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Epidemic Spread Of Influenza Viruses: The Impact Of Transient Populations On Disease Dynamics, Karen R. Ríos-Soto, Baojun Song, Carlos Castillo-Chavez

Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The recent H1N1 ("swine u") pandemic and recent H5N1 ("avian u") outbreaks have brought increased attention to the study of the role of animal populations as reservoirs for pathogens that could invade human populations. It is believed that pigs acquired u strains from birds and humans, acting as a mixing vessel in generating new influenza viruses. Assessing the role of animal reservoirs, particularly reservoirs involving highly mobile populations (like migratory birds), on disease dispersal and persistence is of interests to a wide range of researchers including public health experts and evolutionary biologists. This paper studies the interactions between transient and …

Women, Vulnerability, And Humanitarian Emergencies, Fionnuala Ní Aoláin

Articles

The catastrophic dimensions of humanitarian emergencies are increasingly understood and more visible to states and international institutions. There is greater appreciation for the social, economic and political effects that follow in the short to long term from such catastrophes whatsoever their causes. Rhetorically too, there is some recognition of the gendered dimensions of humanitarian emergencies in policy and institutional contexts. It is generally acknowledged that women are more visible in the refugee and internally displaced communities that typically result from many humanitarian crises. Women, because of their acute care responsibilities in most societies, also disproportionately bear the brunt of familial …

Broad Surveys Of Dna Viral Diversity Obtained Through Viral Metagenomics Of Mosquitoes, Terry Fei Fan Ng, Dana Willner, Yan Wei Lim, Robert Schmieder, Betty Chau, Christina Nilsson, Simon Anthony, Yijun Ruan, Forest Rohwer, Mya Breitbart

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Viruses are the most abundant and diverse genetic entities on Earth; however, broad surveys of viral diversity are hindered by the lack of a universal assay for viruses and the inability to sample a sufficient number of individual hosts. This study utilized vector-enabled metagenomics (VEM) to provide a snapshot of the diversity of DNA viruses present in three mosquito samples from San Diego, California. The majority of the sequences were novel, suggesting that the viral community in mosquitoes, as well as the animal and plant hosts they feed on, is highly diverse and largely uncharacterized. Each mosquito sample contained a …

Critical Role Of Leucine-Valine Change In Distinct Low Ph Requirements For Membrane Fusion Between Two Related Retrovirus Envelopes, Marceline Côté, Yi-Min Zheng, Kun Li, Shi-Hua Xiang, Lorraine M. Albritton, Shan-Lu Liu

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Many viruses use a pH-dependent pathway for fusion with host cell membrane, the mechanism of which is still poorly understood. Here we report that a subtle leucine (Leu)-valine (Val) change at position 501 in the envelope glycoproteins (Envs) of two related retroviruses, jaagsiekte sheep retro-virus (JSRV) and enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV), is responsible for their distinct low pH requirements for membrane fusion and infection. The Leu and Val residues are predicted to reside within the C-terminal heptad repeat (HR2) region of JSRV and ENTV Envs, particularly proximal to the hairpin turn of the putative six-helix bundle (6HB). Substitution of …

Hiv-1 Effects On Neuropsychological Performance In A Resource-Limited Country, Zambia, Gabriel Holguin, Mwanza Banda, Elizabeth J. Willen, Costantine Malama, Kaseya O. Chiyenu, Victor C. Mudenda, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Zambia has substantially been affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic with prevalence rates at 14% in a population estimated at 12 million. Yet, the extent of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in this population remains to be clearly understood. A series of culturally appropriate neuropsychological (NP) assessments [International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS), Color Trails Test 1 and 2, Grooved pegboard Test, and Time Gait Test] were used to test the effects of HIV on NP performance of HIV seropositive and seronegative individuals. Twenty-two percent HIV positive individuals ARV naïve met the criteria for IHDS-defined NP impairment. Gender significantly influenced the performance on …

Characterization Of Species C Human Adenovirus Serotype 6 (Ad6), Eric A. Weaver, Reeti Khare, Mathew L. Hillestad, Donna Palmer, Philip Ng, Michael A. Barry

