Digital Commons Network^™

Zoonotic Transmission Of Waterborne Disease: A Mathematical Model, Edward K. Waters

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Waterborne parasites that infect both humans and animals are common causes of diarrheal illness, but the relative importance of transmission between humans and animals and vice versa remains poorly understood. Transmission of infection from animals to humans via environmental reser12

voirs, such as water sources, has attracted attention as a potential source of endemic and epidemic infections, but existing mathematical models of water borne disease transmission have limitations for studying this phenomenon, as they only consider contamination of environmental reservoirs by humans. This paper develops a mathematical model that represents the transmission of waterborne parasites within and between both animal …

Body Weight Management In Overweight And Obese Breast Cancer Survivors, Max Bulsara

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of different body weight management approaches in breast cancer survivors who are overweight or obese.

Poly-Arginine Peptides Reduce Infarct Volume In A Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Rat Stroke Model, D Milani, V Clark, J Cross, R Anderton, N Knuckey, B Meloni

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: We recently reported that poly-arginine peptides have neuroprotective properties both in vitro and in vivo. In cultured cortical neurons exposed to glutamic acid excitotoxicity, we demonstrated that neuroprotective potency increases with polymer length plateauing at R15 to R18 (R = arginine resides). In an in vivo study in rats, we also demonstrated that R9D (R9 peptide synthesised with D-isoform amino acids) administered intravenously at a dose of 1000 nmol/kg 30 min after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) reduces infarct volume. Based on these positive in vitro and in vivo findings, we decided to examine the neuroprotective efficacy of …

The R18 Polyarginine Peptide Is More Effective Than The Tat-Nr2b9c (Na-1) Peptide When Administered 60 Minutes After Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion In The Rat, D Milani, N Knuckey, R Anderton, J Cross, B Meloni

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

We examined the dose responsiveness of polyarginine R18 (100, 300, and 1000 nmol/kg) when administered 60 minutes after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).The TAT-NR2B9c peptide, which is known to be neuroprotective in rodent and nonhuman primate stroke models, served as a positive control. At 24 hours afterMCAO, there was reduced total infarct volume in R18 treated animals at all doses, but this reduction only reached statistical significance at doses of 100 and 1000 nmol/kg. The TAT-NR2B9c peptide reduced infarct volume at doses of 300 and 1000 nmol/kg, but not to a statistically significant extent, while the 100 nmol/kg dose …

Development Of A Video-Based Education And Process Change Intervention To Improve Advance Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Decision-Making, Nicholas Waldron, Clare V. Johnson, P Saul, Waldron Heidi, Jeffrey C. Chong, Anne-Marie Hill, Barbara Hayes

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Advance cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) decision-making and escalation of care discussions are variable in routine clinical practice. We aimed to explore physician barriers to advance CPR decision-making in an inpatient hospital setting and develop a pragmatic intervention to support clinicians to undertake and document routine advance care planning discussions.

Methods: Two focus groups, which involved eight consultants and ten junior doctors, were conducted following a review of the current literature. A subsequent iterative consensus process developed two intervention elements: (i) an updated ‘Goals of Patient Care’ (GOPC) form and process; (ii) an education video and resources for teaching advance CPR …

A Middle-Aged Man With Cellulitis, R Sullivan, G Fulde

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

A middle-aged man presents with an extremely painful swollen red leg and signs of sepsis. He has a history of chronic venous insufficiency, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and obstructive sleep apnoea. What are your differential diagnoses and how should he be managed?

Huperzine A For Treatment Of Cognitive Impairment In Major Depressive Disorder: A Systematic Review Of Randomized Controlled Trials, Wei Zheng, Ying-Qiang Xiang, Gabor S. Ungvari, Helen Chiu, Chee H. Ng, Ying Wang, Yu-Tao Xiang

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors have been shown to be effective in treating cognitive impairment in animal models and in human subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD). Huperzine A (HupA), a Traditional Chinese Medicine derived from a genus of clubmosses known as Huperzineserrata, is a powerful AChE inhibitor that has been used as an adjunctive treatment for MDD, but no meta-analysis on HupA augmentation for MDD has yet been reported.

Aim: Conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTS) about HupA augmentation in the treatment of MDD to evaluate its efficacy and safety.

