Digital Commons Network^™

Analysis Of Risk Factors Contributing To Home–Based Direct Care Workers (Dcws) Occupational Injury In Long–Term Care, Hanadi Y. Hamadi

Theses and Dissertations

Home–based direct care workers (DCWs) provide care in a unique workplace environment: the patient’s home. The high rate of injuries experienced by this subcategory of healthcare workers compared to other industries and occupations make the need to understand the risk factors for these injuries vital. This study builds on prior research and specifically profiles occupational injury patterns among home–based DCWs who deliver care primarily in patient homes and the association of individual, perceived environmental and ergonomic characteristics on predicting occupational injury. The study used a cross–sectional analysis of secondary data from the 2007 National Home Health Aide Survey (NHHAS), sampling …

Women’S Hiv Prevention Study (Whips): A Proposal To Pilot Test An Hiv Intervention For Older African American Women Living With Hiv, Charsey Cherry

Theses and Dissertations

Despite improvements in treatments over the past 30 years, HIV /AIDS continues to be a major public health threat, particularly among sub-populations such as African American women. Midlife and older adults (those aged 40 years and over) are fast becoming a growing concern for HIV/AIDS infections, particularly older African American women. There has been limited research targeting midlife and older African American women living with HIV that aimed to reduce their transmission of HIV and promote them becoming prevention advocates. In response to this gap in the literature, a culturally tailored intervention guided by the IMB Model of behavior change …

Increasing Influenza Vaccination Rates Within The Veteran Population, Bernadette R. Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

This paper explores the best methods to increase vaccination rates in the Veteran population. The Veteran community is comprised of the young and old, both female and male, and individuals with a healthy or unhealthy status. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Healthy People 2020 were sites utilized, retrieving data and statistics to emphasize the need for this annual vaccination. This information iterates the need for complete compliance from every Veteran. PubMed and Cinahl allowed for a literature review of previously studied populations. This review led to a multifaceted, multi-professional approach to increasing vaccination rates among populations examined. …

Vaccination Status And Attitudes Of Urban School Employees In Utah, Kim Estella Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals who work with children are at risk for exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases. School settings can quickly become outbreak centers for communicable infection since school employees are in direct contact with children in confined areas for many hours each day. Therefore, it is important for school employees to be fully vaccinated. There are many reasons school employees may be inadequately vaccinated. One common myth is that adults believe vaccines are only for children. Another reason for inadequate vaccination rates among school employees is that many adults believe vaccinations received during childhood are still effective. Healthcare providers (HCPs) constitute the first …

Food Security: At What Cost? Dietary And Behavioural Coping Strategies Of Low-Income Households In Cairo And Implications On Children’S Food Security, Radwa Saad

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the dietary and behavioural coping strategies employed by low-income households in urban poverty pockets of Greater Cairo in response to food price fluctuations. It investigates the impact of nutrition-related coping behaviours on the food security of households, focusing namely on children and youth. The study uses qualitative research in the form of in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews with mothers residing in one of the largest informal settlements of Cairo, to arrive at an in-depth analysis of the problem. The research reveals that low-income households employ poor coping strategies in response to high food …

Localization And Functional Analysis Of Dictyostelium Discoideum Gtpases, Rabs And Rab2, Katherine V. Maringer

Theses and Dissertations

Dictyostelium discoideum is a simple eukaryotic amoeba that has proven useful in studying various aspects of endosomal and lysosomal membrane trafficking, as well as development. The Rab family of small molecular weight GTPases has been implemented in several cellular processes to include various vesicle trafficking roles, cell-cell signaling, and development. This study focuses on the localization and function of two Dictyostelium GTPases, RabS, and Rab2 which we hypothesized to both localize to the Golgi, and the contractile vacuole system. Expression of GFP-tagged DdRab2, and DdRabS proteins revealed similar localization to ER-Golgi membranes as well as the contractile vacuole system. Microscopic …

The Renaissance Of Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, Vu Hoang Le

