Cosmic dust

Master's Project (M.F.A.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2015My thesis is a body of work collectively entitled Cosmic Dust. It consists of different series of paintings that I've produced as a Master of Fine Arts student here at University of Alaska Fairbanks. These series are the Drip Paintings, Celestial Objects, and Ellipsoids. Elements from different series sometimes combine to form hybrid paintings. Although I have categorized my paintings into these three series, they have many elements in common. They are all related to natural phenomena involving continuous cycles and the effects of gravitational force

Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2-i) in the prevention of diabetic kidney disease progression, and its role as an antihypertensive agent in the African American population

Introduction: Needs Assessment: Originally used as antidiabetic medications, later clinical trial data showed beneficial effects in reducing the onset and progression of renal complications in people with and without diabetes. 13 Randomized clinical trials and ‘real world’ observational studies involving mostly type 2 diabetes patients showed that SGLT2-i can slow the decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and reduce the onset of microalbuminuria and slow or even reverse the progression of proteinuria.13 Additionally, with diabetes being one of the many chronic conditions still primarily managed by primary care providers (PCP), it falls upon these professionals to have the knowledge and role to initiate this disease-modifying drug. Furthermore, black individuals have a disproportionate cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease (CKD) burden, and the adoption of novel therapeutics has been slower among black patients than among white patients. 4 African Americans (AA) outrank other ethnic groups in the United States in prevalence, early onset, and severity of hypertension4. It is also well known that African ancestry has attenuated response to drugs inhibiting the renin-angiotensin system and to β-adrenergic blockers. 5 Therefore, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors should be avoided as an initial therapeutic option in treating hypertension in African Americans. 5 This is problematic because ACE inhibitors have significantly decreased cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and hospitalizations for heart failure (HF) and its ineffectiveness restricts the treatment option for the African American patient population. 5 There are currently 4 FDA-approved SGLT2-i medications, canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and ertugliflozin, for adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).1 These novel drugs have been shown to reduce cardiovascular mortality among patients with HF. 4 Yet, these medications are not being utilized in this specific patient population. 12 Objectives: Impact of Early Initiation of SGLT2-i on delaying progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) Impact of SGLT2-I on blood pressure. Identify current data on SGLT2-i efficacy regarding the prevention of kidney disease progression, acute kidney injury, and heart failure mortality. Identify the role of SGLT2-i in treating African Americans (AA) with heart failure compared to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) in reducing mortality rates

The Entrepreneurial Intention of Business Students: Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior and Theory of Reasoned Action

The Philippines is an entrepreneurial country, with MSMEs constituting 99.6% of registered businesses, employing 62.80% of the working population. The number of registered businesses in the country is increasing, especially among young entrepreneurs. This study highlights the significance of attitudes, norms, and self-efficacy in shaping entrepreneurial aspirations among the youth in the Philippines. It examines the entrepreneurial intention of graduating students pursuing Accountancy, Management Accounting, and Customs Administration degrees at the Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila. The research is anchored on the study of Lars Kolveried & Espen Isaksen, which incorporates the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to develop hypotheses about attitudes toward entrepreneurship as a career and entrepreneurial intentions. Through Factor Analysis (Principal Axis Factoring), the researchers identified seven (7) factors that predict the intention to be self-employed: one (1) for attitude (Business than Career), two (2) for subjective norm (care about people's opinion and people's opinion), and four (4) for self-efficacy (Risk, Investor, Opportunity, and Economy). The findings suggest that factors such as attitudes toward entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and self-efficacy significantly impact students' intention to pursue self-employment. Notably, students who prioritize business over career, value other people's opinions, and possess greater self-efficacy in areas of risk, investment, opportunity, and the economy are more inclined towards self-employment. Conversely, factors such as extended academic tenure, managing cash flow concerns, and age negatively affect entrepreneurial intentions. Personal circumstances, including relationship status, location, employment status, and scholarships, can also influence students' likelihood of intending to be self-employed. Furthermore, market opportunities, investor relationships, and risk approaches positively influence students' entrepreneurial intentions

Worldwide Husbanding Process Improvement: Comparative Analysis of Contracting Methodologies

