Digital Commons Network^™

Two Potential Hookworm Daf-16 Target Genes, Snr-3 And Lpp-1: Gene Structure, Expression Profile, And Implications Of A Cis-Regulatory Element In The Regulation Of Gene Expression, Xin Gao, Kevin Goggin, Jason Qian, John M. Hawdon

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli Superinfection Enhances The Severity Of Mouse Bladder Infection, Drew J. Schwartz, Matt S. Conover, Thomas J. Hannan, Scott J. Hultgren

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Irf-5-Dependent Signaling Restricts Orthobunyavirus Dissemination To The Central Nervous System, Jose Luiz Proenca-Modena, Jennifer L. Hyde, Renata Sesti-Costa, Tiffany Lucas, Amelia K. Pinto, Justin M. Richner, Matthew J. Gorman, Helen M. Lazear, Michael S. Diamond

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

T Cell Metabolism Drives Immunity, Michael D. Buck, David O'Sullivan, Erika L. Pearce

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Increasing The Reliability Of Fully Automated Surveillance For Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections, Rachael E. Snyders, Ashleigh J. Goris, Kathleen A. Gase, Carole L. Leone, Joshua A. Doherty, Keith F. Woeltje

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Higher Throughput Quantification Of Neutralizing Antibody To Herpes Simplex Viruses, Tamara P. Blevins, Michelle C. Mitchell, Maria Korom, Hong Wang, Yinyi Yu, Lynda A. Morrison, Robert B. Belshe

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Inadequate Source Control And Inappropriate Antibiotics Are Key Determinants Of Mortality In Patients With Intra-Abdominal Sepsis And Associated Bacteremia, Bethany Tellor, Lee P. Skrupky, William Symons, Eric High, Scott T. Micek, John E. Mazuski

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Cross-Reactivity Of Filariais Ict Cards In Areas Of Contrasting Endemicity Of Loa Loa And Mansonella Perstans In Cameroon: Implications For Shrinking Of The Lymphatic Filariasis Map In The Central African Region, Samuel Wanji, Nathalie Amvongo-Adjia, Benjamin Koudou, Abdel Jelil Njouendou, Patrick W. Chounna Ndongmo, Jonas A. Kengne-Ouafo, Fabrice R. Datchoua-Poutcheu, Bridget Adzemye Fovennso, Dizzle Bita Tayong, Fanny Fri Fombad, Peter U. Fischer, Peter I. Enyong, Moses Bockarie

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Physical Activity Affects Brain Integrity In Hiv+ Individuals, Mario Ortega, Laurie M. Baker, Florin Vaida, Robert Paul, Brian Basco, Beau M. Ances

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Discriminatory Indices Of Typing Methods For Epidemiologic Analysis Of Contemporary Staphylococcus Aureus Strains, Marcela Rodriguez, Patrick G. Hogan, Sarah W. Satola, Emily Crispell, Todd Wylie, Hongyu Gao, Erica Sodergren, George M. Weinstock, Carey-Ann D. Burnham, Stephanie A. Fritz

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Pressure Ulcer-Related Pelvic Osteomyelitis: A Neglected Disease?, Phani Bodavula, Stephen Y. Liang, Jiami Wu, Paige Vantassell, Jonas Marschall, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

An Unusual Cause Of Acute Anemia In An Immunosuppressed Patient, Jamak Modaresi Esfeh, Whitney Jackson, Kianoush Ansari-Gilani, Brian Putka

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Law’S Power To Safeguard Global Health: A Lancet–O’Neill Institute, Georgetown University Commission On Global Health And The Law, Lawrence O. Gostin, John T. Monahan, Mary C. Debartolo, Richard Horton

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

The law-–global, national, and subnational–-plays a vital, yet often underappreciated, role in safeguarding and promoting the public’s health. In this article, we launch the Lancet-O’Neill Institute, Georgetown University Commission on Global Health and the Law. Commissioners from around the world will explore the critical opportunities and challenges of using law as a tool, while evaluating the evidence base for legal interventions. The Commission aims to define and systematically describe the current landscape of law that affects global health and safety.

Commissioners were chosen from disciplines that range from health, policy, and law to economics and governance. The Commission aims …

Sustainable Chicago 2015: A Political Analysis, Zachary A. Brown

Master's Theses

Over the last decade, many of America's urban areas have developed "sustainability plans" focusing on the long-term viability of their communities. Although many local governments have concentrated on environmental issues, others have incorporated economic and social policies. A new subset of literature has emerged highlighting equity and social justice within the sustainability dialogue. Scholars and practitioners alike argue that true sustainability requires equal access to all three pillars of sustainability for all groups.

