Methodology

Diabetic retinopathy is an ischemic retinal neovascular disease causing vision loss among adults. The studies presented involve the design and testing of a gene therapy vector to inhibit retinal revascularization, similar to that found in diabetic retinopathy. Gene therapy has proven to be an effective method to introduce therapeutic proteins to treat retinal diseases. Targeting a specific cell type and expression of therapeutic proteins according to the tissue microenvironment should have an advantage over traditional gene therapy by avoiding unwanted transgene expression. Hypoxia plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of many retinal ischemic diseases. Retinal Mèuller cells provide structural and functional support to retinal neurons, as well as playing a significant role in retinal neovascularization. Targeting Mèuller cells may be an effective strategy to prevent retinal neovascularization under pathological conditions. ... The hypoxia regulated, glial specific vector successfully reduced the abnormal neovascularization in the periphery by 93% and reduced the central vasobliterated area by 90%. A substantial amount of exogenous endostatin was produced in the retinas of P17 OIR mice. A significant increase in human endostatin protein and reduced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were identified by Western blot and ELISA, respectively. These findings suggest hypoxia-regulated, glial cell-specific scAAV mediated gene expression may be useful to prevent blindness found in devastating retinal diseases involving neovascularization.

This study sought to measure the impact of an evidence-based school guidance counseling curriculum. Student Success Skills (Brigman & Webb, 2010),on : (a) wellness factors for early adolescences, (b) engagement in school success skills, and (c) grades in core subject areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies, reported at nine-week intervals. ... The results of this study provide a link between the collaboration between school counselors and teachers when delivering classroom guidance interventions on wellness behaviors in adolescents. More research in needed on the impact of school counseling curriculum programs on early adolescent wellness, engagement in school success strategies, and improved academic achievement.

Molecular chaperones guide peptide fold conformation throughout the lifetime of the peptide. One network of chaperone proteins involved in this activity, Heat shock protein 70s (Hsp70s), are well characterized at restoring peptide fold, utilizing J-domain containing protein chaperone cofactors to activate Hsp70 activity. DnaJ (Hsp40) homolog, subfamily C, member 25 (DNAJC25) is a class III transmembrane J-domain containing protein that to date is underrepresented in the literature. Recently, Hejtmancik et al. 2012. (unpublished data) have revealed that missense mutation to DNACJ25 at Pro90Leu (P90L) is strongly correlated with inherited Closed-Angle Glaucoma. Inherited mutations are well characterized for Open-Angle Glaucoma, however, prior to this finding, were unknown for Closed-Angle Glaucoma. In this report, analysis of the in vitro chaperone activity of DNAJC25 w+ and P90L is assessed utilizing an Hsp70 mediated Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase refolding system, SWISS-MODEL predictions are performed for the J-domain structure of DNAJC25 w+ and P90L with consequent analysis of DNAJC25 Pro90 conservation relative to other type I, II, and III J-domain containing proteins. DNAJC25 P90L demonstrated decreased chaperone activity in vitro compared to w+ DNAJC25.

This work aimed at aiding academic and CRM professionals in archaeology by developing a predictive model of prehistoric sites on the southeastern coast of Cuba. The variables in this model were identified by previous archaeological research at Guantâanamo Bay Naval Station. Both GIS analysis and weights of evidence testing were conducted on the model. The results of the GIS and statistical analysis allowed for refinement of the model. Cuba is central to understanding the prehistoric settlement of the Caribbean. The model explored not only site occurrence and environmental correlations, but also looked at intersite correlations. It was determined that site occurrences are strongly linked to low elevation, proximity to other sites, south-facing areas, mangroves, and geologic formations. This model may add to the understanding of the prehistoric settling of Cuba, as well as the interactions between native groups.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of a multimedia tutorial for first year undergraduate students (FTICs) using a university course registration system; to determine if a relationship existed between perceived effectiveness of the multimedia tutorial, gender, major, ICT usage, ICT education, ICT fluency, and ICT comfort; and to describe the transfer of learning, if any, that resulted from viewing the multimedia tutorial. The study was both quantitative and qualitative in design addressing 10 research questions. The instruments used in this study consisted of the Registration Tutorial which included: (1) an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Fluency Questionnaire (Hilberg, 2007), (2) a multimedia tutorial designed by the researcher demonstrating the university course registration system, and (3) the Registration Video Questionnaire (RVQ) also designed by the researcher measuring perceived multimedia tutorial effectiveness. A Registration Video Tutorial Transfer of Learning Questionnaire (TLQ) was also developed by the research to measure perceived proficiency with the registration system three months after initially viewing the multimedia tutorial. The sample included 1,196 freshmen students from a large public university in the southeastern United States. Results of the study showed that students perceived the multimedia tutorial to be effective (M = 4.19, SD = .756) and seven themes emerged through qualitative analysis as to why the tutorial was or was not effective. Results also showed there was no relationship between multimedia tutorial effectiveness and gender, major, or ICT education.

