Digital Commons Network^™

Introduction To N-Adaptive Fuzzy Models To Analyze Public Opinion On Aids, Florentin Smarandache, W.B. Vasantha Kandasamy

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

“AIDS is not simply a physical malady, it is also an artifact of social and sexual transgression, violated taboo, fractured identity—political and personal projections. Its key words are primarily the property of the powerful. AIDS: Keywords – is my attempt to identify and contest some of the assumptions underlying our current ‘knowledge’. In this effort I am joined by many AIDS activists including people living with AIDS— Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. “A syndrome is a pattern of symptoms pointing to a “morbid state” which may or may not be caused by infectious agents; a disease, on the other hand is, …

The Presence, Prevalence And Antibiotic Resistance Of Microbes In The Pamunkey River Basin, Christina Mcdowell

Honors Theses

This project examined the presence, prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Coliforms (mainly Escherichia coli), Staph/occocus aureus, fecal Streptococcus, andEnterobacteriacae found in the water samples taken from three selected sites on the North Anna, South Anna, and Little Rivers of the Pamunkey River Basin. The diversity and concentration of the microbes isolated from these sites was evaluated in late January and late March allowing for a comparison of the occurrence of microbes at different times and between the different sites. Over the course of two months the concentration of colonies increased based on colony counts from Nutrient agar. The rate of …

Mathematical Modeling Of Smallpox Withoptimal Intervention Policy, Niwas Lawot

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this work, two differential equation models for smallpox are numerically solved to find the optimal intervention policy. In each model we look for the range of values of the parameters that give rise to the worst case scenarios. Since the scale of an epidemic is determined by the number of people infected, and eventually dead, as a result of infection, we attempt to quantify the scale of the epidemic and recommend the optimum intervention policy. In the first case study, we mimic a densely populated city with comparatively big tourist population, and heavily used mass transportation system. A mathematical …

The Cholera Toxin A1(3) Subdomain Is Essential For Interaction With Adp-Ribosylation Factor 6 And Full Toxic Activity But Is Not Required For Translocation From The Endoplasmic Reticulum To The Cytosol, Ken Teter, Michael G. Jobling, Danielle Sentz, Randall K. Holmes

Faculty Bibliography 2000s

Cholera toxin (CT) moves from the plasma membrane to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by retrograde vesicular traffic. In the ER, the catalytic CTA1 polypeptide dissociates from the rest of the toxin and enters the cytosol by a process that involves the quality control mechanism of ER-associated degradation (ERAD). The cytosolic CTA1 then ADP ribosylates Gs alpha, resulting in adenylate cyclase activation and intoxication of the target cell. It is hypothesized that the C-terminal A1(3) subdomain of CTA1 plays two crucial roles in the. p intoxication process: (i) it contains a hydrophobic domain that triggers the ERAD mechanism and (ii) it …

Whole-Genome Plasticity Among Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies: Insights From Comparative Genomic Hybridizations, Chia-Wei Wu, Jeremy Glasner, Michael Collins, Saleh Naser, Adel M. Talaat

Faculty Bibliography 2000s

Infection with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis causes Johne's disease in cattle and is also implicated in cases of Crohn's disease in humans. Another closely related strain, M. avium subsp. avium, is a health problem for immunocompromised patients. To understand the molecular pathogenesis of M. avium subspecies, we analyzed the genome contents of isolates collected from humans and domesticated or wildlife animals. Comparative genomic hybridizations indicated distinct lineages for each subspecies where the closest genomic relatedness existed between M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis isolates collected from human and clinical cow samples. Genomic islands (n = 24) comprising 846 kb were present in …

A Man With Fever And Convulsions, Yacoub Bahou, Azmi Hadidi

Neurosciences

No abstract provided.