Through interviews with public and private actors, as well as content analysis of the plan, this study investigates the structure of the governance network responsible for the …

Mapping And Identification Of Increased Protein Digestibility In Sorghum, Moriah Massafaro

Open Access Theses

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) is the world’s fifth most important cereal crop and a dietary staple for approximately 500 million people in over 30 countries of the Semi-Arid Tropics. Unlike other major cereals such as maize, sorghum becomes much less digestible after it is cooked in the presence of water, often providing as little as 20% of the available protein to the consumer. Digestibility appears to be under genetic control, although the specific details remain unclear. The goals of these studies were to identify sorghum cultivars that do not show this large decrease in digestibility after cooking and to …

Food Safety Research For Fresh Produce, Jun Won Chang

Open Access Theses

Recent outbreaks and recalls associated with cantaloupe contaminated with Salmonella s.v. Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes have led to an increasing need for methods consumers can use at home to clean and sanitize cantaloupe before consumption. Hot water (82°C) and household chemicals, such as bleach, vinegar, iodine, salt and hydrogen peroxide, were tested to determine their efficacy for the reduction of S. Typhimurium and L. monocytogenes inoculated on cantaloupe surfaces. The hot water treatment was the most effective at reducing S. Typhimurium (3.8 log reduction) and L. monocytogenes (2.5 log reduction) on the cantaloupe surface.

Chemical Synthesis Of Bacterial Siderophores And Applications In Pathogen Detection, Gregory Gene Jarvis

Open Access Theses

Bacterial siderophores are a class of small organic compounds that are produced endogenously by bacteria to chelate essential ferric iron from their surroundings. Because the bioavailability of ferric iron is extremely low is physiological pH, the host of a parasitic infection can be a poor source of soluble Fe3+. Consequently, bacteria rely upon siderophore transport systems to efficiently scavenge the nutrient. Nearly every bacterial

Temporal Changes In Routine Health Markers And Their Association With Illness And Mortality Rates In Cats Naturally Infected With Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, Jamieson Nichols

Open Access Theses

Feline immunodeficiency virus is an important lentiviral infection in cats. Infection is life-long and results in immune compromise, increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and early mortality. Infection is commonly referred to in three stages: acute, (asymptomatic) and end stage (symptomatic); although not all cats will progress to end stage disease. Acute infection lasts several months during which cats may have mild, transient anorexia, lethargy, fever, lymphadenomegaly and diarrhea. There is loss of mucosal and peripheral CD4 T cells, expansion of a subset of CD8 T cells, CD8βlow, and establishment of viremia during this period. Asymptomatic infection lasts a variable period …

Occupational Therapy's Role: A Foundational Occupational Therapy Education Resource For Ghana, Shalyn K. Hample, Maria J. Sundsted

Occupational Therapy Capstones

In the developing country of Ghana, West Africa, there is a population of over 1 million individuals with disabilities (Timney, 2007). Ninety-five percent of these people have no rehabilitation service access (Timney, 2007). Due to the presence of social, political, and economic factors including negative societal stigma towards people with disabilities, political corruption and poverty, Ghana's population is vulnerable for occupational deprivation. Occupational deprivation places this population at risk for preventing engagement in or forceful discontinuation of meaningful daily occupations such as farming, education, and employment opportunities (Whiteford, 2000; Yeoman, 1998).

The U.S. has helped offer some assistance to Ghana, …

Pfapa: A Periodic Febrile Syndrome Afflicting Children, Jessica Lahti

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis syndrome (PFAPA).

• Auto-inflammatory disorder occurring in affected children every 3-8 weeks.

• Onset around age 2; lasting into second decade of life.

• A current pathophysiologic theory is PFAPA is a disorder of the innate immune system involving interleukins, chemoattractants, and cytokines that stimulating the inflammatory response causing symptoms associated with PFAPA.

• Early diagnosis of PFAPA may help prevent the unnecessary use of antibiotics.

• Biomarker CD64, galectin-3 and the MPV may be useful in the diagnosis of PFAPA along with other laboratory values during the febrile attack period …

Ixodes Scapularis In North Dakota: Phenology, Population Genetics, And Local Host Reservoir Competency In An Emerging Vector Population, Michael Dougherty

Theses and Dissertations

Tick surveillance in eastern North Dakota has revealed the presence of established I. scapularis populations in fragmented forest habitats previously regarded as unsuitable for this species. Understanding I. scapularis phenology, the reservoir competency of local vertebrate hosts, and population structure of blacklegged ticks in this region is essential to determining potential human risk of Lyme disease. Tick surveys were conducted throughout North Dakota by flagging and small mammal trapping. 1,701 ticks were collected, including 297 I. scapularis exhibiting a relatively low Borrelia burgdorferi infection rate (ca. 3-5%). Seasonal abundance varied greatly among life stages, with adult I. scapularis being most …

The N-Terminus Of Type Iii Secretion Needle Protein Yscf From Yersinia Pestis Functions To Modulate Innate Immune Responses, Patrick Osei-Owusu

Theses and Dissertations

The type III secretion system is employed by many pathogens, including the genera Yersinia, Shigella, Pseudomonas, and Salmonella, to deliver effector proteins into eukaryotic cells. The injectisome needle is formed by the polymerization of a single protein, e.g., YscF (Yersinia pestis), PscF (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), PrgI (Salmonella enterica SPI-1), SsaG (Salmonella enterica SPI-2), or MxiH (Shigella flexneri). In this study, we demonstrated that the N termini of some needle proteins, particularly the N terminus of YscF from Yersinia pestis, influences host immune responses. The N termini of several needle proteins were truncated and tested for the ability to induce inflammatory responses …

