Digital Commons Network^™

Vertical Transmission Of Zika Virus In An Opossum Model, Dionn Carlo Silva

Theses and Dissertations

This study will identify Brazilian ZIKV infection in the offsprings of mated, inoculated Monodelphis domestica females. Unlike non-human primates (NHP) and transgenic mice, M. domestica provides an opportunity to study ZIKV infection in a novel animal model possibly useful for in-utero studies. M. domestica has also been used in cancer and dietary research with varying degrees of success. ZIKV infection will be identified using antibody staining and in situ hybridization. The expected result of this study is that ZIKV will be identified in various tissues and reveal that ZIKV is transmitted vertically in this animal model. The significance of this …

System For Hiv-1 Treatment To The Brain, Caroline Rose Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

While HIV-1 treatment has been revolutionized by combination antiretroviral therapy in the past two decades, HIV-1 remains persistent in organs that don’t allow easy penetration of anti-HIV drugs (e.g., brain) and cause persistent HIV-1 infections and inflammation. Researchers have turned towards nanotechnology-based drug carriers to combat this challenge, such as nanodiscoidal bicelles (ND) and liposomes. Bicelles entrap the drug in their interior hydrophobic core until metabolized by the body, and the payload can be released at the desired location in a controlled, long-lasting dosage. This study investigated the toxicity and extended-release of an anti-HIV drug-loaded within ND and liposomes for …

Inoculation Of Juvenile Monodelphis Domestica With Zika Virus Using Various Routes Of Infection, Juan Garcia Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Monodelphis domestica is a small marsupial from South America that has been previously been used in human metabolism research. However, their suitability as models for Zika virus (ZIKV) research, is currently unknown. Preliminary studies have shown M. domestica susceptible to ZIKV through the intracerebral route. We utilized immunohistochemistry, and analyzation of serological responses to show that juvenile Monodelphis domestica can be infected with ZIKV by using various routes of infection that include subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, and intramuscular. ELISAs performed on sera confirmed that juveniles injected with ZIKV by all three routes generated anti-ZIKV antibodies. Additionally, ZIKV nonstructural protein 1 was detected …

Impact Of Altered Polyamine Metabolism On Streptococcus Pneumoniae Capsule, Moses Babatunde Ayoola

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a compilation of published works and a manuscript that seek to understand the possible role of polyamines in the regulation of capsule in Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn, pneumococcus). Spn remains a major health risk worldwide while the capsule is widely recognized as the principal virulence factor. Polyamines on the other hand are small hydrocarbon molecules known to regulate a number of cellular processes in bacteria. This work investigates the impact of deletion of polyamine biosynthesis gene, SP_0916 (cadA, lysine decarboxylase at the time of first and second publication), on protein expression and the capsule biosynthesis of virulent pneumococcal …

Effects Of Washing Units Of Canine Red Blood Cells On Storage Lesions, Ashley Coll

Theses and Dissertations

In humans, washing stored blood products prior to transfusion reduces storage lesions and the potential for transfusion reaction, but the effectiveness of washing units of canine whole blood is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine if a manual method of washing of stored whole blood units reduced storage lesions without adversely affecting erythrocytes. Units of canine whole blood were stored for 28 days and manually washed three times with sterile .9% NaCl. Following the first wash, there was a decrease in serum potassium (P<.0001), lactate (P<.0001), pH (P=.0110), pCO2 (P<.0001), TCO2 (P<.0001), arachidonic acid (P<.0001), and thromboxane B2 (P=.0417), and increases in iCa (P=.0494), iMg (P=.0024), MCV (P<.0001), MCHC (P=.0093), RDW (P=.0009), hemoglobin (P=.0011), and MCF (P=.0006). No bacterial growth was identified on the post-transfusion samples. Manual washing of stored blood significantly reduces storage lesions after a single wash and additional washing may cause in vitro hemolysis.

Development Of Cell Cultures From The Tissues Of Ictalurid Catfish And Investigation Into The Pathogenesis Of Blue Catfish Alloherpesvirus, Vandana Dharan

Theses and Dissertations

Lack of host-specific cell cultures necessitated initiation of primary cell cultures from ictalurid catfish. Cell cultures from the fin tissues of hybrid catfish ( channel catfish x blue catfish) were developed, characterized, and species of origin molecularly authenticated. Blue catfish alloherpesvirus (BCAHV) is an Ictalurid herpesvirus. When BCAHV was inoculated onto various fish cell lines from different families, the cytopathic effects were restricted to cell lines from family Ictaluridae indicating the host-specificity of virus. A virus challenge using channel, blue, and hybrid catfish indicated mortality due to BCAHV was significantly higher in blue and hybrid catfish. Crowding influenced BCAHV pathogenesis …

