Digital Commons Network^™

A Bioaugmentation Approach To The Prevention Of Chytridiomycosis, Carly Muletz

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Symbiosis is defined as two species living together. This association between organisms is present at all taxonomic levels making it a ubiquitious phenomenon in ecology and evolution. I studied symbiosis among three species: a mutualistic bacterium, a parasitic fungus and an amphibian host. The first goal of my research was to examine how the mutualistic bacteria of amphibians’ skin are acquired. I demonstrated that a cutaneous mutualistic bacterial species, Janthinobacterium lividum, was transmitted environmentally, via soil, to the skin of an amphibian species, Plethodon cinereus. These results indicate that amphibians’ mutualistic bacteria can be acquired from the environment. Based upon …

Interleukin-3 Promotes Susceptibility In A Mouse Model Of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Bryan Lewis Saunders

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, is one of the most important neglected infectious diseases worldwide. Currently, 10 million people in 82 (mostly developing) countries are infected. Those infected develop ulcerative skin lesions on exposed parts of the body, causing serious disability and permanent scarring. All mice are susceptible to infection with Leishmania major, however, the outcome of infection is different depending on the mouse strain. For example, resistant C57BL/6 mice develop lesions, which like in humans, ultimately heal. In contrast, lesions in susceptible BALB/c mice progressively worsen, ultimately resulting in …

Spatial And Temporal Diffusion Of Agricultural Best Management Practice Adoption In The South Fork Shenandoah River Watershed., Megan Renee Bauer

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

This research visualizes, describes, and analyzes the unique spatial and temporal diffusion of agricultural best management practices adopted within the South Fork Shenandoah River Watershed during the twenty year period from 1989 to 2008. The Shenandoah River is a tributary of the Potomac River, which in turn flows directly into the Chesapeake Bay. The findings and research presented here could aid policy makers, conservation technicians, and Soil and Water Conservation District agents to better plan promotions and funding for cost share BMPs. This research identifies motivations and influential forces that are inherent in the BMPs, in the social system, and …

Substance Abuse And School Counseling, Katherine A. Baird

Educational Specialist, 2009-2019

School counselors are in a unique position to address substance abuse issues in schools and communities. School counselors may work with students who have substance abuse problems, therefore, it is essential for school counselors to be aware of the research on substance abuse. It is also essential for school counselors to have a sense of what interventions to use with students who are abusing drugs and/or alcohol. The purpose of this project is to: examine the latest research on substance abuse as it relates to youth; examine the role of the school counselor in substance abuse assessment and treatment; and …

A Poultry All-Hazard Threat, Vulnerability, And Capability Assessment With Rockingham County Fire Rescue., Daniel Robert Dales

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Agriculture is argued to be one of our most critical infrastructures and is vital to human health and survivability. Agriculture is economically important in Virginia as it provides over 350,000 jobs and generates $55 billion annually (Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services). This high criticality lends to significant areas of vulnerability in each sector of agriculture. Rockingham County is of particular importance as the top agriculturally producing county in the state and is ranked 5th in the nation for poultry sales (2007 Census of Agriculture). The desire to uphold this high production calls for a need to better understand …

Crusader, May 6, 2011, College Of The Holy Cross

Student Newspapers

The student newspaper for the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Articles include coverage of campus events and issues, sports, editorials and special features.

Public Health Finance Management Needs And How Public Health Agencies Are Funded., F. Douglas Scutchfield Md

Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Presentations

No abstract provided.

Hypervirulent Chlamydia Trachomatis Clinical Strain Is A Recombinant Between Lymphogranuloma Venereum (L(2)) And D Lineages, Naraporn Somboonna, Raymond Wan, David M. Ojcius, Matthew A. Pettengill, Sandeep J. Joseph, Alexander Chang, Ray Hsu, Timothy D. Read, Deborah Dean

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes a diversity of severe and debilitating diseases worldwide. Sporadic and ongoing outbreaks of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) strains among men who have sex with men (MSM) support the need for research on virulence factors associated with these organisms. Previous analyses have been limited to single genes or genomes of laboratory-adapted reference strain L₂/434 and outbreak strain L₂b/UCH-1/proctitis. We characterized an unusual LGV strain, termed L₂c, isolated from an MSM with severe hemorrhagic proctitis. L₂c developed nonfusing, grape-like inclusions and a cytotoxic phenotype in culture, …

The Role Of Dna Patents In Genetic Test Innovation And Access, Andrew S. Robertson

Northwestern Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property

No abstract provided.

