Digital Commons Network^™

Anthropogenic Drivers Of Ecosystem Change: An Overview, Gerald C. Nelson, Elena Bennett, Asmeret A. Berhe, Kenneth G. Cassman, Ruth Defries, Thomas Dietz, Achim R. Dobermann, Andrew Dobson, Anthony Janetos, Marc Levy, Diana Marco, Nebojsa Nakicenovic, Brian O'Neill, Richard Norgaard, Gerhard Petschel-Held, Dennis Ojima, Prabhu Pingali, Robert Watson, Monika Zurek

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

This paper provides an overview of what the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) calls “indirect and direct drivers” of change in ecosystem services at a global level. The MA definition of a driver is any natural or human-induced factor that directly or indirectly causes a change in an ecosystem. A direct driver unequivocally influences ecosystem processes. An indirect driver operates more diffusely by altering one or more direct drivers. Global driving forces are categorized as demographic, economic, sociopolitical, cultural and religious, scientific and technological, and physical and biological. Drivers in all categories other than physical and biological are considered indirect. Important …

Purification And Scale-Up Of A Recombinant Heavy Chain Fragment C Of Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype E In Pichia Pastoris Gs115, Michael P. Dux, Rick Barent, Jayanta Sinha, Mark Gouthro, Todd Swanson, Ardis Barthuli, Mehmet Inan, John T. Ross, Leonard A. Smith, Theresa J. Smith, Robert Webb, Bonnie Loveless, Ian Henderson, Michael M. Meagher

Michael Meagher Publications

A recombinant C-terminus heavy chain fragment from botulinum neurotoxin serotype E (BoNT/E) is proposed as a vaccine against the serotype E neurotoxin. This fragment, rBoNTE(H_c), was produced intracellular in Pichia pastoris GS115 by a three-step fermentation process, i.e., glycerol batch phase and a glycerol fed-batch phase to achieve high cell densities, followed by a methanol fed-batch induction phase. The rBoNTE(H_c) protein was purified from the soluble fraction of cell lysates using three ion-exchange chromatography steps (SP Sepharose Fast Flow, Q Sepharose Fast Flow, Sp Sepharose High Performance) and polished with a hydrophobic charge induction chromatography step …

The Pea Aphid, Acyrthosiphon Pisum: An Emerging Genomic Model System For Ecological, Developmental, And Evolutionary Studies, Jennifer A. Brisson, David L. Stern

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Aphids display an abundance of adaptations that are not easily studied in existing model systems. Here we review the biology of a new genomic model system, the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. We then discuss several phenomena that are particularly accessible to study in the pea aphid: the developmental genetic basis of polyphenisms, aphid–bacterial symbioses, the genetics of adaptation and mechanisms of virus transmission. The pea aphid can be maintained in the laboratory and natural populations can be studied in the field. These properties allow controlled experiments to be performed on problems of direct relevance to natural aphid populations. Combined …

Premature Induction Of An Immunosuppressive Regulatory T Cell Response During Acute Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Infection, Jacob D. Estes, Qingsheng Li, Matthew R. Reynolds, Stephen W. Wietgrefe, Lijie Duan, Timothy Schacker, Louis J. Picker, David I. Watkins, Jeffrey D. Lifson, Cavan Reilly, John V. Carlis, Ashley T. Haase

Qingsheng Li Publications

Here we report the results of an investigation into the possibility that one mechanism responsible for the establishment of persistent human immunodeficiency virus infection is an early regulatory T (T_reg) cell response that blunts virus- specific responses. Using the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)–infected rhesus macaque model, we show that, indeed, viral replication and immune activation in lymphatic tissue drive a premature immunosuppressive response, with dramatic increases in the frequencies of CD4⁺CD25⁺FOXP3⁺ Treg cells, transforming growth factor–β1⁺ cells, interleukin–10+ cells, and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase+CD3⁺ cells.When we compared SIV infection with rhesus cytomegalovirus (RhCMV) …

First Report Of Mites And Fleas Associated With Sigmodontine Rodents From Corrientes Province, Argentina, Marcela Lareschi, Donald Gettinger, Santiago Nava, Agustín Abba, Mariano L. Merino