High-resolution sonar systems are primarily used for ocean floor surveys and port security operations but produce images of limited resolution. In turn, a sonar-specific methodology is required to detect and classify underwater unexploded ordnance (UXO) using the low-resolution sonar data. After researching and reviewing numerous approaches the Multiple Aspect-Fixed Range Template Matching (MAFR-TM) algorithm was developed. The MAFR-TM algorithm is specifically designed to detect and classify a target of high characteristic impedance in an environment that contains similar shaped objects of low characteristic impedance. MAFR-TM is tested against a tank and field data set collected by the Sound Metrics Corp. DIDSON US300. This thesis document proves the MAFR-TM can detect, classify, orient, and locate a target in the sector-scan sonar images. This paper focuses on the MAFR-TM algorithm and its results.

This study examines six oral history projects that were conducted over fifty years in Palm Beach County, Florida. The projects recorded the history of African American neighborhoods in Delray Beach and Boca Raton; individual lives in their place and times; the pioneer and Flagler eras in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach; and people, places, and events chosen by oral history students at Florida Atlantic University. As with oral histories generally, those studied inherently contain numerous variables concerning their (1) historical context, (2) format, and (3) participants, which clearly affect the outcome of recorded interviews and their written representations. Among the variables considered, this study demonstrates that it is the purpose of a single oral history or project that most significantly affects the others, and which is closely tied to the academic disciplines or backgrounds of its planner and interviewer. Although oral history is a tool with many uses, it is also a discipline within that of history. As such, oral historians are obliged to preserve raw history in a form that is protected, accessible, and useful for interpretation by potential researchers in a variety of fields. Regardless of their primary purpose, oral historians from all disciplines should remain aware of this underlying purpose: to provide for the future.

Provision of complete and responsive solution to healthcare services requires a multi-tired health delivery system. One of the aspects of healthcare hierarchy is the need for nursing care of the patient. Nursing care and observation provide basis for nurses to communicate with other aspects of healthcare system. The ability of capturing and managing nursing practice is essential to the quality of human care. The thesis proposes knowledge based decision making and analyzing system for the nurses to capture and manage the nursing practice. Moreover it allows them to monitor nursing care quality, as well as to test an aspect of an electronic healthcare record for recording and reporting nursing practice. The framework used for this system is based on nursing theory and is coupled with the quantitative analysis of qualitative data. It allows us to quantify the qualitative raw natural nursing language data. The results are summarized in the graph that shows the relative importance of those attributes with respect to each other at different instances of nurse-patient encounter. Research has been conducted by the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science for the College of Nursing.

This qualitative study examined seven preservice teachers' perceptions of their science content knowledge, teaching practices, and reflective processes through the use of the metacognitive strategy of concept maps. Included in the paper is a review of literature in the areas of preservice teachers' perceptions of teaching, concept development, concept mapping, science content understanding, and reflective process as a part of metacognition. The key questions addressed include the use of concept maps to indicate organization and understanding of science content, mapping strategies to indicate perceptions of teaching practices, and the influence of concept maps on reflective process. There is also a comparison of preservice teachers' perceptions of concept map usage with the purposes and practices of maps as described by experienced teachers. Data were collected primarily through interviews, observations, a pre- and post-concept mapping activity, and an analysis of those concept maps using a rubric developed for this study. Findings showed that concept map usage clarified students' understanding of the organization and relationships within content area and that the process of creating the concept maps increased participants' understanding of the selected content.

The objective of this study was to determine whether 11 independent variables or combinations of variables help to predict a diabetes-related hospital readmission for patients with diabetes within 60 days from discharge. The variables were categorized into four main groups: (a) patient characteristics, (b) lifestyle, (c) biomarkers, and (d) disease management aspects. A convenience sample of 389 historical medical records of patients who were admitted to a rural hospital in northeastern North Carolina with a diagnosis of, or relating to, diabetes was studied. After comparing predictive discriminant analysis (PDA) and logistic regression (LR), PDA performed better and was chosen to analyze a convenience sample of patients admitted to the hospital for a diabetes-related diagnosis from January, 2004 to December, 2006. The best overall subset accurately classified 27 cases with six predictors that included (a) systolic blood pressure, (b) smoking status, (c) blood glucose range, (d) ethnicity, (e) diabetes education, and (f) diastolic blood pressure. In an effort to simplify the prediction process, the subsets of two predictors were examined. The results of the analysis returned four subsets of 2-predictor variable combinations that correctly classified cases for readmission. Each of the four subsets has two predictors that are statistically and practically significant for predicting readmissions for a diabetes-related problem within fewer than 60 days. These combinations are the predictor subsets of (a) smoking status and being treated by a specialist or non-specialist physician, (b) a religious affiliation or a lack thereof and smoking status, (c) gender and smoking status, and (d) smoking status and ethnicity.