Digital Commons Network^™

Parasitic Nematodes In Humans : Exploring The Host-Parasite Dynamic Through Historical, Biological, And Public Health Evaluations Of Infection., Erin Christine Welsh 1987-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigated infection dynamics of parasitic nematodes at both the population and individual levels by exploring evolutionary and historical aspects of infection as well as how host-parasite interactions influence virulence. In particular, this thesis sought to answer questions of how host populations have influenced the spread of infection and how transmission determines infection virulence, with a final goal of understanding how eradication programs for parasites can be developed or improved with this knowledge. The host-parasite dynamic was explored throughout history, with particular focus on the ways host populations have shaped infection distribution in present, historic, and prehistoric times. Then, …

Infection Control And Health Care Associated Infection (Hcai) In The Nursing Home: A Study To Determine The Impact Of An Educational Video And Pamphlet About Infection Control On Knowledge And Perception Of Hand Hygiene In Certified Nurse Assistants, Kathe Hypes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The impact of an education program on perception, knowledge, and infection rate was evaluated in this study. The educational intervention consisted of a video on infection control and a World Health Organization (WHO) pamphlet for hand hygiene. The study was conducted in one nursing home in the Southeastern United States. The survey sample consisted of 66 certified nurse assistants (CNAs). A pre- and post-intervention design was employed using the WHO’s Hand Hygiene Knowledge Questionnaire and the WHO Perception Survey. Friedman’s test and central tendencies showed no statistical relationship between the educational intervention and the overall knowledge scores of the sample. …

Human Trafficking And Health Care Professionals: Assessment Of Medical And Nursing Education Programs' Curricula On Recognizing And Helping Victims Of Human Trafficking, Nurlanbek Sharshenkulov

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted with the focus on medical and nursing education programs in the U.S. in order to learn if they include training for their students on dealing with victims of human trafficking. In order to address this goal, the survey among professors and instructors of 650 randomly selected medical and nursing education programs was conducted, where they were asked if their programs' curricula include training on recognizing victims of trafficking, as well as providing them with health care services and assistance to escape from their traffickers. The analysis of 116 received responses revealed that the majority of medical …

Phytochemical Studies On The Medicinal Plant Sutherlandia Frutescens, Xiang Fu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sutherlandia frutescens (L.) R. Br (Fabaceae) is a multipurpose medicinal plant with diverse biological activities, and has been widely used for the treatment of cancer, AIDS, diabetes, and infectious diseases in southern Africa. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the chemical constituents of S. frutescens and develop an analytical method to analyze this plant and the dietary supplements derived from this plant. The dissertation is composed of six chapters. Chapter 1 introduces the general background of S. frutescens, including traditional uses and chemical and biological studies on the plant. Chapter 2 describes the phytochemical studies that have …

Antimicrobial Activity, Cytotoxicity And Phytochemical Analyses Of Rhus Aromatica, Rhus Glabra And Sanguinaria Canadensis Native To South Dakota, Gitanjali Nandakafle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A total of twenty five South Dakota native medicinal plants were screened against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli using a disk diffusion assay. Out of these 25 plants, three plants Rhus aromatica, Rhus glabra and Sanguinaria canadensis demonstrated the highest bacterial inhibition. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of these plant extracts were determined using a bacterial enumeration assay. Alamar Blue in vitro cytotoxicity test showed that all extracts have some toxic effect to porcine intestinal epithelial cell lines. Phytochemical analysis of these plant extracts indicated the presence high concentration of flavonoids and condensed tannins in R. aromatica and that R. glabra contained …

Functional Studies Of Novel Bioactives From Complex Host-Microbiomes As Drug Leads For Cancer, Infectious Disease, Depression And Pain, John Jason Bowling

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The drug discovery process has become increasingly complex in comparison to early efforts particularly those involving diseases or conditions that affect large numbers of the human population. It is difficult to point directly to one factor leading evolution of the process but the definition of a mechanism of pharmacological action for a drug lead has noticeably become a higher priority. This evolution has helped diminish the stigma of natural products and compound supply issues. The issue of compound supply has also been addressed to some extent with the emergence of recombinant technologies and new synthetic methodology. With approximately 60 years …

