Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of The State Children's Health Insurance Program's Unborn Child Ruling On Foreign-Born Latina Prenatal Care Utilization And Birth Outcomes, 2000-2007, Jonathan Hawthorne Drewry

All ETDs from UAB

In 2002 the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) "unborn child ruling" was established to provide prenatal care (PNC) to low income women otherwise without health insurance. The majority of foreign-born (FB) Latinas otherwise ineligible for PNC should have benefited most from the ruling. In late 2003 six states incorporated the UCR into their state plan amendments, providing a natural experiment for policy analysis. This study used cross-sectional pooled natality data from 2000-2007 to estimate the effect of the UCR on prenatal care utilization (PNCU) and birth outcomes. A differences-in-differences econometrics model was employed using policy enacting and non-enacting states, …

C-C-Motif Chemokine Receptor/Ligand Gene Variants And Their Associations With Hiv-1 Transmission And Pathogenesis, Liangyuan Hu

All ETDs from UAB

Host factors including genes and their variants are important to HIV-1 acquisition, transmission and disease progression. In particular, chemokine (C-C motif) receptors 2 and 5 genes (CCR2 and CCR5) have multiple variants of interest. We first investigated the impact of CCR2-CCR5 haplotypes on several outcomes among 567 HIV-1 discordant Zambian couples. HHF*2 homozygosity was associated with significantly lower VL in seroconverters (mean beta=-0.58 log10 P=0.027) and the HHD/HHE diplotype was associated with significantly higher VL in the seroconverters (mean beta=0.54, log10 P=0.014) adjusted for age and gender in multivariable model. HHD/HHE was associated with more rapid acquisition of infection by …

Mycobacterial Iron Acquisition Systems, Christopher M. Jones

All ETDs from UAB

Iron is an essential nutrient for the vast majority of organisms; yet, the availability of iron is limited to microorganisms due to the insolubility of ferric hydroxides and to pathogens by iron withholding strategies of their hosts. Many bacteria produce small, high-affinity iron chelators called siderophores to scavenge iron from the environment. In addition, many bacterial pathogens have evolved mechanisms to steal host iron contained in heme, hemoglobin, or transferrin. Mycobacteria are unique genera of bacteria represented by the notorious pathogens Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agents of tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy, respectively. Tuberculosis remains a global health …

Regulation Of P27kip1 By Trip6 And Its Implications In Cancer Progression, Victor T G Lin

All ETDs from UAB

TRIP6 is a focal adhesion molecule that functions as an adaptor protein to mediate diverse cellular functions, including motility and antiapoptotic signaling, through a wide variety of protein-protein interactions. We were able to characterize a novel interaction between TRIP6 and p27KIP1, a CDK inhibitor which can both suppress and promote tumorigenesis, depending on its regulation. TRIP6 expression specifically promotes the AKT-mediated phosphorylation of p27KIP1 at T157, which leads to its cytosolic retention, and accelerates the protein turnover rate of p27KIP1. We also found that phosphorylation of T157 by itself promotes cell motility and can be linked to the formation of …

On A Versatile Stochastic Growth Model, Samiur Arif, Ismail Khalil, Stephan Olariu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Growth phenomena are ubiquitous and pervasive not only in biology and the medical sciences, but also in economics, marketing and the computer and social sciences. We introduce a three-parameter version of the classic pure-birth process growth model when suitably instantiated, can be used to model growth phenomena in many seemingly unrelated application domains. We point out that the model is computationally attractive since it admits of conceptually simple, closed form solutions for the time-dependent probabilities.

Correlates Of The Hepatitis C Virus Among Injection Drug Users And Their Sex Partners In Ciudad Juarez, Leilani Attilio

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: The drug using risk behaviors associated with injection drug use are a major public health issue due to the increased risk of contracting blood- borne pathogens such as the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). Needle and syringe sharing is well established to be an efficient mode of transmission of HCV. The prevalence of HCV among injection drug users (IDUs) in Cd. Juarez is documented to be over 90%. However, the literature on the sexual transmission of HCV is minimal. Methods: The aim of this cross-sectional pilot study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of HCV and risk …

Investigation Of The Membrane Interactions Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Secreted Factors Esat-6 And Cfp-10, Joaquin A. De Leon

