Digital Commons Network^™

The Future Can’T Wait: Over-The-Horizon Views On Development, Steven Gale, Sarah Irene Jackson, Richard Cincotta, Geoff Dabelko, Leon Fuerth, Leonardo Martinez-Diaz, Steven Radelet, Andrew W. Reynolds, Daniel Runde, Donald Steinberg, Linton Wells Ii

Books and Book Chapters

In Spring of 2011 USAID’s Science and Technology Office and NDU agreed to co-host a symposium on future development challenges. USAID and NDU agreed to collaborate on a follow-up publication to the symposium.

Risk Perception In Cardiovascular Disease, Michelle Ellen Block

Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains among the leading causes of death in the United States despite widespread knowledge about risk factors as well as effective primary prevention strategies. Risk perception is a complex phenomenon that plays an important role in how persons view disease and ultimately how they make health behavior choices. This study is supported by the knowledge that few studies have examined how persons perceive cardiovascular risk or the variables thought to contribute to the formation of risk perception.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how accurately persons perceive personal risk for cardiovascular disease and identify …

Publications And Reports: Research And Extension, 2011 Annual Summary, Department Of Natural Resource Management, South Dakota State University

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Table of Contents:
[Page] 4 Introduction
[Page] 6 Departmental faculty list
[Page] 7 Departmental Graduate Students
[Page] 13 Peer-reviewed publications
[Page] 20 Publications in proceedings and other journals
[Page] 22 Books or book chapters
[Page] 24 Extension reports and electronic media
[Page] 26 Other reports (e.g., agency reports, completion reports)
[Page] 30 Popular articles

The Truth About Lie Symmetries: Solving Differential Equations With Symmetry Methods, Ruth A. Steinhour

Senior Independent Study Theses

Differential equations are vitally important in numerous scientific fields. Oftentimes, they are quite challenging to solve. This Independent Study examines one method for solving differential equations. Norwegian mathematician Sophus Lie developed this method, which uses groups of symmetries, called Lie groups. These symmetries map one solution curve to another. They can be used to determine a canonical coordinate system for a given differential equation. Writing the differential equation in terms of a different coordinate system can make the equation simpler to solve. This I.S. explores techniques for finding a canonical coordinate system and using it to solve a given differential …

Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy In Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair Improve Patient Outcome?, Elan B. Kennedy

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) improves patient outcome in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three primary research studies published in the English language in 2011.

DATA SOURCES: Three double blind, randomized, controlled trials analyzing the effect of augmentation of rotator cuff repair surgery with PRP therapy were found using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Each of the three studies measured the effectiveness of PRP therapy in arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, with specific regards to pain improvement after surgery, healing time and …

Is Mechanical Traction A Safe And Effective Treatment For Patients With Chronic Neck Pain?, Shawn D. Giacobbe

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not mechanical traction is a safe and effective treatment for patients with chronic neck pain.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three English-language randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published in 2008, 2009, and 2011.

DATA SOURCES: Two double-blind randomized clinical trials and one single-blind randomized clinical trial were found using PubMed.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Decrease in neck pain was measured through subjective pain rating scales performed prior to and after treatment of both those receiving mechanical traction and those not receiving mechanical traction.

RESULTS: While patients …

Is Starting Antiretroviral Therapy (Art) In Hiv Positive Adults With Cd4 Cell Count Of <300 Cells/Μl Within Four Weeks Of Initiating New Tuberculosis (Tb) Therapy More Effective In Reducing Mortality Rates Than Starting Art Four Weeks Or Later After Initiating New Tb Therapy?, Janna Erlien

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV positive adults with CD4 cell count of /µl within four weeks of initiating new tuberculosis therapy more effective in reducing mortality rates than starting ART four weeks or later after initiating new tuberculosis therapy.

STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of three English language primary studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2011.

