http://hdl.handle.net/1813/39 http://dspace.library.cornell.edu/retrieve/569 http://hdl.handle.net/1813/39 Search the Channel search http://dspace.library.cornell.edu/simple-search http://hdl.handle.net/1813/11454 Title: HEALTHCARE STRATEGIC SUSTAINABILITY: KEY FACTORS AFFECTING THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE IN CONVERTING INPATIENT TO OUTPATIENT FACILITIES <br/> <br/>Authors: Zajac, David <br/> <br/>Abstract: Healthcare strategic sustainability seeks to integrate in a cost effective manner sustainable development and design practices with health care facilities that are holistic places of healing for patients; and a safe, efficient, and effective environment for staff. This study focused on six United States Army military healthcare facilities involving conversion from inpatient to outpatient facilities. Data was collected in an intensive interview process from twenty-nine participants representing three stakeholder categories: planners (design and construction), operators (facility management and information technology), and users (clinical staff). The specific research questions addressed what design/building changes were made to accommodate the change from an in-patient to an outpatient care business model; and which existing design/building elements generated significant constraints or benefits when implementing the desired new design concept? The research also explored whether any desired design/building changes were not made, and why; and the extent to which social (quality of care and/or quality of life), economic (cost), or environmental (adaptable and sustainable) factors were considered? The findings confirm the impact of certain design elements on the conversion and adaptability of hospitals; and suggest the need to educate organizations on which design elements to invest in that not only meet cost and environmental quality goals, but also contribute positively to staff quality of life. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/11424 Title: STUDIES OF CONFORMATIONAL CHANGES AND THE EFFECT OF ANTIBODY AND RECEPTOR BINDING ON CANINE PARVOVIRUS <br/> <br/>Authors: Nelson, Christian <br/> <br/>Abstract: To be successful pathogens, the capsid protein of nonenveloped viruses must balance two opposing roles: it must be structurally robust in order to protect the encapsulated genome from environmental insults outside of the host cell, yet metastable to allow egress of the viral genome upon infection. A goal of these studies was to further characterize the antibody response directed against canine parvovirus (CPV), and to understand the interplay between receptor and antibody binding to the capsid. A secondary goal was to understand what conformational changes occur to the structure of the CPV capsid during infection, and to understand the biological significance of these changes. A panel of eight antibodies directed against the virus were shown to be neutralizing as intact immunoglobulin G proteins (IgGs). However the fragment antigen binding domains (Fabs) of these IgGs differed greatly in their ability to neutralize CPV. These eight Fabs compete for receptor binding on the surface of cells, and compete with soluble receptor in solution, although neutralizing Fabs competed for binding at significantly lower Fab to capsid ratios. Structural analysis of those Fabs demonstrated that most accessible areas of the capsid are able to generate an immune response and participate in antibody binding. CPV is a highly stable virus, and harsh conditions do not cause large structural changes in the virus. By biochemical and biophysical assays presented here, the viral capsid is unchanged until pH 4 and is thermally stable to temperatures of 70?C. Conditions that the virus would encounter during infection, such as low pH and calcium removal, do not have direct structural effects on the CPV capsid. Furthermore, transferrin receptor or antibody binding does not cause detectable changes to the capsid structure. These studies show that CPV is an extremely robust pathogen, due to its highly stable capsid. The capsid has clearly evolved to persist in harsh environmental conditions outside of the cell, and infect in the presence of circulating antibodies. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/11397 Title: Collapse of Optical Vortices and Sequential Filamentation <br/> <br/>Authors: Vuong, Luat <br/> <br/>Abstract: This thesis presents investigations of nonlinear light propagation dynamics in isotropic self-focusing materials. The first half of this thesis is devoted to studying the transverse spatial dynamics of optical vortices, donut-shaped beams with helical phase fronts. The second half of this thesis describes the spatiotemporal dynamics of sequential plasma filaments that are formed by high-peak power laser pulses. The objective of these studies is to identify novel behavior, to predict nonlinear trends, and to achieve a new understanding of the physical processes that govern the dynamics of high-power beams and pulses. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/11393 Title: EARTHQUAKE RISK MITIGATION: HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION <br/> <br/>Authors: Vaziri, Pantea <br/> <br/>Abstract: The purpose of this dissertation is to provide the means for contingency planners for regional earthquake risk mitigation to systematically determine how much to spend on mitigation versus post-event reconstruction and to prioritize alternative mitigation and reconstruction options. This dissertation is organized into three chapters. The focus of chapter one is the development of a method to estimate earthquake hazard for use in regional loss estimation. The method includes formulation of a linear program that selects a small subset of earthquake scenarios from a library of such events and estimates hazard-consistent annual occurrence probabilities so that their combined effect on the region of interest approximates that described by r-year return period for all possible events. The method is reproducible, computationally tractable, and results in earthquake scenarios, which are easily understood. We apply it to the identification of earthquake scenarios for Tehran, Iran. The second chapter develops an optimization model to help highly seismically active developing countries decide: (1) How much should be spent on pre-earthquake mitigation versus waiting until after an event and paying for reconstruction or simply not rebuilding damaged buildings?; (2) Which buildings should be mitigated and how?; and (3) Which buildings should be reconstructed and how? It extends previously developed optimization models to consider the particular issues that arise in such countries. First, the model allows for the possibility that some damaged buildings will not be reconstructed immediately and keeps track of any lost building inventory. Second, it allows the set of possible mitigation alternatives to be both the upgrade of a particular structural type or a change in the structural type. Third, the model relaxes the assumption that all buildings should be reconstructed to their pre-earthquake condition. Finally, it includes as one objective minimizing the chance of an extremely high death toll in any one earthquake as well as minimizing the average annual death toll across earthquakes. This chapter incorporates the results from the first chapter into a case study analysis for Tehran, Iran The focus of the third chapter is the introduction of equity into this type of analysis.