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is a composite of some of the research that I have conducted during the course of my PhD study. The larger goal of this dissertation is to renew the interests among the scientific community for an otherwise under-appreciated technique called Isothermal Titration Calorimetry. The resurgence of calorimetry in the biophysical community and the shift to investigations of more complex biological systems signal a real need for more sophisticated analysis techniques. This dissertation expounds on new ITC analysis methods that we have developed as well as results from the study of thermodynamic properties of higher order DNA structures. In …

Identification Of The Edwardsiella Ictaluri Genes Causing Impaired Growth In Complex Medium, Safak Kalindamar

Theses and Dissertations

Edwardsiella ictaluri is the causative agent of enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC). Although some virulence mechanisms in E. ictaluri have been identified, further research is needed to discover new virulence genes, which could be used to develop safe and efficacious live vaccines. Here, we report production of growth deficient E. ictaluri mutants on complex agar media and identification of genes causing this growth deficiency. The overall goal of this project is to generate growth deficient E. ictaluri mutants and identify genes causing this growth deficiency on complex media. Mutants exhibiting slow growth in complex media may be potential candidates for …

Signal-To-Noise Measurements And Particle Focusing In Liquid-Core Waveguides, Michael A. Olson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents an analysis of the signal-to-noise ratio in liquid core anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguides (ARROWs) and the application of hydrodynamic focusing to the waveguides. These concepts are presented as a method to improve the detection capabilities of the ARROW platform. The improvements are specifically targeted at achieving single molecule detection (SMD) with the devices. To analyze the SNR of the waveguides a test platform was designed and fabricated. This test platform was then used to examine relationship between the SNR and the location of the excitation region. It was determined that the excitation region should be moved closer …

Contraceptive Counseling And The Relationship To Chlamydia Prevention And Screening, Bernice Kane

Theses and Dissertations

Contraceptive counseling is a common issue for today's health care clinicians. An important aspect of a thorough contraceptive counseling visit includes sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk history and screening. Chlamydia is the most common STI and it is especially problematic among women under the age of 25. Untreated infections, which are often asymptomatic, can result in serious complications such a pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility and ectopic pregnancy. Clinicians have a unique opportunity and responsibility to assist in the prevention of STI. Stressing responsible behavior and providing the necessary education, support, and resources are important aspects of primary prevention. Identifying risk …

Investigations Of Novel Mechanisms Of Action For Anti-Bacterial And Anti-Cancer Agent Development, Jenson Verghese

Theses and Dissertations

The development of drugs and therapeutic agents for combating infections and human malignancies continues to be a forefront area in both academic and industrial research. This is driven by the rapid emergence of multi-drug resistant bacterial strains and accumulating mutations in cancer targets that is quickly rendering our current arsenal of drugs ineffective for these therapies. Unless new drugs with novel mechanisms of action are identified and developed at a faster pace, we face a losing battle in managing these diseases. The first part of this work concerns with the natural product Simocyclinone D8 (SD8). Simocyclinone D8 is an angucyclinone …

A Retrospective Study Of Operating Room Utilization And Efficiency In A Pediatric Dental Residency Program, Brian Burke

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose was to assess and understand operating room (OR) utilization and efficiency in a pediatric dental residency program. Methods: A retrospective study was performed using chart extraction from 778 patients completed by both pediatric dentistry faculty (n=7) and residents (n=17) in an ambulatory care setting over a 32 month period (between July 2010 and March 2013). Patterns in OR usage time were determined by documenting various timing metrics (start and stop times for anesthesia, start and stop times for the dental procedure, times for throat pack in and out), noting patient information (age and ASA patient classification status), …

Patient Discomfort In The Icu: Ett Movement Effects, Virginia Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations