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of the infectious disease tuberculosis, infecting about one-third of human race. Infections are not vast in the United States when compared to many other countries, yet many cases seen in the United States are of those who have immigrated to the United States. The Hispanic/Latino population in the United States contributes to a large fraction of those infected with tuberculosis in the United States. During this study we purified recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis secreted factors ESAT-6 and CFP-10 from Escherichia coli. Here we have introduced a method in which we can refold and purify …

Ageism & Cooperation, Eric Schniter, Timothy W. Shields, John Dickhaut

ESI Working Papers

Discrimination based on age can affect same-aged and intergenerational interactions, presenting socially and economically undesirable phenomena. To investigate the effects of age stereotypes on cooperation, we presented older adults (over age 50) and younger adults (under age 25) with belief elicitation tasks (about anticipated interactions) and then a series of same, different, and unknown-aged group interactions in a Sender-Receiver game. Compared to the in-group (the age group they belong to) both younger and older participants stereotyped the out-group (the age group they did not belong to) as relatively different and more uncooperative than observed to be. We have only partial …

There Is No Evidence For A Temporal Link Between Pathogen Arrival And Frog Extinctions In North-Eastern Australia., Ben L. Phillips, Robert Puschendorf, Jeremy Vanderwal, Ross A. Alford

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Pathogen spread can cause population declines and even species extinctions. Nonetheless, in the absence of tailored monitoring schemes, documenting pathogen spread can be difficult. In the case of worldwide amphibian declines the best present understanding is that the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) has recently spread, causing amphibian declines and extinction in the process. However, good evidence demonstrating pathogen arrival followed by amphibian decline is rare, and analysis of putative evidence is often inadequate. Here we attempt to examine the relationship between Bd arrival and amphibian decline across north-eastern Australia, using sites where a wave-like pattern of amphibian decline was …

Preparing For Climate Change In Three New England Coastal Communities: Lessons On Motivations, Approaches, And Outcomes, Chris Keeley

Master's Theses and Capstones

This case study research investigated three coastal communities in New England engaged in climate change adaptation. The research goals were to (1) Identify and describe the factors that prompt communities to plan for climate change impacts, (2) To elucidate the types of approaches taken by communities in planning for climate change impacts, and (3) To identify outcomes that transpire from engaging in climate adaptation. The major factors prompting climate adaptation included experience with extreme weather events, local leadership on climate change, and access to technical assistance. Each adaptation process was largely stakeholder-driven. The approaches varied and included utilizing local stories …

The Effect Of Disinfectants, Cleaning, And Drying Practices On Oriental Rugs Flooded With Contaminated River Water: Public Health And Policy Implications, Daniel Bernazzani

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Oriental rugs contaminated with Category 3 floodwater potentially harbor environmental bacteria known to be human pathogens. River water inoculated with three species of gram positive and gram negative environmental bacteria (Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were used to assess the effectiveness of disinfectant type, cleaning methodology and drying practices by examining the survival rates of bacteria. Rug sections were immersed for one hour in contaminated water, saturated in one of three EPA registered disinfectant products (Phenol, Quaternary chloride, and Thyme oil) or tap water as a control, followed by cleaning and drying. The results showed that all disinfectants reduced …

Magnetic Cell Separation By Inkjet Printing For Disease Monitoring, Sylvia Lucia Natividad

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The standard analysis technique for cell sorting, flow cytometry, requires centralized facilities such as tertiary Medical Centers. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) Statistics, in this country alone, more than 35 million people live in medically underserved areas, many of which need access to diagnostic procedures for proper management of their diseases. A cell sorting technique that can be done in low-resource settings at a decreased cost to the medical organization and the patient has been developed through this research project. By combining inkjet printing technology and magnetic labeling of …

Evaluation Of Protection Induced By Dna Vaccine Candidate Against Leishmania Mexicana In Balb/C Mice Model, Rosina Rodarte