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Adenovirus serotype (Ad5) is the most studied Ad. Ad1, 2, and 6 are also members of species C Ad and are presumed to have biologies similar to Ad5. In this work, we have compared the ability of Ad1, 2, 5, and 6 to infect liver and muscle after intravenous and intramuscular injection. We found that Ad6 was surprisingly the most potent at liver gene delivery and that Ad1 and Ad2 were markedly weaker than Ad5 and 6. To understand these differences, we sequenced the Ad6 genome. This revealed that the Ad6 fiber protein is surprisingly three shaft repeats shorter than …

Generation Of A Kupffer Cell-Evading Adenovirus For Systemic And Liver-Directed Gene Transfer, Reeti Khare, Shannon M. May, Francesco Vetrini, Eric A. Weaver, Donna Palmer, Amanda Rosewell, Nathan Grove, Philip Ng, Michael A. Barry

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

As much as 90% of an intravenously (i.v.) injected dose of adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) is absorbed and destroyed by liver Kupffer cells. Viruses that escape these cells can then transduce hepatocytes after binding factor X (FX). Given that interactions with FX and Kupffer cells are thought to occur on the Ad5 hexon protein, we replaced its exposed hypervariable regions (HVR) with those from Ad6. When tested in vivo in BALB/c mice and in hamsters, the Ad5/6 chimera mediated >10 times higher transduction in the liver. This effect was not due to changes in FX binding. Rather, Ad5/6 appeared to …

The Male Neonatal Circumcision Debate: Social Movements,Sexual Citizenship, And Human Rights, Lauren M. Sardi

Societies Without Borders

Male circumcision is known to be one of the oldest and perhaps one of the most controversial body modification procedures in the history of humanity (Darby 2005; Gollaher 1994, 2000; Grimes 1980). Such scholars and activists, especially those who self-identify as being against the routinized procedure of male neonatal circumcision, discuss circumcision as a human rights violation. However, what is notable about the anti-circumcision movement more broadly is how they implement a Western notion of human rights in which there are contradictions between the rights of children versus the concept of cultural rights, which are both religious and secular in …

Tanning Predicts Bone Mass But Not Structure In Adolescent Females Living In Hawaii, Daniel L. Osborne, Connie M. Weaver, Linda D. Mccabe, George P. Mccabe, Rachel Novotny, Carol Boushey, Dennis A. Savaiano

Department of Anthropology: Faculty Publications

Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between facultative skin pigmentation, which predicts circulating levels of plasma 25-hydroxymitamin D, and several measures of bone mass and structure in a cross sectional sample of adolescent females living in Hawaii.

Methods: Our sample was composed of adolescent females (n = 94) living in Hawaii where seasonal sun exposure is minimal, and who self-identified as either white (n = 16) or Asian (n = 78). Bone mineral content (BMC) of the total body, the lumbar spine and the hip, and cross sectional area (CSA) and section modulus (Z) at the …

Characterizing The Oligomeric Structure And Catalytic Activity Of The Dihydroorotase And Aspartate Transcarbamoylase From The Bacterium, Bacillus Anthracis, Reshma Kankanala

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Bacteremia refers to bacterial presence in the blood. Bacterial proliferation in the blood requires that the organism adapt its metabolism to available nutrients. Nucleotide precursors that could be used are present at low levels in the blood, and thus the invading bacteria must rely on de novo nucleotide biosynthesis for survival. The dihydroorotase domain is a key enzyme in pyrimidine biosynthesis and a promising drug target. The genes encoding the dihydroorotase (DHOase) and aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase) of Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) were cloned for expression in Escherichia coli (E. coli). The proteins were purified by affinity …

Estimating The Impact Of Human Papillomavirus (Hpv) Vaccination On Hpv Prevalence And Cervical Cancer Incidence In Mali, Leree Tracy, Holly Gaff, Colleen Burgess, Samba Sow, Patti E. Gravitt, J. Kathleen Tracy

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Human papillomavirus vaccines have potential to reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality; however, cultural and economic barriers may hinder success in developing countries. We assessed impact of a single vaccine campaign in Mali with use of mathematical modeling. Our model shows that decreases in the prevalence of Human papillomavirus infection are proportional to achieved vaccination coverage.