Critically ill patients who require MV are at risk for a number of complications, including the development of ventilator-associated events (VAE) and agitation that may require the use of sedation. Patients experience anxiety and discomfort during mechanical ventilation from a variety of sources including unfamiliar breathing assistance and an inability to communicate anxiety and pain verbally, but a primary cause of discomfort identified by these patients is the simply the presence of the endotracheal tube (ETT). Discomfort often leads to agitation and may be exacerbated by ETT movement. Management of agitation typically involves the use of sedative therapy and has …

Evaluation Of Maxillary Molar Furcations, Clinical Measurements Versus Cone Beam Computed Tomography, Jessica Allen

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: The use of three-dimensional imaging has shown to provide advantages to the clinician in assessing bone morphology. The aim of this study will be to compare the diagnostic efficacy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) versus diagnostic clinical measurements in patients presenting with furcation involved maxillary first molars. METHODS: The study population included 20 patients with 34 maxillary first molar teeth with furcation involvement. Clinical horizontal and vertical probing measurements were compared to CBCT measurements taken by two calibrated examiners. RESULTS: Horizontal measurements showed a significant difference between Glickman class II and class III. There were no statistical significant …

An Examination Of The Relationship Of Abo Blood Group And Lifespan In A Hospitalized Population In The Southeastern United States, Tara Moon

Theses and Dissertations

The clinical significance of ABO blood group is evident and universally accepted with regards to blood transfusion and pregnancy; however, the importance of ABO blood group as it relates to other diseases or disorders and overall mortality is not fully understood by the scientific community. Many studies have suggested associations between blood groups and disease, but consensus has not been reached regarding overall survival or longevity. This epidemiological, retrospective review of ABO blood group and age at the time of death in a hospitalized population in the Southeastern United States is the first multi-site study to examine this relationship. The …

Are Mass Screenings An Effective Diagnostic Tool For Chlamydia?, Shari Forschen

Theses and Dissertations

Chlamydia Trachomatis infection has historically been a focus of primary health of adolescents and young adults in the age group between 15-24 years of age. Satterwhite et al. (2013) report sexually transmitted infections (ST!) are disproportionately larger amongst adolescent groups than adults. STI's are growing in a day and age where health promotion and disease prevention are at the forefronts of the minds of many providers. Chlamydia infections within the United States have increased nationally. Most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2013) indicate that in 2001 the chlamydia rates for women were 429.6/100,000 population …

Identification Of T-Cell Epitopes In The Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 4 Proteome: A Step Towards Epitope-Driven Vaccine Development, Karim Mohamed Ali Abdel-Hady

Theses and Dissertations

Hepatitis C is an inflammatory infectious disease of the liver caused by the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). It is a global pandemic, chronically inflicting 150 million people worldwide, with millions of new infections arising annually. The standard therapy of HCV is expensive, associated with severe side effects, and has variable success rates. Thus far, no HCV vaccine has been developed, owing to the challenges that faced and still face its development. Despite these challenges, several attempts have been taken to develop a vaccine, some of which have progressed to phase II clinical trials. Most of these attempts, however, have focused …

The Effect Of Fluvastatin On Mast Cell Function: Genotype Dependence, Elizabeth M. Kolawole

Theses and Dissertations

Fluvastatin, the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor known for its role in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and cardiovascular disease, has more recently been shown to play a role in the immune response. Given the critical role that mast cells play in allergy and inflammatory diseases such as asthma, which effects one third of America’s population, we assessed the effect of fluvastatin on mast cell and basophils function. We demonstrate that fluvastatin downregulated IgE-mediated cytokine production. Additionally, in vivo studies showed that fluvastatin suppressed IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. Interestingly, the effects of fluvastatin showed dependence on genetic background, as C57BL/6 mast cells were sensitive, while …

The Effect Of Lactic Acid On Mast Cell Function, Andrew J. Spence

Theses and Dissertations

This study shows for the first time the effect that L-(+)-lactic acid has on mast cell activation. Lactic acid is a byproduct of anaerobic glycolysis and is associated with inflammatory environments such as wounds, tumors and, asthma. In this study, pre-treatment with lactic acid altered cytokine production by bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC). Specifically, lactic acid enhanced cytokine secretion following IgE cross-linking, but decreased IL-33 mediated cytokine production. These effects were altered by genetic background, since C57BL/6 mast cells demonstrated the aforementioned result, but lactic acid had no effect on IgE-mediated cytokine production in 129/SvJ mast cells. The affected cytokines …

