Digital Commons Network^™

Exploitation Of Costimulatory Sa-4-1bbl In The Development Of Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines., Abhishek K. Srivastava

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cancer accounts for nearly one-quarter of deaths in the United States, exceeded only by heart diseases. Despite the development of various strategies to treat cancer, it remains one of the most deadly diseases worldwide due to the limited effects of treatments available. The limited efficacy of these current treatment modalities, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, are often due to their association with adverse side effects arising from lack of specificity for tumors, and most importantly their failure of eliminating residual and micro-metastatic tumors, which can lead to recurrences. Therefore, there is a dire need to develop tumor-specific therapies that …

Knowledge-Sharing Networks Of Hospital-Based Infection Preventionists In Kentucky., Timothy Lee Wiemken 1979-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Infection preventionists (IPs) have a multitude of tasks aimed at the prevention and control of infections in the healthcare setting. These tasks require a great deal of knowledge that has been more challenging to gain over the past decade due to the rapidly changing healthcare environment, the IPs' increasing numbers of duties, limited staffing, and a number of other issues. Because of these challenges, other mechanisms of rapid and efficient knowledge acquisition are needed for optimal job performance. One possible mechanism is knowledge sharing through social or professional networks. Objective: To examine the knowledge-sharing network structure of hospital-based IPs …

You've Got A Friend In Me: An Analysis Of Coworker Friendship Relationships, Ebonee Johnikin

Masters Theses

Relationships between individuals fashion themselves in many settings and on various levels. Friendships are pivotal relationships that significantly contribute to social life, health and well-being, job satisfaction, and workplace interaction. More specifically, coworker friendship relationships are unique in their length, measurement, development, and maintenance as their formation occurs within mutually shared environments outside of family relationships. This study employed a mixed methods procedure to specifically examine these relationships. Three research questions guided the first study in an attempt to find if gender and length of friendship relationships significantly affect strength measurements of the relationship. The second study was guided by …

Quasi Borel Cayley Graphs For Ultrafast Information Dissemination In Large And Dense Networks, Jaewook Yu

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

As modern networks grow quickly in size, and the amount of data to be processed in the network explodes, fast information dissemination and data exchange is gaining strong attention today. In this research, we observe that the underlying topology of a network plays a greater role in determining the efficiency of the networks in terms of information dissemination speed especially for large networks. However, there has been a lack of constructive research encompassing network modeling, performance evaluation, and application of such network models. Therefore, we devote our efforts to identify a network model enabling ultrafast information exchange, recognize issues that …

Analysis And Interpretation Of Factors Leading To Increased Aids Prevalence In Sub-Saharan Africa, William Kalhorn

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

My thesis research project focuses on the major factors that are contributing to the worst disease epidemic on the planet today. I have aimed to determine what may be some of the most important factors contributing to highly variable difference in HIV/AIDS prevalence rates are among the regions of East, West, and South Africa.  The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been growing and expanding to new areas of the world since the first case arose in 1959 in what is now called Kinshasa, Congo (Avert, 2011). The AIDS/HIV epidemic is believed to have originated on the African continent, and this is where …

Archaeoparasitology Of Chaco Canyon, Rachel Paseka

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Ancient cultures of the Colorado Plateau have been a focus of archaeoparasitology since its inception, and a vast parasitological history is recorded in coprolites preserved in this arid region. The inhabitants of Chaco Canyon dominated Ancestral Puebloan culture between 1050 and 1120 AD and were responsible for the construction of great towns, road systems, and early agriculture. Analysis of the parasites preserved in fecal remains contributes to an increased knowledge of ancient Chacoan health and culture. Nineteen coprolites from four sites in Chaco Canyon were rehydrated and analyzed microscopically for parasite remains. Rhabditiform and filariform nematode larvae were found from …

The Role Of Planning Tools As Strategies For Combating Childhood Obesity, Jacquelyn Coats

All Theses

The failure of traditional health models to successfully combat childhood obesity is apparent when considering its sustained prevalence in the United States. Childhood obesity rates have tripled over the past three decades and health officials recognize the need for integrative strategies in order to reverse the trend (CDC, 2010). The historical roots of planning and public health offer a potential venue for collaborative strategies to address the macro level factors that affect community health. This thesis examines how planning tools have been adapted to incorporate health strategies, whether or not such methods are sustainable, and what relationships are essential for …

Influence Of Agricultural Stream Habitat Alterations On Mosquitoes And Amphibians: Patterns, Processes, And Predictions, Julia Sonn

