Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare, genetic disorder characterized by an absence or impairment of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) function resulting in significantly elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. The cholesterol exposure burden beginning in utero greatly increases the risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and premature death. The...
Background: Statins substantially reduce cardiovascular disease risk and are generally well-tolerated, but many patients discontinue therapy. A better understanding of the characteristics of current and former statin users may be helpful for formulating strategies to improve long-term adherence.
Objective: The Understanding Statin Use in America and Gaps in Education (USAGE)...
The success of civil engineering construction in cold regions often depends on the
assessment of the potential for frost heave. Over the past two decades two models have
been presented to the engineering community to identify the frost heave potential,
namely: (1) the segregation potential (SP), and (2) the discrete...
In this work, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are computationally represented, generated, and evaluated. The organic linker molecules are represented as graphs and use graph grammars where the atoms are represented by nodes and the bonds are represented by arcs. The grammar rules that dictate the graph generation process work on the...
Wearable electronic devices are becoming increasingly widespread and are being used to fulfill a variety of needs. These devices range from purely infotainment type systems such as smartwatches and fitness oriented devices to specialized medical devices such as insulin pumps and heart-rate monitors. A challenge faced with all of these...
Population trends and patterns in species distributions are the major currencies used to examine responses by biodiversity to changing environments. Effective conservation recommendations require that models of both distribution dynamics and population trends accurately reflect reality. However, identification of the appropriate temporal and spatial scales of animal response, and then...
Teacher preparation programs must ensure that course and clinical work provide a solid practice and theoretical foundation upon which new teachers can grow and thrive. Part of this process is the need for theory and research learned in coursework to mesh and enrich classroom practices. In this study we interview...
Creating effective packaging is about finding a balance between product protection during shipping and time consumption in the design process. Given time and cost constraints, it is hard to produce sufficiently protective padding while having it not be thicker than it needs to be. This thesis describes a method to...
This project concerns the design, layout, assembly, debugging, and testing of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) that autonomously, reliably, and effectively conducts Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) measurements. CV is an electrochemical procedure done to analyze, quantize, and visualize reversible reduction-oxidation reactions, often used in medical devices to monitor the levels of...
Crystal morphology and dimensionality of single-crystal semiconducting materials can have dramatic effects on the optical and electrical properties. Organic photovoltaic (OPV) materials and fluorinated graphene folds are two materials that show these dependencies. Anthradithiophene (ADT), is an OPV that can be functionalized with different side groups to form different crystal...