A Real-Time Pcr-Based Assay For Detection Of Wuchereria Bancrofti Dna In Blood And Mosquitoes, Ramakrishna U. Rao, Laura J. Atkinson, Reda M.R. Ramzy, Hanan H. Helmy, Hoda A. Farid, Moses J. Bockarie, Melinda Susapu, Sandra J. Laney, Steven A. Williams, Gary J. Weil

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

We developed and evaluated real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for detecting Wuchereria bancrofti DNA in human blood and in mosquitoes. An assay based on detection of the W. bancrofti “LDR” repeat DNA sequence was more sensitive than an assay for Wolbachia 16S rDNA. The LDR-based assay was sensitive for detecting microfilarial DNA on dried membrane filters or on filter paper. We also compared real-time PCR with conventional PCR (C-PCR) for detecting W. bancrofti DNA in mosquito samples collected in endemic areas in Egypt and Papua New Guinea. Although the two methods had comparable sensitivity for detecting filarial DNA in …

Information Systems And Health Care Xiii: Examining The Critical Requirements, Design Approaches And Evaluation Methods For A Public Health Emergency Response System, Ann L. Fruhling

Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis Faculty Publications

Research pertaining to emergency response systems has accelerated over the past few years, particularly since 9/11 events, and more recently due to Hurricane Katrina and concern over a potential of an avian flu pandemic. This study examines the requirements that are the most demanding with respect to software and hardware, and the associated design strategies for a public health emergency response system (ERS) for electronic laboratory diagnostics consultation. In addition, this study illustrates ways to evaluate the design decisions.

An important goal of a public health ERS is to improve the communication and notification of life-threatening diseases and harmful agents. …

Algorithms For Haplotype Inference And Block Partitioning, Satya Ravi Vijaya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The completion of the human genome project in 2003 paved the way for studies to better understand and catalog variation in the human genome. The International HapMap Project was started in 2002 with the aim of identifying genetic variation in the human genome and studying the distribution of genetic variation across populations of individuals. The information collected by the HapMap project will enable researchers in associating genetic variations with phenotypic variations. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) are loci in the genome where two individuals differ in a single base. It is estimated that there are approximately ten million SNPs in the …

Computational Sciences: At The Intersection Of Science And Engineering - Case Study For Academic And Research Programs, Menas Kafatos, P. A. Becker, Z. Boybeyi

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

No abstract provided.

Books And Letters Vol. 20, No. 1, University Libraries, Molly Boyd, Anne Marie Candido, Tom W. Dillard, Juana R. Young, Beth Juhl, Tim Nutt, Russell Cothren, Don Batson

Books and Letters

Alice Walker Biographer Speaks at Mullins; Special Collections Laboratory Dedicated to Goldsby Family; From Lightning Bug to Pitcher Shower: 30 Years of Stay More; The Stay Moron's Oath; Reference Librarian Publishes Book; Folklorist Mary C. Parler’s Life and Work Remembered; Library Receives Valuable Thomas Merton Collection; Interview with the Collector; Artists Picture History in Recent Exhibits; Calder Mobiles Displayed; New Online Resources; Margaret Smith Ross Papers Opened to Researchers; Event Honors Arkansas Photographer; Library Personnel Key to New Arkansas Encyclopedia

Flying In The Face Of Uncertainty: Human Risk In Space Activities, Molly K. Macauley

Chicago Journal of International Law

Although the idea remains exceedingly controversial, momentum is building in the US space program for an ever-increasing role of humans in space. This momentum is evident in the renewed emphasis on human exploration of the moon and Mars. It is also evident in the private sector's growing interest in space tourism. Even if the move to greater involvement of humans in space is gradual, space exploration and tourism are attracting the government and private funding necessary to underwrite initial steps in this direction. The largely overlooked public policy issue of managing human risk in space is an important aspect of …

Americans And Climate Change: Closing The Gap Between Science And Action, Daniel R. Abbasi

Yale School of the Environment Publications Series

A Synthesis of Insights and Recommendations from the 2005 Yale F&ES Conference on Climate Change

A Law-Policy Proposal To Know Where Babies Come From During The Reproductive Revolution, Michael J. Malinowski

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Integrated Results Reporting: Moving Toward Electronic Health Records, Mary Helen Fagan, Carol Kilmon, Tom Belt

Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

A key achievement marking the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler’s movement toward Electronic Health Records (EHR) is the establishment of an integrated results reporting capability. Clinicians will be able to view results from most ancillary departments anywhere and at any time. This case study outlines the steps they took, the outcomes they achieved, and some of the lessons they have learned in the process.

