Digital Commons Network^™

Strategies For Addressing Vaccination Disparities And Rates In The U.S Among Racial/Ethnic Minority Adults, Harpreet Kaur

Master's Projects and Capstones

As new and emerging infectious diseases surface, public health officials are working harder to close the immunization gap. Every year, thousands of adults in the U.S suffer adverse health outcomes and die from vaccine-preventable diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us of the power of vaccines as they have been able to eradicate diseases, save lives, and create healthier communities. A literature review was conducted to identify the gaps in research as it relates to vaccine disparities among racial/ethnic adult populations.

The literature indicates that ethnic/racial minorities are at disproportionate risk for vaccine-preventable diseases and data has shown increasingly high …

Controlling Vector-Borne Diseases Through Paratransgenesis, Juliane Buzzon Meneghesso Verga

International Programs

The high incidence of Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) and the inefficiency of current methods in preventing and treating them have been driving research for alternative solutions. Here, we present an approach called paratransgenesis that could help in such challenge. In paratransgenesis, genetic modification in vectors' symbionts can be used to block the transmission of various pathogens and help preventing or even eradicate insect-transmitted diseases.

The Increasing Role Of Pragmatic Clinical Trials And Real-World Data In Healthcare Research, Julio A. Ramirez, Ruth Carrico

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

2021-08-10_Michiganoverview_Covidsymptoms, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Syndromic Surveillance System Data

The Syndromic Surveillance System Data report was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 dashboard, from under the link "​Coronavirus Symptoms": https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Syndromic Surveillance System data is obtained from approximately 183 facilities participating in syndromic surveillance (132 Emergency Departments (ED), 51 Urgent Cares) across the State of Michigan. The reporting is based on individuals who present at EDs and may not be representative of the overall population. The coronavirus-like symptoms query searches visit free-text (chief complaint, …

Covid-19 Newsletter (Vol. 84), Center For Disaster Medicine, New York Medical College

COVID-19 Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Roles Of A Bradykinin Storm And A Cytokine Storm In Covid-19 Cases, Nouha H. Odeh

Honors College Theses

In the light of recent events, it is imperative to understand the key inflammatory response elements that appear to be the source of more severe ailments resulting from a SARS-CoV-2 viral infection known as Covid-19 The more severe cases of Covid-19 are characterized by a severe inflammatory response resulting in tissue damage. My research proposal aims to investigate the two possible culprits of this response: a bradykinin (BK) storm and an interleukin-6 (IL-6) mediated cytokine storm. In both systems respectively, the excess release of these signals subsequently signals the production of even more of the same response element, resulting in …

2021-08-08_Michiganoverview_Covidsymptoms, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Syndromic Surveillance System Data

The Syndromic Surveillance System Data report was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 dashboard, from under the link "​Coronavirus Symptoms": https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Syndromic Surveillance System data is obtained from approximately 183 facilities participating in syndromic surveillance (132 Emergency Departments (ED), 51 Urgent Cares) across the State of Michigan. The reporting is based on individuals who present at EDs and may not be representative of the overall population. The coronavirus-like symptoms query searches visit free-text (chief complaint, …

2021-08-06_Michiganoverview_Covidsymptoms, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Syndromic Surveillance System Data

The Syndromic Surveillance System Data report was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 dashboard, from under the link "​Coronavirus Symptoms": https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Syndromic Surveillance System data is obtained from approximately 183 facilities participating in syndromic surveillance (132 Emergency Departments (ED), 51 Urgent Cares) across the State of Michigan. The reporting is based on individuals who present at EDs and may not be representative of the overall population. The coronavirus-like symptoms query searches visit free-text (chief complaint, …

Improvement Cycles In Medical Education: From Quality Improvement To Patient Care And Clinical Research, Julio A. Ramirez

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

2021-08-03_Michiganoverview_Covidsymptoms, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Syndromic Surveillance System Data

The Syndromic Surveillance System Data report was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 dashboard, from under the link "​Coronavirus Symptoms": https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Syndromic Surveillance System data is obtained from approximately 183 facilities participating in syndromic surveillance (132 Emergency Departments (ED), 51 Urgent Cares) across the State of Michigan. The reporting is based on individuals who present at EDs and may not be representative of the overall population. The coronavirus-like symptoms query searches visit free-text (chief complaint, …

Covid-19 Newsletter (Vol. 83), Center For Disaster Medicine, New York Medical College

