indicative of linkage between the hemochromatosis (h) locus and the Major Histocompatibility System (HLA) loci.  Data from seven other pedigrees was shown to be compatible with a recessive mode of inheritance and tight linkage to HLA.  The sum of the lod scores from these seven additional pedigrees was 2.69  (? = 0).  The set of individual from all of the pedigrees studies were assigned to one of three genotypic groups - hh, Hh, or HH - on the basis of HLA haplotype, assuming tight linkage. A stepwise linear discriminant function was used (1) to obtain a multivariate measure of iron status which would differentiate the genotypic groups better than transferring saturation alone, and (2) to compare the information content of six measures of iron status:  serum iron, transferring saturation, serum ferritin, urinary iron excretion after the administration of deferoxamine, stainable iron in hepatic parenchymal cells, and hepatic iron concentration.  Results indicated that transferring saturation value can generally distinguish abnormal homozygotes (hh) from the other two genotypic groups.  There was considerable overlap between the heterozygotes and the normal homozygotes, and not of the six measures .
Public domain Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) patient database
Creators: name: Fu, Lee-Shing
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: Patient's Database

description: This document has presented a research work under the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) design and its conceptual framework as well as its experimental implementation has been introduced. Three hypotheses have been proposed and tested with real patient cases from two hospital information systems (HELP and VA). Primary conclusions of this work were: (1) The total number of MOI entries will not grow indefinitely. For a given domain, it tends to level-off as more data sources are added. (2) To date, Event Definition structures can correctly represent a selected subset of dictionary entries ranging from 83% to 99%. (3) The current automatic instantiation algorithm has proven to have an 87% success rate. (4) From the evidence shown using this prototype with the UMLS patient database, it is possible to combine electronic patient records from different patient information systems into a unified structure. Moreover, this prototype allows the user to visually inspect the distribution of relevant medical variables which demonstrates discrimination between disease and nondisease groups independent of the source of data. Also, several vital future enhancements were also discussed.
Avaliação de Programas: a Metodologia da 'Contadúria Mayor de Hacienda de México'
Creators: name: Rocha, Alexandre
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: 160509 Public Administration
subject: FOS: Political science

description: Este texto é parte da 5ª etapa do Projeto de Capacitação em Avaliação de Programas Públicos. O seu objetivo é sintetizar o curso “Evaluación de Programas”, promovido, de 30/09 a 03/10/96, pelo Tribunal de Cuentas de la República Oriental del Uruguay, como parte do programa de capacitação da Organização Latino-americana e do Caribe de Entidades Fiscalizadoras Superiores (OLACEFS). [Informativo União]
Evaluating the Utilization of the National Health Insurance Scheme in Rural Ghana
Creators: name: Manortey, Stephen Oluaku
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2014

description: Like most nations of the world, the leadership of Ghana, irrespective of political regime, has both formulated and subsequently implemented several national development policies in the quest of improving the lives of her citizenry. These procedures, in some cases, have been aligned with global goals of bridging the disparities that exist in the healthcare delivery system. Immediately following independence, the newly formed government implemented free access to primary healthcare in every public health facility. However, the economic challenges over time led to policy changes that introduced the infamous "Cash-and-Carry" program, which numerous empirical studies have concluded was detrimental to the healthcare seeking behaviors of residents. Through this system, patients were made to pay instantly out of pocket the total cost for their treatments. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was introduced in 2005 with the policy objective of getting all residents in Ghana access to quality, affordable healthcare services within a limited period of time. Despite some landmark progress that has been achieved since its implementation, complete coverage through this scheme has not been met and the membership rates tend to vary among the administrative regions of the country. Other findings indicate that many economically disadvantaged citizens are being left behind. The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the NHIS and predict membership among households in the Barekese subdistrict of the Ashanti Region of Ghana. iv Chapter 1 of this dissertation provides a brief introduction to the content of this series of projects. Chapter 2 is devoted to a historic narrative on the financing of the healthcare delivery system in the context of the subregion where Ghana is geographically located, including the past and present trends in the country, with some direct insight into the context of the Barekese subdistrict. Chapter 3 and 4, respectively, provide an analysis of both nonspatial and spatial factors that predict complete household enrollment into the mandatory health program, taking into consideration the rural nature of the study settings and socioeconomic indicators of the inhabitants of the included communities. Chapter 5 summarizes conclusions and lessons drawn from this research and provides recommendations for future work. The primary audience for this project is policy and decision makers, who have a responsibility for helping to make the scheme a success and a model for others to emulate, and the scientific community at large.
Parents' lived-experience with the admission of their newborn into a newborn intensive care unit: a phenomenological study/
Creators: name: Huber, Debra Taylor
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: subject: Psychology
subject: FOS: Psychology
subject: Demographic