Male Rape In U.S. Prisons: Are Conjugal Visits The Answer?, Rachel Wyatt

Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Structural And Antigenic Components Of Bacillus Anthracis Spores And Their Application To Rapid Detection Using Biosensors, Tracey Elizabeth Love

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The work presented in this thesis describes a rational design approach to the rapid detection of Bacillus anthracis spores. A range of assay formats are available for detection of B. anthracis, however none fulfil the criteria of speed, sensitivity or specificity. Optical biosensors have shown promise for the near real time detection of low molecular weight analytes, although exploitation of these systems for bacterial detection has been restricted due to a comparative lack of sensitivity. Electroporation was unsuitable as a disruption method for immunoassay based techniques, whereas preliminary experiments suggested sonication could be utilised. A novel tubular sonicator designed to …

Antibiotic Resistance And Multi-Drug Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria In Athletics, Chad Cerullo

Graduate Research Papers

The objective of this paper is to describe the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance and the emergence of multi-drug resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria as it relates to the athletic medicine setting, while also describing prevention and treatment options for infections the emerge in the athletic medicine setting.

Infectious Diseases Of The Eye: Loa Loa, Onchocerciasis, & Trachoma, Lindsay N. Wise

Honors Program Theses

On December 16, 2006, I will graduate from the University of Northem Iowa with University Honors and a B.A. in both biology and psychology. I have always been interested in medicine and diseases, and this semester I wanted to explore some options for my future. At the start of the semester, I was considering applying to optometry schools after graduating from UNI. I am also highly interested in going on a mission trip, and perhaps a medical mission trip. ln light of these interests, I decided to design my senior honors thesis around infectious diseases of the eye. With the …

What Does Social Justice Require For The Public’S Health? Public Health Ethics And Policy Imperatives, Lawrence O. Gostin, Madison Powers

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Justice is so central to the mission of public health that it has been described as the field's core value. Our account of justice stresses the fair disbursement of common advantages and sharing of common burdens. It captures the twin moral impulses that animate public health: to advance human well-being by improving health and to do so particularly by focusing on the needs of the most disadvantaged. This commentary explores how social justice sheds light on major ongoing controversies in the field, and it provides examples of the kinds of policies that public health agencies guided by a robust conception …

2005-2006 Legislative Review, Sunrise Cox

Animal Law Review

No abstract provided.

How Long Will We Live?, John Bongaarts

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

After a brief review of the controversy about future trends, this Population Council working paper examines past trends in the components of life expectancy at birth in high-income countries with low levels of mortality. The projection of these components provides the basis for assessing plausible future trends in longevity. Large increases in conventional life expectancy before 1950 are found to be primarily attributable to reductions in juvenile and background mortality. After 1950 the rate of improvement in life expectancy slowed, but senescent mortality fell more rapidly than before, thus becoming the main cause of rising life expectancy at birth. The …

Cock-A-Doodle-Doo: Pandemic Avian Influenza And The Legal Preparation And Consequences Of An H5n1 Influenza Outbreak, N. Pieter M. O'Leary

Health Matrix: The Journal of Law-Medicine

No abstract provided.