Women's Eggs: Exceptional Endings, Justine Durrell

UC Law SF Journal on Gender and Justice

Fertility businesses and stem cell researchers promise infertile women the miracle of having a child. There are, however, potential physical and psychological risks to the egg donors that have not yet been properly studied. The limited studies undertaken to date have not been able to determine whether the use of fertility drugs increases egg donors' risks of cancer. In fact, federal regulations and guidelines do not require a national registry to track an egg donor's health after donation. Despite that assisted reproduction has been changing how we conceive children for several decades, there are no longitudinal studies on donors' well-being. …

Ambivalence & Activism: Employment Discrimination In China, Timothy Webster

Faculty Publications

Chinese courts do not vigorously enforce many human rights, but a recent string of employment discrimination lawsuits suggests that, given the appropriate conditions, advocacy strategies, signals from above, and rights at issue, courts can help victims vindicate their constitutional and statutory rights to equality. Since 28, carriers of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) have used the Employment Promotion Law to challenge hiring discrimination. Their high success rate suggests official support for making one potent form of discrimination illegal. Central to these lawsuits is a broad network of lawyers, activists and scholars who have advocated for protecting the rights of HBV …

A Dead Horse, You Can't Beat It: Equine Carcass Disposal Laws And Practices, Robert F. Dahlstrom, Kerry O'Neill Irwin, Emily J. Plant

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Situation Analysis Of Disability Resources And Needs Of Shantytowns Near Lima, Peru, Jessica Hunt

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Individuals in shantytowns of Lima, Peru experience unique challenges due to socioeconomic status and perceived inabilities. A situation analysis using qualitative ethnographic interviews of key participants (n=15) and one focus group (n=7) was conducted to explore life with disability in a shantytown of Lima, Peru. Findings showed that individuals with disability face physical and attitudinal barriers that limit social inclusion through the avenues of rehabilitation, education, and employment. The familial complex is expected to provide care for the individual with disability. The adult family member often chooses between providing income for the household and providing care and safety for their …

Integrating Aircrew Resources Variability Into The Design Of Future Cockpit, Barbara Mawhin, Philippe Cabon, Florence Buratto

International Symposium on Aviation Psychology - 2011

Cockpit design may have major consequences on future pilot’s tasks. Functions needed to ensure flight safety are shared between pilots and aircraft systems. Today, cockpits are designed considering a theoretical minimum level of crew resources availability although it is widely acknowledged that availability of crew resources may vary from time to time because of aircrew internal state. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that future cockpits are designed while taking into consideration this variability. This work aims at developing a methodology enabling designer to systematically integrate crew resources availability in the design process. In order to assess the impact of …

The Effect Of Prenatal Care And Other Factors On Preterm Births In Montgomery County 2007-2009, Leslie A. Schmieder

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Introduction Preterm birth is defined as a baby who is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Problems with preterm birth include an increased risk for health complications throughout life as well as having significantly more medical expenses compared to a full term infant. Prenatal care has shown to decrease the risk for preterm birth nationally. The objective of this project was to analyze prenatal care and other risk and demographic factors to determine their association with preterm birth in Montgomery County.

Method Data used included the 2007-2009 Montgomery County Birth Certificate Data for mothers who had singleton births. The Kessner …

Population Pharmacokinetic (Pk) And Pharmacodynamic (Pd) Modeling Of Ticarcillin‐Clavulanate In Pediatric Cf Patients, Jeffery T. Zobell, Chris Stockmann, D. C. Young, Jared Cash, Catherine M.T. Sherwin, Michael G. Spigarelli, Barbara A. Chatfield, Krow Ampofo

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Infectious Disease On Chronic Disease: A Review Of Contemporary Findings, Wendy Bjerke

All PTHMS Faculty Publications

Infectious diseases are among the top causes of death in adults and children. Chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer are among the top causes of death in adults. Associations between bacterial and viral infectious agents and subsequent development of chronic disease have been made in the past but are currently being reexamined with more rigor and specificity. This review examines infectious disease agent causes and associations with cancer, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, and neurodegenerative disease. These associations will impact future research, surveillance, treatment, and prevention of both infectious and chronic diseases.