description: The purpose of this research was to determine the meaning of the experience of being parents of a newborn admitted to the NICU. A phenomenological design was used to study experiences of parents following admission of their newborns into 1 of 2 Level III Newborn Intensive Care Units (NICU) located along the Wasatch Front area of Utah. Unstructured, audio-taped interviews were conducted and analyzed to identify common meanings and themes. The analysis revealed an overarching theme of 'stress,' and four subthemes: 'Issues of trust;' 'Family roles and relationships;' 'Parental role and authority;' and 'Parent-nurse relationships in the NICU.' The characteristics of the overarching theme of 'stress' included constant worry and uncertainty; painful inability to relieve baby's suffering; a sense of isolation from baby; physical and emotional exhaustion; perceived inconsistencies; and a sense of guilt and self-blame. 'Issues of trust' were polarized between trust-reenforced and trust-breached. Parents entered the NICU with trust in the professionals caring for their fragile newborn. Maintenance of this parental trust was dependent upon the perceived competence and commitment demonstrated by the professionals caring for their newborn. 'Family roles and relationships' described the parents' experience as they strived to meet the needs of their older children; fulfill the demands of their pre-existing roles and responsibilities; and cope with the perceived emotional and physical needs of their spouse. 'Parental role and authority' described the parental need and expectation to contribute and participate in the care of their newborn child. The nature of this parental participation involved frequent, nurse-supported opportunities to meet the physical needs of their child; as well as opportunities to participate in decisions surrounding their child's care. 'Parent-nurse relationships' described the significance of feeling welcome and accepted by the NICU nurses, as well as the challenge of working with the various personalities within the NICU environment. The findings of this study have provided added insight into the needs and concerns of parents in the NICU. These insights can provide the NICU nurse, as well as other care givers in the NICU, the understanding needed to provide sensitive and caring psycho-social support to NICU parents.
Evaluation of cellular responses to photodynamic therapy with HPMA copolymer-Mce6 conjugates in human ovarian carcinoma cells
Creators: name: Tijerina, Monica
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: Ovaries - Cancer - Photochemotherapy

