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The Dynamics Of Excessive Force, Daria Roithmayr

Publications

Existing scholarship suggests that police use of excessive force will be greatest in departments with "bad apple" officers or bad top-down incentive structures. This paper proposes an alternative theoretical account to argue that patterns of excessive force dynamically emerge from local interactions among individuals that aggregate to form more global patterns of escalation, contagion, and decay. I focus on two dynamic interactions in particular. First, I argue that excessive force spreads and escalates by way of a self-reinforcing arms race between civilians and officers that intensifies the use of excessive force over time. As officers use excessive force, civilians in …

The Utilization Of Flavonoids As Inhibitors Of Urease And As Antimalarial Agents And The Discovery Of Bacterial Methionine Aminopeptidase Inhibitors, Travis Robert Helgren

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores the inhibition of prominent enzymatic pathways important for both medicinal and agricultural applications. The research involved three distinct projects: First, an enzymatic urease inhibitory assay was optimized for plate-based screening of tree bark extracts to compare with ex vivo results from simulated-barn floor manure slurry assays performed by Dr. Wayne Zeller (USDA, Madison, WI). It wafs discovered that the measured ammonia abatement activities of each extract exhibited a correlation in both the enzymatic and ex vivo assays. Second, aminoalkylated quercetin analogs were synthesized and screened for antimalarial activity. The most potent species were found to exhibit sub-micromolar …

Design And Synthesis Of Ispd, Ispe And Ispf Enzyme Inhibitors Of The Methylerythritol Phosphate Pathway, Gashaw Melkamu Goshu

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on four projects. In collaboration with Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), FOL7185 was identified as a fragment hit that binds to IspD and IspE enzymes isolated from bacteria.1 The first project deals with the synthesis and biological activity of pyrazolopyrimidines that were synthesized based on FOL7185. The second project discusses the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of imidazole compounds. These compounds were designed and synthesized using template molecule FOL955, a fragment hit co-crystallized with Burkholderia pseudomallei (Bp) IspF (PDB code: 3QHD). 2 Moreover, this project also deals with the design and synthesis of a …

Bioactive Poly(Beta-Amino Ester) Biomaterials For Treatment Of Infection And Oxidative Stress, Andrew L. Lakes

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Polymers have deep roots as drug delivery tools, and are widely used in clinical to private settings. Currently, however, numerous traditional therapies exist which may be improved through use of polymeric biomaterials. Through our work with infectious and oxidative stress disease prevention and treatment, we aimed to develop application driven, enhanced therapies utilizing new classes of polymers synthesized in-house. Applying biodegradable poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) polymers, covalent-addition of bioactive substrates to these PBAEs avoided certain pitfalls of free-loaded and non-degradable drug delivery systems. Further, through variation of polymer ingredients and conditions, we were able to tune degradation rates, release profiles, cellular …

Implementation Of Hiv Drug Resistance Testing In Kenya, Horacio Duarte, Ingrid Beck, James Munyao, Molly Levine, Catherine Kiptinness, Bhavna Chohan, Samah Sakr, Michael Chung, Lisa Frenkel

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Background: Testing for HIV drug resistance prior to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is standard of care in the United States but is rarely performed in Africa due to its high cost. The prevalence of HIV drug resistance is increasing in resource-limited settings (RLS). An affordable and feasible strategy is needed in RLS to identify individuals with drug resistance and prescribe effective ART. Our group developed a low-cost oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA) that detects mutations conferring resistance. Little data exists on implementing HIV drug resistance testing in RLS. Here, we describe the implementation of OLA in one laboratory in Kenya and discuss …

Characterization And Inhibitor Evaluation Of Ispd And Ispe Enzymes From The Non-Mevalonate Pathway, Brian E. Hartnett

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

There is an immediate need for new antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance is rising at an alarming rate. In addition, certain select agents are a risk for bioterrorism that necessitate the discovery of new antibiotics. The methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway is a metabolic pathway that produces the isoprenoid precursors, isopentyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP). Notably, the MEP pathway is present in most bacteria and not mammals, which makes the enzymes of the MEP pathway attractive targets for discovering new anti-infective agents due to reduced chances of off-target interactions leading to side effects. Currently, there are very few known inhibitors of …

Tracing Hydrocarbon Contamination Through Hyperalkaline Environments In The Calumet Region Of Southeastern Chicago, Kathryn Ann Quesnell