Pushing The Limits Of Sars-Cov-2 Survival: How Sars-Cov-2 Responds To Quaternary Ammonium Compounds And Wastewater, Benjamin Hawthorne Ogilvie

Theses and Dissertations

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for the current global pandemic, COVID-19. Because this virus is novel, little is known about its sensitivity to disinfection. In this study, we performed suspension tests against SARS-CoV-2 using three commercially available quaternary ammonium compound (Quat) disinfectants and one laboratory-made 0.2% benzalkonium chloride solution. Three of the four formulations completely inactivated the virus within 15 seconds of contact, even in the presence of a soil load or when diluted in hard water. We conclude that Quats rapidly inactivate SARS-CoV-2, making them potentially useful for controlling SARS-CoV-2 spread in hospitals and the community. In addition to …

Effects Of Carbon-Infiltrated Carbon Nanotube Growth On The Biocompatibility Of 316l Stainless Steel, Sterling Charles Voss

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to identify the effects of the carbon-infiltrated carbon nanotube (CICNT) growth process on the material properties of 316L stainless steel, particularly those properties which are essential for biocompatibility. Physically altering the micro-topography of a surface can dramatically affect its capacity to support or prevent biofilm growth. Growing CICNTs on biomedical materials is one approach which has demonstrated success at preventing biofilm growth. Unfortunately, the high temperature and carbon-rich gas exposure required for this procedure has proven to have deleterious effects. Rusting has been observed on samples that have been coated with CICNTs and then …

A Spatial Risk Prediction Model For Drug Overdose, Parisa Bozorgi

Theses and Dissertations

Drug overdose is a leading cause of unintentional death in the United States and has contributed significantly to a decline in life expectancy from 2015 to 2018. Overdose deaths, especially from opioids, have also been recognized in recent years as a significant public health issue. To address this public health problem, this study sought to identify neighborhood-level (e.g., block group) factors associated with drug overdose and develop a spatial model using machine learning (ML) algorithms to predict the likelihood or risk of drug overdoses across South Carolina. This study included block group level socio-demographic factors and drug use variables which …

Primary Care Providers’ Comfort With Utilization Of Genetics In Practice, Taylor Mackenzie Kupneski

Theses and Dissertations

Primary care providers (PCPs) are often the first opportunity for individuals at risk for a genetic condition to be identified and they must care for patients with known genetic conditions. However, PCPs lag behind other providers in incorporating genetics into their practice. This study aimed to understand which genetics related concepts/topics PCPs (1) find relevant to practice, (2) are currently comfortable utilizing in practice, and (3) desire further education on. A mixed methods survey was sent to internists, family medicine providers, OBGYNs, pediatricians and geriatrics providers in South Carolina via email to assess this information. This included physicians, nurse practitioners, …

Health Communication Blindspot: A Case Study Of Harmful Algal Blooms In The South (Habits), Jaron Hoani King

Theses and Dissertations

A Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) is a complex natural event that occurs when algae is in its growth stage and creates a harmful toxin as waste. HABs create both ecologic and public health challenges. The hypothesis of this thesis is that state and federal governments have different readability scores when compared side-by-side as measured by Simple Measures of Gobbledygook (SMOG). Because governments are the entity that most often claims responsibility for shared resources, this case study represents a snapshot of current governmental messaging about HABs in the South Atlantic states. These states have a long history of HAB events in …

Allocation Of Scarce Healthcare Resources In A Military Treatment Facility During A Pandemic: A Comparison Of Goal Programming And Portfolio Decision Analysis Methods, Donald B. Hale

Theses and Dissertations

In a pandemic, healthcare decisionmakers face the challenge of allocating critical, but scarce healthcare resources in a dynamic, uncertain environment. Their decisions will not only affect the patients coming to the hospital for treatment, but also the Military Treatment Facility's personnel responsible. The decisionmaker must decide how to allocate these resources to achieve multiple, conflicting objectives under multiple constraints. In response, we propose a methodology for the implementation of both Portfolio Decision Analysis and Goal Programming. The steps of this methodology provide a framework with which the decisionmaker can develop optimal allocation of resources. This framework was then applied to …

The Reemergence Of Eradicated Disease Due To Ecological Impact Of Climate Change, Claudia Kolakowski