description: Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a new form of cancer treatment, involves the excitation of  photosensitizers by a specific wavelength of light at the sight of neoplastic  growth.  We have previously shown combination chemotherapy and PDT with N-(2hydroxyprophyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymer-bound anticancer drugs resulted in complete tumor ablation of human ovarian carcinomas heterotransplanted in nude mice.  Additionally, HPMA copolymer-conjugated drugs administered by intravenous injection accumulated at significantly higher levels in tumor tissues compared to free drugs.  In the following studies, cellular responses to PDT were examined utilizing the photosensitizing agent mesochlorin e6 monoethylenediamine (Mce6) or HPMA copolymer-Mce6 conjugates.  First, the development of multridrug resistance, one of the major causes of failure for the treatment of human malignancies, was evaluated with Mce6 versus HPMA copolymer-bound Mce6.  Prolonged exposure of human carcinoma A2780 cells to similar effective doses of free Mce6 or HPMA copolymer-Mce6 conjugates was investigated characterizing chronically treated cells by cytotoxicity analysis gene expression and anti-human P-glycoprotein IgG binding.  Second, HPMA copolymer-Mce6 conjugates were synthesized to clucidate subcellular targets sensitive to PDT.  Mce6 was bound to HPMA copolymers via a nondegradable dipeptide linker (P-GG-Mce6) or a lysosomally degradable spacer (P-GFLG-Mce6).  Minimal nuclear localization signal (NLS) from simian virus large rumor antigen (PKKKRKC126K(FITC)C) was conjugated to HPMA copolymer-Mce6 conjugates (P-NLS(FITC)-GG-Mce6, P-NLS(FITC)-GFLG-Mc36) to direct delivery of HPMA copolymer-Mce6 conjugates to the nucleus.  Low temperature and metabolic inhibitors were utilized to inhibit endocytin uptake of HPMA copolymer-Mce6 conjugates (P-GG_MCe6) resulting in plasma membrane bound P-GG-Mce6.  Subcellular distribution analyzed by confocal microscopy and subcellular fractionation was correlated with cytotoxicity to A2780 cells.  Third, mechanism of cell death were examined utilizing flow cytometry and ELISA.  Inhibition studies incorporating actinomycin D, an inhibitor of RNA synthesis and cycloheximide, and inhibitor of protein synthesis, were used to determine the significance of gene and protein expression on cell death.  Gene targets of A2780 cells treated with free Mce6 or HPMA copolymer-Mce6 conjugates were monitored by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).  Collectively these studies validate the use of HPMA copolymer-Mce6 conjugates for the prolonged treatment of ovarian cancer and assist in the design of second-generation HPMA copolymer PDT delivery systems.
Avaliação de Programas versus Auditoria Operacional
Creators: name: Freitas, Carlos Alberto Sampaio De
name: Bastos, Glória Maria Merola Da Costa
name: Rocha, Alexandre
name: Pereira, Paulo Roberto Pinheiro Dias
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: 160509 Public Administration
subject: FOS: Political science

description: Este texto faz parte do Projeto de Capacitação em Avaliação de Programas Públicos. O seu objetivo é abordar uma questão que suscita indagações não só por parte dos técnicos deste Tribunal, mas também de pesquisadores, auditores e demais profissionais envolvidos com atividades de controle em diversos países: existe diferença conceitual entre avaliação de programas e auditoria operacional ou são elas, na verdade, o mesmo tipo de exame analítico, com uma nomenclatura diferente? [Informativo União]
Supporting scalable data analytics on large linked data
Creators: name: Le, Wangchao
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2014
Subjects: Database systems
Linked data
Query optimization
Query rewriting
RDF
SPARQL

description: Linked data are the de-facto standard in publishing and sharing data on the web. To date, we have been inundated with large amounts of ever-increasing linked data in constantly evolving structures. The proliferation of the data and the need to access and harvest knowledge from distributed data sources motivate us to revisit several classic problems in query processing and query optimization. The problem of answering queries over views is commonly encountered in a number of settings, including while enforcing security policies to access linked data, or when integrating data from disparate sources. We approach this problem by efficiently rewriting queries over the views to equivalent queries over the underlying linked data, thus avoiding the costs entailed by view materialization and maintenance. An outstanding problem of query rewriting is the number of rewritten queries is exponential to the size of the query and the views, which motivates us to study problem of multiquery optimization in the context of linked data. Our solutions are declarative and make no assumption for the underlying storage, i.e., being store-independent. Unlike relational and XML data, linked data are schema-less. While tracking the evolution of schema for linked data is hard, keyword search is an ideal tool to perform data integration. Existing works make crippling assumptions for the data and hence fall short in handling massive linked data with tens to hundreds of millions of facts. Our study for keyword search on linked data brought together the classical techniques in the literature and our novel ideas, which leads to much better query efficiency and quality of the results. Linked data also contain rich temporal semantics. To cope with the ever-increasing data, we have investigated how to partition and store large temporal or multiversion linked data for distributed and parallel computation, in an effort to achieve load-balancing to support scalable data analytics for massive linked data.
Contentious politics and political stability in contemporary China: an institutionalist explanation
Creators: name: Lei, Shaohua
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2013
Subjects: Contentious politics
Political stability
The multilevel reasonability structure