The Lived Experience Of Parenting A Child Adopted From An Institution In Eastern Europe, Kimberly A Curry-Lourenco

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to explore the lived experience of parenting a child adopted from an institution in Eastern Europe. A hermeneutic, phenomenologic method following the Utrecht School was used. The setting for this study was a southern state on the east coast of the United States. The sample consisted of 11 participants, nine mothers and two fathers, self- identified as adoptive parents to children from institutions in Eastern Europe. Semi-structured interviews, with thematic analysis of transcriptions were conducted. Five major themes were identified: choosing-being chosen, weaving the fabric, the importance of doing, remaining mindful, and looking-in, looking out. Conclusions were …

The Federal Workforce Development Program: An Analysis Of Probationers And Characteristics Associated With And Predictive Of Successful Reentry, Kelley Mcnichols

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With years of research focusing on soaring incarceration rates, the phenomena of prisoner reentry has been largely overlooked. The majority of incarcerated people will return to the community setting. In fact, millions of recently released offenders are on some form of community based supervision. Today, recidivism is a problem that plagues prisoner reentry. In order to address the challenge of prisoner reentry successfully, reentry initiatives have been established in an attempt to change the way corrections is conceptualized. The purpose of this study was to examine characteristics of probationers that are associated with and predictive of successful reentry. The data …

The Effects Of Total Dissolved Solids On Locomotory Behavior And Body Weight Of Streamside Salamanders, And A Baseline Survey Of Salamander Diversity And Abundance, Meghan Pascuzzi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Increased levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) in stream habitats are of concern due to salinity as well as the presence of potentially toxic ions. Natural gas drilling in the Marcellus shale could increase TDS in nearby streams. This thesis investigated the effects of water with elevated TDS on the locomotory activity and body weight of the streamside salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus. Salamanders were exposed to water collected from streams in southwest Pennsylvania with elevated TDS as well as synthetic ion solutions that mimicked the ionic composition found in streams. Chronic, but not acute exposure to solutions of 1000 ppm TDS …

Synthesis Of Furo[2,3-D]Pyrimidines, Thieno[2,3- D]Pyrimidines, Pyrrolo[2,3-D]Pyrimidines As Classical And Nonclassical Antifolates, Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (Rtk) Inhibitors And Antimitotic Agents, Xin Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An introduction, background and research progress in the areas of antifolates, receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhbitors and anti mitotic agents has been discussed. Thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase) are important folate dependent enzymes that are targets for cancer chemotherapy and the treatment of infectious diseases. Classical antifolates, in most cases, are substrates for folypoly - γ - glutamate synthase (FPGS) and rely on folate transporter systems to enter cells. As a part of this study, twenty - eight compounds were designed on the basis of existing clinically active compounds and crystal structures, synthesized and …

Synthesis Of Bicyclic Thieno[2,3-D]Pyrimidines, Tricyclic Thieno[2,3-D]Pyrimidines And Thieno[3,2-D]Pyrimidines As Classical And Nonclassical Antifolates, Xilin Zhou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

An introduction, background and research progress in the areas of antifolates and antimitotic agents has been reviewed and discussed. Thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase) are important folate dependent enzymes that are targets for cancer chemotherapy and the treatment of infectious diseases. As a part of this study, thirty-five novel compounds were designed and synthesized on the basis of existing clinically active compounds and their crystal structures. These compounds were synthesized and evaluated as single and/or muliple targeted classical and nonclassical antifolates to decrease toxicity and improve the antitumor activity and selectivity of existing therapeutic …

Exposure Of Breastfeeding Education To Ob/Gyns Currently Practicing In The State Of Mississippi And Its Effect On Confidence In Providing Breastfeeding Support To Expectant Mothers, Brandi Lee Pigg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There are several well documented benefits of breastfeeding for the mother and child, however, Mississippi breastfeeding rates are lacking when compared to the rest of the United States. It is believed that breastfeeding encouragement and support from prenatal healthcare providers can play a major role in mothers choosing to initiate breastfeeding. OB/GYNs should be at the forefront of this initiative because they have repeat prenatal contact with many mothers. In order to provide breastfeeding encouragement and support to expectant mothers, OB/GYNs must have adequate breastfeeding education and the confidence to support these mothers. This study analyzed the amount of breastfeeding …