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) and mesostigmate mites (Acari: Laelapidae) are common ectoparasitic associates of sigmodontine rodents in the Neotropics of South America. In Argentina, most of the research on ectoparasitic arthropods has been carried out on rodents from Buenos Aires Province (Autino and Lareschi, 1998; Lareschi and Mauri, 1998), while only a few small studies have been done in other areas of the country, such as the northwest (Lareschi et al., 2003a), and the Monte Desert Biome in Mendoza Province (Lareschi et al., 2004). Unfortunately, very little information is available from the region between the Paraná and Uruguay rivers in northeastern …

Parelaphostrongylus Odocoilei In Columbia Black-Tailed Deer From Oregon, Jack A. Mortenson, Arthur Abrams, Benjamin M. Rosenthal, Detiger Dunams, Eric P. Hoberg, Robert J. Bildfell, Richard L. Green

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Documenting the occurrence of Parelaphostrongylus odocoilei has historically relied on the morphological examination of adult worms collected from the skeletal muscle of definitive hosts, including deer. Recent advances in the knowledge of protostrongylid genetic sequences now permit larvae to be identified. Dorsal-spined larvae (DSLs) collected in 2003–2004 from the lung and feces of six Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) from Oregon were characterized genetically. The sequences from unknown DSLs were compared to those from morphologically validated adults and larvae of P. odocoilei at both the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) of ribosomal DNA and the mitochondrial cytochrome …

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia In Surgical Emergency Intensive Care Unit, Bulent M. Ertugrul, Ayse Yildirim, Pinar Ay, Serkan Oncu, Atahan Cagatay, Nahit Cakar, Cemalettin Ertekin, Halit Ozsut, Haluk Eraksoy, Semra Calangu

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence, risk factors and the etiology of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in surgical emergency intensive care unit (ICU) patients. METHODS: We conducted this prospective cohort study in the surgical emergency ICU of Istanbul Medical Faculty between December 1999 and May 2001. We included 100 mechanically ventilated patients in this study. We diagnosed VAP according to the current diagnostic criteria. We identified the etiology of VAP cases by both quantitative cultures of endotracheal aspiration and blood cultures. To analyze the predisposing factors for the development of VAP, we recorded the following variables: age, gender, acute physiology and chronic …

Epidemiology Of Travel-Related Malaria In A Non-Malarious Area In Saudi Arabia, Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq

Saudi Medical Journal

OBJECTIVE: The study describes the epidemiology of malaria in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and the species of Plasmodium causing the disease and the associated factors. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of the epidemiology of malaria at Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization in Dhahran, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The study included all patients with malaria from January 1994 to June 2005. We retrieved the cases from the archive epidemiology records on all notifiable diseases. The medical records of patients were reviewed and the following information was collected: age, gender, nationality, year and month of acquisition, travel history …

Antimony-Induced Cerebellar Ataxia, Ammar E. Ahmed, Ahmed M. Musa, Muna H. Hussein

Saudi Medical Journal

Visceral leishmaniasis VL, caused by Leishmania donovani is endemic over several parts of Sudan. The disease is fatal if not treated. Although sodium stibogluconate Pentostam, a pentavalent antimonial is not free from toxicity, it has been in use for treatment of VL for the last 50 years. Like other infectious diseases, neurological manifestations of VL and sodium stibogluconate have been documented. In this report, we present 2 cases of cerebellar ataxia most likely induced by Pentostam, and explain the probable cause.

Rupture Of Spleen In A Mechanically Ventilated Patient With Falciparum Malaria Admitted With Pulmonary Edema, Wanis H. Ibrahim, Ahmed Kamha, Wisam Ghadban, Abdulatif Alkhal

Saudi Medical Journal

Rupture of the spleen in malaria may constitute a diagnostic challenge to many clinicians particularly in non-endemic areas where experience with malaria is limited. Our aim is to increase the awareness among clinicians from non-endemic areas of serious malarial complications. We present a young American military man who was admitted to Hamad General Hospital and had 2 serious malarial complications, namely, acute pulmonary edema and rupture of the spleen. He was unusual compared with what was published previously in 4 main points: 1. The rupture of spleen occurred while the patient on mechanical ventilation and under the effect of sedation, …