COVID-19 Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Psychological Impact Of Covid-19 And Lock Down Measures: An Online Cross-Sectional Multicounty Study On Asian University Students, Karuthan Chinna, Sheela Sundarasen, Heba Bakr Khoshaim, Kamilah Kamaludin, Mohammad Nurunnabi, Gul Mohammad Baloch, Syed Far Abid Hossain, Areej Sukayt, Nevi Dalina, Zahid Memon

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown measures have taken a toll on every level of the society, worldwide. This study examines their psychological impact on university students in Asia. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between April and May 2020 in Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, India and Indonesia. The Zung's self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and questions on adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies were used in this study. A total of 3,679 students from the seven countries participated in this study. Overall, 21.9% and 13.7% of the students in this study experienced mild to moderate and severe to extreme …

Regional Covid-19 Dynamics: Surrogate Synchrony In Case Infection Rates, Samantha Robinson

Mathematical Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

As many jurisdictions consider in-person learning strategies (including at Institutions of Higher Education, IHE), implementing travel restrictions or quarantines, and/or establishing interstate pacts to reduce COVID-19 spread, this study explores the degree to which COVID-19 case infection rates in a group of neighboring, Southern and Midwestern U.S. states (namely, Arkansas and its contiguous neighbors) are patterned in a non-random way known as synchrony. Utilizing surrogate synchrony (SUSY) to estimate the dyadic coupling between the COVID-19 case infection rate processes in this region from March to December 2020, results indicate that significant synchrony is present between Arkansas and three of its …

A Comparative Analysis Of Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution Efforts In India And Mongolia Through Data Visualization, Paridh Latawa, Sadhana Kumar, Udeshna Srimal, Rachana Tanksali, Edward Ning '23, Ajay Macherla, Haily Nguyen, Kristina Lian, Joy Jiang, Daniel Stewart

External Student Research Opportunities

COVID-19 vaccine allocation efforts have posed challenges and offered opportunities to alleviate the ongoing pandemic. Nations have employed varying approaches for COVID-19 vaccine distribution; in particular, Mongolia and India have differed in approaches to vaccine allocation efforts. As of June 2021, Mongolia has vaccinated more than 60% of its population, whereas India has only vaccinated about 7.5%. This disparity highlights the need for the present study, which utilizes a mixed-method approach to examine the two countries' vaccine distribution strategies and COVID-19 containment policies from January to July 2021. The study has three major components: 1) policy analysis to highlight core …

School Police Reform: A Public Health Imperative, Thalia González, Emma Kaeser

SMU Law Review Forum

Out of the twin pandemics currently gripping the United States­—deaths of unarmed Black victims at the hands of police and racialized health inequities resulting from COVID-19—an antiracist health equity agenda has emerged that identifies racism as a public health crisis. Likewise, calls for reform of school policing by those advocating for civil rights, racial justice, and Black Lives Matter have simultaneously intensified. Yet each remains siloed, despite the natural connection and implicit overlap between these separate movements and debates. Indeed, there are documented negative health effects of school policing for Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) youth. But these have …

Exposure To Parasitic Infections Determines Features And Phenotypes Of Active Convulsive Epilepsy In Africa, Nelson K. Langat, Symon M. Kariuki, Gathoni Kamuyu, Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, Seth Owusu-Agyei, Kenneth Ae-Ngibise, Anne Wang'ombe, Anthony Ngugi, Honorati Masaja, Ryan G. Wagner

Population Health, East Africa

Background: Epilepsy affects 70 million people worldwide, 80% of whom are in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs). Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) contribute considerably to the burden of epilepsy in LMICs, but the nature and presentation of epilepsy following these infections is not fully understood. We examined if epilepsy foutcomes are associated with the exposure to parasitic infections.
Methods: This was a case-comparison study nested in a cross-sectional survey of people with active convulsive epilepsy, with cases as those exposed to parasitic infections, and comparison as those unexposed. Associations of exposure to parasites with clinical and electroencephalographic …

The Impact Of Obesity On Covid-19 Outcomes In A High-Risk, Majority Hispanic Community Sample, Maxwell A. Lawlor

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused over 33.7 million cases and 605,000 deaths in the United States¹. Factors associated with increased odds for hospitalization, death, and other poor outcomes include age, comorbid conditions like cardiovascular disease and lung disease, and obesity. COVID-19 has also disproportionately affected Hispanic communities across the United States and in Omaha. Potential explanations for this disparity include social determinants of health, particularly occupational factors, structural challenges to access healthcare services, and increased medical comorbidities including obesity. In this retrospective cohort study, we used patient data from April to May 2020 (N=1,000) …