Methods: Two evaluators independently searched …

Complementary Therapies For Labour And Birth: A Randomized Controlled Trial Of Antenatal Integrative Medicine For Pain Management In Labour, K Levett, C Smith, A Bensoussan, H Dahlen

Medical Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an antenatal integrative medicine education programme in addition to usual care for nulliparous women on intrapartum epidural use.

Design: Open-label, assessor blind, randomized controlled trial.

Setting: 2 public hospitals in Sydney, Australia.

Population: 176 nulliparous women with low-risk pregnancies, attending hospital-based antenatal clinics.

Methods and intervention: The Complementary Therapies for Labour and Birth protocol, based on the She Births and acupressure for labour and birth courses, incorporated 6 evidence-based complementary medicine techniques: acupressure, visualisation and relaxation, breathing, massage, yoga techniques, and facilitated partner support. Randomisation occurred at 24–36 weeks’ gestation, and participants attended a …

Wildebeest-Associated Malignant Catarrhal Fever: Perspectives For Integrated Control Of A Lymphoproliferative Disease Of Cattle In Sub-Saharan Africa, Lillian Wambua, Peninah Nduku Wambua, Allan Maurice Ramogo, Domnic Mijele, Moses Yongo Otiende

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Wildebeest-associated malignant catarrhal fever (WA-MCF), an acute lymphoproliferative disease of cattle caused by alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AlHV-1), remains a significant constraint to cattle production in nomadic pastoralist systems in eastern and southern Africa. The transmission of WA-MCF is dependent on the presence of the wildlife reservoir, i.e. wildebeest, belonging to the species Connochaetes taurinus and Connochaetes gnou; hence, the distribution of WA-MCF is largely restricted to Kenya, Tanzania and the Republic of South Africa, where wildebeest are present. WA-MCF is analogous to sheep-associated MCF (SA-MCF) in many aspects, with the latter having sheep as its reservoir host and a more …

Analyses Of Mitochondrial Genes Reveal Two Sympatric But Genetically Divergent Lineages Of Rhipicephalus Appendiculatus In Kenya, Esther G. Kanduma, Joram M. Mwacharo, Naftaly W. Githaka, Peter W. Kinyanjui, Joyce N. Njuguna, Lucy M. Kamau, Edward Kariuki, Stephen Mwaura, Robert A. Skilton, Richard P. Bishop

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: The ixodid tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus transmits the apicomplexan protozoan parasite Theileria parva, which causes East coast fever (ECF), the most economically important cattle disease in eastern and southern Africa. Recent analysis of micro- and minisatellite markers showed an absence of geographical and host-associated genetic sub-structuring amongst field populations of R. appendiculatus in Kenya. To assess further the phylogenetic relationships between field and laboratory R. appendiculatus tick isolates, this study examined sequence variations at two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), and the nuclear encoded ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of the …

Organizational Transformation: Creating The Enabling Environment Through Temporary Disconnect, Syed Irfan Nabi

Business Review

Organizations need to transform to respond to the changes in their operating environment. Despite the awareness that change is the essence of life, humans find it rather elusive to manage it effectively. Most changes are not events but processes, and involve three-stages - Undo, Usher and Consolidate or U2C. Undo the existing order, usher in the new one and, finally, consolidate it. Proper management is required in all three stages. Our understanding of his nature leads us to conclude that a successful change demands a complex handling of environment. Temporary disconnect from the existing order will help in all three …

Spatial Separation Of Semiochemical Lurem-Tr And Entomopathogenic Fungi To Enhance Their Compatibility And Infectivity In An Autoinoculation System For Thrips Management, David K. Mfuti, Sevgan Subramanian, Rob Whm Van Tol, Gerrie L. Wiegers, Willem J. De Kogel, Saliou Niassy, Hannalene Du Plessis, Sunday Ekesi, Nguya K. Maniania

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

BACKGROUND: The effect of spatial separation of the semiochemical Lurem-TR, which has been found to inhibit conidia of entomopathogenic fungi when put together, on the persistence of conidia of Metarhizium brunneum and M. anisopliae was evaluated in the greenhouse and field in order to develop an autodissemination strategy for the management of Megalurothrips sjostedti on cowpea crop. Influence of spatial separation of the semiochemical on thrips attraction and conidial acquisition by thrips from the autoinoculation device was also investigated in the field. RESULTS: Persistence of conidia of M. brunneum and M. anisopliae increased with distance of separation of Lurem-TR. Direct …