Biology Theses

Changes to stream structure, riparian habitat, and water quality can alter ecosystem dynamics, resulting in an increase in mosquitoes, while weakening populations of amphibians. Therefore, it is necessary to understand how these components are affected by agricultural practices so that mosquito populations can be controlled and aquatic organisms can be protected. In this study, I examined changes in stream structure by measuring geomorphology at three riparian habitats that were anthropogenically impacted to varying degrees. I also compared water quality between the habitats. Mosquitoes and amphibians were surveyed at each riparian habitat, identified to species, and abundances were compared. Stream structure …

A Test That Combines Frequency And Quantitative Information, Norman Cliff

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

In many simple designs, observed frequencies in subclasses defined by a qualitative variable are compared to the frequencies expected on the basis of population proportions, design parameters or models. Often there is a quantitative variable which may be affected in the same way as the frequencies. Its differences among the groups may also be analyzed. A simple test is described that combines the effects on the frequencies and on the quantitative variable based on comparing the sums of the values for the quantitative value within each group to the random expectation. The sampling variance of the difference is derived and …

Vol. 10, No. 1 (Full Issue), Jmasm Editors

Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods

No abstract provided.

Heartworm In Canines: Trends In Rhode Island Shelter Populations, Kelsey L. Mckenna

Senior Honors Projects

Heartworm in Canines

Kelsey McKenna

Faculty Sponsor: Darlene Jones, DVM, Animal Science

Each year thousands of dogs in the United States become infected with heartworm, which is caused by Dirofilaria immitis. D. immitis is a parasite that is transmitted to dogs via a bite by an infected mosquito. Nine of the seventy competent mosquito species reside in Rhode Island. The true incidence of D. immitis is unknown. Current incidence maps are derived from data generated at veterinary clinics and do not include shelter dogs. The objective of this study is twofold: to determine the prevalence of D. immitis in …

The Effects Of Climate Change On Public Health And The Healthcare Provider's Role In Addressing Climate Change, Allyson J. Pfeiffer

Senior Honors Projects

“Climate change is a term that refers to major changes in temperature, rainfall, snow, or wind patterns lasting for decades or longer.  Both human-made and natural factors contribute to climate change” (EPA, p. 1, 2011).  Some examples of human-made causes of global warming include burning fossil fuels (e.g., petroleum, coal, diesel), cutting down forests, and developing land for farms, cities, and roads, because these activities all release green house gases into the atmosphere.  Green house gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.  There are some greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide that occur naturally and are emitted into …

Modified Green Tea Polyphenol, Egcg-Ester, As A Novel Approach To Inhibit Herpes Simplex Virus Infections, Aline Moraes De Oliveira

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

HSV-1 DNA with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) introduced into the UL46 gene was used to investigate the effects of green tea polyphenols on the virus. Two different green tea extracts have been isolated and modified, EGCG and EGCG-ester. These extracts with concentration of 12.5, 25, 50, 75 and 100uM were used to determine its effects on cell morphology, cell proliferation and cell viability. The results indicated that the maximum non-toxic concentration is 75uM for both polyphenols. GFP expression, DAPI DNA stain and Lysosome activation stain were also used to observe the morphological, and cellular changes in the infected cells. …

Spatial Analysis Of A Bioterrorist Attack On Four Major United States Cities Using An Aerosolized Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Kathryn Prinslow

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Before the attack on September 11,2001, the United States was very vulnerable to a biological attack. Since then, those responsible for the security of the United States Homeland Security have become more aware of the country's vulnerability. Biological agents have the potential to give small groups of people unprecedented power to terrorize, as indicate by the "Amerithrax" attack in 2001, and of all of these agents, none have more potential for destruction than Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (EHF). This research uses one of the deadliest viruses that have not been eradicated to identify the number of fatalities in an outbreak affecting …

The Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behaviors Of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual And Transgender University Of South Florida (Usf) Students Concerning Human Papillomavirus (Hpv) And The Hpv Vaccine, Andrea E. Larson

Honors Thesis and Capstone Projects

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and can cause several types of cancer, including cervical and anal cancer. The lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) population is an often overlooked subgroup at risk for HPV. The purpose of this research was to describe LGBT college students‟ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors pertaining to HPV and the HPV vaccine. An online survey consisting of 54 items was created and sent to members of an organization consisting primarily of LGBT students at the University of South Florida. A total of 155 students completed the survey. Several major …

Inflammatory Proteins, Genetic Variation, And Environmental Influences On Health Care Associated Infection Development In Sepsis, Reba Antoinette Umberger

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of baseline systemic inflammation (pro‑inflammatory cytokine, anti‑inflammatory cytokine, and their ratio), genetic variability, and environment on the development of health care associated infections (HAI) among sepsis patients during their ICU stay (up to 28 days).

