Digital Commons Network^™

Antibiotic Overuse In The Treatment Of Viral Uri's In Healthy Adult Populations, Tracy L. Dozak

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Global-Health Diplomacy : The Social Determinants Perspective Of Health Approach And The Future Global Policy Agenda., Naseem Ansari

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

No abstract provided.

Ending Sex Trafficking Of Women And Children In America, Shanae Patrice Keys

Student Works

No abstract provided.

A Recommendation Report On Cdc Immunization Guidelines To Determine Immigrant Vaccination Requirements For Women, With The Use Of Mandated Hpv Vaccine As A Case Study, Regina Veronica Ram

Student Works

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Skin And Soft Tissue Infections On College Athletic Programs And Prevention Policies., Alice Kimble 1964-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The majority of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are caused by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and antibiotic resistant strains pose a greater challenge for effective prevention and treatment. Although recommendations outlining procedures for prevention have been provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), the actual adherence by the athletic training staff is unclear (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010; National Athletic trainers' Association, 2010). MRSA can result in devastating illness and staggering healthcare costs, and deaths of athletes have been reported (Ellis, 2007). The current study used the …

The Nashville John School : Risk Deterrence And The Reintegrative Shaming Approach., Robin Malony Valenzuela

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Contemporary anti-prostitution campaigns focus on curtailing “the demand” by punishing sexual service consumers. One component of this approach is a diversion program, or “john school,” offered to those who are caught buying prostitution. This ethnography focuses upon the Nashville John School (NJS), which consists of informational presentations that educate johns about the risks associated with prostitution. By employing a restorative justice approach, the NJS exemplifies elements of John Braithwaite’s “reintegrative shaming” theory (1989), which seeks to hold offenders accountable for their wrongdoing while avoiding stigmatization. This ethnographic study utilizes participant observation in the NJS, as well as individual interviews with …

Genetic Characterization Of The K2 Serotype Capsule Of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Atcc 43816 And The Development Of A Bioluminescent Strain., Jacob Brandon Scott 1987-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVE: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative enterobacterium that is a major cause of community-acquired and nosocomial infections. We performed a genetic characterization of K. pneumoniae strain ATCC 43816, which is a well-studied strain with a K2 serotype capsular polysaccharide. To provide the ability to monitor bacteria within a host, we will develop a bioluminescence strain of K. pneumoniae by integrating the lux operon into the chromosome. METHODS: The ATCC 43816 capsule cluster sequencing was performed by closing gapE, in the Next Generation Sequencing by long range peR for template and primer walking. We constructed a bioluminescent K. pneumoniae by using …

Neuropathogenesis Of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza In Ferrets Following Intranasal Instillation Or Aerosol Exposure To Low Doses, Jennifer Rose Plourde

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), subtype H5N1, has continued to infect humans every year since its initial outbreak in 1997. The overall mortality is approximately 60% and while the emergence of this avian influenza virus has yet to reach the Western Hemisphere, its high lethality and pandemic potential warrant attention from the research community to better understand HPAI disease. Neuroinvasiveness of H5N1 virus is poorly understood and using two HPAI strains of varying lethality in the ferret model provide a basis for comparing differences in neuropathogenesis and its contribution to lethality. The studies described herein used two methods of HPAI …

Beliefs About Complementary And Alternative Medicine In Hiv-Infected Black Women Using The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Stephanie G. Lino

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. Black women make up 12% of the female population in the U.S, yet they account for 66% of new HIV infections. In 2002, AIDS was the most cited reason for death among Black women age 25-34. While prevention remains, a major effort targeting treatment efficacy and modalities for this sub-group need to be better understood.

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to assess whether HIV-positive Black women’s attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control are related to intention of dietary supplements and spiritual practices use in their HIV treatment.

Method. In phase one, Grounded Theory methods (N= …

The Influence Of Immunization Route On The Adjuvant Effect Of Alpha-Galactosylceramide, Ameerah M. Wishahy

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Potent vaccine formulations ideally include adjuvants to activate innate immune responses and enhance antigen-specific adaptive immunity. The synthetic glycolipid alpha-Galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) effectively activates the innate immune mediating NKT cells to produce cytokines and activate downstream immune cells, resulting in development of humoral and cell mediated immune responses to co-administered antigens. While a single intravenous immunization of α-GalCer strongly activates NKT cells, multiple doses by this route are well documented to induce anergy in NKT cells. Anergy is defined as the deficiency in NKT proliferation and cytokine production, including IL-4 and IFNγ. However, our studies have shown that two doses of …