Electrophysiology Of Basal Ganglia (Bg) Circuitry And Dystonia As A Model Of Motor Control Dysfunction, Deepak Kumbhare

Theses and Dissertations

The basal ganglia (BG) is a complex set of heavily interconnected nuclei located in the central part of the brain that receives inputs from the several areas of the cortex and projects via the thalamus back to the prefrontal and motor cortical areas. Despite playing a significant part in multiple brain functions, the physiology of the BG and associated disorders like dystonia remain poorly understood. Dystonia is a devastating condition characterized by ineffective, twisting movements, prolonged co-contractions and contorted postures. Evidences suggest that it occurs due to abnormal discharge patterning in BG-thalamocortocal (BGTC) circuitry. The central purpose of this study …

Documenting Student Connectivity And Use Of Digital Annotation Devices In Virginia Commonwealth University Connected Courses: An Assessment Toolkit For Digital Pedagogies In Higher Education, Laura Gogia

Theses and Dissertations

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is implementing a large scale exploration of digital pedagogies, including connected learning and open education, in an effort to promote digital fluency and integrative thinking among students. The purpose of this study was to develop a classroom assessment toolkit for faculty who wish to document student connectivity in course-related blogging and microblogging (“tweeting”) activities. Student use of digital annotation devices, including hyperlinks, embedded images, mentions, and hashtags, were studied in four university courses as potential indicators of student connectivity, defined as the ability to connect current thoughts and experience with other concepts and people across space …

The Role Of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (Nac) As An Adjuvant To Opioid Treatment In Patients With Inadequately Controlled Chronic Neuropathic Pain, Thomas B. Moore

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction. While opioid medications are commonly prescribed for management of neuropathic pain (NP), long-term use has been associated with increased risk for overdose, drug interactions and addiction. New strategies are necessary to better manage chronic pain, thereby reducing need for opioid medications and their associated adverse consequences. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), an over-the-counter supplement, has shown promise in the treatment of psychiatric and addictive disorders. In addition, NAC has shown promise for reducing physiological signs of NP in laboratory rat models, prompting this study.

Purpose. The present study was an open-label clinical trial of NAC as an adjuvant to opioid treatment for …

A Hint And The Incapacity, Jake Reller

Theses and Dissertations

My paintings are a mediated autobiography focusing on fragmented, cropped or collaged elements derived from photographic sources. Banal scenes based on my experience growing up in rural Washington state are charged with multivalent interpretations via close ups, veiling and intentional obfuscation. Through these means, altered color and expressionistic paint handling, they subtly point outside of their beginnings as the photographic and personal and into a dialogue with historical and social sites such as punk music, abstract expressionism and existential literature.

Toward Epistemological Diversity In Stem-H Grantmaking: Grantors’ And Grantees’ Perspectives On Funding Indigenous Research, Programming, And Evaluation, Jessica C. Venable

Theses and Dissertations

Mainstream institutions have, historically, dismissed Indigenous worldviews, knowledges, and research approaches (Bowman-Farrell, 2015; Harrington & Pavel, 2013). However, in recent years, a literature has emerged articulating Indigenous research methodologies (IRMs), and their distinctiveness from Western, Eurocentric perspectives on inquiry (Denzin, Lincoln, & Smith, 2008; Kovach, 2009; Smith, 1999 & 2012; Wilson, 2008). This has coincided with increased need for IRM scholars and practitioners to secure extramural funds to support their activities. But questions remain as to how the U.S. federal grant making enterprise has accommodated Indigenous frameworks. This research explores synergies in the ways that grantees, grant makers, and other …

Dynamic Regulation Of Mitochondrial Stat3 And Its Association With Cypd, Jeremy A. Meier