Cumulative Risks To Eastern Oysters, Crassostrea Virginica In The James River, Va, Vrushali Lele

Theses and Dissertations

In an effort to apply Cumulative Risk Assessment (CRA) as developed by the U.S. EPA, the present study investigates the cumulative risks to Eastern oysters due to multiple stressors such as salinity, temperature and oxygen and carbon dioxide. I also compared the effectiveness of the Hazard Quotient Method (HQ) in CRA. Ambient conditions in the James River, VA were obtained from the Virginia DEQ database and respiratory responses were estimated using values from the literature. The multiple environmental stresses are evaluated using a probabilistic analysis that combines the environmental conditions. It was concluded that salinity was the most influential stressor …

Columbia Chronicle (05/02/2011), Columbia College Chicago

Columbia Chronicle

Student newspaper from May 2, 2011 entitled The Columbia Chronicle. This issue is 44 pages and is listed as Volume 46, Number 29. Cover story: "Siriano at Columbia in good fashion" Editor-in-Chief: Spencer Roush

Towards The Synthesis Of Alpha-Aminogalactosylceramides, Shaun C. Christian

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

College Of Science And Mathematics Annual Report 2011, College Of Science And Mathematics, Wright State University

College of Science and Mathematics Annual Reports

This 18 page report summarizes the yearly happenings within the College of Science and Mathematics. It includes information on events through the year, enrollment, budget, and other important events within the college.

A Methodology For Building Culture And Gender Norms Into Intervention: An Example From Mumbai, India, Kristin M. Kostick,, Stephen L. Schensul, Pertti Pelto

UCHC Articles - Research

This paper responds to the call for culturally relevant intervention research by introducing a methodology for identifying community norms and resources in order to more effectively implement sustainable interventions strategies. Results of an analysis of community norms, specifically attitudes toward gender equity, are presented from an HIV/STI research and intervention project in a low income community in Mumbai, India (2008–2012). Community gender norms were explored because of their relevance to sexual risk in settings characterized by high levels of gender inequity. This paper recommends approaches that interventionists and social scientists can take to incorporate cultural insights into formative assessments and …

Healthy You, Lehigh Valley Health Network

Healthy You

No abstract provided.

Checkup, Lehigh Valley Health Network

Checkup

No abstract provided.

Immunogenic Consensus Sequence T Helper Epitopes For A Pan-Burkholderia Biodefense Vaccine, Anne S. De Groot, Matthew Ardito, Leonard Moise, Eric A. Gustafson, Denice Spero, Gloria Tejada, William Martin

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

Background: Biodefense vaccines against Category B bioterror agents Burkholderia pseudomallei (BPM) and Burkholderia mallei (BM) are needed, as they are both easily accessible to terrorists and have strong weaponization potential. Burkholderia cepaciae (BC), a related pathogen, causes chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients. Since BPM, BM and BC are all intracellular bacteria, they are excellent targets for T cell-based vaccines. However, the sheer volume of available genomic data requires the aid of immunoinformatics for vaccine design. Using EpiMatrix, ClustiMer and EpiAssembler, a set of immunoinformatic vac-cine design tools, we screened the 31 available Burkholderia genomes and performed initial tests …

Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles For The Detection Of Antimicrobial Resistance, Alexander J. Noll

HIM 1990-2015

The rise of antimicrobial resistance demands the development of more rapid screening methods for the detection of antimicrobial resistance in clinical samples to both give the patient the proper treatment and expedite the treatment of patients. Cerium oxide nanoparticles may serve a useful role in diagnostics due to their ability to exist in a mixed valence state and act as either oxidizing agents or reducing agents. Considering that cerium oxide nanoparticles have been shown to shift in absorbance upon oxidation, a useful method of antimicrobial resistance detection could be based on the oxidation of cerium oxide nanoparticles. Herein, an assay …

Health Status Of Children Entering Kindergarten: Results Of The 2010-2011 (Year Three) Nevada Kindergarten Health Survey, Nevada Institute For Children’S Research And Policy, Amanda Haboush, Tara Phebus, Denise Tanata Ashby, Taylor Oliver, Spencer Hensley, Enrique Lopez

Nevada Institute for Children's Research and Policy Reports

Academic achievement for children is vital to their success in life. Those that do well in school have greater opportunities for post-secondary education, and later have better prospects for employment. One of the major factors that can affect a child’s academic achievement is his or her health status. Academic outcomes and health conditions are consistently linked in the literature (Taras & Potts-Datema, 2005). Children with poor health status, and especially those with common chronic health conditions, have increased numbers of school absences and more academic deficiencies (Taras & Potts-Datema, 2005). In a study concerning excused versus unexcused absences, children with …

Sanitation Sanity

Animal Sheltering 2010-12

Our veterinary columnist answers your cleaning and disinfection questions

Identification Of Physiological Substrates Of Plasmodium Falciparum Pfpk5, A Cdk-Like Kinase, Catherine Sullenberger

HIM 1990-2015

Malaria is one of the most devastating infectious diseases causing 1-3 million fatalities a year. The majority of these cases occur amongst children in developing countries. Malarial strains in these areas are exhibiting increasing resistance to canonical treatments proving the importance of new drug targets for anti-malarials. Identification of new drug targets is dependent upon a better understanding of the molecular biology of the parasitic agent of malaria, Plasmodium. The regulation of Plasmodium's complex life cycle is still not well understood. Elucidation of signaling pathways involved in Plasmodium cell cycle regulation will provide insights into how the parasite thrives in …

A Prevalence Study Of Southeast Origin Sale Barn Beef Cattle, Comingled In Warren County, Kentucky, Persistently Infected With Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus, Including The Effects Of Season And Body Weight, Sarah Elizabeth Thomas

