Digital Commons Network^™

Building Assets Toolkit: Developing Positive Benchmarks For Adolescent Girls—Asset Cards, Judith Bruce, Sarah Engebretsen, Kimberly Glazer

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This document contains the Building Assets Toolkit’s Asset Cards (110), set of Age Cards (age 6 to 20), and Program Planning Worksheet (sample provided). The Age Cards are to be printed out and placed according to the instructions. The Asset Cards are to be printed out and cut in half. Blank Asset Cards are provided to create customized assets. The Building Assets Toolkit is an approach for developing programs for specific segments of girls that will prepare them to better face the challenges of growing up. It will help program managers understand the needs of the girls in their community, …

Neopterin, Homocysteine, And Adma Levels During And After Urticaria Attack, Sali̇m Kemal Tuncer, Ümi̇t Kaldirim, Yusuf Emrah Eyi̇, Ali̇ Osman Yildirim, Şafak Eki̇nci̇, Kemal Kara, Murat Eroğlu, Muzaffer Öztosun, Selahatti̇n Özyürek, Murat Durusu, Mustafa Güleç, Tuncer Çayci, Özcan Altinel, Hüseyi̇n Levent Yamanel

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Urticaria is a vascular skin reaction characterized with papules and plaques. Neopterin is accepted as an immunologic marker and an indicator of activation of the immune system. Homocysteine and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) are the markers of increased vascular resistance. Alteration in vascular resistance has a role in the pathogenesis of urticaria. We aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between urticaria and neopterin, homocysteine, or ADMA. Materials and methods: The study is designed as a prospective descriptive study and patients with a diagnosis of urticaria in the emergency department were included in the study. Demographic data and characteristics …

Pharyngeal Carriage Rate Of Neisseria Meningitidis Before And After Thehajj Pilgrimage, In Zahedan (Southeastern Iran), 2012, Maliheh Metanat, Batool Sharifi-Mood, Sara Sanei-Moghaddam, Nahid Sepehri Rad

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, which attracts more than 3 million Muslim pilgrims from around the world, has played a role in the global spread of meningococcal infection. We aimed to compare pharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis in Hajj pilgrims before departure and after returning to Iran, Zahedan. Materials and methods: This prospective and cross-sectional study was conducted among Hajj pilgrims in Zahedan (southeast Iran) in 2012. We studied all pilgrims who agreed to participate in this study and who met the inclusion criteria. Sampling was done by swabbing the posterior pharyngeal wall through the mouth with direct …

Characterization Of Klebsiella Isolates By Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (Maldi-Tof Ms) And Determination Of Antimicrobial Resistance With Vitek 2 Advanced Expert System (Aes), Alper Karagöz, Sümeyra Acar, Hani̇fi̇ Körkoca

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the performance of the VITEK mass spectrometry (MS) (bioMérieux, France) system for the identification of Klebsiella spp. isolated from different sources. Moreover, while assessing the ability of the VITEK 2 automated expert system (AES) to recognize antimicrobial resistance patterns, the researchers have extended the study to compare VITEK 2 with the routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing method. Materials and methods: This study tested 51 Klebsiella spp. isolates that were isolated from environmental examples and clinical examples. Results of conventional methods and the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS were compared. Then, any …

Pcr Investigation Of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, Enterotoxin, Exfoliative Toxin,And Agr Genes In Staphylococcus Aureus Strains Isolated From Psoriasis Patients, Juli̇de Sedef Göçmen, Neri̇man Şahi̇ner, Mukadder Koçak, Zeynep Ceren Karahan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Staphylococcus aureus colonization is a determiner of disease activation in psoriasis patients. Here we evaluate the presence of genes encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), enterotoxins, TSST-1, exfoliative toxins, and the accessory gene regulatory locus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in S. aureus isolates obtained from healthy and diseased skin regions and anterior nares of psoriasis patients and healthy controls. Materials and methods: The presence of PVL and toxin genes was investigated, and agr typing was performed by PCR. Results: Eighteen of the isolated strains carried the sei, 1 carried the seb-sec, and 1 carried the seg1397645907enterotoxin gene. Eight of the …

Differences In The Effectiveness Of Serum Biomarkers For The Diagnosis Of Bacterial Infections In Adult And Elderly Patients Admitted To The Emergency Department, Hava Yilmaz, Lati̇f Duran, Kerametti̇n Yanik, Mehmet Altuntaş, Mustafa Sünbül