Theses and Dissertations

Global warming is radically changing aspects of the Earth. As scientists continue to research the effects, the ramifications of melting permafrost is coming to light. We build off of a previously existing Anthrax model in the hopes to include climate change as a factor in Anthrax spread. Chapter II develops a simplified version of an Anthrax model. Parameters for the model are found by using previous research and eigenvalues are analyzed in order to find thresholds and equilibria. Chapter III consider the general solutions of the model through eigenvalues and eigenvectors. This model is then extended to include a parameter …

Mutations In Hiv-1 Vpr Affect Pathogenesis In T-Lymphocytes And Novel Strategies To Contain The Current Covid-19 Pandemic, Antonio Solis Leal

Theses and Dissertations

Background SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for the current global pandemic, COVID-19. Because this virus is novel, little is known about its sensitivity to disinfection. Methods We performed suspension tests against SARS-CoV-2 using three commercially available quaternary ammonium compound (Quat) disinfectants and one laboratory-made 0.2% benzalkonium chloride solution. Findings Three of the four formulations completely inactivated the virus within 15 s of contact, even in the presence of a soil load or when diluted in hard water. Conclusion Quats rapidly inactivate SARS-CoV-2, making them potentially useful for controlling SARS-CoV-2 spread in hospitals and the community.

Përdorimi I Penicilinave Në Një Regjion Të Prizrenit, Anita Ajazaj

Theses and Dissertations

Penicilina u jepet pacientëve kundër infeksioneve të shkaktuara nga bakteret. Disa lloje të infeksioneve bakteriale që mund të mjekohen me penicilinë përfshijnë pneumoninë, dhimbjet e fytit, sifilisin dhe gonoreanë. Mund të përdoret gjithashtu për të parandaluar infeksionet e dhëmbëve. Si një antibiotik, penicilina vret bakteret ose i parandalon ato të rriten dhe shumohen. Ilaçi funksionon duke sulmuar enzimat që ndërtojnë muret qelizore të baktereve.

Qëllimi i këtij hulumtimi është njohja me rastet e trajtuara me penicilinë dhe pasojat që mund të kenë gjatë jetës pas përdorimit të shpeshtë të tyre.

Në këtë hulumtim kuantitativ me metodë descriptive, janë mbledhur të …

Njohuritë E Prindërve Rreth Vaksinimit Në Komunën E Istogut, Drita Shatri

Theses and Dissertations

Vaksinimi është një nga fitoret më të mëdha të mjekësisë. Nganjëherë dëshirojmë të dimë më shumë për to veçanërisht kur na vjen ftesa për vaksinimet e para të fëmijëve në familjen tonë. Vaksinat janë të ndryshme sipas sëmundjes që kërkojmë të luftojmë. Ato mund të përbëhen nga mikroorganizma të çaktivizuar (të vrarë) ose të zbutur (të bërë të padëmshëm), ose nga pjesë të tyre, ose madje nga substanca që ato prodhojnë, të cilat quhen toksina, e të bëra jo aktive. Vaksinat veprojnë duke nxitur një sistem natyral mbrojtjeje: sistemin imunitar. Ky sistem ka për qëllim të prodhojë qeliza mbrojtëse të …

Njohuritë Dhe Qëndrimet E Infermierëve Për Vaksinimin Në Qkmf- Lipjan, Venera Salihu

Theses and Dissertations

Hyrje: Vaksinimi përfaqëson një nga mjetet më efektive për parandalimin e infeksioneve për popullatën dhe për shëndetin publik në përgjithësi. Tani ekzistojnë vaksinat të cilat parandalojnë më shumë se 20 sëmundje të rrezikshme për jetën, duke ndihmuar njerëzit e të gjitha moshave të jetojnë më gjatë, dhe shëndetshëm. Imunizimi aktualisht parandalon 2-3 milion vdekje çdo vit nga sëmundjet sikur difteria, tetanusi, kolla e mirë, gripi dhe fruthi.

Metodologjia: Ky studim është realizuar në Qendrën Kryesore të Mjekësis Familjare, në Komunën e Lipjanit. Në studim kanë marrë pjesë 30 infermierë të cilët kanë pranuar që të përgjigjen në pyetësorin për Njohurit …

Student Well-Being In The Time Of Covid: Survey Of Online Students’ Coping, Ellen Catherine Coble

Theses and Dissertations

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has presented the global population with a considerable stressor resulting in significant loss of life, impaired health, disrupted social practices, and economic atrophy. While many have been impacted and are currently being studied, a population less frequently considered in the literature is that of online college students. Previous research has indicated the influence of several factors on college students’ well-being when coping with stress under typical circumstances such as coping strategies (e.g., problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant/dysfunctional), experiential avoidance, and social support. Studies performed in the wake of large-scale crises highlight proximity to the crisis …