Methods: A prospective observation study was conducted at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Medical Intensive Care Unit over an 18 month period. A total of 78 patients were enrolled within 72 hours of presenting to the ICU with sepsis. Patient were excluded if they were receiving immunosuppressants (chemotherapy or greater than one mg/kg …

A Tripartile Biosensor For Real-Time Snss Detection In Dna Hairpin Motif, Camha Nguyen

HIM 1990-2015

The hybridization between two complementary strands of nucleic acid is the basis for a number of applications in DNA and RNA analysis, including in vivo RNA monitoring, microarrays, SNPs detection, and so on. The short oligonucleotide probes form Watson/Crick base pairs (A-T and G-C) with the analyzed nucleic acid. Molecular beacon (MB) probe is one of the most advantageous tools for nucleic acid analysis in real-time. A traditional MB probe consists of a DNA strand folded in hairpin motif with a fluorophore attached to the 5'end and a quencher attached to the 3' end. The loop segment is complementary to …

A Comparative Study Of Refugees And Idps, Laura Sanchez

HIM 1990-2015

There is a grave concern for the life, liberty and security of individuals who have been forced to leave their homes and have become dispersed within their native countries and throughout the Asian continent. These internally displaced persons and refugees are the subject of this study. Some of the themes that will be discussed include: civil war, human rights violations and the economy, since these are the problems affecting the populations of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Myanmar. These case studies are of particular interest because Afghanistan is where most refugees come from, Myanmar has the longest-running military regime and Pakistan hosts …

Sex Trafficking Florida's Response To The International Organized Crime, Candice Torres

HIM 1990-2015

Florida has the second-highest incidence of human trafficking in the country. Sex trafficking of women into and out of the state of Florida is defined by various terms from international, national and local terms. The United Nations defines sex trafficking in Article 3, paragraph (a) of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime as: "Trafficking in persons: shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, …

The Rhetorics Of Constructing Hiv/Aids In The United States And China: A Comparative Analysis Of Two Online Discussion Forums, Jingwen Zhang

All Theses

This thesis focuses on the cross-cultural comparison of the public rhetorics that construct HIV/AIDS in two online discussion forums from the United States and China. Social constructions of HIV/AIDS have previously been explored in specific countries and cultures; however, comparative studies have rarely been conducted, especially by applying rhetorical cultural analysis focusing on online discourses. Responding to these gaps in research, this study combines two underexplored dimensions -- comparative rhetorical analysis and online discourse -- to show how online communications, metaphors, and topoi identified in discussion forum posts reveal and construct the idea of HIV/AIDS in the public sphere for …

Evaluation Of Delivery Conditions For Cutaneous Plasmid Electrotransfer Using A Multielectrode Array, Bernadette Ferraro, Loree C. Heller, Yolmari L. Cruz, Siqi Guo, Amy Donate, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Electroporation (EP) is a simple in vivo method to deliver normally impermeable molecules, such as plasmid DNA, to a variety of tissues. Delivery of plasmid DNA by EP to a large surface area is not practical because the distance between the electrode pairs, and therefore the applied voltage, must be increased to effectively permeabilize the cell membrane. The design of the multielectrode array (MEA) incorporates multiple electrode pairs at a fixed distance to allow for delivery of plasmid DNA to the skin, potentially reducing the sensation associated with in vivo EP. In this report, we evaluate the effects of field …

Statistical Inference Of A Measure For Two Binomial Variates, Serena Petersen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

We study measures of a comparison for two independent binomial variates which frequently occur in real situations. An estimator for measure of reduction (MOR) is considered for two sample proportions based on a modified maximum likelihood estimation. We study the desirable properties of the estimator: the asymptotic behavior of its unbiasedness and the variance of the estimator. Since the measure ρ is approximately normally distributed when sample sizes are sufficiently large, one may establish approximate confidence intervals for the true value of the estimators. For numerical study, the Monte Carlo experiment is carried out for the various scenarios of two …

Patient Factors And Day Of The Week Influencing Physical Therapy Non-Treatment Events In The Acute Care Setting, Daniel Goodrich, Curtis Doug Jensen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background. In acute care hospitals, scheduled physical therapy visits not resulting in treatment may increase patient length of stay and the financial burden to the hospital. Previous literature has not fully evaluated the occurrence of these events, nor have any associated factors been identified.