Glucocorticoid Hormone Levels Increase With Group Size And Parasite Load In Cliff Swallows, Samrrah A. Raouf, Linda C. Smith, Mary Bomberger Brown, John C. Wingfield, Charles R. Brown

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Animals often cope with adverse events by releasing glucocorticoid hormones, which in turn promote increased energy assimilation. In captive animals, crowding also leads to increased glucocorticoid activity, probably because of increased levels of social competition. We investigated how group size and ectoparasite infestations affected endogenous levels of the glucocorticoid hormone, corticosterone, in colonial cliff swallows, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, in southwestern Nebraska, USA. Parasites were removed from some colonies by fumigating nests. Baseline levels of corticosterone in breeding adults varied significantly with whether parasites were present, colony size (measured by total number of active nests at a site), and nesting stage. …

A Coprological View Of Ancestral Pueblo Cannibalism Debate Over A Single Fecal Fossil Offers A Cautionary Tale Of The Interplay Between Science And Culture, Karl J. Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

As the object of my scientific study, I’ve chosen coprolites. It’s not a common choice, but to a paleonutritionist and archaeoparasitologist, a coprolite—a sample of ancient feces preserved by mineralization or simple drying—is a scientific bonanza. Analysis of coprolites can shed light on both the nutrition of and parasites found in prehistoric cultures. Dietary reconstructions from the analysis of coprolites can inform us about, for example, the origins of modern Native American diabetes. With regard to parasitology, coprolites hold information about the ancient emergence and spread of human infectious disease. Most sensational, however, is the recent role of coprolite analysis …

Privies And Parasites: The Archaeology Of Health Conditions In Albany, New York, Charles L. Fisher, Karl Reinhard, Matthew Kirk, Justin Divirgilo

Karl Reinhard Publications

Large numbers of parasites were identified in archaeological samples collected from privies and other features in excavations in Albany, New York. This information provides the largest database available for the study of parasite infections in historical period American cities. The greatest numbers of parasites were in contexts related to the expansion of the city in the late-18th century. Parasites remained, but their quantities decreased in the 19th century during another period of rapid population growth. The city was able to control parasite infection during this period through several means, including new techniques of privy construction, new water supply systems, and …

Sl1 Rna Gene Recovery From Enterobius Vermicularis Ancient Dna In Pre-Columbian Human Coprolites, Alena M. Iñiguez, Karl Reinhard, Marcelo Luiz Carvalho Gonçalves, Luiz Fernando Ferreira, Adauto Araújo, Ana Carolina Paulo Vincente

Karl Reinhard Publications

Enterobius vermicularis, pinworm, is one of the most common helminths worldwide, infecting nearly a billion people at all socio-economic levels. In prehistoric populations the paleoparasitological findings show a pinworm homogeneous distribution among hunter-gatherers in North America, intensified with the advent of agriculture. This same increase also occurred in the transition from nomad hunter-gatherers to sedentary farmers in South America, although E. vermicularis infection encompasses only the ancient Andean peoples, with no record among the pre-Colombian populations in the South American lowlands. However, the outline of pinworm paleo epidemiology has been supported by microscopic finding of eggs recovered from coprolites. …

Multi-Species Patterns Of Avian Cholera Mortality In Nebraska’S Rainwater Basin, Julie A. Blanchong, Michael D. Samuel, Gene Mack

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Nebraska’s Rainwater Basin (RWB) is a key spring migration area for millions of waterfowl and other avian species. Avian cholera has been endemic in the RWB since the 1970s and in some years tens of thousands of waterfowl have died from the disease. We evaluated patterns of avian cholera mortality in waterfowl species using the RWB during the last quarter of the 20th century. Mortality patterns changed between the years before (1976–1988) and coincident with (1989–1999) the dramatic increases in lesser snow goose abundance and mortality. Lesser snow geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) have commonly been associated with mortality …

Redescription Of Cryptocotyle Thapari Mcintosh, 1953 (Trematoda: Heterophyidae), In The River Otter Lutra Longicaudis From Bolivia, Scott Lyell Gardner, Peter T. Thew

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Cryptocotyle thapari McIntosh, 1953 (Digenea: Heterophyidae), collected originally from a South American otter that died at the U.S. National Zoo in Washington, D.C., is redescribed from specimens obtained from a river otter, Lutra longicaudis, collected from the Rı´o Matos in the Departamento de Beni, Bolivia. These individuals of C. thapari are slightly smaller than the type specimens, but they have similar features, including testes arranged in tandem and a well-defined ventrogenital sac. We redescribe this species because the original description was based on only 3 individuals, and the figures lacked detail. This is the first record of Cryptocotyle from …

In Memorium: Lynn Ann Hertel, Donald Duszynski, Eric S. Loker

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

A memorial tribute to Lynn Ann Hertel (1951-2005) of the University of New Mexico, by Donald W. Duszynski and Eric S. Loker.

