Creating an environment of success: community college faculty efforts to engage in quality faculty-student interactions to contribute to a first-generation student\u27s perception of belonging

This dissertation examines the role of the faculty-student interaction in the perceived sense of belonging first generation students experience while attending 2-year community college. While Strayhorn’s (2012) definition of sense of belonging is referenced this researcher has developed a diagram that focuses on the sense of belonging that focuses specifically on the 2-year community college student due to the fact that the theoretical frameworks regarding sense of belonging focus, primarily, on the perception of belonging among college students attending residential 4-year colleges and universities. The sense of belonging for first-generation, community college students suggests that a student’s perceived sense of belonging (what is referred to as internal) is influenced by the faculty-student interaction; particularly by the external (what is referred to as behavioral) actions of faculty. The first-generation student’s perception of belonging, those students whose parents do not have a college degree, will be discussed; in particular, the research examines the experiences of first-generation African American and Latino, community college, students. The perceptions of belonging were uncovered through the use of one on one interviews and an examination of the 2014 responses by first-generation students to the University of Texas (2015) Community College Survey on Student Engagement (CCSSE). This is not a true mixed methods study as the data from CCSSE was used for reporting purposes only. The focus on the lived experience provided this study with rich and insightful material that adds to the limited body of research related to the community college as a post-secondary institution

Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Atrial Fibrillation after Open Heart Surgery

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and an inflammatory process is involved in its pathogenesis. We aimed to study the possible effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) as an antioxidant on atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. Methods: The study included ninety patients who underwent cardiac surgery, either valvular or coronary artery bypass grafting using cardiopulmonary bypass, and were randomized into two groups: Control and ALA groups. Blood samples were obtained to measure preoperative and postoperative levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The patients were monitored for the occurrence of atrial fibrillation until the day of discharge. Results: POAF occurred in 33% in the control group versus 11% in the ALA group (p=0.011).  When compared to the control group, ALA significantly decreased the postoperative levels of MDA (4.78±0.91 vs. 5.36±1.03 nmol/ml; p= 0.006) CRP (19.44±3.14 vs. 26.56±6.29 mg/dl; p <0.001) and IL-6 (22.25±2.2 vs. 25.37±2.5 pg/ml; p< 0.001) while glutathione level increased significantly in patients who received ALA (26.4±4.59 vs. 23.44±5.11 mg/l; p= 0.005). Conclusion: ALA may help in the prevention of atrial fibrillation following cardiac surgery through exerting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects

Influence of layer bonding on compressive strength of 3D printed structure: An experimental study

The impact of 3D printing parameters is critical for expanding the application of technology in the design and construction. The effect of bonding layers on the compressive strength of the material is investigated in this research by variation of the layer thickness and print speed. Cube specimens with layer thicknesses ranging from 0.05 to 0.3mm and print rates of 40mm/s, were tested on compression with the DARTEC test equipment. It was found that layer thicknesses of 0.05mm and 0.15mm have similar elastic properties while the 0.15mm layer can take additional load after initial plastic deformation. Layer thickness of 0.30mm has significantly lower elastic zone load capacity, but the stress in plastic zone continue to grow. The findings are of great importance for in explaining the S-N curve in order to enhance part manufacture

Characterization of fatigue properties of 3D printed polylactic acid

The goal of this research is to determine how tiredness behavior may be measured (PLA). A To A variety of technical data sets were S-N curves were chosen and statistically re-analyzed. as described in the following section, to generate a negative reference value reverse slope also an improved tolerance limit of 106 2 failure cycles. The average effect of stress on fatigue can be indicated via administering the highest level of stress achievable during the cycle, according to experimental data examined after treatment.Furthermore stress/strength study may be effectively performed until the printing orientation seems to possess minimal influence on PLA's general tiredness behavior. carried out via taking the printing orientation into account. A homogeneous, linearly elastic polymer is described. When acceptable experimental findings are not available, the paper explains how to conduct a fatigue evaluation (with a survival probability better than 95%). The study demonstrates how to do so via utilizing standard fatigue curves with a negative-inverse regression of 5.5 and a tolerance limit (2 106 cycles to failure) equivalent to 10% of the material's maximum σ_t

Quality of life among parents of children with heart disease

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

CryoEM structure of the type IVa pilus secretin required for natural competence in Vibrio cholerae