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The Calumet region of Southeastern Chicago was once known for industrialization, which left pollution as its legacy. Disposal of slag and other industrial wastes occurred in nearby wetlands in attempt to create areas suitable for future development. The waste creates an unpredictable, heterogeneous geology and a unique hyperalkaline environment. Upgradient to the field site is a former coking facility, where coke, creosote, and coal weather openly on the ground. Hydrocarbons weather into characteristic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can be used to create a fingerprint and correlate them to their original parent compound. This investigation identified PAHs present in the …

The Secret Recipe : To Leadership And Career Pathway Success In Dietetics, Paula Milas Sochacki

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation focused on leaders within the dietetics profession and allowed their "voice" to be heard related to their specific personal and lived experiences throughout their own career pathways. A total of twenty participants (eighteen women and two men) were selected for this qualitative research study. I completed twenty in-depth face-to-face and phone interviews, which each lasted approximately 90 minutes. Narrative inquiry analysis was used to identify some of the key themes that emerged from the findings. A total of five key themes emerged as they related to participants' career pathway and leadership development. Mentoring was one theme that emerged; …

Plpt 496/892: Disease Dynamics & Evolution—A Peer Review Of Teaching Project Benchmark Portfolio, Sydney E. Everhart

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This benchmark course portfolio was developed as a component of the University of Nebraska Peer Review of Teaching. The course selected for this portfolio was a new course developed and taught as an Independent Study PLPT 496/892. The working title for the course was Disease Dynamics and Evolution. This course was designed to cover core concepts of disease ecology and pathogen emergence/evolution. Concepts were organism-agnostic and important for understanding infectious diseases of humans, animals, and plants. The course format was lecture-based and inquiry driven, using primary literature as case studies. The goal of this course was to use interesting and …

A Case Of Refractory Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura Treated With Plasmapheresis And Rituximab, Nicholas Kirui, Ahmed Sokwala

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare, life-threatening disorder with no prevalence or incidence studies in sub-Saharan Africa. Acquired TTP has several causes, all of which lead to decreased activity of von Willebrand factor cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) due to autoantibodies that are directed towards ADAMTS13. We report a case of a 46-year-old man who presented with most of the classic clinical manifestations of TTP.

Short Communication: Analysis Of Minor Populations Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus By Primer Identification And Insertion-Deletion And Carry Forward Correction Pipelines, Paul Hughes, Wenjie Deng, Scott C. Olson, Robert W. Coombs, Michael Chung, Lisa M. Frenkel

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Accurate analysis of minor populations of drug-resistant HIV requires analysis of a sufficient number of viral templates. We assessed the effect of experimental conditions on the analysis of HIV pol 454 pyrosequences generated from plasma using (1) the ‘‘Insertion-deletion (indel) and Carry Forward Correction’’ (ICC) pipeline, which clusters sequence reads using a nonsubstitution approach and can correct for indels and carry forward errors, and (2) the ‘‘Primer Identification (ID)’’ method, which facilitates construction of a consensus sequence to correct for sequencing errors and allelic skewing. The Primer ID and ICC methods produced similar estimates of viral diversity, but differed in …

Vulnerability In The Classroom: How Undergraduate Business Instructors' Ability To Build Trust Impacts The Student's Learning Experience, Shannon Huddy

Theses and Dissertations

Vulnerability is the ability to risk emotional exposure, chance making a mistake, or disclose personal information because the outcome is viewed as favorable. Vulnerability is a highly effective way to build trust with others. Trust is a valued leadership trait within corporate business because it encourages employees to take risks, share information, and ultimately become more effective and productive (Robbins & Judge, 2013). This paper explores the practicing of vulnerability in college-level business classrooms to appropriately prepare business students to become leaders who are able to build trust within the workplace. To further understand vulnerability in the classroom and develop …

Strengths-Based Treatment Of Substance Use Disorders: A Critical Analysis Of The Literature, Jennifer A. Berg

Theses and Dissertations

This critical analysis of the literature is a comprehensive collection and review of the literature on the strengths-based perspective as it is applied to the treatment of substance use disorders. Literature was collected, analyzed, and critically evaluated to consolidate the existing research on strengths-based treatment approaches, identify ways in which the strengths-based perspective is congruent with culturally competent practice, and to identify strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in the literature. Analyses reveal that there are numerous components of the strengths-based perspective that are congruent with culturally competent practice and that strengths-based treatment approaches may serve as an effective adjunct or alternative …