Medical Encounter Characteristics Of Hiv Seroconverters In The Us Army And Air Force, 2000–2004, Shilpa Hakre, David Brett-Major, Darrell E. Singer, Robert J. O'Connell, Warren B. Sateren, Jose L. Sanchez, Brian K. Agan, Nelson L. Michael, Paul T. Scott

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Active duty US Army and Air Force military personnel undergo mandatory biennial HIV antibody screening. We compared pre- and post-HIV seroconversion health status by conducting a case-control study, which evaluated all medical encounters and sociodemographic factors among incident HIV seroconverters and HIV-negative controls from June 2000 through February 2004.

RESULTS: A total of 274 HIV seroconverters and 6205 HIV-negative personnel were included. In multivariate analysis restricted to male personnel (cases = 261, controls = 5801), single marital status (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 14.37), clinical indicators or symptoms within four years of HIV diagnosis (AOR = 6.22), …

Airspace In A Green Economy, Troy A. Rule

Faculty Publications

The recent surge of interest in renewable energy and sustainable land use has made the airspace above land more valuable than ever before. However, a growing number of policies aimed at promoting sustainability disregard landowners' airspace rights in ways that can cause airspace to be underutilized. This article analyzes several land use conflicts emerging in the context of renewable energy development by framing them as disputes over airspace. The article suggests that incorporating options or liability rules into laws regulating airspace is a useful way to promote wind and solar energy while still respecting landowners' existing airspace rights. If properly …

Improved Inactivation Effect Of Bacteria Fabrication Of Mesoporous Anatase Films With Fine Ag Nanoparticles Prepared By Coaxial Vacuum Arc Deposition, Hamid Oveisi, Simin Rahighi, Xiangfen Jiang, Yoshiaki Agawa, Ali Beitollahi, Soichi Wakatsuki, Yusuke Yamauchi

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

We realize ultrarapid inactivation of bacteria by modifying fine Ag nanoparticles with uniform size on mesoporous anatase films with high surface areas.

Adapting An Evidence-Based Intervention Targeting Hiv-Infected Prisoners In Malaysia, M.M. Copenhaver, N. Tunku, I. Ezeabogu, J. Potrepka, M.M.A. Zahari, A. Kamarulzaman, F.L. Altice

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

HIV-infected prisoners in Malaysia represent a critical target population for secondary HIV risk reduction interventions and care. We report on the process and outcome of our formative research aimed at systematically selecting and adapting an EBI designed to reduce secondary HIV risk and improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy among soon-to-be-released HIV-infected prisoners. Our formative work involved a critical examination of established EBIs and associated published reports complemented by data elicited through structured interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders, members of the target population, and their family members. Based on all information, we adapted the Holistic Health Recovery Program targeting …

Antimalarial Activity Of Methanolic Leaf Extract Of Piper Betle L, A.H. Al-Adhroey, Z.M. Nor, H.M. Al-Mekhlafi, A.A. Amran, R. Mahmud

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

The need for new compounds active against malaria parasites is made more urgent by the rapid spread of drug-resistance to available antimalarial drugs. The crude methanol extract of Piper betle leaves (50-400 mg/kg) was investigated for its antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei (NK65) during early and established infections. The phytochemical and antioxidant potentials of the crude extract were evaluated to elucidate the possibilities of its antimalarial effects. The safety of the extract was also investigated in ICR mice of both sexes by the acute oral toxicity limit test. The leaf extract demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) schizonticidal activity in all three antimalarial evaluation models. Phytochemical screening showed that the leaf extract contains some vital antiplasmodial chemical constituents. The extract also exhibited a potent ability to scavenge the free radicals. The results of acute toxicity showed that the methanol extract of Piper betle leaves is toxicologically safe by oral administration. The results suggest that the Malaysian folklorical medicinal application of the extract of Piper betle leaf has a pharmacological basis.

