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A Qualitative Exploration Of Nurses’ And Midwives’ Experiences In Designated Covid-19 Healthcare Facilities In Rural And Urban Tanzania, Kahabi Isangula, Lucy Kisaka, Loveluck Mwasha

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background:

Frontline healthcare providers, particularly nurses and midwives, are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection due to frequent patient contact. However, studies examining their experiences, particularly in low-income countries like Tanzania, are limited.

Objective:

This study aimed to explore the experiences of nurses and midwives providing care in COVID-19-designated healthcare facilities in selected regions of Tanzania.

Methods:

A qualitative descriptive approach was used to investigate the experiences of nurses and midwives in COVID-19 care. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 purposefully selected participants from Dar es Salaam, Shinyanga, and Pwani regions. Data were coded with NVivo 12 software and analyzed …

The Effect Of Artogomezianone On Apoptosis Induction In Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer, Worawich Somboonvoravong

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

NSCLC severity is driven by dysregulation of the EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway, promoting tumor growth and drug resistance. Hyperactive EGFR/PI3K/Akt signaling results in aggressive tumors and poor outcomes, further worsened by resistance to EGFR inhibitors. Targeting this pathway could inhibit tumor growth and resistance. artogomezianone, a compound derived from Artocarpus gomezianus, has shown considerable anti-cancer efficacy, mainly by inducing apoptosis and decreasing the proliferation of several cancers. This study investigated artogomezianone’s effects on the EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway. Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects were assessed using MTT assay and Hoechst 33342/PI double staining, with confirmation by Western blot analysis. Protein levels and binding affinity were …

Contexts Contributing To Burnout And Potential Coping Strategies To Support Work-Life Balance And Health Management Among Occupational Therapy Practitioners, Nora Duren, Kearyn Nelsen, Jada Welke

Critically Appraised Topics

The focus of this critically appraised topic paper is the aspects of burnout that occupational therapy (OT) practitioners face in a professional capacity, as well as environmental and personal contexts (AOTA, 2020) that have been shown to reduce the intensity of burnout within the profession. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), context can be described as the “broad context that encompasses environment and personal factors” (p. 36). “Environmental factors are aspects of the physical, social, and attitudinal surroundings in which people live and conduct their lives” (AOTA, 2020, p. 36). Additionally, the AOTA defines personal factors as the …

The Role Of Occupational Therapists Working With Adults With Substance Use Disorder In Rural Areas, Kyra M. Jessen, Jackie M. Middendorf

Critically Appraised Topics

This critically appraised topic paper focused on the availability of occupation-based interventions for adults (18 years and older) faced with substance use disorders in rural areas. The main factors to consider in this scenario were the population of rural areas, substance use services in rural areas, and the role of occupational therapy. The U.S. Census Bureau did not directly define rural but instead considered rural to be any area that is not urban, while urban areas were considered to have more than 50,000 people and urban clusters were stated to have between 2,500 and 50,000 people (U.S. Department of Agriculture, …

Potential Landscape Connectivity For Invasive Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) Across The Northern Prairies Of North America, Corey J. Kramer, Melanie R. Boudreau, Ryan Powers, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Ryan S. Miller, Ryan K. Brook

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Understanding landscape scale connectivity is an essential component in the management of invasive species since connectivity facilitates their invasion potential. Invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are among the most prolific invaders on the planet, causing billions of dollars in agricultural and environmental damage annually. Newly introduced to Canada in the 1980s, we examined wild pig invasion potential across the northern prairies from western Canada into the currently wild pig-free northern U.S. states. We used GPS collar data collected in the Canadian prairies to quantify resource selection and incorporated results into an electric circuit theory framework to evaluate potential …

Torque Teno Sus Virus 1: A Potential Surrogate Pathogen To Study Pig-Transmitted Transboundary Animal Diseases, Xiaolong Li, Brandon M. Parker, Raoul K. Boughton, James C. Beasley, Timothy J. Smyser, James D. Austin, Kim M. Pepin, Ryan S. Miller, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Samantha M. Wisely