Novel Approaches Investigating Predisposition For Maternal Group B Streptococcus Colonization, Michelle Lynn Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of infectious neonatal morbidity and mortality in the United States. Maternal GBS colonization is the primary risk factor associated with neonatal infection. However, maternal risk factors for GBS colonization are ambiguous. A conceptual framework of gene-environment interactions guided the approach for this study analyzing DNA methylation, serum cytokines, and vitamin D levels. The purpose of this study was to identify potential maternal biomarkers associated with GBS colonization. Descriptive statistics were conducted to depict sample characteristics (n=42 pregnant women) and identify potential confounding variables including, but not limited to: medical history, race, weight, …

Therapeutic Igy: Safe, Diverse, And Effective For Use Against Viral Targets, Nicole Noel Haese

Theses and Dissertations

Passive antibody treatments are used to target infectious disease, toxins, venoms, and cancer antigens. Recently, there has been an increased interest in the use of avian-derived antibody treatments such as IgY. IgY is the primary serum antibody isotype present in the avian system, and IgY treatments have already been demonstrated to be effective against a variety of bacterial and viral infectious agents. There are two forms of IgY expressed in anseriformes birds, a full length IgY that is functionally similar to mammalian IgG, and an alternatively spliced IgY, IgY(ÄFc), that is comparable to the mammalian F(ab')2 fragment. The difference in …

An Evolutionary Perspective On Infectious And Chronic Disease, John Eberth

Theses and Dissertations

The integration of evolutionary biology with traditional medicine can elucidate novel mechanisms of contemporary disease. Whereas the goal of traditional medicine is to treat and cure the proximate causes, evolutionary biology aims to understand the driving forces behind why humans are susceptible to disease. To form the basis of this hypothesis we postulate that modern man's current genetic information was programmed at a time, and in an environment, that is not relevant to today's human populations. The discordance between these genes of our ancestors and the environment of contemporary humans is thought to be a major reason for the increase …

Antibiotic Usage In Relation To Resistant Bacterial Infections And Liver And Kidney Cancer Outcomes In South Carolina, Prea Thathiah

Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotics are one of the most beneficial discoveries in medicine and public health. However, the use, overuse, and misuse of these drugs have led to increases in antibiotic resistant bacterial infections (ARI). Furthermore, previous epidemiological studies have linked antibiotic use to breast cancer, but these studies have not included effects on metabolic organs, such as the liver and kidneys. This dissertation investigates the role of antibiotic use in infections and liver and kidney cancers in the state of South Carolina. Using ecological study methods and Poisson regression to determine relative risk ratios, it was found that antibiotic use is a …

Elucidating Perceived And Actual Cancer Risk In Disadvantaged Neighborhoods Differentially Impacted By Environmental Hazards To Inform Future Public Health Interventions, Lashanta J. Rice

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, racial and ethnic minorities, economically disadvantaged and medically underserved groups bear a disproportionate amount of the cancer burden. Myriad social and environmental factors attribute to these disparities including disparate exposures to environmental pollutants, which account for two percent of all cancer deaths nationally. There is empirical evidence demonstrating risk perceptions and cancer worry are shaped by race/ethnicity and social and environmental experiences. Cancer risk perceptions among Non-Whites, especially Blacks compared to Whites is lower for various reasons. Low perceived cancer risk may explain persistent cancer disparities, since protective health behaviors are higher among persons who perceive …

A Comparative Content Analysis Of Alcoholism Treatment Programs With A Focus On A Native Treatment Alternative, Mike J. Eshkibok

Theses and Dissertations

A historical account of Native American Indian culture is set forth to provide the antecedent events for understanding problems with and solutions to alcoholism among Native American Indians. Two 12-step alcohol treatment programs are explained, compared, and contrasted: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and a Native 12-Step Program.