Antiviral Activity Of Four Types Of Bioflavonoid Against Dengue Virus Type-2, Keivan Zandi, Boon Teong Teoh, Sing Sin Sam, Pooi Fong Wong, Mohd Rais Mustafa, Sazaly Abubakar

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

BACKGROUND: Dengue is a major mosquito-borne disease currently with no effective antiviral or vaccine available. Effort to find antivirals for it has focused on bioflavonoids, a plant-derived polyphenolic compounds with many potential health benefits. In the present study, antiviral activity of four types of bioflavonoid against dengue virus type -2 (DENV-2) in Vero cell was evaluated. Anti-dengue activity of these compounds was determined at different stages of DENV-2 infection and replication cycle. DENV replication was measured by Foci Forming Unit Reduction Assay (FFURA) and quantitative RT-PCR. Selectivity Index value (SI) was determined as the ratio of cytotoxic concentration 50 (CC50) …

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Device: Measurement Of Bioelectrical Tissue Conductivity In Dengue Patients, H. Abdul Rahim, M.N. Taib, F. Ibrahim, Z. Abdul Rahim

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

This paper describes and introduces a new approach to monitor dengue hemorrhagic fever using BIA technique. This technique is an in vivo technique where an approximately a small average constant current of 460 μA at single frequency, 50 kHz is applied through human body, and measure the body's resistance and reactance to that current via four-surface electrode. These measurements are combined with the patient data (i.e. age, sex, height and weight) to estimate mass and water compartments. The dengue's clinical studies in correlation with the BIA measurement have been conducted on 119 male and 91 female who are the DHF …

Comparative Pcr-Based Fingerprinting Of Vibrio Cholerae Isolated In Malaysia, C.S.J. Teh, Kwai Lin Thong, R. Osawa, K.H. Chue

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera, is endemic in many parts of the world, especially in countries poor in resources. Molecular subtyping of V. cholerae is useful to trace the regional spread of a clone or multidrug-resistant strains during outbreaks of cholera. Current available PCR-based fingerprinting methods such as Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR, Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus Sequence (ERIC)-PCR, and Repetitive Extragenic Palindromic (REP)-PCR were used to subtype V. cholerae. However, there are problems for inter-laboratory comparison as these PCR methods have their own limitations especially when different PCR methods have been used for molecular typing. In this …

Detection Of Naegleria Species In Environmental Samples From Peninsular Malaysia, I. Ithoi, A.F. Ahmad, V. Nissapatorn, Y.L. Lau, R. Mahmud, J.W. Mak

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

BACKGROUND: In Malaysia, researchers and medical practitioners are unfamiliar with Naegleria infections. Thus little is known about the existence of pathogenic Naegleria fowleri, and the resultant primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) is seldom included in the differential diagnosis of central nervous system infections. This study was conducted to detect the presence of Naegleria species in various environmental samples. METHODS/FINDINGS: A total of 41 Naegleria-like isolates were isolated from water and dust samples. All these isolates were subjected to PCR using two primer sets designed from the ITS1-ITS2 regions. The N. fowleri species-specific primer set failed to produce the expected amplicon. The …

Determination Of Toxinotypes Of Environmental Clostridium Perfringens By Polymerase Chain Reaction, L.C.H. Florence, S.L. Hakim, M.A. Kamaluddin, Kwai Lin Thong

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

Toxinotype of Clostridium perfringens (CP) isolates collected from the Bernam River, Selangor River and Tengi Canal between April 2007 and January 2008 were determined by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using published primers. All the 147 isolates were toxinotype Type A, harbouring the alpha toxin gene. In addition, 5 of the isolates also had the enterotoxin (CPE) gene.

Epidemiology Of Soil-Transmitted Helminthiases In Malaysia, A. Ahmed, H.M. Al-Mekhlafi, Johari Surin

Research Publications (2011 to 2015)

We reviewed the epidemiology of STH in Malaysia from the 1970s to 2009. High prevalence rates persist among the rural Aborigines, estate workers and in urban slums and squatter areas. Trichuris trichiura is the most prevalent helminth in Malaysia ranging from 2.1 to 98.2. Ascaris lumbricoides follows closely with a prevalence rate of 4.6-86.7, while hookworm is the least prevalent (0-37.0). A countrywide control program with special emphasis on school-based intervention is highly recommended among aboriginal people.