Infectious Disease Risks In Developing Countries: A Non-Market Valuation Exercise, Shreejata Samajpati

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the non-market valuation of health-risks of malaria, an infectious disease that imposes a substantive public health burden across the globe, hitting particularly hard the tropical developing nations of Africa and Asia. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals include malaria control as a priority and large investments are underway to promote effective prevention and treatment. Despite such concerted supply-side efforts, malaria-related mortality and morbidity still abound due to a complex interface of factors like climate-change, poverty, inadequate control behavior, infection and prevention externalities, parasite resistance etc. This research project digs into the demand-side of the health problem, …

Computational Investigation Of The Mechanism Of N5-Carboxyaminoimidazole Ribonculeotide Synthetase, Venkata Pakkala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

N5-CAIR synthetase catalyzes the conversion of 5-amino-imidazole ribonucleotide (AIR), Mg2ATP, and bicarbonate into N5-CAIR, Mg2ADP, and inorganic phosphate. DFT and ONIOM QM/MM computations revealed that the first step in the reaction mechanism of N5-CAIR synthetase involves the formation of dianionic carboxyphosphate (CP) from the attack of bicarbonate on the γ- phosphate of Mg2ATP, through an SN2 type transition structure. Properties of CP were never reported, as this compound is extremely unstable (t1/2 of 70 ms). Therefore, high level ab inito (MP2 and CCSD(T)), and DFT (B3LYP, BB1K, M05-2X, M06-2X and MPW1K) methods were used to investigate the structure and energetics …

Antimalarials From Plant Pathogenic Fungi, Mallika Kumarihamy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to discover antimalarial compounds from necrotropic plant pathogenic fungi. Various phytotoxins released by necrotropic plant pathogenic fungi may inhibit the plant-like metabolic pathways in the apicoplast, a chloroplast-like organelle, essential for the survival of apicomplexan parasites, such as Plasmodium which cause malaria in humans. This dissertation describes the isolation, characterization, and biological evaluation of secondary metabolites of eight fungal strains. In addition to the antiplasmodial assay, all the extracts were subjected to phytotoxic, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic bioassays. Isolation of metabolites was performed by chromatographic methods and identification was carried out by spectroscopic and spectrometric …

Development And Evaluation Of An Instrument To Measure Mother-Infant Togetherness After Childbirth, Carol Lawrence

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No existing measure to date captures mother-infant togetherness. A valid measure of togetherness is essential to engage in evidence-based practice, evaluate obstetric delivery models and nursing interventions, and measure the level of togetherness which promotes optimal maternal-infant outcomes. When together and in close proximity, a women and her infant have access to one another to allow for mutual caregiving or caregiving on cue. A new measure entitled the Mother-Infant Togetherness Scale (MITS) was developed based on a review of the literature and conceptual framework of Mother-Newborn Mutual Caregiving. The MITS is a 35- item instrument composed of four subscales that …

Discovery, Isolation, And Identification Of Antimalarials From Fungal Endophytes, Andrekeus Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We examined fungal endophytes for their ability to inhibit bacterial, fungal and protozoal pathogens. Once antimalarial activity was discovered and confirmed, we sought to isolate and identify the active constituent(s) of our extracts. Bioassay-guided fractionation techniques were used to isolate our active compound, the structure of which was elucidated using 1H- and 13C-NMR. 2D-NMR and LC-MS analyses helped confirm that our endophytes were indeed producing artemisinin. Growth versus production studies were conducted to optimize our growth and extraction conditions while several other variables, like temperature and culture medium, were evaluated in an effort to improve our yields. Artemisinin production under …

Signals Delivered By Interleukin-7 Regulate The Activities Of Bim And Jund In T Lymphocytes, Shannon Moore Ruppert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is an essential cytokine for lymphocyte growth that has the potential for promoting proliferation and survival. While the survival and proliferative functions of IL-7 are well established, the identities of IL-7 signaling components in pathways other than JAK/STAT, that accomplish these tasks remain poorly defined. To this end, we used IL-7 dependent T-cells to examine those components necessary for cell growth and survival. Our studies revealed two novel signal transducers of the IL-7 growth signal: BimL and JunD. IL-7 promoted the activity of JNK (Jun N-terminal Kinase), and that JNK, in turn, drove the expression of JunD, a …