Natural transformation is the process by which bacteria take up genetic material from their environment and integrate it into their genome by homologous recombination. It represents one mode of horizontal gene transfer and contributes to the spread of traits like antibiotic resistance. In Vibrio cholerae, a type IVa pilus (T4aP) is thought to facilitate natural transformation by extending from the cell surface, binding to exogenous DNA, and retracting to thread this DNA through the outer membrane secretin, PilQ. Here, we use a functional tagged allele of VcPilQ purified from native V. cholerae cells to determine the cryoEM structure of the VcPilQ secretin in amphipol to ~2.7 Å. We use bioinformatics to examine the domain architecture and gene neighborhood of T4aP secretins in Proteobacteria in comparison with VcPilQ. This structure highlights differences in the architecture of the T4aP secretin from the type II and type III secretion system secretins. Based on our cryoEM structure, we design a series of mutants to reversibly regulate VcPilQ gate dynamics. These experiments support the idea of VcPilQ as a potential druggable target and provide insight into the channel that DNA likely traverses to promote the spread of antibiotic resistance via horizontal gene transfer by natural transformation

Effects of diabetes family history and exercise training on the expression of adiponectin and leptin and their receptors

The daughters of patients with diabetes have reduced insulin sensitivity index (ISI) scores compared with women with no family history of diabetes, but their ISI increase more in response to exercise training(1). The present study aimed to determine whether differences between these groups in exercise-induced changes in circulating adiponectin and leptin concentrations and expression of their genes and receptors in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), could explain differences in the exercise-induced changes in ISI between women with and without a family history of diabetes

Treatment of the microfilaraemia of asymptomatic brugian filariasis with single doses of ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine or albendazole, in various combinations

Several new chemotherapeutic tools are now available for the control of lymphatic filariasis. Combinations of single doses of antifilarial drugs are generally superior to single drugs. The efficacy and safety of albendazole in combination with diethylcarbamazinc (DEC) or ivermectin, for the treatment of Brugia malayi infection, were investigated, for the first time, in an open, hospital-based study. Fifty-one asymptomatic microfilaraemics (with 108-4034 microfilariae/ml; median = 531) of both sexes and aged 14-70 years were randomly allocated to receive single-dose treatments of ivermectin (200 μg/kg) with diethylcarbamazine (DEC; 6 mg/kg), ivermectin (200 μg/kg) with albendazole (400 mg), DEC (6 mg/kg) with albendazole (400 mg), or albendazole (400 mg) alone. Albendazole alone had no effect on the microfilarial levels at the 1-year follow-up but both groups given DEC had significantly lower microfilaraemias ( P < 0.015 and P < 0.02) than that given ivermectin with albendazole. Overall, 47%-64% of those given DEC but only 14% of those given ivermectin with albendazole appeared to be amicrofilaraemic 1 year post-treatment. The adverse reactions seen in the study were mild, transient and qualitatively similar to those seen earlier with ivermectin and DEC. The combination of DEC and albendazole, both well tested drugs, offers a new option for countries such as India where there is no onchocerciasis or loiasis and where ivermectin may not be immediately available. The direct and indirect effects of albendazole on intestinal helminths would be additional benefits

Spray Freeze Drying as a Smart Method in Preparation of Ultra-Fine CeO2-MOX Materials

Cerium-oxide based nano-materials attract increasing interest for their use in multiple applications. In particular, the substitution of Ce atoms by other elements with lower or higher oxidation state is used to control oxygen vacancies within the oxide structures, which can greatly enhance the material properties for catalysis applications. Among the synthesis approaches, spray freeze drying method has been proved to be an extremely efficient method for the preparation of uniform nano-partical for different application. In this method, the pure solution or mixed solutions were directly sprayed into liquid nitrogen and immediately frozen to form a suspension, then, the iced droplets were dried in the freeze-dryer to reach the final product. However, in this work we deal with, the preparation of ultra-fine materials based on CeO2 fluorite structures and the substitution in its lattice with La and/or Co metal. The effect of Ce/La ratio on the properties of the final product was also investigated. During the experiment, the advantage of spray-freeze-drying process was successfully achieved. The characterization of the powder product was analyzed by means of EDX, TGA, XRD, DLS, and TEM which confirm the formation of nano-particles in the fluorite structure. For Ce:Co and when the Ce: La ratio is 0.2, 0.5, only cubic phase of CeO2-MO2 solid solution with ?uorite structure is observed with hig oxygen storage capacity, while Ce-La1 show the hcp structure of lanthanum. Keywords: nano-materials, Ceria, Lanthanium, metal loading spray freeze dryin