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background and Significance. The leishmaniases are a diverse group of diseases with four major clinical manifestations: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, visceral, and diffuse. Approximately 21 Leishmania species and 30 sandfly vectors have been implicated in human leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is endemic in 88 countries, 72 are developing countries. Currently, 350 million people live in leishmaniasis-endemic areas around the world. The true incidence of the disease is not known. However, the estimated incidence for visceral leishmaniasis is 500,000 cases per year, and for cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis 1.5-2 million cases per year. Visceral leishmaniasis causes 70,000 deaths each year. In the Americas region, …

Role Of Human Protein Disulfide Isomerase (Pdi) In The Redox Regulation Of Anthrax Receptor 2 (Antxr2), Naima Mohamed Alshrif

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by B. anthracis, a gram-positive and spore-forming bacterium. Anthrax toxin is a tripartite AB toxin composed of a receptor binding/pore-forming moiety, protective antigen (PA), and two catalytic moieties, edema factor (EF) and lethal factor (LF). Anthrax toxin PA binds to cell-surface receptors, where it gets activated by furin, and assembles into a ring-like heptameric structure. The toxin-receptor complex is internalized into endosomes where the acidic pH triggers PA pore formation on the endosomal membrane that translocates the toxin catalytic moieties. Recent study has shown that anthrax toxin receptors play a critical role in …

Mobilizing Subdominant Hiv-Specific Ctls As A Novel Vaccine Strategy, Margaret Christina Costanzo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

To overcome the extreme antigenic diversity of HIV, there is increasing interest in developing vaccines that target CD8 T cell responses to conserved regions of the viral proteome. Understanding the immunogenic potential of these domains is therefore critical for the success of this vaccine strategy. CD8 T cell responses to conserved domains restricted by the "neutral" and highly prevalent HLA-A2 allele have not been extensively characterized. Here we describe a novel essentially invariant 10-mer epitope in HIV Gag (p2414-23, RTLNAWVKVV (RV10)) in that it is expressed by the majority HIV isolates from all clades. Here we examined the character of …

Constrained Optimal Control For A Multi-Group Discrete Time Influenza Model, Paula Andrea Gonzalez Parra

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

During the last decades, mathematical epidemiological models have been used to understand the dynamics of infectious diseases and guide public health policy. In particular, several continuous models have been considered to study single in uenza outbreaks and the impact of dierent control policies. In this dissertation, a discrete time model is introduced in order to study optimal control strategies for in uenza transmission; since epidemiological data is collected on discrete units of time, a discrete formulation is more ecient. From a mathematical point of view, continuous time model are easier to analyze, however, the numerical solution of discrete-time models is …

Efficacy Of Anthelmintics Against Parasitic Infections And Their Treatment Effect On The Production And Blood Indices In Black Bengal Goats In Bangladesh, Mohammad Mahmudul Hassan, Md Ahasanul Hoque, Skm Azizul Islam, Sahaneaz Ali Khan, Mohammad Belayet Hossain, Qamar Banu

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The Black Bengal goat is an important livestock animal in Bangladesh. To assess the efficacy of selective anthelmintics against ecto- and endoparasites of Black Bengal goats and their treatment effects on body-weight gains and hematobiochemical indices, a field trial was conducted at Pahartali Thana in Chittagong district. The study was performed during the period of February 2006 to January 2007. Goats were treated with CEVAMEC®-1% (ivermectin) (T_1), ENDEX®-1500 (triclabendazole along with levamisole) (T_2), and a placebo (T_3, untreated). A reduction of eggs per gram count was very significant from day 7 (91.3% reduction) through day 28 (100%) with the treatment …

The Technological Edge, Elizabeth I. Winston

Scholarly Articles

To grant a patent to natural phenomena hinders innovation, taking back from the public that which the public has a right to possess. To deny a patent to man’s manufacture undercuts the fundamental bargain of the patent system. All inventions, at their core, may be deemed natural, rendering it difficult to distinguish between man’s manufacture and natural phenomena. Determining whether the innovative aspect of the product is a technological one, rather than a natural one, can clarify whether the patent grant promotes the progress of science and the useful arts. The higher the level of skill in the art required …

Promoting Thymopoiesis With Age: Potential Role Of The Transcription Factor Foxn1, Erin Christine Zook