DATA SOURCES: Three open label, randomized, controlled trials published in 2011, comparing the timing of ART for HIV+ adults with confirmed or suspected new TB …

Does Etravirine Decrease Central Nervous System (Cns)/Neuropsychiatric (Nps) Adverse Events Compared To Efavirenz, In Hiv Positive Patients?, Angelo D. T. Smith

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not Etravirine (ETR) decreases adverse reactions on the central nervous system (CNS) compared to Efavirenz (EFV) in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive patients.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three, English language, primary randomized controlled trial studies published in 2011.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials studying the possible decrease of ADR’s in HIV positive patients who are taking Efavirenz compared to study medication Etravirine.

OUTCOME(S) MEASURED: Outcomes measured were by surveys from patients that assess the development or cessation of CNS ADR’s. The self …

Type I Interferon Activation Of Natural Killer (Nk) Cells By Cytomegalovirus (Cmv) And Their Interaction With Dendritic (Dc) And Nkt Cells, Howaida A. Oulad Abdelati

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

In our current study the roles of natural killer (NK) cells in regulation of the acute phase of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection were demonstrated. NK cells utilize perforin and gamma interferon to kill MCMV infected cells. Activation of NK cells is controlled by the balance between inhibitory and activation receptors and modulated by cytokines produced from the infected cells. Type I interferons are produced mainly by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs). Type I interferons have a substantial role in enhancing NK cells cytotoxic activity and NK cells proliferation and maintain cell survival through STAT mediated signaling pathway. IL-12 produced by dendritic …

Comparative Analysis Of Edwardsiella Isolates From Fish In The Eastern United States Identifies Two Distinct Genetic Taxa Amongst Organisms Phenotypically Classified As E. Tarda, Matt J. Griffin, Sylvie M. Quiniou, Theresa Cody, Maki Tabuchi, Cynthia Ware, Rocco C. Cipriano, Michael J. Mauel, Esteban Soto

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Edwardsiella tarda, a Gram-negative member of the family Enterobacteriaceae, has been implicated in significant losses in aquaculture facilities worldwide. Here, we assessed the intra-specific variability of E. tarda isolates from 4 different fish species in the eastern United States. Repetitive sequence mediated PCR (rep-PCR) using 4 different primer sets (ERIC I & II, ERIC II, BOX, and GTG5) and multi-locus sequence analysis of 16S SSU rDNA, groEl, gyrA, gyrB, pho, pgi, pgm, and rpoA gene fragments identified two distinct genotypes of E. tarda (DNA group I; DNA group II). Isolates that fell into DNA group II demonstrated more similarity …

Disparate Host Immunity To Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis Antigens In Calves Inoculated With M. Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis, M. Avium Subsp. Avium, M. Kansasii, And M. Bovis, Judith R. Stabel, W.R. Waters, John Bannantine, M.V. Palmer

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The cross-reactivity of mycobacterial antigens in immune-based diagnostic assays has been a major concern and a criticism of the current tests that are used for the detection of paratuberculosis. In the present study, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratu- berculosis recombinant proteins were evaluated for antigenic specificity compared to a whole-cell sonicate preparation (MPS). Measures of cell-mediated immunity to M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis antigens were compared in calves inoculated with live M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis, M. avium subsp. avium (M. avium), Mycobacterium kansasii, or Mycobacterium bovis. Gamma interferon (IFN-􏰋) responses to MPS were observed in all calves that were exposed to mycobacteria …

Ventilator-Associated Complications In The Mechanically Ventilated Veteran, Joan Grano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Surveillance of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) has been the common outcome measurement used for internal and external benchmarking for mechanically ventilated patients; and although not a clinical definition, it is commonly used as an outcome measurement for research studies. Criteria in the VAP definition include both subjective and objective components, leading to questions of validity. In addition, recent legislation has mandated the public reporting of healthcare-associated infections, including VAP, in many states. Infectious disease experts have recently recommended monitoring a new outcome, ventilator-associated events (VAE), that contain specific objective criteria. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) have refined this …

The Transcriptional Regulation Of Flagellin-Induced Innate Protection Of The Cornea: Role Of Irf1 And Atf3, Gi Sang Yoon

Wayne State University Dissertations

Pre-exposure of the cornea to TLR5 ligand flagellin induces profound mucosal innate protection against infections by reprogramming gene expression. This study explored the flagellin-induced modifications of transcription factor expression and function, specifically of IRF1 and ATF3 in corneal epithelial cells to elucidate the transcriptional mechanisms underlying the protective function of flagellin on the cornea.

