3103 research outputs found
Sort by
New and emerging pharmacotherapy for duchenne muscular dystrophy: a focus on synthetic therapeutics
No full textIntroduction: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the result of X-chromosome-linked mutations to the dystrophin protein gene that prevent the normal development and repair of muscles leading to muscle deterioration. The condition affects nearly 1 in 3,500 males worldwide. Current therapeutics have not been sufficient in providing a cure or resulting in a significant extension in life expectancy, but many therapeutic options are currently under investigation. Areas covered: This article provides an overview of the current and emerging therapies for DMD giving particular focus to synthetic therapeutic options. The authors further provide their expert opinion. Expert opinion: Many discrepancies in primary outcomes of trials have led to questions of efficacy for medications, as well as difficulty in securing FDA approval. A standardization of primary outcome strategies, as well as better access to investigational medications, may alleviate some of the controversy and pressures that exist on medication approvals. Many trials have identified cohorts who responded more favorably to medications, despite a lack of significance in the overall intent-to-treat populations. This indicates that more medication screening and personalized treatment with patient-specific targeting might deliver more clinically significant results
Using Convolutional Neural Networks for Smart Classroom Observation
No full textClassroom observation is one the primary tools for providing teachers feedback on their classroom practices. However, classroom observation is expensive and may suffer from bias. A partial automation of this process should go a long way towards improving the quantity and quality of feedback provided to a teacher that may eventually lead to better education. This paper presents the design and implementation of a Convolution Neural Network (CNN) that used class observation audio data to classify classroom activities into those based on the Stallings Classroom Snapshot. Data consisting of 859 audio episodes taken from a variety of semi-rural schools was used to train a CNN to classify the audio episode into one of six Stalling categories; Classwork, Classroom Management, Lecture/Demonstration, Practice Drill, Discussion/Question and Answer, and Reading Aloud. The resulting model yielded a best accuracy of 89.97%. The model performed better than previous model built using KNN and Random Forest. The 20 MB model implementation of the CNN on an iPhone SE using CoreML yielded an average response time of 0.8 seconds/inference (sd = 0.01)
Considerations of Antibiotic Treatment for Genital Ureaplasma
Get PDFGenital Ureaplasma is a worldwide issue in obstetrics and gynecology. Morbidities can include pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, miscarriage, preterm delivery, and chorioamnionitis, if left untreated. The quality improvement (QI) initiative used a retrospective chart review of 128 subjects, collecting data of antibiotic treatment differences and recurrence of genital Ureaplasma at a corporate owned obstetrical and gynecologic outpatient clinic in the metro-Denver area. The investigator used the percentage change mathematical formula to determine the percentage difference between patient antibiotic treatment only with symptomatic genital Ureasplasma versus antibiotic treatment of the patient and the partner. Overall, the project did not show statistical difference between the two variables (percentage change of 14.47%). However, unintentional findings were reported on the recurrence difference between patient and patient and partner treatment between the antibiotics doxycycline (20.7% and 16.57%), azithromycin (50.07% and 50.7%), and clindamycin (100% recurrence rate with and without partner treatment). The major limitation of this project was the small sample size. The most significant implication of this project was that the antibiotic findings were consistent with CDC and UpToDate guidelines. It appeared that doxycycline has a higher success rate for treatment of genital Ureaplasma. Further investigation is recommended
Impact of Educational Mental Illness Awareness in the Latino Population
Get PDFExecutive Summary: Mental illness exists worldwide and affects everyone from the individual with mental illness to family members and community. Latinos are not different when it comes to mental illness when compared to the rest of the population. The number of individuals suffering from mental illness stigma is relatively high among the Latino community in the United States (US). Latinos who have been diagnosed with mental illness are less likely to seek treatment for their illness than the general population in the US. For this reason, a project to determine if Latinos attitudes and self-efficacy could be improved by an educational intervention via a brochure was completed. A quasi-experimental survey method was used to assess the effectiveness of the educational brochure to increase self-efficacy and increase knowledge about mental illness in the Latino community. The study’s objective was to improve patient outcome by