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: This study aimed to evaluate the superiority of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, white blood cell (WBC) counts, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in discriminating among infection, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and sepsis, and their differences according to age groups. Materials and methods: The patients were divided into an adult group and a geriatric group (over 65 years) and classified according to the presence of infection, SIRS, and sepsis. The patients' laboratory values (PCT, CRP, WBC, ESR), demographic characteristics, and vital signs were taken into consideration. Results: When the laboratory parameters were evaluated, there were no significant …

Prospective Investigation Of The Hypothalamo?Pituitary?Adrenalaxis In Patients With Tularemia, Hayati̇ Demi̇raslan, Yasi̇n Şi̇mşek, Fati̇h Tanriverdi̇, Mehmet Doğanay, Hasan Fahretti̇n Keleştemur

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: To investigate prospectively the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. Materials and methods: Tularemia was diagnosed according to guidelines. An ACTH stimulation test (1 µg) and a dexamethasone suppression test (DST; 1 mg) were performed in patients in the acute phase of tularemia before antibiotic treatment and in the chronic phase. Results: Nineteen patients (mean age: 41.0 ± 13.2 years; 57.9% female) with tularemia were enrolled in the study in 2011 and 2012. Cortisol response to ACTH stimulation test was sufficient in all patients during the acute phase. After the DST, the cortisol was not suppressed …

Diagnostic And Prognostic Value Of Procalcitonin And Strem-1 Levels In Sepsis*, Hali̇m Bayram, Özlem Tünger, Melek Çi̇vi̇, Müni̇p Hakan Yüceyar, Cevval Ulman, Gönül Di̇nç Horasan, Çi̇ğdem Banu Çeti̇n

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Sepsis is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality despite the improvements in diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the values of procalcitonin and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in the differential diagnosis of patients with sepsis and noninfectious systemic inflammatory response syndrome (NI-SIRS) and measure their importance in the prognosis of patients with sepsis. Materials and methods: This prospective study included 41 NI-SIRS and 33 sepsis patients hospitalized in Celal Bayar University Hospital, Manisa, Turkey. Blood samples were taken from NI-SIRS patients on days 0 and 3 and from …

Serologic Testing For Celiac Disease In Young People With Elevated Transaminases, Juanli Yuan, Jinyan Gao, Yonghong Yao, Hongbing Chen

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: A cryptogenic elevation of transaminases is the most common hepatic manifestation in celiac disease (CD). In adult patients and pediatric patients with cryptogenic hypertransaminasemia, the prevalence of CD was 4% and 12%, respectively. However, there are no related data from China in this regard. We aimed to investigate the status of CD in young Chinese patients with elevated transaminases. Materials and methods: A total of 125 patients with elevated transaminases and 125 healthy individuals as controls with matched age and sex were involved in the study. Serum markers of hepatitis B were determined in patients with elevated transaminases. All …

In Vitro Efficacy Of Frozen Erythrocytes: Implementation Of New Strategicblood Stores To Alleviate Resource Shortage (Issue Revisited), Riza Aytaç Çeti̇nkaya, Soner Yilmaz, İbrahi̇m Eker, Ayteki̇n Ünlü, Meti̇n Uyanik, Serkan Tapan, Ahmet Pekoğlu, Ali̇ye Aysel Pekel, Zerri̇n Ertaş, Orhan Gürsel, Uğur Haci̇ Muşabak, Sebahatti̇n Yilmaz, İsmai̇l Yaşar Avci, Ahmet Türker Çeti̇n, Can Polat Eyi̇gün

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Currently, the provision of blood products largely depends on walking blood banks and limited amounts of stored blood with short shelf lives. We aimed to compare the efficacy of erythrocyte concentrate (ECs) by pre- and postfreezing in vitro tests. Materials and methods: In our study, 10 ECs were glycerolized, frozen, thawed, and then deglycerolized using the Naval Blood Research Laboratory method. In addition to using the standard tests, ATP and 2,3-DPG levels and the viability of erythrocytes were also determined. Results: The prefreezing mean viability rates of erythrocytes changed from 89.7 ± 13.7% to 98.6 ± 1.8% after thawing …

Epidemiological And Clinical Characteristics And Management Of Oropharyngeal Tularemia Outbreak, Mustafa Önder Uzun, Kerametti̇n Yanik, Müge Erdem, Uğur Kostakoğlu, Gürdal Yilmaz, Yeli̇z Tanriverdi̇ Çayci