Qualitative analysis was used to collect information from 13 Native American Indian counselors in alcohol treatment programs and data was analyzed by coding transcripts of taped interviews, then grouping data into categories, determining themes from the categories, and drawing conclusions.

Three conclusions emerged from the qualitative data analyzed from Native American Indian alcohol treatment …

Treatment Of Infectious Mastitis, Elizabeth Sandberg,

Theses and Dissertations

Mastitis is a complication of breast feeding encountered often by primary care providers. The goal of treating mastitis is not only resolution of the infection, but also the continuation of lactation so that both mother and child may continue to enjoy the innumerable health benefits of breastfeeding. The patient discussed in this case study is a first time mother who is exclusively breastfeeding, but whose planned change in feeding schedules places her at risk for developing mastitis as a result of engorgement or plugged milk ducts. This case report examines current recommendations and evidence for treatment of infectious mastitis. Attention …

Understanding Ligand Binding, Selectivity And Functions On The G Protein-Coupled Receptors: A Molecular Modeling Approach, Saheem Zaidi

Theses and Dissertations

The assessment of target protein molecular structure provides a distinct advantage in the rational drug design process. The increasing number of available G protein-coupled receptor crystal structures has enabled utilization of a varied number of computational approaches for understanding the ligand-receptor interactions, ligand selectivity and even receptor response upon ligand binding. The following dissertation examines the results from three different projects with varied objectives – i) structural modeling of human C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) and assessment of the ligand binding pocket of the receptor, ii) assessment of the selectivity profile of naltrexone derivatives on the three opioid receptors …

Identification Of Peptidases In Highly-Pathogenic Versus Weakly-Pathogenic Naegleria Fowleri Amebae, Ishan Vyas

Theses and Dissertations

Naegleria fowleri, a free-living ameba, is the causative agent of Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis. Highly-pathogenic mouse-passaged amebae (Mp) and weakly-pathogenic axenically-grown (Ax) N. fowleri were examined for peptidase activity. Zymography and azocasein peptidase activity assays demonstrated that Mp and Ax N. fowleri exhibited a similar peptidase pattern. Prominent for whole cell lysates, membranes and conditioned medium from Mp and Ax amebae were the presence of an activity band of approximately 58kDa and 100 kDa bands susceptible to the action of cysteine and metallopeptidase inhibitors, respectively. Further roles of the peptidases during the invasion process were examined by in vitro invasion assays …

Using Structural Analysis To Investigate The Function Of Suppressor Of Ikk-Epsilon (Sike), Sean W. Mckinley

Theses and Dissertations

The innate immune system provides the body’s first line of defense against pathogenic challenge through pathogen recognition and initiation of the immune response. Among the various cellular mechanisms of pathogen recognition in mammals, Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) recognizes viral dsRNA. Stimulation of TLR3 signaling pathway leads to transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines and type-1 Interferons. Suppressor of IKKε (SIKE) interacts with two kinases in the signaling pathway, IKKε and TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1), inhibiting the transcription of type I interferons. Recently, the Bell Laboratory discovered that SIKE blocks TBK1-mediated activation of type I interferons by acting as a high affinity, …

Characterization Of The Effects Of Iron On Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Surface Protein Modulation And Host Cell Interactions, Aminat Oki

Theses and Dissertations

Iron is an essential nutrient that is sequestered by iron-binding proteins in the human host resulting in a hostile environment for microbes. Neisseria gonorrhoeae, however, can utilize numerous iron-binding proteins such as transferrin and lactoferrin to acquire this nutrient. During initial infection, gonococci have access to transferrin and lactoferrin present in semen and vaginal fluids, as well as to hemoglobin present in blood during menses or disseminated infections. Consequently, the gonococcus likely encounters conditions of high iron at some stages in the course of natural infection. Potential contributions of iron to gonococcal invasion have however been largely over looked in …