increasing knowledge and changing attitudes towards mental illness in Latinos. The long-term goal was to increase knowledge and change attitudes towards mental illnesses therefore improving health outcomes such as: increasing rates of individuals in the Latino community seeking treatment, improving physical health, and having greater understanding of mental illness. The project plan included: identification of the problem, performing a literature review, creating an educational brochure, developing an instrument for self-efficacy evaluation, assigning participants to a treatment group and control group, collecting, and analyzing the data, and reporting the findings. Descriptive statistics was performed; participants average age was 30 to 39 years of age. The results were not significant statistically (t = 0.143.p \u3e.001). The mean score for the control group (47.63) and intervention group (51.83) showed a slight improvement in the Latino individuals who read the brochure indicating some learning may have occurred after reading the brochure
MS Environmental Biology Capstone Project
Get PDFChapter 1 - Literature Review: A More General World Under Climate Change
Chapter 2 - Grant Proposal: Determining the Effectiveness of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Versus Traditional Ground Surveys to Map the Distribution of Bell’s Twinpod (Physaria bellii) in Boulder County
Chapter 3 - Journal Manuscript: Macroinvertebrate Assemblages Indicate Declining Ecosystem Diversity for In-Stream Restoration Sites at Deer Creek, CO
Chapter 4: Stakeholder Analysis: Pebble Mine Proposal: A Stakeholder Tale of Two Industrie
Preparing Leaders for the FIght
Get PDFPreparing Leaders for the Fight: An Attempt to get Left of the Boom There is a need, in the United States Army, to examine and refine the training of Soldiers in ethical decision making in order to better equip leaders for unforeseen dilemmas which regularly occur in both war and peace. This project includes a cursory look at several noteworthy cases which have provoked public debate and discourse about situational ethics within the military. Other cases are mentioned as emblematic examples because of their instructive value and offer various insights into the current ethical climate and moral health of the Army. By focusing primarily on the case study of Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Allen B. West the project seeks to examine the systems and circumstances that preceded and contributed to a very public moral morass. The project investigates the adequacy, or lack thereof, of ethical training and preparation which may have contributed to the controversial unfolding of events in the West case. The project includes a survey and assessment of both theoretical and tested military ethics and leadership models to evaluate their future potential. An attempt is made to glean lessons learned from both the primary and secondary cases while suggesting revisions and improvements to any existing ethical decision-making models which may be in place. Ultimately this project offers a new rudimentary Ethical Decision-Making Model for review and consideration
Reflection on the Implication of the Jesuit Apostolic Preferences on Study Abroad and International Immersions
No full textThe benefit of study abroad and international immersion programs on students had been well documented, but the impact on destination communities our students visit has received significantly less attention. Many of the potential negative economic, social and cultural impacts of foreign visitors highlighted in the literature on tourism are likely to apply to students engaged in study abroad or immersive global programs. The excessive focus on the benefits for students raises the question if study abroad and international global immersions for many are simply self-serving activities. The Jesuit Apostolic Preferences can serve as a discernment tool in the planning and assessment of global experiences that ultimately can serve to join our institutions in mission across the world
Changing the Narrative for LGBTQ Adolescents: A Literature Review and Call for Research into Narrative Therapy to Improve Family Acceptance of LGBTQ Teens
Get PDFA large body of existing research has demonstrated the importance of family acceptance as a protective factor for LGBTQ youth facing increased risks of low self-esteem, depression, suicidal ideation, and other mental-health problems. However, little research has been done on therapeutic interventions for families specifically to address stigma and discrimination against LGBTQ adolescents. In particular, narrative therapy, with its focus on deconstructing and re-storying oppressive cultural narratives, seems a natural fit, but little to no quantitative research has been done on family-based narrative therapy for LGBTQ adolescents, and only a handful of qualitative studies have been published. Therefore, the paper reviews the relevant literature on LGBTQ youth at risk, family acceptance, and narrative therapy, and argues for narrative therapy as a potentially useful intervention to help a marginalized population thrive in the face of continuing challenges. Finally, the paper suggests some avenues for further research
