Development of Inhalable Dry Powder Antibiotics and On-Bead Transcription Strategies

The global resurgence of tuberculosis (TB), the disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) bacilli, has been driven by poverty, the development of drug resistance strains of Mtb, imperfect diagnostic assays, limited access to healthcare, poor healthcare infrastructure in the most highly infected areas, limited vaccine efficacy, lack of new drugs, and -- most profoundly -- the spread of HIV. Within this web of limitations dry powder inhalable antibiotics offer an opportunity to potentially reduce the lengthy treatment times associated with TB treatment. Incomplete tuberculosis treatment is the leading factor in the development of antibiotic resistant strains of Mtb. Inhalable antibiotics, by merit of specific aerodynamic diameters, are designed to target secluded populations of Mtb, often associated with extended treatment duration. The single dose, needle-free delivery strategies proposed here are an attractive treatment alternative for avoiding needle stick injuries and the transmission of blood-borne pathogens. Techniques incorporating Carbon-dioxide Assisted Nebulization with a Bubble Dryer® (CAN-BD) were used to develop several inhalable antibiotic formulations with desirable inhalation properties. This particle producing technique is versatile for producing particles from both antibiotic solutions and water-in-oil-in water emulsions. Particle properties such as fine particle fraction, emitted dose, moisture, particle size, and shape were characterized for several antibiotic formulations. Additionally, inhalable antibiotic microparticle formulations were tested in different dry powder inhalers. One of the inhalers was design enhanced, with a new anti-static innovation, to improve emitted dose. Finally a technique for improving In Vitro Selections, a unique evolutionary method for mediating new particle materials and catalyst, is explored

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Public High School Teachers And Instructional Coaches Participating In Virtual Instructional Coaching During The COVID-19 Pandemic

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of public high school teachers (grades 9-12) and instructional coaches who have participated in virtual instructional coaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three research questions guided this study: (1) How do public high school teachers and instructional coaches describe their experience with virtual instructional coaching during the COVID-19 pandemic?, (2) How do public high school teachers and instructional coaches describe the changes in instructional coaching experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic?, and (3) How do public high school teachers and instructional coaches describe their relationships with their instructional coaching partner during the COVID-19 pandemic? The partnership approach theory was applied as the conceptual and theoretical framework for this study. Semi structured interviews were used for data collection. Upon completion of coding and analysis, themes emerged which included the use of flexible feedback in the virtual environment, incorporating co-teaching as part of the instructional coaching model, and the presence of positive relationships in the virtual environment. The findings of this study focused on the lived experiences of public high school teachers and instructional coaches. Participants indicated frustrations with their experiences, a desire for flexibility with virtual instructional coaching and cited more present and positive relationships during the studied time period

Gender and academic choice in national capacity-building : the case of the Unviersity of The Gambia

142 leaves ; 28 cm.Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-142).The primary objective of this thesis is to provide an exploration of the dynamics of women's academic choice within the context of formal education at the tertiary level in The Gambia, West Africa. Using women's decision-making ability as an indication of empowerment, this thesis seeks to assess the impact of the Gambian Government's policy efforts to increase women's access to and retention in formal schooling as an important component of strategies aimed at improving the human capital resource base in the country. Of specific concern is the disproportionately lower engagement of women in science, math and technology training at the higher levels of education in the country. The study broadly addresses issues linked to, (a) women's capacity to make relatively autonomous decisions concerning their education and (b) the manner in which the early educational experiences of women shape and influence their performance and programs of study pursued at the university level. The explicit goals of the Gambian government to cultivate a science and technology culture and to include all citizens in national development processes provide the backdrop to the central discussion. (Abstract shortened by UMI.

The effect of fungal pathogens on the water and carbon economy of trees: implications for drought-induced mortality

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