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, a number of nuclear transcription factors have been shown to be present in the mitochondria where they have distinct roles in regulating mitochondrial function. Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3), classically activated by the JAK family of receptor associated tyrosine kinases to drive nuclear gene expression, is one such transcription factor with a unique mitochondrial role. There, it has been shown to support oxidative phosphorylation, regulate mitochondrial-encoded transcripts, and be key for the transformation and growth of a number of different cancers. Despite its well-characterized functional importance at the level of the mitochondria, the mechanism …

Modern Art Of Pakistan: Lahore Art Circle 1947-1957, Samina Iqbal

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the modern art of Pakistan from 1947-57, more specifically, the role of six important artists who founded the Lahore Art Circle (LAC) in 1952. The group played a pivotal role in the formulation of modernism in Pakistan after its establishment as an Islamic Republic. Framed within postcolonial theories and criticism, this study will address the role of modern art in developing new artistic sensibilities in the nation of Pakistan. In order to understand the context of LAC’s framing of “modernism” and “nationalism” in terms of specific historic and hybrid nexus,my research will provide an investigation of …

Discriminative Stimulus Properties Of Endogenous Cannabinoid Degradative Enzyme Inhibitors, Robert Owens Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) or monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL), the chief degradative enzymes of N-arachidonoyl ethanolamine (anandamide; AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), respectively, elicits no or partial substitution for Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in drug discrimination procedures. However, combined inhibition of both enzymes fully substitutes for THC, as well as produces a full constellation of cannabimimetic effects. Because no published report to date have investigated whether an inhibitor of endocannabinoid hydrolysis will serve as a discriminative stimulus, the purpose of this doctoral dissertation was to investigate whether C57BL/6J mice would learn to discriminate SA-57 (4-[2-(4-Chlorophenyl)ethyl]-1-piperidinecarboxylic acid 2-(methylamino)-2-oxoethyl ester), a …

Probing Allosteric, Partial Inhibition Of Thrombin Using Novel Anticoagulants, Stephen S. Verespy Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Thrombin is the key protease that regulates hemostasis; the delicate balance between procoagulation and anticoagulation of blood. In clotting disorders, like deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, procoagulation is up-regulated, but propagation of clotting can be inhibited with drugs targeting the proteases involved, like thrombin. Such drugs however, have serious side effects (e.g., excessive bleeding) and some require monitoring during the course of treatment. The reason for these side effects is the mechanism by which the drugs’ act. The two major mechanisms are direct orthosteric and indirect allosteric inhibition, which will completely abolish the protease’s activity. Herein we sought an …

Evaluating The Pennebaker Paradigm With Bereaved Emerging Adults: Applications Of Text Analysis, Elizabeth A. Collison

Theses and Dissertations

Bereavement is an important research area as it can result in grief reactions that lead to serious psychological and health consequences, particularly for the at-risk group of emerging adults (Arnett, 2000; Balk, Walker, & Baker, 2010; Fisher, Murray, & Frazer, 1985; Stroebe, Schut, & Stroebe, 2007). Expressive writing is a well-researched intervention for trauma and adjustment, yet research repeatedly has revealed null results with the classic Pennebaker paradigm as a bereavement intervention (Stroebe et al., 2002; Stroebe, Schut, & Stroebe, 2006). It may be premature, however, to conclude expressive writing is ineffective for the bereaved due to limitations in extant …

Investigating The Mechanism Of The Compartmentalized Cbp (Creb-Binding Protein) Ubiquitin Ligase Activities, Oluwatoyin E. Akande

Theses and Dissertations

CBP (CREB Binding Protein) is global transcriptional co-activator and histone acetyltransferase. CBP is involved in the modulation of the transcription of many genes via histone acetylation at the promoter regions of the target genes. Also, non-histone proteins and transcription factors can be acetylated by CBP to promote their transcriptional activation. In addition to its transcription co-activator role, CBP is involved in many other pathological and physiological cellular processes such as cell growth and differentiation, cell transformation and development, response to stress, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis.

CBP and its paralogue p300, play double-edged roles in the regulation of p53, a …

Versatile Synthesis Of Transition Metal Phosphides: Emerging Front-Runners For Affordable Catalysis, April C. Mattei

Theses and Dissertations

Transition metal phosphide materials have found themselves at the forefront of research revolving around energy applications. Due to the vast range of properties possessed by marginally different phase compositions, binary and ternary metal phosphides are utilized as catalysts, semi-conductors and magnetocaloric materials along with many others. These attractive properties, which are highly phase dependent, call for a versatile and cost effective synthesis route for various phosphide materials without sacrificing properties important at the nanoscale such as particle size and morphology.