Initially we used Superarray to screen for transcription factors and identified Interferon Regulatory Factor (IRF) 1 and Activating Transcription Factor (ATF) 3 as the most drastically affected genes by flagellin pretreatment in P. aeruginosa challenged human corneal epithelial cells (CEC). However, flagellin pretreatment had opposite effects …

Actual And Perceived Sexual Behaviors In College Students, Tabitha Denise Flowers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare college students' actual sexual behaviors and their perceptions of sexual behaviors among their peers. The analyses consisted of 65,036 participant's ages 18 to 24, with a mean age of 20.20 years (sdâ±1.55) who completed the American college health association's national college health assessment in 2008. The dependent variables were the normative gap of: number of partners, sexual activity, and condom usage. Three one-way anovas with bonferroni post hoc analyses were used to determine differences between the dependent variables and the following independent variables: age, sexual orientation, and living arrangement. Anovas were used …

Rabies, Canine Distemper, And Canine Parvovirus Exposure In Large Carnivore Communities From Two Zambian Ecosystems, Are R. Berentsen, Mike R. Dunbar, Matthew S. Becker, Jassiel M'Soka, Egil Droge, Nicholas M. Sakuya, Wigganson Matandiko, Rachel Mcrobb, Cathleen A. Hanlon

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Disease transmission within and among wild and domestic carnivores can have significant impacts on populations, particularly for threatened and endangered species. We used serology to evaluate potential exposure to rabies virus, canine distemper virus (CDV), and canine parvovirus (CPV) for populations of African lions (Panthera leo), African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park (SLNP) and Liuwa Plain National Park (LPNP) as well as community lands bordering these areas. In addition, domestic dogs in the study region were evaluated for exposure to CDV and rabies. We provide …

Prevalence Of Avian Paramyxovirus 1 And Avian Influenza Virus In Double-Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax Auritus) In Eastern North America, Tiffanie A. Cross, D. M. Arsnoe, R. B. Minnis, D. T. King, S. Swafford, K. Pedersen, J. C. Owen

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Although it is well established that wild birds, such as cormorants, carry virulent avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV-1; causative agent of Newcastle disease) and avian influenza virus (AIV), the prevalence of these viruses among Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) in the Great Lakes region of North America has not been rigorously studied. We determined the prevalences of APMV-1 and AIV in Double-crested Cormorants from the interior population of eastern North America. From 2009 to 2011, oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs and serum samples were collected from 1,957 individual Double-crested Cormorants, ranging from chicks to breeding adults, on breeding colony sites …

Procedures For Identifying Infectious Prions After Passage Through The Digestive System Of An Avian Species, Justin W. Fischer, Tracy A. Nichols, Gregory E. Phillips, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Infectious prion (PrP^Res) material is likely the cause of fatal, neurodegenerative transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) diseases¹. Transmission of TSE diseases, such as chronic wasting disease (CWD), is presumed to be from animal to animal^2,3 as well as from environmental sources^4-6. Scavengers and carnivores have potential to translocate PrP^Res material through consumption and excretion of CWD contaminated carrion. Recent work has documented passage of PrP^Res material through the digestive system of American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), a common North American scavenger⁷.

We describe procedures used to document passage of …

Ecology Of Zoonotic Infectious Diseases In Bats: Current Knowledge And Future Directions, D. T. S. Hayman, R. A. Bowen, P. M. Cryan, G. M. Mccracken, T. J. O'Shea, A. J. Peel, A. T. Gilbert, C. T. Webb, J. L. N. Wood

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Bats are hosts to a range of zoonotic and potentially zoonotic pathogens. Human activities that increase exposure to bats will likely increase the opportunity for infections to spill over in the future. Ecological drivers of pathogen spillover and emergence in novel hosts, including humans, involve a complex mixture of processes, and understanding these complexities may aid in predicting spillover. In particular, only once the pathogen and host ecologies are known can the impacts of anthropogenic changes be fully appreciated. Cross-disciplinary approaches are required to understand how host and pathogen ecology interact. Bats differ from other sylvatic disease reservoirs because of …