Seven New Species Of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) From Colubrid Snakes Of Guatemala And A Discussion Of What To Call Ellipsoid Tetrasporocystic, Dizoic Coccidia Of Reptiles, I. M. Asmundsson, Donald W. Duszynski, J. A. Campbell

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

During a survey of Guatemalan herpetofauna in the summers of 1998–2000, 29 presumed new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 were found, seven of which have a distinct elongate-ellipsoidal shape (L/W ratio ≥ 1.7) and are described herein. Six of the seven new species are similar in oöcyst length, width and L/W ratio and sporocyst length, width and L/W ratio, lack a micropyle, oöcyst residuum, Stieda body, sub- and parastieda bodies, have a polar granule and sporocyst residuum, and their sporocysts appear to have dehiscence sutures. The seventh is slightly smaller and has sporocysts with a Stieda body. The new species …

A New Species Of Neohaematotrephus (Digenea: Echinostomiformes: Cyclocoelidae) In The Spotted-Sandpiper Actitis Macularia (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae) From Venezuela, David Zamparo, Daniel R. Brooks

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Fischthal and Nasir (1974) reported Neohaematotrephus brasilianum (as Cyclocoelum brasilianum) in the spotted sandpiper Actitis macularia from Venezuela. Three voucher specimens from that report, deposited in the United States National Parasite Collection, however, differ from N. brasilianum by having the cirrus sac on the sinistral side of the body, which resembles N. facioi, N. arayae, and N. gendrei. The new species is similar to N. brasilianum by having vitelline follicles extending well anterior to the intestinal bifurcation and by having a short and laterally displaced cirrus sac whose posterior end does not reach the intestinal bifurcation, …

Psettarium Anthicum Sp. N. (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae) From The Heart Of Cobia Rachycentron Canadum (Rachycentridae) In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Stephen A. Bullard, Robin M. Overstreet

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Psettarium anthicum sp. n. (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae) infects the myocardium and atrial wall of the cobia Rachycentron canadum (Linnaeus, 1766) (Rachycentridae) in the northern Gulf of Mexico off Mississippi, USA. It is the first member of Psettarium Goto et Ozaki, 1930 reported from other than the Indian Ocean or Pacific Ocean and the second species of the genus reported from cobia. It differs from its congeners by the combination of having posterior caeca with lateral projections appearing as thorns in lateral view and the male pore anterior to the oötype. The species of Psettarium, P. japonicum (Goto et Ozaki, 1929) …

A Review Of Polylekithum Arnold 1934 And Its Familial Affinities Using Morphological And Molecular Data, With Description Of Polylekithum Catahoulensis Sp. Nov., Stephen S. Curran, Vasyl V. Tkach, Robin M. Overstreet

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

The type material of Polylekithum ictaluri, P. halli, and Maculifer chandleri was examined from the United States National Parasite Museum, and we determined that the material was conspecific, making P. halli and M. chandleri junior subjective synonyms of P. ictaluri. Polylekithum catahoulensis sp. nov. was described from material collected from catfishes at the Catahoula Wildlife Refuge, LaSalle Parish, Louisiana, USA, and compared with P. ictaluri collected from catfishes in Reelfoot Lake, Obion County, Tennessee, USA, and the Pearl River, Hancock County, Mississippi, USA. Polylekithum catahoulensis had smaller eggs (77-–88 μm long by 51–-63 µm wide vs. 94–-108 …

Tannerella Forsythia, A Periodontal Pathogen Entering The Genomic Era, Anne C. R. Tanner, Jacques Izard