Hiv/Aids-Related Stigma And Discrimination Toward Women Living With Hiv/Aids In Enugu, Nigeria, Chinyere Fidelia Nnajiofor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination (S&D), lack of social support, poverty, and gender inequalities have been identified as factors in the increased prevalence rate of HIV transmission in Enugu, Nigeria, especially among women ages 15 to 49 years. Despite the funding of reduction programs, HIV/AIDS-related S&D remain a major driving force in the increased rate of new HIV cases in Enugu. This study addressed a perceived need for behavioral change intervention approaches that span all societal factors to reduce the HIV infection rate in Enugu Nigeria. The study was guided by Goffman's (1963) social S&D theory. The sample was composed of …

Association Between Diabetes/Chronic Disease Incidence And Lifestyle Factors Among African-Born Populations, James Walakerwon Gbala

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Numerous studies have revealed that immigrants' health and well-being is challenged by an increased susceptibility to diabetes/chronic disease as they settle in the United States. This study investigated a potential association between the incidence of diabetes/chronic disease and various lifestyles factors among Sub-Saharan African immigrants and refugees. The lifestyle factors studied were sociodemographics, food practices and dietary habits, access to healthcare and insurance, acculturation, and the length of stay in the United States among these immigrants and refugees residing in Minnesota. The health belief and the socioecological models guided this study to improve understanding of Sub-Saharan African's health behavior and …

In Vivo-Expressed Proteins Of Virulent Leptospira Interrogans Serovar Autumnalis N2 Elicit Strong Igm Responses Of Value In Conclusive Diagnosis, Veerapandian Raja, Santhanam Shanmughapriya, Murugesan Kanagavel, Sergey Artiushin, Sridhar Velineni, John F. Timoney, Kalimuthusamy Natarajaseenivasan

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Leptospirosis is a serious zoonosis that is underdiagnosed because of limited access to laboratory facilities in Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and Oceania. Timely diagnosis of locally distributed serovars of high virulence is crucial for successful care and outbreak management. Using pooled patient sera, an expression gene library of a virulent Leptospira interrogans serovar Autumnalis strain N2 isolated in South India was screened. The identified genes were characterized, and the purified recombinant proteins were used as antigens in IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) either singly or in combination. Sera (n = 118) from cases of acute leptospirosis along …

Perceptions And Attitudes Regarding Preparedness For Campus Crises: A Focus Group Study Of Undergraduates At A Southern University, Christal Davis

Honors Theses

Objective: To explore student perceptions and attitudes toward disaster preparedness and university readiness for various disasters in order to promote future development of effective strategies to change the culture of preparedness on campuses. Methods: A total of 10 focus groups were conducted with 54 students. Participants completed general demographic information before discussing topics related to preparedness. Results: Findings revealed complacency and lack of preparedness among students for many of the disaster types discussed. Participants reported feeling most prepared for pandemic outbreaks, citing various campus preparedness efforts, while they showed the least amount of confidence in their preparedness for incidents of …

The Evolution Of The Sugarcoated American Food Market And The Paradox Of Artificial Sweeteners, Mary Moses Hitt

Honors Theses

Living in present-day America makes it hard to imagine an era when sugar was not as inexpensive and readily available as it is now. It is in little colorful packets on restaurant tables, filled to the brim in jars at coffee shops, or mixed into candy products located at the beginning of every cash register. Today, sugar is one of, if not, the most widely consumed food products in the world, but our love for sugar is nothing new. Humans have been experiencing the bliss triggered by sweet-tasting foods since their earliest diets, which included fruits and honey. Our diets …

Variability In Antibacterial Chemical Defenses In Caribbean Sponges Of The Genus Aplysina, Savannah Stockton

Honors Theses

Coral reefs represent one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth, providing habitat for at least 25% of all marine species. Coral ecosystems are faced with many stressors, both physical and biological, that are causing their continuing decline. Understanding the impacts of these stressors, and the resilience of coral reefs, is important to the long-term survival of these critical ecosystems. As a major constituent of marine communities, sponges are an important phylum contributing to the ecology of coral reefs. Like other components of coral reef habitats, sponges also face a wide variety of biological stressors including pathogens, predators, and competitors. …

Paleolithic Protection In A Western World: A Look Into Preagricultural Nutrition As A Remedy For The Diseases Of Civilization, Emilie R. Caron