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Understanding the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) among wild pigs (Sus scrofa) will aid in preventing the introduction or containment of TADs among wild populations. Given the challenges associated with studying TADs in free-ranging populations, a surrogate pathogen system may predict how pathogens may circulate and be maintained within wild free-ranging swine populations, how they may spill over into domestic populations, and how management actions may impact transmission. We assessed the suitability of Torque teno sus virus 1 (TTSuV1) to serve as a surrogate pathogen for molecular epidemiological studies in wild pigs by investigating …

Using Phosphatidylethanol As An Adjunct To Self-Reported Alcohol Use Improves Identification Of Liver Fibrosis Risk, Pamela M. Murnane, Majid Afshar, Gabriel Chamie, Robert L. Cook, Tekeda Ferguson, Lamia Y. Haque, Karen R. Jacobson, Amy C. Justice, Theresa W. Kim, Mandana Khalili, Evgeny Krupitsky, Kathleen A. Mcginnis, Patricia Molina, Winnie R. Muyindike, Bronwyn Myers, Veronica L. Richards, Kaku So-Armah, Scott Stewart, Mark S. Sulkowski, Phyllis C. Tien, Judith A. Hahn

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Introduction: Accurate assessment of alcohol use informs prevention and management of liver disease. We examined whether phosphatidylethanol (PEth, an alcohol metabolite) blood concentrations are associated with liver fibrosis risk independently of self-reported alcohol use, among persons with and without HIV. Methods: We pooled individual-level data from 12 studies from the United States, Russia, Uganda, and South Africa with PEth, AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption), and FIB-4 measurements. We conducted mixed-effects logistic regression of the relationship between PEth and AUDIT-C as continuous variables (after checking linearity), with high FIB-4 ( ≥ 2.67). We divided PEth (range 0-1000) by 83.3 to …

Exploratory Analysis Of The Spatial Distribution Of Adult Glioma Age-Adjusted County Incidence Rates, Nebraska Medicine, 2009-2019, Kendra Ratnapradipa, Amulya Yellala, Nicole Shonka

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Central nervous system (CNS) cancers including gliomas have low incidence but high mortality. The age-adjusted incidence rate for CNS cancers is higher in Nebraska than nationally. This exploratory study was motivated by glioma patient inquiries about possible clustering of cases within the state to see if more in-depth investigation was warranted.

METHODS: Using electronic health records from Nebraska Medicine, we identified Nebraska adult (age ≥19) glioma patients diagnosed between January 1, 2009 and November 1, 2019. Patient residential addresses were geocoded, mapped, and combined with annual US Census data to compute age-adjusted incidence rates (AAIR) at the county level. …

Research Priorities For Childhood Apraxia Of Speech: A Long View, Jenya Iuzzini-Seigel

Speech Pathology and Audiology Faculty Research and Publications

This article introduces the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research Special Issue: Selected Papers From the 2022 Apraxia Kids Research Symposium. The field of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) has developed significantly in the past 15 years, with key improvements in understanding of basic biology including genetics, neuroscience, and computational modelling; development of diagnostic tools and methods; diversity of evidence-based interventions with increasingly rigorous experimental designs; and understanding of impacts beyond impairment-level measures. Papers in this special issue not only review and synthesize the some of the substantial progress to date but also present novel findings addressing critical research …

Mapping Accessibility To Emergency Care Using Public Transportation, Bach Tran

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Intro: Public transit offers various advantages for both communities and individuals in terms of mobility and has the potential to serve as a practical alternative to private motorized transportation. Timely and convenient public transit becomes a lifeline for people who cannot access other types of transportation, especially when it comes to emergency care. Method: We built a private network analysis within ArcGIS Pro using coordinate data from hospitals and stand-alone emergency rooms as designated by the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) and public transit data from Orlando, FL. Establishing the accessible time as 30 minutes, we computed and visualized …

Communication Supports To Enhance The Community Participation Of Young Children With Complex Communication Needs: A Utilization-Focused Evaluation, Amy L. Yacucci

Theses and Dissertations

This utilization-focused evaluation study aimed to describe augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) supports to enhance communication accessibility for children with complex communication needs in a children’s museum. Utilizing feedback from museum staff and parents of children with communication disabilities, the study sought to identify practical strategies to improve the effectiveness of AAC supports in creating more inclusive community spaces. A utilization-focused evaluation framework (Patton & Campbell-Patton, 2022) guided the assessment of embedded-aided communication supports within the museum, ensuring that findings were relevant and actionable for stakeholders. The evaluation revealed three key insights: (a) the importance of communication access through multiple …

