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CONTROLLING IMPURITY INCORPORATION MECHANISMS IN PHARMACEUTICAL CRYSTALLIZATIONS
No full textCrystallization is a commonly used method for separating and purifying the desired active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The manufacturing of APIs typically involves complex organic syntheses that can result in the generation of byproducts, intermediates, and unreacted reagents. These other substances can act as impurities that have detrimental effects for the API, but most importantly could be hazardous for the patient. Despite the significance of these implications, the mechanisms of impurity incorporation in crystallizations are not well understood. A recent study on 50 pharmaceutical crystallization systems found that the most prevalent mechanisms in which impurities were retained above regulatory thresholds were from either the impurity incorporating into the product lattice and forming a solid solution, or the impurity co-precipitating along with the product as it crystallizes. The research in this dissertation seeks to dive deeper into these mechanisms. It explored the effects of solid solutions on crystal properties such as solubility, morphology, and form stability as well as how process conditions (i.e., mixing and impurity level) affect the selectivity of impurity retention on specific faces of the crystals in a powder. The overall goal of this body of work is to facilitate a more scientific understanding of impurity retention in crystallizations with the aim of developing safer and more robust pharmaceutical medications for human and animal patients
TUNABLE PROTEIN- POLYSACCHARIDE COMPOSITES: FROM MATERIAL FABRICATION TO CHARACTERIZATION
No full textProtein–polysaccharide composites derived from natural biopolymers offer tunable structural and functional properties, making them valuable for biomedical and sustainable material applications. This work explores the fabrication and characterization of composite systems based on silk fibroin, chitosan, zein, and methylcellulose to understand how processing methods and composition influence material behavior. In the first part, chitosan–silk fibroin composites were subjected to ultrasonication to study the influence of acoustic energy on their structural and functional properties. Characterization through SEM, FTIR, DSC, TGA, and XRD revealed enhanced crystallinity, thermal stability, leading to improved flexibility, strength, and hydrophilicity properties beneficial for biomedical and packaging applications. The second part investigated the effects of mild alkaline (NaOH) treatment on corn zein–chitosan composites. The treatment promoted deprotonation and increased hydrogen bonding, resulting in improved thermal stability, reduced degradation, and a denser molecular structure. These modifications suggest potential use in sustainable food packaging and wound healing applications. In the final part, silk fibroin–methylcellulose composites were fabricated into one- and two-dimensional rods and films to assess the relationship between composition and mechanical performance by agarose layering. Increasing silk content enhanced rigidity and thermal stability, while varying Methyl cellulose concentration, modulated porosity and flexibility. Preliminary self-actuation behavior indicated the materials potential for soft robotic and stimuli-responsive systems. Overall, this research demonstrates that various controlled processing techniques and compositional tuning enable the design of protein–polysaccharide composites with customizable mechanical, structural, and thermal properties for diverse industrial and biomedical applications
The importance of Sports Physical Leading to the Diagnosis of Loeys–Dietz Syndrome
No full textAbstract
The pre-participation school or sports physical, introduced in the mid-20th century, remains a cornerstone of adolescent health screening, primarily aimed at ensuring athletic safety. While most evaluations reveal benign conditions, these encounters occasionally uncover critical yet asymptomatic disorders. This report highlights the incidental discovery of Loeys–Dietz syndrome (LDS) type 4 in a 17-year-old male during a routine sports physical, underscoring the clinical value of thorough cardiovascular assessment and recognition of subtle phenotypic cues in preventive settings.
Significance: Loeys–Dietz syndrome is a rare, autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder affecting fewer than 1 in 100,000 individuals, often misdiagnosed as Marfan syndrome due to overlapping phenotypic features.