Mining Selected Metagenomes/Metatranscriptomes For Biosynthetic Gene Clusters And Antimicrobial Resistance Genes, Ahmed Yamany

Theses and Dissertations

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the serious global challenges in the current century. The fact that resistance genes transfer between bacteria, coupled with the fact that the world is connected through complex dynamics. Studying microbial behavior and understanding the different factors coffering microbial resistance to a broad spectrum of the available drug classes, parallel with a comprehensive analysis of the natural microbial products as the primary source of the novel antibiotics, might shed some light on solutions for this problem. Microbial environments harbor a wide range of secondary metabolites (SM) with different functional groups. SMs are not directly involved in …

The Effect Of Transactional Distance On Students’ Perceptions Of Course Quality And Instructor Effectiveness In Online Learning, Andrew Gichuho Mungai

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored students’ perceived course quality and instructor effectiveness as a function of course structure, dialogue/interaction, and learner autonomy in an online learning environment. Using Moore's (1993) theory of Transactional Distance (TD) as a conceptual framework, the researcher collected data from postsecondary learners (N = 1049) across the USA who took online courses between Fall 2014 and Fall 2018. The highest percentage of participants, 48.2%, were aged between 25 to 34; 26.0% were 35 to 44; 11.4% were 18 to 24, while the rest were 45 and above. Of the total respondents, 54.5% were male, 45% were female, and …

The Impact Systems Design And Leadership Practices Have On Technology Integration And Adaptation At The K-12 School Level During A Time Of Change, Gustavo Marcelo Loor

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled K-12 schools and districts across the United States to quickly pivot to distance learning. This disruption to traditional in-person instruction required shifts in district leadership and teacher pedagogy. Previous research has shown that teachers must be provided with learning and supportive environments that cultivate and enhance their instructional technology proficiency and capabilities, hence the importance of technology leadership among K-12 administrators (Ertmer, 2005; Ertmer & Ottenbreit-Leftwich, 2010; Hennessy et al., 2005; Hew & Brush, 2007). However, much of the research in the field of K-12 technology integration has relied on quantitative and mixed-methods approaches to …

Keys To Understanding And Serving College Students With Chronic Illnesses, Christine M. Goodwin

Theses and Dissertations

As the fields of medicine and medical technology continue to advance, more students with chronic illnesses will be able to fulfill their dreams of earning a college degree. These students who may be ill or well at any given time have health issues that affect “normal” life activities and require some form of ongoing medical care. The purpose of this study was to obtain a better understanding of serving college students with chronic illnesses through the lens of both institutions and students. It also provides an opportunity to increase awareness of this underserved population and their unique situations. It is …

Short-Term Second-Hand Smoke Exposure Predisposes The Lung To Inflammation, Elastic Fiber Injury, And Pulmonary Emphysema, George Gu

Theses and Dissertations

To determine whether cigarette smoke exposure predisposes lungs to secondary injury, our laboratory developed a hamster model using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce pulmonary inflammation following exposure to second-hand smoke. With this model, inflammatory effects of LPS on smoke-exposed hamsters was measured by various morphological and biochemical parameters. Additional experiments studied the effects of exogenous ET-1 and BQ123, which modulate the adherence of inflammatory cells to lung capillary endothelium. Total bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) leukocytes, percent BALF neutrophils, and elastin-specific desmosine and isodesmosine (DID) crosslinks (free and peptide-bound) in BALF and whole lungs were measured 24 hours (hrs) after LPS treatment. …

Exploring Efficacy Of An Anti-Malarial Nanomedicine In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment, Vineela Parvathaneni

Theses and Dissertations

New drug and dosage form development faces significant challenges, especially in oncology, due to longer development cycle and associated scale-up complexities. Repurposing of existing drugs with potential anti-cancer activity into new therapeutic regimens provides a feasible alternative. In this project, amodiaquine (AQ), an anti-malarial drug, has been explored for its anti-cancer efficacy through formulating inhalable nanoparticulate systems using high-pressure homogenization (HPH) with scale-up feasibility and high reproducibility. A 32 multifactorial design was employed to better understand critical processes and formulation parameters so as to ensure product quality with improved anticancer efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Optimized AQ loaded …

Assessment Of Psychological Functioning In Retired Firefighters, Jordana Simone Pepper