Analyzing The Relationship Between Socioeconomic Deprivation And Outpatient Medicare Part D Fluoroquinolone Claim Rates In Texas, Mayar Al Mohajer, Edgar Samarasundera, Judite Gonçalves, Alicia Heath

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Only a few studies have assessed the relationship between deprivation and excessive antibiotic use. In Texas, antimicrobial prescription rates are particularly high compared with the rest of the US. This study analyzed the association between local area socioeconomic deprivation and providers' fluoroquinolone claim rates among beneficiaries 65 years and older in Texas.

METHODS: This ecological study utilized provider- and area-level data from Medicare Part D Prescribers and the Social Deprivation Index (SDI) repositories. Negative binomial regression models were employed to evaluate the relationship between provider- and area-level characteristics (prescriber's gender, specialty, rural-urban community area, beneficiaries' demographics, area-level population, and …

Editorial: Sex Differences In Cancer Incidence, Mortality, And Survival: Methodological Perspectives, Syed Ahsan Raza, Wilson Luiz Da Costa, Aaron P Thrift

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Real-World Pharmacological Anticoagulation And Clinical Outcomes Of Venous Thromboembolism In Adults With Sickle Cell Disease, Ming Chen

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited disease characterized by sickle-shaped red blood cells that can slow or block blood flow. It affects about 100,000 people in the United States, and occurs more commonly in people of African descent. SCD is considered as a hypercoagulable state and venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious disease-specific complication. However, there have been limited real-world studies on VTE in SCD patients. This work aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the risk factors and treatment of VTE in adults with SCD by using longitudinal real-world data. First, a retrospective cohort study on 30-day readmission …

Image-Based Multiplex Immune Profiling Of Cancer Tissues: Translational Implications. A Report Of The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group On Breast Cancer., Shahin Sayed, Chowdhury Arif Jahangir, David Page, Glenn Broeckx, Claudia Gonzalez, Caoimbhe Burke, Clodagh Murphy, Jorge Reis-Filho, Amy Ly, Paul Harms

Pathology, East Africa

Recent advances in thefield of immuno-oncology have brought transformative changes in the management ofcancer patients. The immune profile of tumours has been found to have key value in predicting disease prognosis andtreatment response in various cancers. Multiplex immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence have emerged aspotent tools for the simultaneous detection of multiple protein biomarkers in a single tissue section, therebyexpanding opportunities for molecular and immune profiling while preserving tissue samples. By establishing thephenotype of individual tumour cells when distributed within a mixed cell population, the identification of clinicallyrelevant biomarkers with high-throughput multiplex immunophenotyping of tumour samples has great potential toguide appropriate treatment …

Molecular Characterization Of Non-H5 And Non-H7 Avian Influenza Viruses From Non-Mallard Migratory Waterbirds Of The North American Flyways, 2006–2011, Shahan Azeem, John A. Baroch, Deepanker Tewari, Kristy L. Pabilonia, Mary L. Killian, Birgit Bradel-Tretheway, Dong Sun, Sara Ghorbani-Nezami, Kyoung-Jin Yoon

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The surveillance of migratory waterbirds (MWs) for avian influenza virus (AIV) is indispensable for the early detection of a potential AIV incursion into poultry. Surveying AIV infections and virus subtypes in understudied MW species could elucidate their role in AIV ecology. Oropharyngeal–cloacal (OPC) swabs were collected from non-mallard MWs between 2006 and 2011. OPC swabs (n = 1,158) that molecularly tested positive for AIV (Cts ≤ 32) but tested negative for H5 and H7 subtypes were selected for virus isolation (VI). The selected samples evenly represented birds from all four North American flyways (Pacific, Central, Mississippi, and Atlantic). Eighty-seven …

Wildlife Monitoring With Drones: A Survey Of End Users, Raymond B. Iglay, Landon R. Jones, Jared E. Elmore, Kristine O. Evans, Sathish Samiappan, Morgan B. Pfeiffer, Brad F. Blackwell