The Role Of Atg7 In The Host Defense Against Bacterial Infection, Yan Ye

Theses and Dissertations

Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) is a Gram-negative bacterium that can cause serious infections in humans. Autophagy-related gene 7 (Atg7) has been involved in certain bacterial infections; however, the role of Atg7 in macrophage-mediated immunity against Kp infection has not been elucidated. To gain a better understanding of Kp-host interaction which may provide insight into the design of novel and effective therapeutics for this infection, we set out to investigate the potential immune role for autophagy in Kp infection in vitro and in vivo. We found that Atg7 was significantly induced in murine alveolar macrophages (MH-S) upon Kp infection, indicating that Atg7 …

The Epidemiology Of Coxiella Burnetii In Goats In Indiana, Amy E. Bauer

Open Access Dissertations

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate, intracellular bacterium and the etiologic agent of the zoonotic disease Q fever. Through the presence of an environmentally resilient small cell variant, C. burnetii can persist outside of a host in the face of extremes in temperature, humidity, and pressure. C. burnetii is considered to be ubiquitous in the environment and endemic in cattle, sheep and goat populations. These same species are the main reservoirs for human infection with C. burnetii. The overall goal of this project was to develop a baseline understanding of the epidemiology of C. burnetii in goats in Indiana. Specific areas …

The Efficacy Of The Protection Motivation Theory In Predicting Cruise Ship Passengers' Intentions Regarding Norovirus Disease Incidence, Jeff Fisher

Open Access Dissertations

The cruise industry is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry. Concurrent with its growth is the challenge of mitigating the risk associated with shipboard outbreaks. Norovirus is the leading cause of shipboard outbreaks. This study examined the efficacy of the protection motivation theory for predicting passengers’ intentions towards healthy behaviors in regard to norovirus disease incidence. Outbreaks of norovirus have serious health and economic consequences. Presently there is no vaccination available; however, handwashing and social distancing can have significant impact upon the course of an outbreak. The respondents of this study completed a scenario-based questionnaire regarding norovirus disease …

Phage Therapy Applications: Efficacy And Impact On The Animal Intestinal Microbiome, Yingying Hong

Open Access Dissertations

Phage therapy is a promising antibacterial intervention that has received renewed interest in recent years. In this study, the antibacterial efficacy of phage treatments was tested in different food matrices, under different conditions, as well as in both phage cocktail and single phage forms. Additionally, this study also examined phage genome sequences, bacterial phage resistance, and the impact of orally administered phages on acute immune response and gut microbiome of the host in effort to more clearly assess the safety and long-lasting efficacy of phage-based treatments.

Associations Between The Built Environment And Physical Activity From Analyses Of Spatial Clusters, Trail Use, And Locations Where Physical Activity Occurs, Kosuke Tamura

Open Access Dissertations

Over the past two decades, an increasing number of scientific studies have examined associations between the built environment and physical activity and obesity. These studies have documented positive associations between environmental variables, such as population density, street connectivity, and composite measures of neighborhood walkability and physical activity. Studies have also shown inverse relationships between the presence of neighborhood grocery stores and recreational facilities and obesity. Despite this evidence, there continues to be limitations in built environment studies conducted to date. The three dissertation studies described here were designed to address several different aspects of built environment research that warrant greater …

Comparative Respiratory Tract Pathology Of Emerging Viral Infections, Laura Baseler

Open Access Dissertations

Increases in the number of infectious disease outbreaks affecting humans have been reported nearly every decade since the 1940’s. Many of these outbreaks have been caused by emerging zoonotic viruses. It has recently been estimated that there are at least 320,000 viruses in mammals that have yet to be discovered, some of which may affect humans. As humans continue to encroach upon previously isolated areas and have greater contact with wildlife, it is likely that zoonotic viruses will continue to emerge. Since many of these emerging viruses cause significant disease or death in humans it is vital that we study …

A Comparison Of Functionally Divergent Forms Of The Purine Biosynthesis Enzyme Pure., Kelly L. Sullivan

Open Access Dissertations

Purines are the basic building block for essential biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, NADH, CoA, and several essential vitamin cofactors. Most organisms have the ability to synthesize purines through the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway.

Decentralized Algorithms For Nash Equilibrium Problems – Applications To Multi-Agent Network Interdiction Games And Beyond, Harikrishnan Sreekumaran

Open Access Dissertations

Nash equilibrium problems (NEPs) have gained popularity in recent years in the engineering community due to their ready applicability to a wide variety of practical problems ranging from communication network design to power market analysis. There are strong links between the tools used to analyze NEPs and the classical techniques of nonlinear and combinatorial optimization. However, there remain significant challenges in both the theoretical and algorithmic analysis of NEPs. This dissertation studies certain special classes of NEPs, with the overall purpose of analyzing theoretical properties such as existence and uniqueness, while at the same time proposing decentralized algorithms that provably …