description: The Communist regime in China survived the collapse of the Soviet Communist Bloc in the early 1990s. Since then, China has sustained rapid economic growth with an annual growth rate of 8%. However, in recent years, we have witnessed increasing social protests in Chinese cities and rural areas. The increasing contentious politics and a stable authoritarian regime puzzles theorists on authoritarian regime and political transition. This dissertation seeks to answer the question, why or how China's authoritarian regime has remained politically stable with increasing social protest. It adopts an institutionalist approach to explore the interaction between contentious politics and political institutional arrangements. It argues that the multilevel reasonability structure is the key to understanding political stability in China. This structure not only can absorb exogenous shock, but also can prevent endogenous subversion and can avoid power disequilibrium.
An analysis of multiple variables associated with exercise-induced oligo-amenorrhea.
Creators: name: Gray, D. Patricia
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: Running
Women

description: A study of the relationships among multiple variables associated with exercise-induced oligo-amenorrhea in 70 healthy female runners, 18-37 years of age, was conducted. Seventy-seven percent of the runners were eumenorrheic while 23% were oligo-amenorrheic. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship among serum lipids, body fat and ovarian hormones as well as re-examine other variables previously cited in the literature as being associated with exercise-induced amenorrhea, using multiple correlation and regression analysis. All participants completed a running and menstrual history questionnaire, the Schedule of Recent Experiences questionnaire, a four day diet diary, submaximal treadmill test, skinfold thickness, height and weight measurements and had two blood samples taken for analysis of estradiol, testosterone, progesterone and serum lipids. Analysis of the data revealed statistically significant zero-order correlations between the number of menstrual cycles per year and predicted maximum oxygen uptake, training time per mile, percent body fat, Nutrition;al intake, and serum estradiol levels. Multiple regression analysis revealed that only 12% of the variation in serum estradiol was explained by age, cholesterol intake, serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and percent body fat. A path analysis was utilized to explore possible causal linkages between variables of interest; 41% of the variation in the number of menstrual cycles per year was explained by the variables used in the path diagram. The mechanisms through which body fat, cholesterol intake and serum cholesterol affect the number of menstrual cycles per year remains to be elucidated.
Clinical fatigue concept clarification
Creators: name: Smeeding, Sandra
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: Fatigue

description: Implementation of evidence-based techniques, such as computerized protocols, has achieved limited success owing to a behavioral bottleneck"" among clinicians. We describe the development and validation of an instrument, for assessing critical care clinicians' perceptions about use of computerized protocols. We developed a 35-item instrument based on the constructs of a cognitive model we previously proposed. Following minor revisions to ensure content and semantic validity the instrument was administered to 240 clinicians (132 nurses, 53 physicians and 55 respiratory therapists), in three health-care institutions. Principal components analysis was used for extraction of factors. We report the clinicians' perceived likelihoods of 15 outcomes related to use of computerized protocols. Principal components analysis identified nine factors, explaining 66% of the total variance. Beliefs regarding Self-Efficacy' ((3 = 0.185, p<0.001) was the most important predictor of the outcome (Behavioral Intention) and explained 26% of the total variance. Other factors contributing to this outcome were Environmental Support, Role Relevance, Work Identity, Beliefs regarding Control, Information Quality, Social Pressure and Culture. Results supported the reliability and construct validity of each of the above scales. Clinicians' identified 'Improvement of data collection' (Mean±SD) (73.45±22.44), 'Uniformity of care' (71.83±20.64), 'Dependence on computers' (71.49±26.40), ability to 'Track logic of protocol' (68.56±22.44) and 'Improve  patients'   quality  of care'   (68.49±22.75)   as  the  most  important  factors. Clinicians' perceptions are critical predictors of computerized protocol adoption in routine practice. Development of instruments for measurement of clinician attributes that predict computerized protocol use should help us to design and implement computerized protocols that meet the needs of critical care medicine.""
Recognition of adolescent depression in primary care by nurse- practitioners: a descriptive study
Creators: name: Hartle, Janna
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: Primary Care
Utah
Depression in Adolescence