Dissertations

It is known that the elderly are more susceptible to illnesses and infections and respond poorly to immunization. A contributing factor to a decrease in the immune response in the elderly is the decline in the production of naïve T cell by the thymus. In the thymus, the notch receptor expressed on early T cell progenitors (ETP) binds to its ligand expressed on thymic epithelial cells (TEC), signaling ETP to develop through a series of developmental stages before maturing into naive T cells. Because ETP are non-self renewing, the thymus relies on the bone marrow (BM) for a continuous supply …

Perceptions, Attitudes And Acceptability Of Hiv Testing Among Sub-Saharan African Immigrants In Chicago, Rita Ndidi Amadi

Dissertations

HIV testing is a primary strategy in HIV prevention and is associated with a myriad of benefits including positive behavior changes and enhanced access to HIV care services and support. However, African immigrants delay testing and are often diagnosed with late stage HIV infection and symptoms suggestive of AIDS. Little attention has been devoted to understanding the barriers to testing among sub Saharan African immigrants in the United States.

This cross sectional survey, conducted in partnership with African community organizations in Chicago, used multistage sampling techniques to reach this hard to reach population. It attempted to elucidate the HIV testing …

Epidemiology And Public Health Significance Of Bovine Tuberculosis In Cattle In The Highlands Of Cameroon, Julius Awah Ndukum

Other Faculty of Science and Engineering Theses

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious neglected zoonosis of cattle that is prevalent but under-investigated in Cameroon, hence this study was designed to assess the epidemiology of bovine TB in cattle, risks for M. bovis infection in cattle and humans; and public health implications of zoonotic bovine TB in the highlands of Cameroon. A retrospective study of meat inspection records (1994 – 2010) was done to estimate the prevalence of TB lesions in slaughtered cattle in the North West region. The prevalence of bovine TB and anti-bovine TB antibodies in live cattle based on tuberculin skin tests (2 surveys) and …

Clinical Spectrum And Severity Of Hemolytic Anemia In Glucose 6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase-Deficient Children Receiving Dapsone, Allan Pamba, Naomi D. Richardson, Nick Carter, Stephan Duparc, Zul Premji, Alfred B. Tiono, Lucio Luzzatto

Pathology, East Africa

Drug-induced acute hemolytic anemia led to the discovery of G6PD deficiency. However, most clinical data are from isolated case reports. In 2 clinical trials of antimalarial preparations containing dapsone (4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone; 2.5 mg/kg once daily for 3 days), 95 G6PD-deficient hemizygous boys, 24 G6PD-deficient homozygous girls, and 200 girls heterozygous for G6PD deficiency received this agent. In the first 2 groups, there was a maximum decrease in hemoglobin averaging -2.64 g/dL (range -6.70 to +0.30 g/dL), which was significantly greater than for the comparator group receiving artemether-lumefantrine (adjusted difference -1.46 g/dL; 95% confidence interval -1.76, -1.15). Hemoglobin concentrations were decreased by …

Characterization Of The Clostridium Difficile Biofilm, Michelle Laning

Master's Theses

Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive, spore forming bacterium and an opportunistic gastrointestinal pathogen. Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a common nosocomial infection. Upon antibiotic treatment, patients can be colonized with C. difficile from ingestion of spores. After colonization, cells produce toxins creating symptoms from diarrhea to pseudomembranous colitis, and many patients develop recurrent infections. Interactions between host epithelium and the bacteria is a critical step in infection, yet the interaction is not well understood. It is not known how C. difficile evades host immune responses. These are important mechanisms to answer in advancing CDI treatment. A biofilm could contribute to …

Salmon People In An Era Of Depleting Salmon: The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community’S Climate Adaptation Action Plan As A Manifestation Of Tribal Sovereignty, Kelly Davis

Tribal Law Journal

Climate change presents novel challenges to indigenous peoples striving to maintain their place-based subsistence cultures. Climate change is altering physical environments, tribes are experiencing detrimental impacts, and adaptation is necessary to preserve indigenous lifestyles. The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, a Coast Salish tribe in northwestern Washington State, has taken the initiative in tribal climate change adaptation efforts.