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with tularemia and the effectiveness of the administered treatments. Materials and methods: Patients treated in our hospital between January 2009 and March 2011 and diagnosed with tularemia were evaluated retrospectively. Patients' epidemiological and clinical characteristics, administered treatments, and posttreatment findings were recorded on patient monitoring forms. Results: At anamnesis, 29% of patients used water from wells and 71% used water from the network supply; moreover, 48.4% had a history of contact with animals and 87.1% a history of lethargy. At physical examination, 96.8% …

Antibiofilm Activity Of Trans-Cinnamaldehyde, P-Coumaric, And Ferulic Acids On Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli, Barbara Kot, Jolanta Wicha, Malgorzata Piechota, Katarzyna Wolska, Agata Gruzewska

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Biofilm on urinary catheters results in persistent infections that are resistant to antibiotics. In this study, phytochemicals were assessed as alternative antimicrobials in preventing and inactivating E. coli biofilm on urinary catheters. Materials and methods: Biofilm prevention was tested using catheter fragments inoculated with E. coli and treated with trans-cinnamaldehyde, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids (0%, 0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5%) for 0, 1, 3, and 5 days. Inactivation of E. coli biofilm with the same agents at concentrations of 0%, 1%, 1.25%, or 1.5% used for 0, 1, 3, or 5 days was also evaluated. Results: All used concentrations of …

Efficacy Of Entecavir Treatment Among Chronic Hepatitis B Nucleos(T)Ide-Naïve And -Experienced Patients, Kadi̇r Çağatay Bi̇çer, Alpay Ari, Vecdi̇ Evren Genç, Si̇bel Özsu Caymaz, Meltem Avci, Fatma Bal

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To evaluate the efficacy of entecavir (ETV) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) nucleos(t)ide-naïve and -experienced patients in clinical practice. Materials and methods: In this retrospective study 85 CHB patients who had been receiving ETV and who attended our clinic since 2007 were included. Fifty patients were nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-naïve. Factors including sex, positive HBeAg, baseline HBV DNA level, baseline alanine aminotransferase level, and prior lamivudine (LAM) resistance were evaluated in terms of their predictive role in treatment response, which was defined as a serum HBV DNA decrease of

Investigation Of Tnf-Alpha Gene (G308a) And Gstp1 Gene (Ile105val) Polymorphisms In Turkish Patients With Retinopathy Of Prematurity, Mehmet Türe, Meral Yildiz, Mutlu Karkucak, Emi̇ne Tuna Gülten, Deni̇z Siğirli, Ahmet Tuncer Özmen, Tahsi̇n Yakut

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the most frequent causes of blindness in newborn babies. Currently, its etiology is not fully understood. In this study we aimed to investigate the correlation between a patient group with ROP and a control group in terms of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) (G308A) gene and glutathione-S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) (Ile105Val) gene polymorphism. Materials and methods: Sixty-two patients diagnosed with ROP and 58 control subjects were included in this study. For TNF-alpha (G308A) gene and GSTP1 (Ile105Val) gene polymorphisms, the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used. In statistical analysis the significance …

Crude Extract Of Trichoderma Elicits Agarwood Substances In Cell Suspensionculture Of The Tropical Tree, Aquilaria Malaccensis Lam., Shashita Jayaraman, Rozi Mohamed

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Agarwood is the precious fragrant wood produced by the tropical tree Aquilaria, often after elicitation by wounding or fungal attack. In this study we established a cell suspension culture of A. malaccensis from leaf-derived callus and induced agarwood production in the culture using fungal elicitors. Elicitors were made from crude mycelial extracts of two fungal species from the genera Trichoderma and Lasidiplodia. The elicitors were added to the cell suspension culture, initiated with 2 g of fresh calli, at concentrations ranging from 2 to 10 mg L-1. A light agarwood scent was detected from the suspension culture elicited with 8 …

Vancomycin-Induced Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis (Agep) Masquerading Septic Shock-An Unusual Presentation Of A Rare Disease, Sagger Mawri, Tarun Jain, Jainil Shah, Gina Hurst, Jennifer Swiderek

Internal Medicine Articles

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a rare cutaneous adverse reaction characterized by acute sterile pustular eruptions, mostly induced by medications. Antibiotics are the most commonly implicated drugs; however, there have only been two previous reports of vancomycin-induced AGEP in the literature. In this case, we present the clinical course of a 56-year-old man who was admitted to the intensive care unit with an unusually severe form of AGEP mimicking septic shock, which developed after the recent use of vancomycin. Despite cessation of the offending agent, our patient continued to clinically decline with development of worsening skin eruptions and hemodynamic …

