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This study presents the effect of the stacking sequence and fiber orientation on a composite sandwich panel subjected to static in-plane bolt loading. Six plates were constructed with laminates of unidirectional carbon fiber and cross ply weaves of fiberglass. The orientations that were examined included 0, +/- 45, and 90 degrees. Half of the plates had fiberglass lamina on the outside of the laminate while the other three plates had the carbon fiber on the outside. Experimental and analytical tests were performed to determine the best orientations and stacking sequence. For the numerical analysis, plates with fibers oriented at +/- 45 degrees showed the highest strength. The experimental data also showed high strengths for the +/- 45 degree plates. However the experimental data also showed high strengths for the 90 degree laminate but with very high displacements. These high displacements would not allow the joint to maintain its relative position to the adjacent part. The discrepancy between the strength of the FEA models and the experimental data is attributed to inaccurate strength properties. The effect of in situ strength and compression strength was found to have a significant effect on the accuracy of the FEA solution. Good correlation was found between the FEA and experimental data in predicting the trend of the stiffness of the plates.

Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and health care utilization inCanada. Much of the cost for HF is related to hospitalization, strategies to decrease cost need tofocus on avoiding unnecessary readmissions to the hospital. Interactive voice response (IVR) is anautomated telephony system that leverages existing telephone lines to monitor patients post-discharge from a hospital, for early intervention. Limited evidence exists on the pattern of use andsuccess of IVR technology among patients with heart failure and how IVR impacts theircompliance. This study explores the pattern of IVR use by HF patients in the IVR program at theUniversity of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI), describes their characteristics and IVR patterns ofuse in relation to occurrence of symptoms, compliance behavior (e.g., weighing themselves,medication compliance) and service utilization (i.e., hospital readmission). The system is based onan algorithm that triggers automated telephone calls to patients at a predetermined time for 3months after discharge. A total of 902 HF patients were considered with a mean age of 70 years(59.4% male). Over the 12 weeks, results showed an overall increase in medication adherence anda decrease in symptom occurrence, weight gain and readmission rates. The highest compliancerate in this study was found in medication adherence and the lowest was found in the variableassociated with exercise. The risk of readmission for patients who completed the IVR call,answered all the questions and listened to the educational prompts was lower than the patients whowere called back by nurses. These results suggest that IVR calls do have a positive impact on HFpatients. The increased use of IVR in remote patient monitoring will allow for a cheaper and moreaccessible form of at home monitoring. Leveraging IVR technology to support other conditions,especially during a pandemic, may be beneficial for patients to avoid unnecessary visits to thehospital and complications due to delay in seeking care.

OBJECTIVE: Premature ovarian failure is a disease with many far reaching and serious consequences. Little is known about the complete etiology of the disease or what women may be at an increased risk for developing it. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of premature ovarian failure among women born in the United States and women not born in the United States who were patients of Boston Medical Center. We compared the prevalence of POF in these two groups to evaluate any relationships that may exist between birthplace and premature ovarian failure. METHODS: We collected data from the data warehouse of Boston Medical Center. We used data from women who had an FSH test done between the ages of 18 and 40 before June 30, 2013 as the control. We also compiled data of women who had an FSH level over 15mIU/ml as well as those who had diagnoses in SDK and Logician. Birthplaces data was also compiled for those women who had an FSH level>15mIU/ml. RESULTS: Women born outside of the U.S had a slightly higher prevalence of POF when compared to women born in the United States. Data analysis showed a significant difference among the two groups with p<0.0001 for each group. When birthplace data was compiled, Haiti had the highest number of women with FSH>15mIU/ml with Cape Verde and the Dominican Republic having the next highest amounts of women. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the possible relationship that exists between premature ovarian failure and birthplace. This was a preliminary study to gather data that may be used in future, more specific studies to be done on the topic. These future studies should further investigate the reason this relationship exists, other causes that may be associated with premature ovarian failure, and further analysis of the prevalence of POF in various areas of the world.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / 2031-01-01

The theophylline clearance was evaluated in patients with liver dysfunction and/or congestive heart failure. One hundred and twenty two patients were categorized into four groups; Group I: Liver dysfunction (n=20), Group II: Congestive heart failure (CHF, n=22), Group III: Both liver dysfunction and CHF (n=12), and Group IV: Control group (n=68). The severity of liver dysfunction and CHF were evaluated using Child-Turcotte- Pugh index (CTP) and a Cardiac Function index, respectively. Theophylline clearance was significantly decreased in Groups I, II, and III when compared to the control group; but, no significant difference was found among these three groups (mean values were 0.515, 0.479, 0.417, and 0.682 mllmin/kg, respectively). Moreover, patients with compensated cirrhosis or moderate to severe CHF had the lowest theophylline clearance values (mean values 0.344, and 0.335 ml/min/kg, respectively). There was a significant correlation between Cardiac Function index and theophylline clearance (r=-0.621) in Group II. Smokers had larger theophylline clearance values than those of nonsmokers in Groups I, II, and IV. Impairment of theophylline clearance did not correlate well with any of the indices of liver function or the CTP index. A model for prediction of the clearance in CHF was developed, which consisted of a Cardiac Function index and smoking habit. This model accounts for approximately 60% of the variation of theophylline clearance. However, models describing theophylline clearance in liver dysfunction and in congestive heart failure with liver dysfun ction did not appear to be useful. Thus, routine laboratory data and indices of liver function were not helpful in evaluating the impaired hepatic theophylline elimination. The Cardiac Function index appeared to be useful in estimation of theophylline clearance in CHF; however, the association between the theophylline clearance and severe CHF needs to be evaluated further.

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