Feral Swine Brucellosis In The United States And Prospective Genomic Techniques For Disease Epidemiology, Owen P. Leiser, Joseph L. Corn, Brandon S. Schmit, Paul S. Keim, Jeffrey T. Foster

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Brucellosis is a common infection of feral swine throughout the United States. With the recent expansion of feral swine populations across the country, this disease poses an increasing threat to agriculture and hunters. The standard approach to Brucella surveillance in feral swine has been serological testing, which gives an indication of past exposure and is a rapid method of determining populations where Brucella is present. More in-depth analyses require bacterial isolation to determine the Brucella species and biovar involved. Ultimately, for a comprehensive understanding of Brucella epizootiology in feral swine, incorporation of genotyping assays has become essential. Fortunately, the past …

The Use Of Contraception As A Disease Management Tool In Wildlife, Jack C. Rhyan, Lowell A. Miller, Kathleen A. Fagerstone

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Contraception offers potential as a tool for managing certain diseases in wildlife, most notably venereally transmitted diseases or diseases transmitted at parturition. Brucellosis is an excellent example of an infectious disease present in wild populations that could potentially be managed through immunocontraception. Previous studies in bison (Bison bison) suggest that a single injection of GonaCon^TM (National Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service/Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, USA) results in 3 or more yr of infertility. Ongoing studies will determine if the use of GonaCon in bison decreases shedding of Brucella …

Surveillance And Movements Of Virginia Opossum (Didelphis Virginiana) In The Bovine Tuberculosis Region Of Michigan, W. D. Walter, Justin W. Fischer, C. W. Anderson, D. R. Marks, T. J. Deliberto, S. Robbe-Austerman, K. C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wildlife reservoir hosts of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) include Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) and brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) in the UK and New Zealand, respectively. Similar species warrant further investigation in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan, USA due to the continued presence of bTB on cattle farms. Most research in Michigan, USA has focused on interactions between white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and cattle (Bos taurus) for the transmission of the infectious agent of bTB, Mycobacterium bovis, due to high deer densities and feeding practices. However, limited data are available on medium-sized …

West Nile Virus Infection In American Robins: New Insights On Dose Response, Kaci K. Vandalen, Jeffrey S. Hall, Larry Clark, Robert G. Mclean, Cynthia Smeraski

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

West Nile virus (WNV) is a vector-borne pathogen that was first detected in the United States in 1999. The natural transmission cycle of WNV involves mosquito vectors and avian hosts, which vary in their competency to transmit the virus. American robins are an abundant backyard species in the United States and appear to have an important role in the amplification and dissemination of WNV. In this study we examine the response of American robins to infection with various WNV doses within the range of those administered by some natural mosquito vectors. Thirty American robins were assigned a WNV dosage treatment …

Exploitation Of The Bacteriophage-Derived Peptidase Chapk, Pierre-Mehdi Hadbi

Theses

This project investigated an anti-staphylococcal bacteriophage-derived peptidoglycan hydrolase enzyme, namely a cysteine-histidine amydohydrolase/peptidase (CHAP_k). The study focused firstly on optimizing the production of recombinant CHAP_k, which was previously cloned in an E. coli expression system, and sets out the resulting optimal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for production, purification and determination of concentration and activity of the resulting protein stock. A typical yield resulting from the investigation was 300pg of CHAP_k from one litre of E.coli culture. The activity of the purified enzyme was typically in the region of 190U nmol ’. Secondly, the project investigated …

Population Models, Jessica Hauer

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

This thesis will examine mathematical interpretations of biological situations through the study of differential equations. It will first explore the interactions of the lynx and hare populations in Canada based on data retrieved by the Hudson Bay Company. The purpose of this study is to find a suitable mathematical model, namely that of a three-variable Lotka-Volterra system. Also, the paper will explore short-term infectious disease models as they relate to particular epidemics throughout history, including the Iowa Mumps outbreak of 1966 and the Bubonic Plaque. The thesis will then work to make sense of the rise and fall patterns in …