Molecular Diagnosis Of Metabolic Fast Growth Related Diseases In Broiler, Adnan Ali Khalaf Al-Rubaye

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Pulmonary Hypertension Syndrome (PHS) and lameness are important metabolic diseases that affect rapidly growing broilers. The research reported in the first section of this dissertation focused on developing qPCR assays to identify differences in the expression levels of four candidate genes possibly associated with PHS: angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1): urotensin receptor 2D (UTS2D); serotonin receptor/transporter type 2Bn (HTR2B); and angiotensinogen cleaving enzyme (ACE). Expression levels of these candidate genes were examined in four different tissues. We established ribosomal protein S14 (RPS14) and RNA polymerase subunit 2B (RP2B) as suitable reference genes because they showed the most consistent deltaCt …

Effects Of Short-Term Protein Supplementation On Muscle Work Efficiency In Elderly Adults, Kathryn Anne Sands

College of Health and Human Sciences Honors Program Undergraduate Theses

Objective:

This study assessed the effect of increased dietary protein intake on adaptation of energy expenditure and skeletal muscle function at rest and during low-intensity physical activity in elderly adults.

Methods:

Using a randomized, crossover design, 12 adults (7 F, 5 M), aged 82 7 y (mean SD) completed two 6-day periods of consuming fruit-smoothie beverages twice daily (with breakfast and lunch) containing 230 kcal and 25 g whey protein (WPro) or 25 g corn-derived glucose polymer (CHO) (total 460 kcal/day and 50 g/day WPro or CHO).

Results:

On day 7 of each period, fasting blood urea nitrogen was 28 …

The Presence Of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Mrsa) On Environmental Surfaces In Healthcare Facilities Pre- And Post-Cleaning, Aaron Thomas Hunt

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a serious public health issue affecting millions of people. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is a leading cause of healthcare acquired infections today. Research has shown that patients infected or colonized with MRSA shed the bacteria into the environment, where the bacteria can survive for long periods of time and become potential sources of infection. Currently, infection prevention efforts focus on active surveillance, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment use and antimicrobial stewardship, with less attention given to environmental cleaning. Nevertheless, environmental cleaning is essential to remove infectious agents from environmental surfaces and prevent transmission. The …

Antibody Quality And Protection From Lethal Ebola Virus Challenge In Nonhuman Primates Immunized With Rabies Virus Based Bivalent Vaccine., Joseph E Blaney, Andrea Marzi, Mallory Willet, Amy B Papaneri, Christoph Wirblich, Friederike Feldmann, Michael Holbrook, Peter Jahrling, Heinz Feldmann, Matthias J Schnell

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

We have previously described the generation of a novel Ebola virus (EBOV) vaccine platform based on (a) replication-competent rabies virus (RABV), (b) replication-deficient RABV, or (c) chemically inactivated RABV expressing EBOV glycoprotein (GP). Mouse studies demonstrated safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of these live or inactivated RABV/EBOV vaccines. Here, we evaluated these vaccines in nonhuman primates. Our results indicate that all three vaccines do induce potent immune responses against both RABV and EBOV, while the protection of immunized animals against EBOV was largely dependent on the quality of humoral immune response against EBOV GP. We also determined if the induced …

Academic Performance Of First-Year Students At A College Of Pharmacy In East Tennessee: Models For Prediction, Cheri W. Clavier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the increase of students applying to pharmacy programs, it is imperative that admissions committees choose appropriate measures to analyze student readiness. The purpose of this research was to identify significant factors that predict the academic performance, defined as grade point average (GPA) at the end of the first professional year, of pharmacy students. The population consisted of 466 students enrolled in a Doctor of Pharmacy Program in northeast Tennessee over a 5-year period. Statistical procedures included bivariate correlations, t-tests for independent samples, and multiple regression. Analysis of the data revealed that the majority of the students in the population …

A Mathematical Model For Antibiotic Resistance In A Hospital Setting With A Varying Population, Edward H. Snyder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria(ARB) is causing increased health risk and cost to society. Mathematical models have been developed to study the transmission of resistant bacteria and the efficacy of preventive measures to slow its spread within a hospital setting. The majority of these models have assumed a constant total hospital population with the admission and discharge rates being equal throughout the duration. But a typical hospital population varies from day to day and season to season. In this thesis, we apply variable admission and discharge daily rates to existing deterministic and stochastic models which examine the transmission of single and dual resistant …