Anthropogenic Noise Alters Bat Activity Levels And Echolocation Calls, Jessie P. Bunkley, Christopher J.W. Mcclure, Nathan J. Kleist, Clinton D. Francis, Jesse R. Barber

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Negative impacts from anthropogenic noise are well documented for many wildlife taxa. Investigations of the effects of noise on bats however, have not been conducted outside of the laboratory. Bats that hunt arthropods rely on auditory information to forage. Part of this acoustic information can fall within the spectrum of anthropogenic noise, which can potentially interfere with signal reception and processing. Compressor stations associated with natural gas extraction produce broadband noise 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With over half a million producing gas wells in the U.S. this infrastructure is a major source of noise pollution across …

Kinesiology 181 Health Education Summer 2015, Joe Bails

Kinesiology Courses

No abstract provided.

American Society Of Parasitologists Newsletter, V. 37, No. 1, Winter 2015, Scott Lyell Gardner

American Society of Parasitologists: Newsletter

Contents

1 -- Editor's Note

2 -- Annual Meeting Data

3 -- Response to David S. Lindsay re: Self archiving of publications from the Journal of Parasitology

6 -- NCP Meeting – Nadler report

8 -- Job - Wyoming - Parasitologist

9 -- Meetings / Course Announceme

15 -- Post Doc

17 -- Announcement – Manter Laboratory

One Environment, One Health, Margaret Baker, Sienna Cipriano, Madeline Clark, Kelli Green, Hope Hemme, Jessica Horn, Jenna Jenkins, Brooke Jindra, Valerie Kesterson, Ashley Maher, Colleene Marriott, Joshua Poore, Kelly Schnoor, Chelsea Taylor

Strategic Discussions for Nebraska

Nebraska’s place as an international agricultural epicenter is important for feeding a hungry world, but the work that makes that position possible is truly incredible. Thanks to research conducted at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln by many of the world’s finest scientists, discoveries are being made that improve the health of all kingdoms–plant, animal, human and the natural environment.

The UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources scientists are Growing a Healthy Future through their work in laboratories on campus and in the laboratories of the world – fields, rivers, pastures, feedlots, swine facilities, hen houses, zoos and public health clinics. …

Curatorial Implications Of Ophyra Capensis (Order Diptera, Family Muscidae) Puparia Recovered From The Body Of The Blessed Antonio Patrizi, Monticiano, Italy (Middle Ages), Johnica J. Morrow, Diesel A. Baldwin, Leon G. Higley, Dario Piombino-Mascali, Karl J. Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

The discovery of dipteran remains on mummified individuals can lead to either cause for curatorial concern or to a better understanding of the individual’s post-mortem environment. The present study analyzed insect remains associated with the body of a unique medieval mummy of religious significance, that of the Blessed Antonio Patrizi da Monticiano. A total of 79 puparia were examined and all were identified as Ophyra capensis (Diptera: Muscidae). Additionally, a desiccated moth (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) was encountered. Puparia of O. capensis would be associated with normal decomposition shortly after the death of the mummified individual, and not an infestation beginning during …

Learning Biology Through Innovative Curricula: A Comparison Of Game- And Nongame-Based Approaches, Troy D. Sadler, William L. Romine, Deepika Menon, Richard E. Ferdig, Leonard Annetta

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

This study explored student learning in the context of innovative biotechnology curricula and the effects of gaming as a central element of the learning experience. The quasi-experimentally designed study compared learning outcomes between two curricular approaches: one built around a computer-based game and the other built around a narrative case. The research questions addressed student learning of basic biological principles, development of interest in learning science, and how a game-based approach compared to a nongame-based approach in terms of supporting learning. The study employed a pre-post design with 1,888 high school students nested within the classes of 36 biology teachers. …

Maternal Obesity And Rectovaginal Group B Streptococcus Colonization At Term, Shelby M. Kleweis, Alison G. Cahill, Anthony O. Odibo, Methodius G. Tuuli

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena Australis) Calf Mortality At Península Valdés, Argentina: Are Harmful Algal Blooms To Blame?, Cara Wilson, A. Viviana Sastre, Monica Hoffmeyer, Victoria J. Rowntree, Spencer E. Fire, Norma H. Santinelli, Soledad Diaz Ovejero, Valeria D'Agostino, Carina F. Maron, Gregory J. Doucette, Margaret H. Broadwater, Zhihong Wang, Nora Montoya, Jon Seger, Frederick R. Alder, Mariano Sironi, Marcela M. Uhart