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rapid advancements in technology often yield research inquiry into novel applications and drone (i.e., unoccupied aircraft systems or UAS) applications in wildlife management are no exception. We questioned the time lag between drone‐related research and end‐user assessments. We implemented an online, cross‐sectional survey of wildlife professionals to better understand current drone use and benefits or concerns, complemented by a review of contemporary peer‐reviewed and gray literature. We found little disparity between scientific inquiry and end‐user experiences (i.e., similar trends among concerns in published literature and survey results). Exploring new (i.e., advancements in computer vision) and refining original drone applications (i.e., …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 08: Distributional Ecology Of Parasites [Parascript Approaches], A. Townsend Peterson

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

Discusses the distributional ecology of parasites, exploring the factors influencing their geographic distributions and the complexities involved compared to free-living organisms.

Chapter 8 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on distributional ecology of parasites by A. Townsend Peterson. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap008

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 29: Rhinebothriidea Healy Et Al., 2009 (Order) [Platyhelminthes, Cestoda, Eucestoda], Omar Lagunas-Calvo, Brenda Atziri García-García, Berenice Adán-Torres, Luis García-Prieto

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the cestode (tapeworm) order Rhinebothriidea Healy et al., 2009, small worms that occur in the spiral intestine (valve) of rays (Batoidea) from marine and freshwater habitats worldwide. Includes discussion of their main morphological characteristics, a description and summary of a epresentative species, Anthocephalum currani Ruhnke and Seaman 2009, taxonomy, life cycle, and zoogeography.

Chapter 29 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology by Omar Lagunas-Calvo, Brenda Atziri García-García, Berenice Adán-Torres, and Luis García-Prieto. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap029

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 22: Diphyllobothriidea Kuchta Et Al., 2008 (Order): The Broad Tapeworms [Platyhelminthes, Cestoda, Eucestoda], Tomáš Scholz, Roman L. Kuchta

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

Broad tapeworms are among the largest tapeworms on Earth and some species have been known as human parasites for a long time. However, species diversity of these usually large-sized tapeworms is still poorly known, partly because of the existence of numerous unresolved taxonomic problems. They currently get some attention due to several cases of human infection in non-endemic areas due to importation of unfrozen fish.

Includes an overview of the cestode order Diphyllobothriidea Kuchta et al., 2008, the group's taxonomic history, current classification, general morphology, species diversity, life cycles, host associations, geographic distribution, phylogenetic relationships, and selected taxa from the …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 44: Haematoloechidae Odening, 1964 (Family) [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida, Xiphidiata], Virginia León-Règagnon

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the trematode (fluke) family Haematoloechidae Odening, 1964, parasites of the lungs of amphibians that are found on every continent except Antarctica. Their life cycle includes a snail and an aquatic arthropod as first and second intermediate hosts, respectively, and a frog or salamander as the definitive host. Includes a discussion of the main characters, taxonomy, phylogenetics, life cycles, host range, and biogeography.

Chapter 44 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Virginia León-Règagnon. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap044

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 59: Pentastomida: Endoparasitic Arthopods, Chris T. Mcallister

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the Pentastomida, a homogeneous and distinctive systematic assemblage of over 130 taxa of worm-like dioecious obligate endoparasitic arthropods that, as adults, inhabit the respiratory tract (bronchi, lungs, and nasal passages) and coelomic cavity of various freshwater and terrestrial vertebrates, with approximately 90% maturing in reptiles. Includes discussion of their fossil record, evolution, geographic range, history of pentastomid research, general morphology, host relationships, larval development, life cycles, ecology, and taxonomy.

Chapter 59 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Chris T. McAllister. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap059

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 43: Allocreadiidae Looss, 1902 (Family) [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida, Xiphidiata], Gerardo Pérez-Ponce De León, David Iván Hernández-Mena, Brenda Solórzano-García

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the trematode (fluke) family Allocreadiidae Looss, 1902, mainly found as parasites of the digestive tracts of freshwater fishes. Includes a discussion of the taxonomy and classification, main morphological characteristics, morphological variability, life cycle, population biology, phylogenetic relationships, species diversity, and descriptions of representative species.