The Effects Of Phosphatidylserine On Reaction Time And Cognitive Function Following An Exercise Stress, Adam John Wells

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an endogenously occurring phospholipid that has been shown to have cognition and mood enhancing properties in humans, possibly through its role as an enzyme co-factor in cellular signal transduction. Specifically, PS has been identified as activator of classical isoforms of protein kinase C, an enzyme known to be involved in the growth and differentiation of neural cells, and is therefore thought to play a role in the protection of neurons. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of supplementation with PS and caffeine on measures of cognition, reaction time and mood prior to and …

Manipulation Of Host Signal Transduction Pathways And Cytoskeleton Functions By Invasive Bacterium Listeria Monocytogenes And Chlamydia Trachomatis, Shahanawaz Jiwani

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Infectious disease remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Many bacteria that cause disease have the capacity to enter into eukaryotic cells such as epithelial cells and tissue macrophages. Gaining access into the intracellular environment is one of the most critical steps in their survival and/or in pathogenesis. The entry mechanisms employed by these organisms vary considerably, but most mechanisms involve sabotaging and manipulating host cell functions. Invasion of epithelial cells involves triggering host signal transduction mechanisms to induce cytoskeleton rearrangement, thereby facilitating bacterial uptake. My work focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms employed by bacterial …

Synthesis Of Resveratrol Esters And Aliphatic Acids., Stanley Mofor Jing

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Resveratrol (RV) is a naturally occurring phytoalexin of the stilbenoid family produced by some plant species, and present in grape skin, peanuts, and red wine. It has been found to exhibit anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-aging, cardio protective, and anti-oxidant properties. Bioavailability is a huge setback that limits the potentials of RV. As a result, efforts have been made to design and synthesize RV esters and aliphatic acids in an attempt to increase its bioavailability, solubility in water, and possibly improving its biological activities. Resveratrol esters, 3,5,4'-triacetyloxystilbene (2) and Methyl 1,1',1''- (3,4',5-stilbenyl)-1,6-hexanedioate (3) have been synthesized. Compound 3 is a new …

Using Electrochemical Method To Study The Interaction Between Dna And A Compound Known To Have Anticancer Property., Alexander Kamasah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The interaction of 4-(1'-[8'-(1''-pyrenyl)naphthyl])-2,6-diaminopyridine bis-glycamide bishydrocholride known to have anticancer properties with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) had been studied on a modified gold electrode by self-assembled monolayer using cyclic voltammetry. K₄Fe (CN)₆ was used as a probe to obtain electrochemical information on the electrode surface.

A bare gold (Au) electrode was modified with cysteamine and our results showed no change in the limiting steady state current as compared to the bare Au electrode. There was a reduction in the steady state current after the modification of the gold electrode with DNA. Immobilization of the DNA modified gold electrode …

Early Detection And Control Of Potential Pandemics., Shengpeng Jin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Early information is crucial for policy makers and public health officials responsible for protecting the public from the virulent spread of contagious diseases. Current indicators of the spread of contagious outbreaks lag behind the actual spread of the epidemic, leaving no time for a planned response. The studies of Christakis et al. in 2010 have shown that social networks can provide more timely information for prediction. Our focus, however, is on the effective control of the spread of contagious outbreaks in their early stages. We do this by defining a more effective way to chart the spread of contagious outbreaks, …

Age-Associated Periodontal Bone Loss In Normal And Tlr2- Or Myd88-Deficient Mice., Paul A. Ciero 1986-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Age-related alterations in innate immunity are poorly understood. The identification of those mechanisms, which are dysfunctional in old age, will shed light on potential therapeutic strategies for chronic inflammatory diseases prevalent in the elderly, such as periodontitis. Mice naturally develop chronic periodontitis as a function of age, which is characterized by periodontal bone loss. TLR2, a pattern-recognition receptor of leukocytes which mediates inflammatory responses in the periodontium, was expressed at higher levels in the gingivae of old mice (>18 months) compared with young mice (8 to 10 weeks). MyD88 is a signaling adaptor protein for TLR2 and other TLRs. …