There's A Pattern Here: The Case To Integrate Environmental Security Into Homeland Security Strategy, James D. Ramsay

Applied Aviation Sciences - Daytona Beach

The time is long overdue to acknowledge that global climate and resource stresses, encompassed by the concept of environmental security (ES), are an increasingly important part of "homeland" security (HS) study and practice, by even the most restricted definitions of HS. Environmental security issues will affect global economic and political stability, US national interests, and the risk of war and terrorism. Just as homeland security encompasses many complex issues and interconnected subfields, environmental security (ES) is interdisciplinary by nature. In essence, ES is an emergent discipline borrowing from a combination of environmental studies — which decades ago integrated environmental science …

Novel Imaging-Based Techniques Reveal A Role For Pd-1/Pd-L1 In Tumor Immune Surveillance In The Lung, Todd Bartkowiak

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The binding of immune inhibitory receptor Programmed Death 1 (PD-1) on T cells to its ligand PD-L1 has been implicated as a major contributor to tumor induced immune suppression. Clinical trials of PD-L1 blockade have proven effective in unleashing therapeutic anti-tumor immune responses in a subset of patients with advanced melanoma, yet current response rates are low for reasons that remain unclear. Hypothesizing that the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway regulates T cell surveillance within the tumor microenvironment, we employed intravital microscopy to investigate the in vivo impact of PD-L1 blocking antibody upon tumor-associated immune cell migration. However, current analytical methods of intravital …

Characterization Of Differentiation And Prognostic Biomarkers On Cd8+ Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes In Metastatic Melanoma, Richard C. Wu

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) frequently infiltrate tumors, yet most melanoma patients fail to undergo tumor regression. We studied the differentiation of the CD8⁺ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) from 44 metastatic melanoma patients using known T-cell differentiation markers. We also compared CD8⁺ TIL against the T cells from matched melanoma patients’ peripheral blood. We discovered a novel subset of CD8⁺ TIL co-expressing early-differentiation markers, CD27, CD28, and a late/senescent CTL differentiation marker, CD57. This CD8⁺CD57⁺ TIL expressed a cytolytic enzyme, granzyme B (GB), yet did not express another cytolytic pore-forming molecule, perforin (Perf). In …

Inflammatory Breast Cancer: The Immune Perspective, Evan N. Cohen

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most insidious form of locally advanced disease. Although rare and less than 2% of all breast cancer, IBC is responsible for up to 10% of all breast cancer deaths. Despite the name, very little is known about the role of inflammation or immune mediators in IBC. Therefore, we analyzed blood samples from IBC patients and non-IBC patients, as well as healthy donor controls to establish an IBC-specific profile of peripheral blood leukocyte phenotype and function of T cells and dendritic cells and serum inflammatory cytokines.

Emerging evidence suggests that host factors in the microenviromement …

Food Handling, Hygiene, And Sanitation Practices In The Child-Care Environment In North Carolina And South Carolina, Xi Chen

All Theses

Introduction: Children between the ages of 37 and 54 months enrolled in child-care facilities (CCFs) are reported to be 2.3 to 3.5 times more likely to experience an acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) than are children cared for in their own home. Identifying potential risk factors for the transmission of enteric pathogens in CCFs is essential to the prevention of AGI.
Methods: A convenience sample of CCFs in North Carolina and South Carolina was recruited to participate in this study. A survey was administered to all CCF directors to collect information about facility characteristics, meal preparation, staff training, hygiene policies and …

Analysis Of The Interaction Of Francisella Tularensis Lvs And Legionella Pneumophila Biofilms With Components Of The Aquatic Environment, Uma Mahajan

All Dissertations

Biofilms are complex communities of organisms enclosed in a matrix (EPS) composed of polysaccharides, proteins and DNA. Biofilms are the base of the aquatic ecosystem and interact with the biotic as well as the abiotic components in the environment. Biofilms interact with biotic components of the environment such as protozoa and aquatic invertebrates. In this project, the biotic interactions of Francisella tularensis LVS biofilms are studied in relation to the mosquito larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus. F. tularensis is the causative agent of tularemia and is transmitted by ticks, deer flies, and mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are believed to play a role in …

Public Health Aspects Of The Daugherty Water For Food Institute Strategic Plan, Eleanor G. Rogan, Bruce Grogan, Terry Huang, Alan Kolok, Risto Rautiainen, Oscar Araz, Christopher Fisher, Andrew Jameton, Ashish Joshi, Sharon Meaker-Medcalf, Jim P. Stimpson, Melissa Tibbits

Reports: College of Public Health

The University of Nebraska College of Public Health is committed to contributing to the research, service and education programs of the Daugherty Water for Food Institute. The College can offer a wide variety of expertise that can contribute to programs related to water, food and health. This document has been written to highlight the areas in which College faculty have particular interests, knowledge and experience to contribute.