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Península Valdés (PV) in Argentina is an important calving ground for southern right whales (SRWs, Eubalaena australis). Since 2005, right whale mortality has increased at PV, with most of the deaths (~90%) being calves <3mo old. We investigated the potential involvement of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in these deaths by examining data that include: timing of the SRW deaths, biotoxins in samples from dead SRWs, abundances of the diatom, Pseudo-nitzschia spp., and the dinoflagellate, Alexandrium tamarense, shellfish harvesting closure dates, seasonal availability of whale prey at PV and satellite chlorophyll data. Evidence of the whales’ exposure to HAB toxins includes trace levels of paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) and domoic acid (DA) in tissues of some dead whales, and fragments of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. frustules in whale feces. Additionally, whales are present at PV …

Comparison Of Experimental Respiratory Tularemia In Three Nonhuman Primate Species, Audrey R. Glynn, Derron A. Alves, Ondraya Frick, Rebecca Erwin-Cohen, Aimee Porter, Sarah Norris, David Waag, Aysegul Nalca

United States Army: Publications

Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by Francisella tularensis, which is transmitted to humans most commonly by contact with infected animals, tick bites, or inhalation of aerosolized bacteria. F. tularensis is highly infectious via the aerosol route; inhalation of as few as 10–50 organisms can cause pneumonic tularemia. Left untreated, the pneumonic form has more than >30% case-fatality rate but with early antibiotic intervention can be reduced to 3%. This study compared tularemia disease progression across three species of nonhuman primates [African green monkey (AGM), cynomolgus macaque (CM), and rhesus macaque (RM)] following aerosolized F. tularensis Schu S4 exposure. …

Particle-Based Platforms For Malaria Vaccines, Yimin Wu, David L. Narum, Sylvain Fleury, Gary Jennings, Anjali Yadava

United States Army: Publications

Recombinant subunit vaccines in general are poor immunogens likely due to the small size of pep-tides and proteins, combined with the lack or reduced presentation of repetitive motifs and missing complementary signal(s) for optimal triggering of the immune response. Therefore, recombinant sub-unit vaccines require enhancement by vaccine delivery vehicles in order to attain adequate protective immunity. Particle-based delivery platforms, including particulate antigens and particulate adjuvants,are promising delivery vehicles for modifying the way in which immunogens are presented to both theinnate and adaptive immune systems. These particle delivery platforms can also co-deliver non-specific immunostimodulators as additional adjuvants. This paper reviews efforts …

Prevalence Of Nasopharyngeal Pneumococcal Colonization In Children And Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles Of Carriage Isolates, Julie Y. Zhou, Megan Isaacson-Schmid, Elizabeth C. Utterson, Elizabeth M. Todd, Michelle Mcfarland, Janardan Sivapalan, Joan M. Niehoff, Carey-Ann D. Burnham, S. Celeste Morley

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Nosocomial Pneumonia: Impact Of Pneumonia Classification, Scott T. Micek, Marin H. Kollef, Antoni Torres, Catherine Chen, Jordi Rello, Jean Chastre, Massimo Antonelli, Tobias Welte, Bernard Clair, Helmut Ostermann, Esther Calbo, Richard Wunderink, Francesco Menichetti, Garrett Schramm, Vandana Menon

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Impaired Fas-Fas Ligand Interactions Result In Greater Recurrent Herpetic Stromal Keratitis In Mice, Xiao-Tang Yin, Tammie L. Keadle, Jessicah Hard, John Herndon, Chelsea R. Del Rosso, Thomas A. Ferguson, Patrick M. Stuart

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Relationship Between Heat-Labile Enterotoxin Secretion Capacity And Virulence In Wild Type Porcine-Origin Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli Strains, Prageeth Wijemanne, Jun Xing, Emil M. Berberov, David H. Francis, Rodney A. Moxley

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) is an important virulence factor secreted by some strains of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). The prototypic human-origin strain H10407 secretes LT via a type II secretion system(T2SS). We sought to determine the relationship between the capacity to secrete LT and virulence in porcine-origin wild type (WT) ETEC strains. Sixteen WT ETEC strains isolated from cases of severe diarrheal disease were analyzed by GM1ganglioside enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay tomeasure LT concentrations in culture supernatants. All strains had detectable LT in supernatants by 2 h of culture and 1 strain, which was particularly virulent in gnotobiotic piglets (3030-2), had …