Chapter 43 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Gerardo Pérez-Ponce de León, David Iván Hernández-Mena, and Brenda Solórzano-García. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap043

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 51: Heterakoidea (Superfamily): Cosmopolitan Gut-Dwelling Parasites Of Tetrapods [Nemata, Secernentea], F. Agustín Jiménez-Ruiz

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the cosmopolitan gut-dwelling nematodes (roundworms) in the superfamily Heterakoidea, which occur most often in the cecum and large intestine of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Discusses the general morphological characteristics, diagnosis, distribution and host associations, general biology, evolution, systematics, phylogeny, ecology, and conservation, including coverage of species of veterinary importance, Heterakis gallinarum and Histomonas meleagridis.

Chapter 51 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by F. Agustín Jiménez-Ruiz. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap051

Human Mobility And The Infectious Disease Transmission: A Systematic Review, M. Naser Lessani, Zhenlong Li, Fengrui Jing, Shan Qiao Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Recent decades have witnessed several infectious disease outbreaks, including the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which had catastrophic impacts on societies around the globe. At the same time, the twenty-first century has experienced an unprecedented era of technological development and demographic changes: exploding population growth, increased airline flights, and increased rural-to-urban migration, with an estimated 281 million international migrants worldwide in 2020, despite COVID-19 movement restrictions. In this review, we synthesized 195 research articles that examined the association between human movement and infectious disease outbreaks to understand the extent to which human mobility has increased the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. …

“Their Body, Their Choice. Your Body, Your Choice. Your Baby, Your Choice.”: A Reflexive Thematic Analysis Of Vaccine Access And Acceptance Among U.S. Pregnant People On Reddit, Sydney Marie Perlotto

Public Health Theses

Compared to the general population, pregnant people and newborns are at a higher risk of contracting infectious diseases and experiencing worse adverse outcomes. Vaccines delivered during pregnancy, known as prenatal vaccines, represent a critical yet underused form of preventive care for these populations in the United States. Increasing successful prenatal vaccination uptake requires a focus on both access and acceptance, which pregnant people may experience differently than non-pregnant people due to their unique physiological and social state. Given the evolution of vaccine hesitancy following the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the recent expansion of the U.S. prenatal immunization schedule, this study …

Greening And Mental Distress: Effect Modification By Housing Tenure, Saira Prasanth

Public Health Theses

Access to high-quality residential greenspace is associated with improved long-term health, particularly mental health. However, many interventions to promote “greening” or increased greenspace in urban areas have been shown through numerous qualitative studies to exacerbate environmental and health inequities, primarily through green gentrification. Our objective was to quantify the association between greenspace and mental distress in the U.S. as well as evaluate whether the association between greenspace and mental distress is modified by housing tenure. We hypothesized that increased greenspace was associated with reduced mental distress, and that this effect was more protective among homeowners than non-homeowners. Mental distress and …

Keynote Address And Meeting Program, Academy Editors

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Cellular Metabolism Is A Viable Therapeutic Target For Radiation-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis, Josly Pierre-Louis Odoom

Theses and Dissertations

Herein, we provide evidence for cellular metabolic reprogramming as a driver of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis (RIPF). We are the first to identify a distinct metabolic signature for RIPF in a cohort of patients with radiographic sequela. We also used a RIPF mouse model to detect the metabolic pathways that enrich during pathogenesis. Our previous work highlighted the importance of lactate, a derivative of the glycolysis end-product pyruvate. Consequently, we took a special interest in the effects of radiation on the glycolysis pathway. We learned that radiation accelerates and reprograms glycolysis to an anabolic state in a pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2)-dependent …

The Bulletin: Sidney Kimmel Medical College At Thomas Jefferson University, Volume 102, Issue 1, Winter 2024

The Bulletin (formerly the Jefferson Medical College Alumni Bulletin)

This issue includes:

• 6 - Dean’s Column
• 8 - Bicentennial Celebrations
• 10 - ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
• 12 - Cancer Moonshot Award
• 14 - SKMC Student Blends the Medical Field With the Sports Field: Azra Dees
• 16 - Leading Medicine’s Next Generation Into a New Century: Welcoming Said Ibrahim, MD, MBA, MPH
• 22 - Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
• 26 - My First Mentee: Robert M. Stein, MD
• 28 - A Message From the SKMC Alumni Board President
• 30 - Alumni Weekend Recap
• 36 - A Message From a Class Agent
• 38 - Meet Cute, SKMC Graduates Find …