description: Primary care providers, such as nurse-practitioners (NPs) often are the first to encounter depressed adolescents, particularly those with somatic complaints. NPs provide early recognition and referral for treatment of adolescent depression, interventions that can greatly decrease life-time morbidity and mortality of the disorder. Research documents that under-recognition of depressive disorders in primary care is, however, the reality. The purpose of this study was to examine the current practices of NPs regarding adolescent depression. This was considered an initial step toward explaining under-recognition and making recommendations for change. A questionnaire was distributed to all licensed NPs practicing in the state of Utah. The results demonstrated significant relationships between the use of screening tools and increased number of adolescents referred, as well as increased frequency of prescribing antidepressants for adolescents in rural settings. Though NPs recognized characteristics of adolescent depression, they may have overestimated the prevalence in the general population. Further research is needed to improve primary care recognition and management of adolescent depression. Emphasis on education, research and utilization of on-site mental health professionals is recommended.
Molecular studies of familial adult myoclonic epilepsy and Andersen's syndrome
Creators: name: Plaster, Nikki Marie
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: Epilepsy - Genetic aspects
Genetic disorders

description: We investigated two electrical episodic disorder, familial adult myoclonic epilepsy (FAME) and Andersen's syndrome (AS), to identify molecular components involved in cell excitability in humans. FAME is characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance, adult onset, myoclonus of the limbs, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and benign course.  We examine nine Japanese families exhibiting FAME. A genome-wide screen performed on four families identified a FAME locus on chromosome 8q24.  Physical and fine mapping of the locus further restricted the gene to a 700 kilobase region.  This region contains four putative genes, EIF3S3, hHR21(sp), ZnT-5, and AA913447.  Although none of these genes can currently be eliminated as candidates for the FAME gene EIF3S3, ZnT-5, and hHR21(sp) are unlikely to be responsible for the FAME phenotype due to either their location or the absence of coding mutations.  Complete sequence of AA913447 has not yet been identified and is currently under investigation.  Mutational analysis of this putative gene and possible other unidentified genes in the FAME locus will lead to the identification of the FAME gene.  As is characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance of cardiac manifestations (including cardiac arrhythmia and long QT syndrome), periodic paralysis, and facial and skeletal dysmorphology.  We examined 23 families exhibiting the characteristic traits of AS. A genome-wide screen localized an AS gene to chromosome 17q23.  Mutational analysis identified 12 different mutations in the inwardly rectifying K+ channel subunit Kir2.1 that segregate with the disorder in 16 families.  Electrophysiological examination of two mutant subunits demonstrated a loss of function and a dominant negative effect of Kir2.1. Investigation of sub cellular localization in five mutant subunits demonstrated their mutation in Kir2.1 cause the characteristics traits of AS, and that this is accomplished (in the case of some mutations) by disrupting channel function at the plasma membrane.  The results of these studies revealed novel associations between cardiac and skeletal muscle membrane excitability, and developmental signaling.  Further investigation of FAME, AS, and there responsible gene products is expected to enrich the current understanding of cell excitability in the brain, heart, and skeletal muscle.
Roots of domination: political institutions and social structures in Syria from the French Mandate to Hafiz Al-Asad
Creators: name: Smuin, Benjamin James
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: Asad
Bilad al-Sham
Syria
French mandate
Baath Party

description: The history of modern Syria is often divided into brief periods, relating to a specific topic, such as authoritarianism in the early years of independence, the emergence of nationalism after the end of World War I, and so on. This thesis is the end result of a careful reading and application of two particular assertions made by the late Albert Hourani, specifically that, as historians, we often divide up the past into somewhat perilous periodisiations; and that even if there were no ‘Syrian' people, the Syrian lands would still be ripe with problems. Thus, this thesis examines the effects of rule by non- Syrians, then traces these effects through the first thirty years of independence. These ‘non-Syrians,' especially the French, made several broken promises, which led to a very specific desire to see Syria ruled by Syrians. While the rule of the various military  governments and their successors from 1946-1969 was by no means free of strife, it could be argued that by 1970 the only option for any semblance of security and stability was the authoritarian rule of Hafiz al-Asad. The present work is an attempt to break up the periodisations to show that indeed, whether under French or Ottoman control, Syrian politics were problematic, and, unfortunately, a precursor to the repressive regime that has been in place in the country since 1970.
Observations and large-eddy simulations of the thermally driven cross-basin circulation in a small, closed basin
Creators: name: Lehner, Manuela
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012