Honors Theses

The aim of this investigation is to discover the associations of the Western diet to noncommunicable diseases and to determine if a reversion to a Paleolithic diet will provide treatment and prevention of these diseases. Noncommunicable diseases, otherwise known as Diseases of Civilization, are lifestyle influenced diseases and encompass obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and associated cancers. Incidences of these diseases have skyrocketed in the past century and show no signs of decline. Since 1900, the death rates due to heart disease and cancer have risen to account for 47% of total deaths in the United States in 2010. (Tippett, …

Diagnostics Of Primary Immunodeficiencies Through Next-Generation Sequencing., Vera Gallo, Laura Dotta, Giuliana Giardino, Emilia Cirillo, Vassilios Lougaris, Roberta D'Assante, Alberto Prandini, Rita Consolini, Emily G. Farrow, Isabelle Thiffault, Carol J. Saunders, Antonio Leonardi, Alessandro Plebani, Raffaele Badolato, Claudio Pignata

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Recently, a growing number of novel genetic defects underlying primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) have been identified, increasing the number of PID up to more than 250 well-defined forms. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and proper filtering strategies greatly contributed to this rapid evolution, providing the possibility to rapidly and simultaneously analyze large numbers of genes or the whole exome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of targeted NGS and whole exome sequencing (WES) in the diagnosis of a case series, characterized by complex or atypical clinical features suggesting a PID, difficult to diagnose using the current diagnostic procedures.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed …

Antiretroviral Resistance And Pregnancy Characteristics Of Women With Perinatal And Nonperinatal Hiv Infection, Gweneth B. Lazenby, Okeoma Mmeje, Barbra M. Fisher, Adriana Weinberg, Erika K. Aaron, Maria Keating, Amneris E. Luque, Denise Willers, Deborah Cohan, Deborah Money

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Malaria Parasite Celtos Targets The Inner Leaflet Of Cell Membranes For Pore-Dependent Disruption, John R. Jimah, Nichole D. Salinas, Monica Sala-Rabanal, Nathaniel G. Jones, L. David Sibley, Colin G. Nichols, Paul H. Schlesinger, Niraj H. Tolia

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Long-Term Moderate Calorie Restriction Inhibits Inflammation Without Impairing Cell-Mediated Immunity: A Randomized Controlled Trial In Non-Obese Humans, Simin N. Meydani, Sai K. Das, Carl F. Pieper, Michael R. Lewis, Sam Klein, Vishwa D. Dixit, Alok K. Gupta, Dennis T. Villareal, Manjushri Bhapkar, Megan Huang, Paul J. Fuss, Susan B. Roberts, John O. Holloszy, Luigi Fontana

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Genome Sequences Of 14 Firmicutes Strains Isolated From The Human Vagina, Grace E. Deitzler, Maria J. Ruiz, Cory Weimer, Soeun Park, Lloyd Robinson, Kymberlie Hallsworth-Pepin, Aye Wollam, Makedonka Mitreva, Amanda L. Lewis, Warren G. Lewis

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Genome Sequences Of 12 Bacterial Isolates Obtained From The Urine Of Pregnant Women, Cory M. Weimer, Grace E. Deitzler, Lloyd S. Robinson, Soeun Park, Kymberlie Hallsworth-Pepin, Aye Wollam, Makedonka Mitreva, Warren G. Lewis, Amanda L. Lewis

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Genome Sequences Of Nine Gram-Negative Vaginal Bacterial Isolates, Grace E. Deitzler, Maria J. Ruiz, Wendy Lu, Cory Weimer, Soeun Park, Lloyd S. Robinson, Kymberlie Hallsworth-Pepin, Aye Wollam, Makedonka Mitreva, Warren G. Lewis, Amanda L. Lewis

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Genome Sequences Of 11 Human Vaginal Actinobacteria Strains, Amanda L. Lewis, Grace E. Deitzler, Maria J. Ruiz, Cory Weimer, Soeun Park, Lloyd S. Robinson, Kymberlie Hallsworth-Pepin, Aye Wollam, Makedonka Mitreva, Warren G. Lewis

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

Genome Sequences Of 15 Gardnerella Vaginalis Strains Isolated From The Vaginas Of Women With And Without Bacterial Vaginosis, Lloyd S. Robinson, Justin Perry, Sai Lek, Aye Wollam, Erica Sodergren, George Weinstock, Warren G. Lewis, Amanda L. Lewis

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

The Interferon-Stimulated Gene Ifitm3 Restricts Infection And Pathogenesis Of Arthritogenic And Encephalitic Alphaviruses, Subhajit Poddar, Jennifer L. Hyde, Matthew J. Gorman, Michael Farzan, Michael S. Diamond

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.