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Several questions need to be addressed to evaluate whether Tannerella forsythia is to be considered a periodontal pathogen. T. forsythia has been detected in periodontal health and disease, so could it be a pathogen? The species was not detected in many studies despite finding other putative pathogens, so could it be important in pathogenicity? The challenges of working with T. forsythia include its fastidious and anaerobic growth requirements for cultural detection. Thus, studies associating T. forsythia with periodontal and other oral infections have used noncultural approaches (immunoassays and DNA-based assays) in addition to cultural approaches. We feel …

Self Reported Pain Diary For Assessment Of Chronic Pain In The Communicative, Cognitively Intact Nursing Home Resident, Kathy K. Hager

DNP Projects

This paper describes a clinical project using a self-reported pain diary for the assessment of chronic pain in the communicative, cognitively-intact nursing home resident. There are estimates of chronic pain among nursing home residents that range from 4 – 83%. The goal of this clinical project was to evaluate a chronic pain diary in relation to its effectiveness and efficiency in accurately assessing pain among nursing home residents. Assessment has been identified as a major barrier in the control of chronic pain, and the self-report is accepted as the most reliable measure of a person’s pain. The self-reported pain diary’s …

Teen Sexuality And Pregnancy In Nevada, Marta Meana, Lea Thaler

Social Health of Nevada Reports

The United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the fully industrialized world. While the rates have been declining in the last 15 years, it remains a source of concern that

• 34% of teenage girls in the U.S. are becoming pregnant at least once before the age of 20.
• The teen pregnancy in the U.S. rate is ten times that of Japan, four times those of France and Germany, and nearly twice that of Great Britain.

Diseases Prevalence And Behavioral Choices In Nevada, Mary Guinan, Chad L. Cross, Lawrence Sands

Social Health of Nevada Reports

Determining the health of a state population is a complex task. It involves knowing at least the prevalence of various diseases and conditions as well as the leading causes of death and disability compared to a national mean or median. The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Since health is affected by numerous social, economic, environmental, and cultural factors, these factors must also be considered when examining the health status of a population. All attempts to rank states in health are limited …

Paleoepidemiology Of Bacterial Infections Among Prehistoric Human Populations In Northern Chile: An Ancient Dna Approach, Luz-Andrea Pfister

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Bacterial pathogens not primarily affecting the skeleton but causing sepsis and death, have not been systematically studied in prehistoric human populations, although increasing evidence support our species long co-evolution with many of them. With molecular methods we can identify bacteria at the species level and distinguish pathogenic from environmental and soil bacteria. Bone marrow of ancient people may provide valuable information about ancient pathogens causing sepsis and death. To test the hypothesis that PCR amplification using universal bacterial primers will identify prehistoric bacterial pathogens in bone marrow, 30 samples were aseptically obtained from partially mummified remains of three archaeological sites …

Environmental Factors Affecting Retention And Graduation In Mlt /Clt Programs, Patricia R Castro

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The quality of education delivered to medical laboratory technician/clinical laboratory technician (MLT/CLT) students has been an evolving concern for the clinical laboratory sciences profession. This situation prompted consideration of various factors in MLT/CLT education to determine if student/program characteristics affected student performance; Principles extracted from Alexander Astin's Input-Environment-Output (I-E-O) model were used as a foundation for considering the factors that affect MLT/CLT program student outcomes. Input, environmental, and outcome variables related to MLT/CLT programs were identified for study; A literature review was conducted to gather information relevant to the development of clinical laboratory science practice and education, curriculum development and …

Immune Function And Psychological Distress In Familial Dementia Caregivers: A Controlled Trial Of A Cognitive -Behavioral Intervention, Kevin Matthew Lancer

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

Recent data on the prevalence of Alzhiemer's disease estimate that sufferers could number as high as 4.78 million; that number is expected to quadruple by the year 2050. The vast majority of persons with dementia reside in the community, able to do so because of the care received from their families. The increase in the number of the elderly dependent on others for assistance will continue to increase, straining already limited individual and societal resources. The subjects of this study were Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) familial caregivers, representing a portion of society needing assistance and that is growing …

The Influence Of Sleep Deprivation On Performance And The Occurrence Of Error In Staff Nurses Who Work The Night Shift., Arlene L. Johnson

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

Mechanisms Of Effector Cd4+ T Cell Development And Trafficking., Paul R. Mangan

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.