Sponsored Report (for Acquisition Research Program)This study is designed to support one of three major focus areas in the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Worldwide Husbanding Improvement Process initiative. Existing contracting methodologies were analyzed using the following methods: characteristics of existing contract vehicles within forecasting and simulation frameworks; strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats (SWOT) analysis, and stakeholder analysis. Conclusions are drawn and recommendations are outlined for optimum methods of contracting for husbanding services as requested by the Worldwide Husbanding Process Improvement Action Team. Historical husbanding contract data were reviewed, including constraints and desired performance criteria. Implementation of a flat-rate, low-variability, well-defined and constant set of requirements minimizes risk and price fluctuations. Conversely, adoption of a cost-reimbursable contract type is both undesirable and infeasible. A contracting methodology that represents a best-value trade-off within constraints should be flexible and risk-based while offering performance-based incentives.Naval Postgraduate School Acquisition Research ProgramApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Comparison of Angiostrongylus Species Identification Through Morphological and Molecular Methods Using the COX1 Gene as a Marker

Background: Among the 21 species in the genera Angiostrongylus, only one has been confirmed to cause disease in humans. A. cantonensis is a parasitic nematode of rodents whose life-cycle involves a maturation phase in the central nervous system. Infected humans often develop eosinophilic meningitis, and when the infection is confirmed, the condition is called neuroangiostrongyliasis. The two most commonly found species of Angiostrongylus in Thailand are A. cantonensis and A. malaysiensis. Both species exhibit a very similar life-cycle, but only A. cantonensis is considered a human pathogen. Recent molecular studies revealed that A. cantonensis and A. malaysiensis have an overlapping distribution in many parts of Thailand which might indicate that A. malaysiensis is also causing human disease. The two species have similar morphologies, which results in misidentification. Objective: Compare the morphological identification of the two species with their corresponding molecular analysis. Materials and Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) gene. Fourteen adult worms were obtained from Phayao province, located in Northern Thailand. All fourteen adult worms were morphologically identified and compared with the corresponding PCR results. Results: Analysis of the data showed a 28.6% mismatch between the two assays. Conclusion: Further refinement and research are needed to achieve a 0% mismatch to unequivocally differentiate the two species. Understanding the epidemiology and clinical implications of these species is essential for infection control and patient management.MHIRT Progra

Lean engineering education: DNA for change

The Lean Engineering Education (LEE) model is advocated by the authors of a book in press, Lean Engineering Education: DNA for Change (Flumerfelt, et al., 2014) as a methodology to allow for students’ parallel content and competency development, based on the double helix DNA image (Figure 1). This LEE methodology targets the shortcomings in the professional development of engineering students as evidenced in several data sets, such as the ASME’s Vision2030 survey results (2010, 2011). (...

The Lean Production multidisciplinary: from operations to education

Lean Engineering (LE) had its roots in Toyota automobile production where the main objective is to standardize operations, so that wastes in the production processes can be identified and eliminated. Pursuing standardization in a systematically and continuous way, companies enter a continuous improvement mode of operation where input from all affected parties across the value stream is sought; this requires personnel on all levels of the organization to be prepared to be active learners. As LE has exceeded its original focus and application in the automotive industry, it has transformed manufacturing industries as well as service providers, including travel agents, health care, and many others. Yet, although engineers and non-engineers alike rely on LE principles and tools almost daily, LE has not yet transforme d Engineering Education. In this paper, the authors review their concept of Lean Engineering Education which they have based on the three-step of ethics, system-thinking and sustainability. The paper concludes with recommendations for curriculum innovations to improve engineering students’ competencies.National Funds - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under Project Pest-OE/EME/UI0252/2011

Lean Engineering Education : bridging-the-gap between academy and industry

This paper presents Lean Engineering Education (LEE) as an curricular innovation in the Engineering courses. It provides a discussion, mainly based on literature and informal dialogues, about the disconnected world of academy and industry and the demands for new educational methods and strategies. Additionally, it defines LEE as also the principles inherent to this and describes how LEE addresses two complex challenges faced by Higher Education Institutions: the globalized marketplace and the right skills from industry perspective for engineering graduates