This article reviews the genetic basis, clinical presentation, and management of LDS, focusing on its cardiovascular implications. Literature was identified through a targeted search of PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords Loeys–Dietz syndrome, TGFB mutations, aortic aneurysm, and sports physical screening. The collected research emphasizes the importance of early identification, given the high risk of arterial aneurysm and dissection at smaller diameters and younger ages. A multidisciplinary approach—combining genetic testing, vigilant imaging, and prophylactic surgical thresholds—is essential for optimizing outcomes and preventing catastrophic vascular events in affected individuals
Questions of Competence: A Heuristic Inquiry of Women Graduate Students with Invisible Disabilities in Male-Dominated Academic Fields
No full textWomen graduate students with invisible disabilities experience significant barriers within postsecondary institutional contexts. This intersection of gender and invisible disability complicates these women’s postsecondary experiences, and this complexity further extends to male-dominated academic fields and perceptions of competence. The purpose of this qualitative heuristic inquiry was for me to better understand how women graduate students with invisible disabilities encounter and navigate ableist perceptions of their competence within male-dominated academic fields. I studied the phenomenon of competence through the lifeworld existentials of lived time, lived body, lived space, and lived human relations. Feminist disability studies served as the support for this study’s foundation. I identified five themes and nine subthemes that underscored the lived experiences of participants. Some of the themes and subthemes I identified in this study included the self-critic, breaking the cycle, patronizing patriarchy, surface-level support, and lock and key. These themes represented how women graduate students with invisible disabilities articulated the challenges to their competence, described the intersection of gender and disability, and described how their competence was challenged within academic spaces
IMPLEMENTING PERSON-CENTERED PLANNING IN STEM TO ENHANCE SELF-DETERMINATION AND SELF-ADVOCACY FOR TRANSITIONING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
No full textThis dissertation investigated person-centered planning as an evidence-based approach for high school students with disabilities. The primary objective of this research was first to determine the impact of person-centered planning on the development of self-advocacy and self-determination skills among high-functioning students with disabilities embedded in a special education STEM curriculum, and to explore students\u27 perceptions of transition services. To address this objective, the study employed a Mixed-Methods Action Research Design, consisting of focus group interviews with 11th- and 12th-grade high school students with disabilities. This study drew on a transformative theoretical framework grounded in quality-of-life and communities-of-practice theories. Key findings of this study included that students who had instruction in person-centered planning improved in their self-advocacy and self-determination skills. Students were more likely to consider STEM careers when these approaches were embedded in the science curriculum. These findings also contributed to a deeper understanding of students\u27 perceptions of transition services in a public education system. This research offers several implications for future practice by expanding person-centered planning in classroom settings. Ultimately, this dissertation advances knowledge of transition services within a high school special education environment, empowering students with disabilities to engage in self-advocacy and self-determination through tools derived from person-centered activities, action plans, and focus groups. Keywords: Individualized Education Program, person-centered planning, self-advocacy, self-determination, students with disabilities, transition service
A VISUAL EXPLORATION FRAMEWORK FOR EXPLAINABLE DEEP REINFORCEMENT LEARNING
No full textUnderstanding how Reinforcement Learning (RL) agents make decisions remains a critical challenge in advancing transparent and trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI). Explainable AI (XAI) methods have been introduced to open the black-box models. However, XAI in RL is under-explored due to the challenges such as temporal dependencies, sequential decision-making, and dynamic policies. Moreover, most XAI methods focus on mathematical or feature-based explanations, which is non-intuitive and challenging for end-users who benefit from AI on a regular basis. This dissertation addresses these gaps by developing a visual-based exploration framework that extends traditional XAI toward interactive storytelling to enhance the interpretability and understanding of Deep RL (DRL). This approach used Bag of Pattern (BoP) to capture temporal policy summaries and recurring behavioral patterns over time along with their contributions to rewards. These extracted patterns provide valuable behavioral training insights, reveal how agent behavior evolves during learning, and suggest indicators for convergence and potential early stopping in DRL. The proposed tool supports both experts and end-users offering analytical insights and intuitive, human-centered visual explanations to enhance trustworthiness. Through case studies across environments with increasing complexity, the research demonstrates how visual storytelling can bridge the gap between agent decisions and human understanding
Microwave Heating for Concrete Demolition