Examining The Impact Of Healthcare Providers In Relation To Gaining Patient's Acceptance And Initiation Of The Hpv Vaccine: An Integrative Review, Millie Elizabeth Knox

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent virus and the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. Nearly 80 million people, approximately one in four, are currently infected in the United States (US). Given that HPV infections affects over 20 million Americans with possible life-threatening consequences, the importance of adhering to the recommended two-dose or three-dose vaccination series has a significant impact on cancer prevention. Research studies have suggested that adolescents and young adults are at an increased risk of STIs and low HPV vaccination rates. For this integrative review, the target population was adolescents to young adults, ages 9-26 …

Probabilistic Measures Of Hiv-1 Transmission In Different Hiv-1 Key Population Groups Of Larkana, Pakistan, Syed Rizwan-Ul-Hasa, Abiha Abdullah, Shakil Arshad Siddiqui, Shakil Ahmed, Sharaf Ali Shah, Fatima Mir, Syed Hani Abidi

Medical College Documents

Objective: To estimate the probability of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 transmission from different key HIV population groups using probabilistic modelling.
Methods: This study was conducted in December 2020. A probabilistic model was used to estimate the probability of HIV-1 transmission from different key HIV population groups in Larkana. Our model was run on three probabilistic assumptions: 1) each replication gave two conceivable results: 'true' or 'false'; 2) the chance of giving a 'true' result is the same for each replication; and 3) the replications are independent - 'true' in one will not impact the likelihood of 'true' in another.
Results: …

“Practice Basic Hygiene, And You’Ll Stay Healthy”: How Primary School Reading Textbooks Transmitted Cultural Education In The Soviet Union, Victoria Storozenko

University of South Florida (USF) M3 Publishing

Russia’s Cultural Revolution, beginning after the October Revolution in 1917, produced a broadly defined understanding of culture and cultural education at Russian schools that encompassed even basic hygiene and health. Drawing from postdoctoral research, this paper discusses the Cultural Revolution’s impact and its ideas on cultural education as presented in textbooks for 10-year general education schools in the Soviet Union. Discourse analysis revealed that the schoolbooks acted as an interface between a functional education system and changes in its surrounding environment, especially changes due to the Cultural Revolution. Amid today’s COVID-19 pandemic, the study’s findings raise several questions about what …

Orofacial Manifestations Of Lyme Disease: A Systematic Review, Brenda Bradshaw, Kelsey M. Jones, Joleen M. Westerdale-Mcinnis, Holly Gaff

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Purpose: Orofacial manifestations of Lyme disease can affect head and neck anatomical structures that are frequently examined by dental professionals. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the literature for types and frequencies of orofacial manifestations documented in populations in the United States (US) with Lyme disease.

Methods: Four electronic databases (Dentistry and Oral Sciences, PubMed, Cinahl Plus, and Medline) were systematically searched during the summer of 2019 using keywords and MeSH terms to identify relevant studies. Search term alterations and synonyms were cross-checked using the US National Library of Medicine Unified Medical Language System Metathesaurus. Full-text, English …

"When They See Someone Who Is Poor, They Step On Them": The Social Determinants Of Health Among Survivors Of Sex Trafficking In Cambodia, James P. Havey, Glenn M. Miles, Lim Vanntheary, Nhanh Channtha, Hanni Stoklosa

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

Social determinants of health (SDH) are defined as the non-medical yet health-affecting conditions of a person’s life. They include such considerations as working conditions, discrimination, and access to health services. The aim of this study was to explore the SDH impacting those who have survived sex trafficking in Cambodia. This study employed a mixed methods, secondary analysis, focusing on 52 survivors of sex trafficking in the Butterfly Longitudinal Research Project from 2010 through 2019. Participants described myriad social determinants of health, including: gender, age, relationship status (marriage), ethnicity, national identification documentation (statelessness), social class, formal education, vocational training, occupation, and …

Surveillance Of Ticks And Associated Pathogens In Central Texas, Alexa Mendoza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Ticks are the second most common vector of human and veterinary pathogens, after mosquitoes, which results in a number of different diseases around the world. These diseases, referred to as tick-borne diseases (TBDs), are increasing in their prevalence around the world as the geographical distribution of ticks change due to environmental and human factors. Increased testing for pathogens and a better comprehension of their relationship to different tick species will be crucial in deepening our understanding of TBDs and protecting our human and animal populations. Increasing surveillance of ticks and the potential pathogens they may be vectors for and …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Pregnancy And Neonatal Outcomes, Jessica Davis, Joanne Quiñones Md, Msce, Michael Young

Research Scholars

No abstract provided.