Optimization Models For Patient Allocation During A Pandemic Influenza Outbreak., Li Sun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pandemic influenza has been an important public health concern. During the 20th century, three major pandemics of influenza occurred in 1918, 1957, and 1968. The pandemic of 1918 caused 40 to 50 million deaths worldwide and more than 500,000 deaths in the United States. The 1957 pandemic, during a time with much less globalization than now, spread to the U.S. within 4 to 5 months of its origination in China, causing more than 70,000 deaths in the U.S., and the 1968 pandemic spread to the U.S. from Hong Kong within 2 to 3 months, causing 34,000 deaths. Pandemic influenza is …

To Get The Shot Or Not: Narratives, Rhetoric, And The Childhood Vaccination Crisis, Katherine M. Hurley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parents in developed countries like the United States are questioning the need for and safety of childhood vaccinations. Incidences of disease have risen as fewer parents have vaccinated their children. Perhaps the most significant public figure to reinforce the choices of parents not-to-vaccinate is Jenny McCarthy, whose best-selling book details her theory about the cause of, and cure for, her son‘s autism. As I demonstrate, the study of the narratives is vital for understanding the vaccination crisis, not the least because of the extent to which McCarthy‘s (2007) story has echoed through parenting communities. I examine whether chosen anti- and …

Contribution Of The Rv1985c Transcriptional Regulator To Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Intracellular Adaptation., Nicholas B. Wantland 1984-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes the often-fatal infectious disease Tuberculosis, and infects approximately one third of the world's population. Gaining a better understanding of how these bacteria regulate gene expression for intracellular survival will likely aid in developing ways to reduce disease. Studies of bacterial RNA expression in experimentally infected primary human macrophages indicated open reading frame Rv1985c, encoding a putative transcriptional regulator, may contribute to intracellular survival. Comparison of a strain constitutively expressing Rv1985c and the isogenic wildtype parent by array hybridization identified genes potentially regulated by Rv1985c. These included a group encoding factors likely relevant to cell wall remodeling, particularly …

Exploitation Of Costimulatory Sa-4-1bbl In The Development Of Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines., Abhishek K. Srivastava

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cancer accounts for nearly one-quarter of deaths in the United States, exceeded only by heart diseases. Despite the development of various strategies to treat cancer, it remains one of the most deadly diseases worldwide due to the limited effects of treatments available. The limited efficacy of these current treatment modalities, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, are often due to their association with adverse side effects arising from lack of specificity for tumors, and most importantly their failure of eliminating residual and micro-metastatic tumors, which can lead to recurrences. Therefore, there is a dire need to develop tumor-specific therapies that …

Knowledge-Sharing Networks Of Hospital-Based Infection Preventionists In Kentucky., Timothy Lee Wiemken 1979-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Infection preventionists (IPs) have a multitude of tasks aimed at the prevention and control of infections in the healthcare setting. These tasks require a great deal of knowledge that has been more challenging to gain over the past decade due to the rapidly changing healthcare environment, the IPs' increasing numbers of duties, limited staffing, and a number of other issues. Because of these challenges, other mechanisms of rapid and efficient knowledge acquisition are needed for optimal job performance. One possible mechanism is knowledge sharing through social or professional networks. Objective: To examine the knowledge-sharing network structure of hospital-based IPs …

The Occurrence Of An Abdominal Fauna In An Articulated Tapir (Tapirus Polkensis) Recovered From The Miocene Gray Fossil Site Northeast Tennessee., Shannon M. Mcconnell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The analysis of samples recovered from the abdominal area of an articulated tapir from the Late Miocene (4.5-7 million bp) Gray Fossil Site, revealed a rich palyno-fauna comprised of about 94% egg/oocyst-like structures and 6% pollen and other palynomorphs. In addition, a tight grouping of six hickory nuts (Carya) was recovered from the same area suggesting that the samples represent the abdominal contents. The analysis of a sample from immediately outside the tapir produced a sample with 98% pollen and less than 0.5% egg-like structures. The size, shape, and general morphology of egg-like structures were analyzed with light …