Theses and Dissertations

The past decade has witnessed a significant increase in clinical attention directed to mental health problems in firefighters. The basis for heightened activity in this area is the convergence of evidence indicating that firefighters demonstrate significantly high levels of psychological disorders such as depression and PTSD (Henderson et al., 2016). A previously unexplored risk factor for psychopathology in firefighters is active retirement. Retirement can lead to a decline in psychological functioning, as well as a decline in a person’s self-concept clarity through group loss (Slotter, Winter & Soto, 2015). This loss has the potential to cause, or enhance, feelings of …

Menaxhimi Infermieror I Pacientëve Me Sëmundje Ngjitëse, Hatije Badalli

Theses and Dissertations

Hyrje: Sëmundjet infektive historikisht kanë qenë problem i madh i shëndetit publik dhe shkaktarë të shumë epidemive me pasoja fatale për njerëzimin. Sëmundjet infektive si Murtaja, Variola Vera, Sifilizi, Malaria dhe së fundmi infeksioni me COVID-19, kanë shkaktuar probleme të mëdha në shëndetin publik. Edhe në Kosovë sëmundjet infektive janë paraqitur në formë endemike dhe jo rrallëherë edhe në formë të epidemive dhe së fundi edhe formë pandemike.

Qëllimi i punimit: Përmes rishikimit të literaturës dhe interpretimit të studimeve të shumta, tentohet që në këtë punim të shpjegohen shkurtimisht sëmundjet ngjitëse dhe roli i kujdesit infermieror ndaj këtyre pacientëve, sidomos …

Kujdesi Infermieror Tek Pacientët Me Kancer Pulmunar, Adonisa Ratkoceri

Theses and Dissertations

Gjatë këtij punimi do shtjellohet tema e kancerit pulmunar kujdesi gjatë trajtimit të pacientëve me një diagnostifikim të tillë, si dhe rëndësia e diagnostifikimit dhe trajtimit të hershëm.

Ky punim do sjell edhe disa informacione rreth mushkërive, anatomise se tyre, infeksionet e ndryshme që mund të përshkojnë mushkëritë, shkaktarët, simptomat, trajtimi ,funksionimin e sistemin e frymëmarrjes.

Do hasim edhe pyetjet çka është kanceri mushkërive format e shfaqjes, si mund të trajtohet ,çka përfshinë kanceri në qeliza jo të vogla (NSCLS), stadet, përkujdesja, roli infermieror gjatë kësaj faze dhe ndjekja pas trajtimit.

Ndër pjesët e rëndësishme do diskutohen edhe shkaktarët se …

A Novel Immunostimulatory Platform For Amplifying The Abscopal Response Rates Of Radiation Therapy, Patrick A. Paez

Theses and Dissertations

Radiation therapy (RT) is one of the primary treatment modalities for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). At the time of diagnosis two-thirds of HNSCC patients have local-advanced disease and 50-60% of these patients will experience a local-regional or metastatic relapse within three years. Improving the immunogenic response of RT may help address this clinical problem. However, current RT regimens have failed to reliably generate robust antitumor immunity as evidenced by the rarity of clinical abscopal responses. Recently we engineered a chimeric fusion molecule called Flagrp170, a novel immunostimulatory agent highly capable of promoting antigen presentation and T-cell activation. …

Role Of Gravin/Akap12 Variants In Regulating Endothelial Cell Behavior, Ashrifa Ali

Theses and Dissertations

A functional endothelium must maintain an equilibrium among processes such as endothelial cell (EC) migration, barrier function and angiogenesis. The endothelium is constantly exposed to external factors that that result in a complex network of signaling wired to several possible cellular outcomes. A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) have a critical role in regulating cell signaling by providing spatial and temporal control of signaling proteins to increase downstream target specificity. Several studies have linked gravin (also called SSeCKS or AKAP12), an AKAP, to migration, barrier function, and angiogenesis. However, the functional significance of each gravin variant in ECs has not been investigated …

Systemic Veterinary Parasitcides For Residual Malaria Vector Control In Central America, Staci Michele Dreyer

Theses and Dissertations

Malaria continues to be one of the most severe public health concerns worldwide. The malaria parasite, Plasmodium, is transmitted from person to person through the mosquito vector Anopheles. Vector control is a crucial element of anti-malarial campaigns and works best when there is thorough knowledge about an Anopheles vector’s biology and behavior in a given region. To fully eradicate malaria, new vector control strategies must be developed that exploit the behaviors of different vector species. One promising strategy to target vectors that primarily bite outdoors and display generalist feeding behaviors (zoophagic) is the use of veterinary systemic parasiticides. Veterinary parasiticides …