description: Differential solar irradiation on opposing mountain sidewalls produces local temperature gradients. Flows across the valley or basin develop due to the ensuing horizontal pressure gradients, which are directed from the less irradiated and colder sidewall toward the more irradiated and warmer sidewall. These thermal flows are investigated for the small and almost circular basin of Arizona's Meteor Crater using observations and numerical simulations. Observations from the Meteor Crater show a pronounced cross-basin flow in the center of the crater basin under undisturbed conditions, which develops as an easterly flow in the morning when the sun is to the east and the west sidewall is more strongly irradiated, and which then shifts to a southerly direction around noon and eventually to a westerly direction in the evening. The direction of the cross-basin flow agrees with the direction of the crossbasin temperature and pressure gradients as the sun moves across the sky during the day. Large-eddy simulations for an idealized, rotationally symmetric basin produce a cross-basin circulation with a three-layer structure in the morning, that is, a nearsurface southeasterly cross-basin flow topped by an opposing, northwesterly return flow and a secondary southeasterly flow near or above the top of the basin. Based on an analysis of the horizontal momentum and the thermodynamic balance equations, a different formation mechanism is identified for each layer, with each of the formation mechanisms being related to asymmetric irradiation. Additional simulations are run with a prescribed surface heat flux, which produces a spatially constant heat-flux gradient, and with varying background wind speeds and directions for different basin sizes. Results indicate that persistent cross-basin flows develop only in basins that are smaller than 5 km. Background winds induce a secondary circulation near the top of the basin, which interacts with the thermally driven circulation. The resulting wind field depends on the direction of the background winds with respect to the prescribed heat-flux gradient and on the stratification of the basin atmosphere.
Sonnenfleckenzeichnung Nr. 23248.
Zeichnung von Flecken und Fackelflächen zur Ermittlung der Sonnenaktivität am 07.12.1969, erstellt von Werner Scheidegger
Creators: name: [s.n.]
Publisher: name: [s.n.]
Year: 1969

description: Bleistiftzeichnung mit Tinte und Farbstift überschrieben, erstellt als Projektionsbildzeichnung in der Eidgenössischen Sternwarte Zürich. Instrument: Zeiss Coudé-Refraktor (150/2250 mm).
Die Beobachtungen zu Einzelflecken und zu Sonnenfleckengruppen wurden mit Bleistift auf einem Vordruck eingetragen. Zusätzlich notiert: Tabelle mit statistischen Angaben – mit Vermerk der Werte Gr, f und g, wobei die Bestimmung der Fleckenrelativzahl nach wie auf visueller Beobachtung und anderer Instrumentierung beruhte (und dafür das entsprechende Registerblatt (in Teilbestand acht) ausgefüllt wurde). Zusammen mit den täglichen Werten oft Angabe der Resultate der Flächenmessungen der Flecken (F und F -o) in Millionsteln der Scheibe bzw. der Halbkugel
Sonnenfleckenzeichnung Nr. 23142.
Zeichnung von Flecken und Fackelflächen zur Ermittlung der Sonnenaktivität am 07.08.1969, erstellt von Werner Scheidegger
Creators: name: [s.n.]
Publisher: name: [s.n.]
Year: 1969