Objective. Measure the rate of non-treatment and determine which patient characteristics were most likely to predict a non-treatment event.

Design. Retrospective review of documentation at a suburban hospital.

Methods. Data were collected from records of 1,096 patients, totaling 6,097 scheduled sessions. The rate of non-treatment was calculated and logistic regression used to …

Application Of Nanotechnology For Targeted Delivery Of Antibacterial Enzymes And For Enzyme-Based Coatings On Medical Devices And Implants, Rohan Satishkumar

All Dissertations

The frequency of S. aureus infection and subsequent biofilm formation associated with vascular catheterization has been increasing in recent years and often begins as a local colonization at the site of the catheter insertion. Antimicrobial enzymes and peptides, which are effective against a broad range of pathogens and low rates of resistance, have attracted attention as promising alternative candidates in treatment of infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. The use of nanoparticles as carriers for enzymes, in addition to their size, charge, high surface area per volume etc. offers targeted delivery of enzymes to pathogenic bacteria. We proposed to use …

An Empirical Investigation Of Consumer Resistance To Green Product Innovation, Marius Claudy

Doctoral

Responding to the sustainability imperative has emerged as a key challenge and opportunity for businesses. Developing and marketing innovative ―green‖ products in particular can be a vital strategy for businesses to increase productivity, develop new markets, improve corporate image and ultimately attain competitive advantage. But despite consumer sensitisation towards environmental issues, many sustainable products face slow rates of diffusion in mainstream markets as consumers‘ green preferences regularly fail to translate into adoption behaviour. In this thesis we take a consumer resistance perspective to investigate empirically the so-called attitude–behaviour gap in the context of green product innovation. The aim of this …

Micropolitical Opportunity Structure In Burma, Nicole Loring

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

This paper looks to answer the question: Why do citizens in Burma continue challenging the military regime through peaceful social movements despite of the threat of violent oppression? I set out to examine Burma as an anomaly in political opportunity structure theory. Political opportunity structure influences the type of political action most likely to take place within a regime by affecting which political claims are possible. At first, Burma appears to be a low-democracy, low-capacity regime, which should host civil wars. However, in Burma’s cities, peaceful social movements continue to take place. My capstone seeks to explain this problem.

In …

A Mark–Recapture Technique For Monitoring Feral Swine Populations, Matthew M. Reidy, Tyler A. Campbell, David G. Hewitt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Techniques to monitor populations of feral swine (Sus scrofa) relative to damage control activities are needed on rangelands. Our objectives were to describe and assess a mark–recapture technique using tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) for monitoring feral swine populations. We established bait stations at study sites in southern and central Texas. During 1 d, we replaced normal soured corn bait with bait containing TH and counted the number of feral swine that consumed bait with observers. We conducted feral swine removal using box-style traps and helicopters, at which time we collected teeth for TH analysis. In southern Texas, we estimated …

Replacement Alternatives For Beef Cow Herds: An Analysis Of Retaining Non-Pregnant Cows, Trenton T. Bohling

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A non-pregnant cow is a liability to a producer. Over the last four years, cow-calf producers have had an increased number of non-pregnant cows due to factors like environmental conditions and diseases like trichomoniasis. While most research has indicated that culling a non-pregnant female and replacing the cow with retained heifers, purchased heifers, or purchased cows are the only economic alternatives, recent trends in the cattle market have suggested that keeping a non-pregnant cow may also be an alternative.

Annual beef cow budgets were created based on typical Nebraska Sandhills conditions. Revenues and costs in these budgets vary according to …

Analysis Of The Threat Of Genetically Modified Organisms For Biological Warfare, Jerry B. Warner, Alan J. Ramsbotham Jr., Ewelina Tunia, James J. Valdes

Defense and Technology Papers

This study seeks to better understand the evaluation of the potential threats posed by advances in biotechnology, especially genetically modified organisms and synthetic biology. It narrows the scope of consideration into two parts: defining a catastrophic biological attack focused on bioterrorism and that this attack would be restricted to the United States.

Mother-Son Connectedness, Substance Use, And Young Men's Criminal Justice System Involvement, Kim L. Moreno Phd

Dissertations

The relationship between a mother and her son and its influence on health and risk behaviors as a boy becomes a man has had little exploration. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between mother-son connectedness, substance use, serious delinquency, violent delinquency, and criminal justice system involvement in young men. This study uses data from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (ADD Health), a school-based study of students in grades 7–12 in the United States. Multiple regression, ANOVA, and logistic regression were used to analyze independent and dependent variables. Results show a perception of connectedness, which …