Cinemeducation: Teaching Family Assessment Skills Using Full-Length Movies, Astrid H. Wilson, Barbara J. Blake, Gloria A. Taylor, Glenda Hannings

Faculty Articles

A thorough family assessment provides a foundation for the nursing process when working with families. Therefore, nurses, along with other health care providers must develop expertise in conducting family assessments to provide the best possible care within the community. This article describes an innovative educational strategy using movies to teach family assessment skills and puts forth recommendations for future research to provide evidence to support this teaching modality.

Behavioral Feeding Intervention In Children, Richard Liou

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Nutritional And Economic Analysis Of Small-Scale Agriculture In Imbabura, Ecuador, Jake Erickson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Intervention projects in the developing world normally aim to satisfy either the nutritional needs of a group, or advancing the economic stability, but not both. One of the many issues that may arise by narrowly focusing and creating an aid program is that although a group may be fed, they are not equipped to mitigate risks that will arise after project completion and thus continue or revert back to a malnourished state. A bridge is required to join the economic and nutritional programs to create aid interventions that are sustainable past the point of donor separation.

This paper proposes the …

Characterization Of Lactose Monolaurate For Its Antimicrobial And Emulsification Properties And Its Effect On Crystallization Behavior Of Anhydrous Milk Fat, Ashwini Wagh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A major class of synthetic emulsifiers used in food is sucrose esters. However, the use of lactose esters in foods is not very well known. Lactose monolaurate was characterized in our laboratory with respect to its antimicrobial, emulsification and fat crystallization modifier properties. The benefits of this study were multifold. A single compound was explored for multiple functionalities. Enzymatic synthesis and characterization of lactose monolaurate was carried out in the laboratory using food grade solvents. This process utilized lactose, a major byproduct of the dairy industry which is cheaper than sucrose.

In the first study, lactose monolaurate was explored for …

Interactions Between Protozoan Prey (Phylum Protista) And Their Mosquito Predators (Order Diptera, Family Cuclicidae) Prey Size And Predator Behavior Effects, Jeffrey Jay Skiff

Master's Theses

Mosquitoes (Diptera. Culicidae) are insects that are medically important as adults as they vector numerous diseases. Yet, understanding the ecology of the larval stage can lead to surveillance and control of adult populations. Aedes albopictus, Aedes triseriatus, Cu/ex corona/or, and Culex quinquefasciatus are four species of mosquito that co-occur in discarded automobile tires. Mosqui-to larvae feed on microorganisms (including protozoans) and particulate organic matter Most larval feeding experiments. howt:ver, have dealt exclusively with bacteria, fungi , and particulate organic matter Although bactena and fungi are important sources of nitrogen and lipids, they may be 111sufficient sources of carbon, which may …

Development Of A Genetic Marker To Differentiate Between Pulex Irritans And Pulex Simulans, Colby Russell Kearl

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Pulex irritans and Pulex simulans are zoonotic flea vectors of plague and other infectious diseases. P. irritans have historically been known to use carnivores as a host, while P. simulans primarily parasitizes omnivores. To fully understand arthropod-borne infectious disease transmissibility and potential for geographical spread, it is important to differentiate between these two flea species. Traditional taxonomy uses the flea's male morphological features to distinguish species. There are no observable morphological differences between the female P. irritans and P. simulans. Molecular markers of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) have been successfully used in other insect organisms to differentiate …

Patient Perspectives Of Nutrition In Healthcare: An Exploratory Study, Matthew Gary Petersen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Healthcare is one of the most debated and controversial issues facing our nation and the world today. From availability to affordability, healthcare influences the lives of millions of people daily. For more than a decade the World Health Organization has called for an integrated approach to improve global health by improving patient adherence to prescribed treatments. Despite this, very little improvement has been made in adherence trends since the 1980's. Some current research has focused on improved adherence through an understanding of the patient's perspective of healthcare. By understanding how the patient sees healthcare, physicians are able to provide more …