The primary focus outlined in the work of this dissertation pertains to a versatile wet chemical synthesis capable of producing …

Upper Thermal Limits Differ Among Component Species In A Host-Parasitoid-Hyperparasitoid System, Kanchan A. Joshi

Theses and Dissertations

Among the predicted impacts associated with global climate change, warming is of special interest because the rates of physiological processes are temperature-dependent. Insects and other ectotherms are likely to be affected due to their limited ability to control body temperature. In this study, I measured the tolerance to extreme high temperatures, i.e., critical thermal maximum (CT_max), of component species in a tri-trophic system, including an herbivore (Manduca sexta), a primary larval parasitoid (Cotesia congregata) and a hyperparasitoid (genus Silochalcis). For wild insects, the parasitoid had the lowest CT_max, the hyperparasitoid had …

Plant Functional Trait And Hyperspectral Reflectance Responses To Comp B Exposure: Efficacy Of Plants As Landmine Detectors, Paul V. Manley Ii

Theses and Dissertations

At least 110 million landmines have been planted since the 1970s in about 70 nations, many of which remain in place today. Some risk of detection may be mitigated using currently available remote sensing techniques when vegetation is present. My study focused on using plants as phytosensors to detect buried explosives. I exposed three species representing different functional types (Cyperus esculentus (sedge), Ulmus alata (tree), Vitis labrusca (vine)) to 500 mg kg^-1 of Composition B (Comp B; 60/40 mixture of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT)), a commonly used explosive mixture, and measured functional traits and reflectance over …

Introducing Novel Combinatorial Targeted Therapies In Multiple Types Of Cancer, Mehrad Tavallai

Theses and Dissertations

The cancers of liver, colon and breast are amongst the top five most prevalent and most fatal worldwide. As the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway is frequently deregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), sorafenib, a Raf kinase inhibitor, became the first systemic therapy approved for the treatment of patients with HCC. However, sorafenib only produced modest effects with low response rates in the clinic. Similarly, regorafenib, which was approved for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), has had a poor response rate in the clinic. Since phosphodiesterase type 5 has been reported to be overexpressed in HCC and CRC, we hypothesized that sildenafil, …

Drug And Vaccine Development For Neisseria Gonorrhoeaea, Devin R. Cash

Theses and Dissertations

Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the causative agent of the STI gonorrhea, is not preventable by vaccination and is rapidly developing resistance to antibiotics. One important strategy for gonococcal survival in the host is iron acquisition in the face of nutritional immunity. To overcome iron limitation, the gonococcus expresses TonB dependent transporters (TdTs), outer membrane proteins that facilitate nutrient acquisition. Of the TdTs, the transferrin (Tf), lactoferrin (Lf), and hemoglobin (Hb) receptors hijack iron directly from host proteins, and studies have already shown that the Tf receptor is essential for the initiation of human infection. Given that the TdTs are virulence factors, …

Crescendo, Jeffery A. Pabotoy

Theses and Dissertations

Artist Statement

I have always found comfort and warmth in my family. When I am not with them, I find myself clinging to the objects they leave behind as a substitute in their absence. As I began to re-create these objects through paintings and ceramics, I realized that I was creating symbolic portraits of my family. These portraits are tangible family moments preserved in pigment and clay.

In recent years, my siblings were deployed to war and I began to represent them as various instruments. These instruments, both musical and tools of war, chronicle who they were and who they …

"Life Under Union Occupation: Elite Women In Richmond, April And May 1865", Amanda C. Tompkins

Theses and Dissertations

This paper crafts a narrative about how elite, white Richmond women experienced the fall and rebuilding of their city in April and May 1865. At first, the women feared the entrance of the occupying army because they believed the troops would treat them as enemies. However, the goal of the white occupiers was to restore order in the city. Even though they were initially saddened by the occupation, many women were surprised at the courtesy and respected afforded them by the Union troops. Black soldiers also made up the occupying army, and women struggled to submit to black authority. With …