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is an economically important disease of cattle. Calves persistently infected (PI) with the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) are a powerful agent for spread of the virus. A total of 24,423 southeast origin beef cattle comingled at three Warren County, Kentucky locations were tested from November 2007 to June 2010 for PI BVDV. A total of 97 head tested positive for PI BVDV, giving an average overall prevalence of 0.397%.
Calves tested were subdivided into categories for additional calculations of dependence. A total of 8,910 were categorized by weight range upon testing (300-399 lbs, 400-499 lbs, …

The Joint Action And Learning Initiative: Towards A Global Agreement On National And Global Responsibilities For Health, Lawrence O. Gostin, Eric A. Friedman, Gorik Ooms, Thomas Gebauer, Narendra Gupta, Devi Sridhar, Wang Chenguang, John-Arne Røttingen, David Sanders

O'Neill Institute Papers

A coalition of civil society organizations and academics is initiating a Joint Action and Learning Initiative on National and Global Responsibilities for Health (JALI) to research key conceptual questions involving health rights and responsibilities, with the goal of securing a global health agreement andsupporting civil society and community mobilization around the human right to health. The social mobilization is critical to creating the political space that would make such an agreement possible and to ensuring its implementation.

This agreement, such as a Framework Convention on Global Health, would inform post-Millennium Development Goal global health commitments, be grounded in the right …

University Magazine Spring 2011, University News Service, Office Of Alumni Relations

University Publications

This is the official magazine for RIT Alumni. Issued thrice a year in spring, fall and winter. Printing began in 1999.

Spatio-Temporal Analysis Of Malaria In Paraguay, Nicole M. Wayant

Department of Geography: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that has afflicted humans for thousands of years. Today it is considered a re-emerging disease. Malaria is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. The disease has been linked to several environmental parameters, including precipitation, temperature, and deforestation. However, these relationships have mainly been studied in Africa and have not been explored in other parts of the world. The study area for this thesis was the South American country of Paraguay.

Paraguay has experienced an oscillation in malaria cases over the past 20 years, with monthly cases ranging from 0 to 1,200. …

Community Capacity To Acquire, Assess, Adapt, And Apply Research Evidence: A Survey Of Ontario’S Hiv/Aids Sector, Michael G. Wilson, Sean B. Rourke, John N. Lavis, Jean Bacon, Robb Travers

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Community-based organizations (CBOs) are important stakeholders in health systems and are increasingly called upon to use research evidence to inform their advocacy, program planning, and service delivery. To better support CBOs to find and use research evidence, we sought to assess the capacity of CBOs in the HIV/AIDS sector to acquire, assess, adapt, and apply research evidence in their work.

Methods: We invited executive directors of HIV/AIDS CBOs in Ontario, Canada (n = 51) to complete the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation‘s “Is Research Working for You?” survey.

Findings: Based on responses from 25 organizations that collectively provide services …

Templeton High School - Teacher Internship Program, Erin Thompson

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship report addresses documentation required per quality criteria in secondary programs of agricultural education in California. The internship also included the development of instructional materials for a course now recognized as a UC/CSU approved Agriculture Biology course.

Visitor Hand-Washing Compliance According To Policies And Procedures At A Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit., Desiree Raynor

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Hospital-acquired infections cost hospitals approximately $30.5 billion per year and also result in longer hospital stays, chronic conditions, and even death with associated malpractice costs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand hygiene is a simple, effective way to prevent illness and infection. The purpose of this research was to determine if visitors to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in a regional medical center comply with hand-washing policies and procedures. If NICU visitors wash their hands properly, they can prevent potentially fatal infections from spreading to patients, healthcare workers, and unaffected family members. Hand-washing compliance has …

Design, Synthesis And Biological Evaluation Of Novel Trisubstituted-Benzimidazoles As A New Class Of Antitubercular Agents, Targeting Ftsz, Kunal Kumar

Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions)

Despite extensive research in last 40 years, the treatment of TB is still limited to a cocktail of classical drugs that mostly target cell wall biosynthesis, DNA coiling, transcription, translation. Knowing the bacterial ability to develop resistance, there is a dire need for the discovery of new cellular targets to develop novel antitubercular agents which can surpass the resistance. In this context, FtsZ, a highly conserved and ubiquitous cytokinesis protein, offers an extremely promising therapeutic target. It has been observed that inhibition of FtsZ assembly leads to absence of septum formation, eventually causing cell lethality. Hence, compounds targeting FtsZ can …

Effectiveness Of Subglottic Suctioning In The Prevention Of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, Cody Winston Amato

HIM 1990-2015

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the leading healthcare-acquired infection among ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICU). VAP is a serious patient complication that results in increased hospital length of stay, cost, morbidity, and mortality. The accumulation of subglottic secretions above the endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff increases the risk of VAP, as these secretions may leak around the cuff of the ETT resulting in aspiration and an increased risk for infection. An in depth literature review was done to determine the effectiveness of subglottic secretion aspiration (by means of specialized ETT tubes with intrinsic suction lumens) in decreasing the incidence rate …