No full textThis study investigates microwave heating (MH) as a novel method for concrete demolition. MH offers a quieter, cleaner, and more efficient alternative to traditional concrete demolition techniques. Experimental tests were conducted using concrete cylinders of varying sizes (Ø2×4 in., Ø3×6 in., Ø4×8 in., and Ø6×6 in.), water-to-cement (w/c) ratios (0.36, 0.43, 0.50), and moisture conditions (saturated surface dry and oven dry). Specimens were exposed to three microwave powers (300 W, 600 W, and 1000 W) for durations between 2 to 6 minutes. The temperature of specimens was monitored using embedded thermocouples and a thermal camera. Results show that heating rate decreases with increasing specimen volume and w/c ratio, while higher microwave power provides faster temperature rise. For dry concrete, microwave penetration exceeds 8 in., compared to 4 in. in saturated concrete. Using numerical methods and statistical techniques provides a foundation for predicting temperature with a novel model equation. Additionally, the effect of microwave heating on compressive strength and bond between concrete and reinforcement rebar was evaluated, showing noticeable reductions in compressive strength and bond after MH. These findings highlight that microwave heating has the potential to demolish various types of concrete, including reinforced structures
INFRASTRUCTURAL RESILIENCY ANALYSIS CONCERNING EXTREME EVENTS
No full textInfrastructural resiliency is critical for maintaining functionality during and after extreme events, ensuring minimal service disruptions and supporting rapid recovery. Key resiliency attributes—robustness, redundancy, resourcefulness, and rapidity—enhance infrastructure adaptability and safety. This study investigates significant factors and methods for improving resiliency, with a focus on equity and reliability. A new resiliency metric, incorporating equity as a core element, is developed using probabilistic approaches. This metric integrates structural vulnerability with accessibility, income, cost, and exposure factors to evaluate community impact on infrastructure access. To achieve this, limit state functions are defined to assess how infrastructural vulnerabilities affect diverse communities. Apart From this, structural robustness is quantified through resilience analysis of reinforced concrete (RC) bridge walls, tracking crack initiation and progression under extreme stresses. Fragility curves based on crack size are developed to represent structural vulnerability, with Bayesian inference applied to enhance predictions. Load path redundancy is also examined as a resiliency indicator. Subsequently, for flood-prone bridge systems, probabilistic flood modeling and XFEM finite element analyses are used to assess failure and generate accurate fragility curves, especially for bridge piers and foundations. Results will guide resiliency formulations specific to substructure systems
DISPROPORTIONALITY OF MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION: A MIXED METHODS STUDY EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEACHER SELF-EFFICACY AND SHELTERED INSTRUCTION
No full textAbstract Jessica Braynor DISPROPORTIONALITY OF MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION: A MIXED METHODS STUDY EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEACHER SELF-EFFICACY AND SHELTERED INSTRUCTION 2025-2026 Hajime Mitani, Ph.D. Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership This study addressed the issue of disproportionality of multilingual learners (MLs) in Special Education. Using mixed-methods explanatory sequential design, the study examined the relationship between sheltered instruction implementation, domain-specific self-efficacy (pedagogical-content, linguistic, and sociocultural), and referrals of MLs to Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS) and Special Services. Quantitative data were collected from general education teachers using measures of Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) implementation and self-efficacy, along with referral data. Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to examine relationships among variables and explore self-efficacy as a moderating factor. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with a subsample of teachers to explain and expand upon quantitative findings. Results revealed a strong, positive correlation between SIOP implementation and overall teacher self-efficacy. When examining the relationship between SIOP implementation and referrals, subgroup analyses suggested that self-efficacy moderated referral patterns. Findings underscore the importance of strengthening teacher preparation and professional development related to pedagogical-content, linguistic, and sociocultural self-efficacy to support equitable instructional and referral practices for MLs
The Implementation Experiences of No Place for Hate Coordinators: A Qualitative Case Study
No full textHate speech based on race, religion, culture, gender identity, and sexual orientation is prevalent in P-12 education. Hate speech is a problem in public education because it creates divisions among students and further marginalizes students from historically marginalized groups. The Anti-Defamation League’s “No Place for Hate” (NPFH) program provides a framework for schools to challenge hate and improve school climate. Given the current polarizing political climate, this study is important to understanding how program coordinators navigate the challenges of this political climate in implementing NPFH. The 18 South Jersey schools that implement NPFH serve more than 24,000 students. Yet the state serves approximately 1.4 million students, including more than 420,000 high school students. If more schools implement No Place for Hate, they must be prepared to navigate the current political climate. Otherwise, ineffective implementation will jeopardize important programming to cultivate a positive, inclusive school climate for New Jersey’s students