Strain To Strain Differences In The Growth, Survival And Adaptation Of Vibrio Vulnificus And Vibrio Parahaemolyticus In Broth, Veronica Elaine Burnham

LSU Master's Theses

Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus are natural inhabitants of estuarine environments of the Gulf of Mexico. V. vulnificus is the leading cause of death, while V. parahaemolyticus is a leading cause of foodborne gastroenteritis from the consumption of seafood in the United States. Refrigeration is commonly used as a preservation method to control the growth of microorganisms in food. The ability of some microorganisms to adapt, as a survival response when exposed to a downshift in temperature, could compromised efforts to use low temperature storage to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Limited research is available on the growth characteristics …

Characterizing Salmonella Fecal Shedding Among Racehorses In Louisiana, Anna Marie Chapman

LSU Master's Theses

Salmonella is an important intestinal pathogen in horses capable of infecting populations without demonstrating clinical illness. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of Salmonella fecal shedding among racehorses in Louisiana. Three serial fecal samples were collected from 429 Thoroughbred horses housed at four racetracks. Feces were tested for Salmonella by microbiologic culture with selective primary enrichment and delayed secondary enrichment (DSE). Samples were also evaluated for the presence of Salmonella by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using genus-specific oligonucleotide primers. A total of 7 (1.6%) horses were positive for Salmonella by either primary bacterial culture or DSE and an …

Pandemics And Pandemonium: Constitutional Jurisdiction Over Public Health, Keri Gammon

Dalhousie Journal of Legal Studies

It has long been accepted that the provinces have general jurisdiction over healthcare. But many aspects of public health – the branch concerned with the welfare of populations – can be argued to lend themselves to federal involvement. This was recently illustrated in 2003 when SARS, a previously unknown disease, arrived in Toronto and wreaked havoc on the local public health system. The epidemic highlighted numerous shortcomings within Ontario’s system and caused us to question those of the other provinces. Not surprisingly, the federal government quickly came under heavy pressure to take leadership and action in respect of public health. …

Priority Setting For Reproductive Health At The District Level In The Context Of Health Sector Reforms In Ghana, Harriet Birungi, Philomena Nyarko, Ian Askew, Ayorinde Ajayi, Gifty Addico, Edward Addai, Caroline Jehu-Appiah

Reproductive Health

This report outlines results of an in-depth assessment carried out in Ghana in order to provide a better understanding of key factors affecting reproductive health (RH) prioritization at the district level; and to make recommendations for policy dialogue, advocacy, resource allocation, and RH program implementation. In particular, the study examined whether or not districts are connecting to the central process of priority setting and reasons for not doing so. The report includes recommendations for bridging the policy implementation gap, including: ensuring that RH advocates participate in national policy dialogue; investing in systems development for procurement and delivery of drugs and …

Epstein-Barr Virus Encephalitis In An Apparently Healthy Adult, Tarig S. Al-Khuwaitir, Hassabo B. Mohammed, Abdurahman Shameena, Majid Halim

Neurosciences

No abstract provided.

Social Capital, Health And Mental Health In African American Women, Cheryl Lynn Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

Cultural and social influences on mental and physical health are increasingly recognized by social science researchers. Researchers have found that specific, Afrocultural factors are related to the functioning of African Americans. The current research considered whether interdependence is especially salient for African American women since women and African Americans tend to define themselves within the context of social relationships. The study outlines processes affecting the mental and physical health of African American women including communalism, collective efficacy, and social capital. The also study examined the relationship between socioeconomic status and both mental and physical health among African American women in …

Serum Anti-Phosphorylcholine And Anti-Cardiolipin Concentrations Following Periodontal Scaling And Root Planing, Reve W. Chaston

Theses and Dissertations

Atherosclerosis is an insidious disease with serious morbidity and mortality including ischemic heart disease, stroke, and myocardial infarction. This condition is progressive and can start early in life eventually leading to large plaques and arterial occlusion. Two key components of this process are the immune system and lipids; in particular, LDL which accumulates within the arterial walls and macrophages which recognize and engulf oxidized-LDL (oxLDL) to form foam cells. Knowing that certain antibodies directed against bacterial antigens such as phosphorylcholine (PC) and cardiolipin (CL) show opsonizing cross-reactivity with oxLDL it can be proposed that there is a link between immune …