Historical Remedies Versus Current Pathogens : Laboratory Investigation Of The Efficacy Of Traditional Herbal Remedies Against Present-Day Common Causes Of Bacterial Pneumonia, Eibhlin Mccarthy

Theses

Despite the medical advances of recent years, pneumonia is still a common disease in Ireland, accounting for approximately 7% of deaths in this country'. While national databases such as those run by CIDR and SARI ensure that incidences of systemic and notifiable infections such as tuberculosis are recorded, there are currently no available statistics on commonplace respiratory isolates within Ireland. This study analysed the available data on bacterial pathogens isolated from respiratory samples at a 355 bed Irish hospital over a one year period. Seasonal variations and resistance patterns were noted. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (27%), …

I'M Still Standing: Five Strategies To Survive Going Back To School, Janice Hawkins

Ellmer School of Nursing Faculty Publications

[First paragraph] Making the decision to return to school for a PhD was difficult for me. I feared the unknown but inescapable lifestyle adjustments. I’m resistant to change. When facing life’s cold waters, I wade, rather than plunge. There’s no wading into a PhD program. In spite of my cautious nature, I took the plunge.

Waylaid By A Metaphor: A Deeply Problematic Account Of Prison Growth. Review Of Plague Of Prisons: The Epidemiology Of Mass Incarceration In America By Ernest Drucker, John F. Pfaff

Faculty Scholarship

This article reviews Ernest Drucker's recent book, "A Plague of Prisons: The Epidemiology of Mass Incarceration in America," which attempts to explain the causes behind the explosion in prison growth over the past several decades. The account proves to be unsatisfying, and this review highlights four major flaws with Drucker's work. First, Drucker places too much weight on the war on drugs. While he argues it is the primary engine of prison growth, the increase in drug incarcerations explains only about 25% of the total growth since the 1970s. Second, he significantly underplays the importance of soaring crime rates between …

The Lived Experience Of Inpatients On Contact Precautions, Amanda L. Ray

Yale School of Nursing Digital Theses

This phenomenological study explores the lived experience of patients on contact precautions. While current literature reports mixed compliance rates among healthcare-workers, increased workload for staff, less time spent at the bedside, higher rates of adverse events, and higher rates of anxiety and depression for patients on contact precautions, few studies describe the patient's perception. Interviews were conducted identifying the following themes: patient understanding of contact precautions, cleanliness and dirtiness, family/visitor perceptions, patient priorities, delays in care and staff attitudes, and protecting not isolating. Contact precautions are not perceived as burdensome, isolating, or distressing by most patients. Families and patients showing …

The State Of Health And Safety Program Management As It Pertains To Osha In The Funeral Industry: A Formative Analysis, Brad William Kuchnicki

Online Theses and Dissertations

From a law perspective, contingency refers to possible events that may or may not happen, by which, when happening, some particular title may be affected. In the funeral industry, OSHA regulations govern a vast array of procedures directly related to day-to-day operations. If at any time one of these controls have or have not been implemented, enforced or altered, the organization could be influenced. This thesis will analyze the state of health and safety program management as it pertains to OSHA in the funeral industry.

Assessment Of Motility And Hemolytic Activity In Clinical Isolates Of Acinetobacter Baumannii From University Of Kentucky Hospital, Lexington, Ky, Amber R. Stanton

Online Theses and Dissertations

Acinetobacter baumannii is a pathogen rising in notoriety worldwide due to outbreaks linked to multi-drug resistant strains. Research is currently focused on identifying virulence factors, which may contribute to increased ability to cause human disease, such as hemolytic activity and surface motility. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of these two virulent traits in clinical isolates. Forty-eight clinical isolates were recovered from University of Kentucky hospital in Lexington, KY. No hemolytic activity was observed for any of the isolates. Evidence of surface motility was observed in 13 isolates. The brand and concentration of media used allowed …