In 2010, the Swinomish Office of Planning and Community Development issued a thorough Climate Adaptation Action Plan, which delineates strategies the vulnerable coastal, salmon-dependent tribe must take. Resilient social systems, like American Indian tribes, are capable of anticipating and planning for the future. …

Keep Your Hands Off My Nuts - Airlines, Peanut Allergies, And The Law, John G. Browning

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

No abstract provided.

An Expanded Age Range For Meningococcal Meningitis: Molecular Diagnostic Evidence From Population-Based Surveillance In Asia, Soon Kim, Dong Kim, Bai Dong, Jung Kim, Dang Anh, Paul E. Kilgore

Wayne State University Associated BioMed Central Scholarship

Abstract

Background

To understand epidemiologic patterns of meningococcal disease in Asia, we performed a retrospective molecular analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens collected in prospective surveillance among children aged < 5 years of age in China, South Korea, and Vietnam.

Methods

A total of 295 isolates and 2,302 CSFs were tested by a meningococcal species- and serogroup-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) ctrA gene. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) was performed in Nm gene amplification analysis and incidence rates for meningococcal meningitis were estimated.

Results

Among 295 isolates tested, 10 specimens from Vietnam were confirmed as serogroup B and all were Sequence Type (ST) 1576 by MLST. …

Shifting Public Health Priorities And The Global Effort To Prevent A Bird Flu Pandemic, Robert Gatter

All Faculty Scholarship

Global strategy to control highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has changed dramatically since 2003 when it was first reported that a confirmed bird flu jumped the species barrier to infect a human in Hong Kong. Evidence of this shift in priorities in the global fight against HPAI can be found most clearly in program funding trends. In late 2008 and into 2009, financial commitments from international donors for all HPAI programs dropped significantly. Meanwhile, within HPAI programs, funding shifted substantially away from animal biosecurity projects and into human response and preparedness work. This Article examines three reasons for this shift …

High Isoniazid Resistance Rates In Rifampicin Susceptible Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Pulmonary Isolates From Pakistan, Naima Fasih, Yasraba Rafiq, Kausar Jabeen, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Background:
Rapid new diagnostic methods (including Xpert MTB/RIF assay) use rifampicin resistance as a surrogate marker for multidrug resistant tuberculosis. Patients infected with rifampicin susceptible strains are prescribed first line anti-tuberculosis therapy. The roll out of such methods raises a concern that strains with resistance to other first line anti-tuberculosis drugs including isoniazid will be missed and inappropriate treatment given. To evaluate implications of using such methods review of resistance data from high burden settings such as ours is essential.
Objective:
To determine resistance to first line anti-tuberculosis drugs amongst rifampicin susceptible pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates from Pakistan.
Material …

Is Nalidixic Acid Screening Still Valid For The Detection Of Reduced Susceptibility Of Fluoroquinolone With Salmonella Typhi?, Seema Irfan, Kauser Jabeen, Umair Anwar Jilani, Bushra Ahmed, Jaishri Mehraj, Tanwir Ahsan, Afia Zafar

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Introduction: Considering the limitations of screening with nalidixic acid to detect reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S.Typhi) strains, we evaluated the use of a 30 µg nalidixic acid disc screening method in Pakistan.
Methodology: Non duplicate nalidixic acid susceptible S. Typhi isolates (246) from 2003-2008 were retrieved from the Salmonella strain bank. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin for all strains were determined by agar dilution and further rechecked by ciprofloxacin E-tests.E. coli ATCC 25922 was used as the control strain. The MIC data for ciprofloxacin were compared with nalidixic acid disk (30µg) zone diameters.
Results: …

Peacebuilding, Power, And Politics In Africa, Devon Curtis, Gwinyayi A. Dzinesa

Ohio University Press Open Access Books

Peacebuilding, Power, and Politics in Africa is a critical reflection on peacebuilding efforts in Africa. The authors expose the tensions and contradictions in different clusters of peacebuilding activities, including peace negotiations; statebuilding; security sector governance; and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration. Essays also address the institutional framework for peacebuilding in Africa and the ideological underpinnings of key institutions, including the African Union, NEPAD, the African Development Bank, the Pan-African Ministers Conference for Public and Civil Service, the UN Peacebuilding Commission, the World Bank, and the International Criminal Court. The volume includes on-the-ground case study chapters on Sudan, the Great Lakes Region …