Development And Validation Of Biosafety Climate Scale And Survey-Based Analyses Of Safety Perceptions In Biological Research And Teaching Laboratories At Public Universities In The Usa., Sivarchana Mareedu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biosafety plays a key role in ensuring safety of researchers’ as well as the public from unintentional exposures to infectious agents. However, the occurrence of lab acquired infections, exposures, and safety lapses in biological laboratories underscores challenges in biosafety program management. The raise in emerging and reemerging infectious diseases and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic reiterates the need for biosafety and research community to work together. Literature recommends the application of safety climate in measuring safety culture. The goal of this dissertation is to quantify biosafety climate and examine associated factors to understand the gaps between research and biosafety professionals in …

Frequency Of Primiparous Mother Initiated Breastfeeding Earlier After Birth And Factors Associated With It In Sindh, Pakistan: A Secondary Analysis, Asma A. Bham, Sucheta Sharma, Akash Sardool, Umer F. Mujahid, Amrat Ayaz, Komal Valliani, Nawaal Maredia

Community Health Sciences

Background: Initiation of breastfeeding within one hour after delivery plays a vital role in a newborns life by not only increasing their survival rate but also reducing many life-threatening diseases in the newborn. The aim of the study was to determine frequency of early initiation of breastfeeding among primiparous mothers in a rural district of Thatta, Pakistan.
Methods: This study was conducted using survey data extracted from a cross-sectional study conducted in 2019 on prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and factors associated with it among women in Thatta. The outcome was early initiation of breastfeeding. To determine factors associated with it, …

2021-07-31_Michiganoverview_Covidsymptoms, Michigan Department Of Health & Human Services

Michigan COVID-19 Syndromic Surveillance System Data

The Syndromic Surveillance System Data report was obtained from Michigan's COVID-19 dashboard, from under the link "​Coronavirus Symptoms": https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus. Data was compiled by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The information was updated twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Syndromic Surveillance System data is obtained from approximately 183 facilities participating in syndromic surveillance (132 Emergency Departments (ED), 51 Urgent Cares) across the State of Michigan. The reporting is based on individuals who present at EDs and may not be representative of the overall population. The coronavirus-like symptoms query searches visit free-text (chief complaint, triage notes, …

Availability And Adequacy Of Water, Sanitation And Hygiene (Wash) Facilities In Secondary Schools, Rotimi Williams Olatunji, Noeem Thanny Taiwo

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Hand-washing practice, which is globally recognized as the simplest, most affordable and effective way of curtailing the spread of infectious diseases, is still low in developing countries. This is largely influenced by the dearth and adequacy of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities. This paper investigated the level of availability and adequacy of WASH facilities in secondary schools in a developing, sub-Sharan country, particularly Lagos State, Nigeria. Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) guided this research. In all, 620 pupils were selected through multi-stage sampling methods. Two local government areas were selected from each of the three senatorial zones in the study …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Church Gatherings In The Philippines: A Policy Analysis, Grace Zurielle Malolos, Joseph Christian Obnial, Rena Mallillin, Pamela Bianca Pasco, Erika Ong, Arianne Andes, Faith Ann Apat, Emma Teresa Carmela Aportadera, Rafael Valencia, Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno Iii

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

The Philippines is the largest Christian-majority country in Asia. With church gatherings playing a vital role in the nature of Christianity in the Filipino culture, the advent of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in the Philippines posed challenges to public religious practices amid efforts to mitigate COVID-19 community transmission. Various policy pronouncements from both the government-led Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Diseases and the church-led Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) were issued. These guidelines were implemented in order to address the two-pronged problem on healthcare and religious obligations. While these guidelines were initially contributory to the mitigation …

Predicting The Environmental Suitability For Onchocerciasis In Africa As An Aid To Elimination Planning, Elizabeth A. Cromwell, Joshua C P. Osborne, Thomas R. Unnasch, Maria-Gloria Basáñez, Katherine M. Gass, Kira A. Barbre, Elex Hill, Kimberly B. Johnson, Katie M. Donkers, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Recent evidence suggests that, in some foci, elimination of onchocerciasis from Africa may be feasible with mass drug administration (MDA) of ivermectin. To achieve continental elimination of transmission, mapping surveys will need to be conducted across all implementation units (IUs) for which endemicity status is currently unknown. Using boosted regression tree models with optimised hyperparameter selection, we estimated environmental suitability for onchocerciasis at the 5 × 5-km resolution across Africa. In order to classify IUs that include locations that are environmentally suitable, we used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to identify an optimal threshold for suitability concordant with locations where …