description: Bleistiftzeichnung mit Tinte und Farbstift überschrieben, erstellt als Projektionsbildzeichnung in der Eidgenössischen Sternwarte Zürich. Instrument: Zeiss Coudé-Refraktor (150/2250 mm).
Die Beobachtungen zu Einzelflecken und zu Sonnenfleckengruppen wurden mit Bleistift auf einem Vordruck eingetragen. Zusätzlich notiert: Tabelle mit statistischen Angaben – mit Vermerk der Werte Gr, f und g, wobei die Bestimmung der Fleckenrelativzahl nach wie auf visueller Beobachtung und anderer Instrumentierung beruhte (und dafür das entsprechende Registerblatt (in Teilbestand acht) ausgefüllt wurde). Zusammen mit den täglichen Werten oft Angabe der Resultate der Flächenmessungen der Flecken (F und F -o) in Millionsteln der Scheibe bzw. der Halbkugel
Physiologic weight loss in breast-fed newborn infants
Creators: name: Hammond, Marilyn Steiner
Publisher: name: University of Utah
Year: 2012
Subjects: Newborn infants
Breastfeeding

description: Nurses working in newborn nurseries should be aware of the effects of the present system of providing nourishment for newborn infants.  The current feeding practice is to begin artificially-fed infants on formula at 12 hours after birth while breast-fed infants are provided a solution of glucose water as needed until the mother begins lactation, usually three day after birth.  Because there is a difference in the caloric value of these two preparations, a questions is raised as to whether there is a greater initial weight loss in breast-fed infants compared to artificially-fed infants during the first 72 hours of life.  The intent of the present study was: 1) to determine the mean physiological weight loss in a group of breast-fed infants, 2) to compare the mean weight loss in a group of breast-fed infants with the mean weight loss in a similar group of artificially-fed infants, and 3) to establish whether the largest increment of weight decrease occurs during the first 12 to 24 hours of life.  Surface area of the infants was used to determine if it was related to the amount of weight lost.  A sample of 321 neonates born in a large suburban hospital was studied.  Data were collected over a three month period and included the infant's birth weight and weights at 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours.  Temperatures and length at birth were obtained from the infant's hospital record.  Negative correlations between surface area and man per cent weight loss were obtained but were not significant.  The mean weight loss of breast-fed infants was 4.25 per cent as compared to 3.02 per cent of newborns given formula.  Girls from the breast-fed sample lost the greatest amount of weight during the 12 to 24 hour period but all infants lost approximately the same per cent of weight during the first 12 hours.  Artificial-fed infants at 48 hours began to regain weight.  Breast-fed infants continued to lose weight until 72 hours.  The mean percentage weight loss of both groups of infants was below the 5 to 10 per cent range usually quoted by authors of medical texts.  Replication of this study is recommended to determine the relationship between caloric content of feedings and initial weight loss in newborns.
Effect of blue–blocking lenses on colour discrimination
Creators: name: Baldasso, Manon
name: Roy, Maitreyee
name: Boon, Mei‐ying
name: Dain, Stephen J
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2021
Subjects: subject: Microbiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Physiology
subject: Biotechnology
subject: 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Science Policy

description: Tinted lenses may adversely affect colour discrimination. Before recommending tinted lenses to patients, practitioners should bear in mind any effects on colour discrimination. The effects of ‘blue‐blocking’ spectacle lenses with high luminous transmittance on colour vision is not a concern. Blue‐blocking lenses have been widely promoted by manufacturers and practitioners. The more blue‐blocking lenses are known to affect colour vision significantly but there has been no study of the effects of ‘blue‐blocking’ spectacle lenses. The transmittances of commercially available lenses were measured and the three lenses with the lowest blue light transmittance were selected. Subjects undertook the following computer‐based colour vision tests: Colour Assessment and Diagnosis; the Cambridge Colour Test; and the Farnsworth‐Munsell 100 Hue Test. Blue and luminous transmittances of lenses were documented. The reduction in blue transmittance varied from 12 to 40 per cent (two to 30 per cent compared with an untinted lens). The lenses were found to have no significant, statistical or possibly practical, effect on the results of the three colour vision tests (t‐test, analysis of variance, Mann–Whitney, Kruskal‐Wallis). The modest blue light transmittance reduction of the ‘blue‐blocking’ spectacle lenses examined was not sufficient to have a statistically significant effect on colour vision.