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Detection And Economic Impact Related To Bovine Respiratory Disease, Shrink, Andtraveling Distance In Feedlot Cattle In Northwest Mexico, Jose Luis Rodríguez-Castillo, Gilberto Lopez Valencia, Francisco Javier Monge Navarro, Gerado Enrique Medina Basulto, Sawako Hori-Oshima, Sergio Arturo Cueto-González, Alfonso De La Mora-Valle, Luis Mario Muñoz-Del Real, Luis Tinoco-Gracia, Tomas Benjamin Rentería-Evangelista

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the main reason for economic loss in feedlots. A cross-sectional study was conducted in order to detect the pathogens involved in BRD. A total of 88 animals with respiratory signs were sampled for diagnosis using PCR. The detected pathogens were bovine respiratory syncytial virus (80.6%), Mannheimia haemolytica (79.5%), Pasteurella multocida (68.1%), parainfluenza 3 virus (23.8%), bovine herpes virus-1 (20.4%), and bovine viral diarrhea virus (11.3%). The average number of treatments applied per animal was 1.3 with an estimated treatment cost of 16 USD per treatment/animal. Animals receiving more than one treatment averaged costs exceeding 38 …

Diagnosis And Treatment Of Umbilical Cord-Derived Tetanus In Neonatal Calves, Nuri̇ Altuğ, Nazmi̇ Yüksek, Abdullah Karasu, Fatma İlhan, Ebubeki̇r Ceylan, İsmai̇l Hakki Eki̇n, Sezai̇ Arslan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, umbilical cord-derived neonatal tetanus in calves was identified in Turkey. Four calves with tetanus-specific history and clinical findings were used. Blood samples were taken before and after treatment, and clinical findings were recorded. A tetanus-specific treatment procedure was performed. However, the calves died from not responding to treatment. Pretreatment white blood cell, peripheral blood polymorphonuclear leukocyte, creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were determined to be high. Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, CK, and LDH activities were found to increase after treatment compared to before treatment. Gram-positive terminal spore-forming bacilli were observed in bacterioscopic examination of …

Frequency Of Colistin And Fosfomycin Resistance In Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae From A Tertiary Care Hospital In Karachi, Salima Qamar, Najma Shaheen, Sadia Shakoor, Joveria Farooqi, Kauser Jabeen, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Introduction:
Management of infections with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is challenging. In recent times, agents such as colistin and fosfomycin have been used in combination with other antibiotics to treat such infections. In this study, we aim to seek frequency of colistin and fosfomycin resistance in CRE from Pakistan.
Methods:
This study was conducted at clinical laboratories, Aga Khan University Hospital. In total, 251 CRE were included in the study. Colistin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were performed using broth microdilution (BMD) method and VITEK 2 system, whereas fosfomycin susceptibility was performed using Kirby-Bauer method. MIC50 and MIC90 were calculated for colistin …

An In Vivo Evaluation Of Pulmonary Immune Response And Toxicity Following Combined Respiratory Exposure To Crystalline Silica And Diesel Particulate Matter, Breanne Yingling Farris

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Crystalline silica (SIL) and diesel particulate matter (DPM) are each well-recognized for their potential to cause pulmonary toxicity following inhalation. However, these particulates have also been identified as coexisting in mixtures of respirable aerosols at a variety of industrial settings: mining, oil and gas extraction, construction, road construction, tunneling, excavation, foundry, and sandblasting. In order to characterize the potential for increased pulmonary health effects when these particulates are inhaled in a mixture, a battery of acute and subacute in vivo exposure studies were conducted. The current studies examined co-exposure to SIL and DPM at doses that were derived from field …

Black-Legged Tick Distributions, Small Mammal Abundances, Mast Production, And Vegetative Influences On Lyme Disease Apparent Prevalence On Fort Drum Military Installation, New York, Samantha R. Fino

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Lyme disease is the most common infectious disease spread by black-legged ticks in the Northern Hemisphere. Lyme disease is a vector-borne zoonotic disease typically caused by bacterial spirochetes of the species Borrelia burgdorferi. The primary vector of Lyme disease in the Midwestern and eastern United States is Ixodes scapularis, the deer or black-legged tick. Although there are several preventative measures against ticks that carry Lyme disease, such as public education regarding personal protection (e.g., wearing light colored clothing, tucking pants into socks, wearing repellent, promptly inspecting oneself to remove ticks, getting pets vaccinated) and recommended control measures, it is important …

Microbial Quality And Pathogen Decontamination Strategies For Locally-Grown, Fresh Produce From West Virginia And Kentucky, Ka Wang Li

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality/safety of fresh produce from farmers' markets (FM) and assess the post-harvest washing practice with antimicrobials to inactivate Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes on fresh produce. In study I, 212 produce samples were tested for the presence of Salmonella and Listeria spp. using modified FDA-BAM methods. Aerobic plate counts (APCs), total coliforms (TCCs), and yeast/molds were analyzed on petri-films. Among the 212 samples, the APCs, TCCs, and yeast/molds were 3.72-5.63, 3.67-5.47, and 3.07-4.13 log CFU/g, respectively, with spinach containing the highest (P<0.05) populations. Among all tested samples, Salmonella enterica spp. enterica was detected on 18.6% of spinach, 10.9% of tomatoes, 18.5% of peppers, and 56.3% of cantaloupes, which is much higher than previous reported. Only 3.78% of the samples were confirmed for Listeria spp., and 50% of them were identified as L. monocytogenes, based on multiplex PCR results. Due to the high percentage of pathogens detected on the farmers' marker produce, an evaluation of post-harvest produce washing with various antimicrobials was conducted in study II. Specifically, spinach, tomatoes, green peppers and cucumbers were inoculated with S. Typhimurium and Tennessee or L. monocytogenes and washed in tap water, vinegar water (10%), lactic acid (5%), a lactic and citric acid blend (2.5%), and sodium hypochlorite (200 ppm) for 30 sec or unwashed. Vinegar water (10%) showed better (P<0.05) reduction of S. Typhimurium and Tennessee on tomatoes and cucumbers, and L. monocytogenes on tomatoes and peppers than tap water. The three antimicrobials reached an additional reduction level of 0.9 to 2.7 (S. Typhimurium and Tennessee) and 0.2 to 1.4 log CFU/g ( L. monocytogenes) compared to tap water. Lactic acid caused the greatest (P<0.05) reduction of S. Typhimurium and Tennessee on spinach and green peppers, and sodium hypochlorite showed the great (P<0.05) reduction of L. monocytogenes on cucumbers. The results supplied important information for FM vendors to develop post-harvest protocols to control foodborne pathogens.

Randomised Controlled Trial Of Two Sequential Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy Regimens To Treat Uncomplicated Falciparum Malaria In African Children: A Protocol To Investigate Safety, Efficacy And Adherence, Henk D.F.H. Schallig, Halidou Tinto, Patrick Sawa, Harparkash Kaur, Stephan Duparc, Deus S. Ishengoma, Pascal Magnussen, Michael Alifrangis, Colin J. Sutherland

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background Management of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria relies on artemisininbased combination therapies (ACTs). These highly effective regimens have contributed to reductions in malaria morbidity and mortality. However, artemisinin resistance in Asia and changing parasite susceptibility to ACT in Africa have now been well documented. Strategies that retain current ACT as efficacious treatments are urgently needed. Methods We present an open-label, randomised three-arm clinical trial protocol in three African settings representative of varying malaria epidemiology to investigate whether prolonged ACTbased regimens using currently available formulations can eliminate potentially resistant parasites. The protocol investigates whether a sequential course of two licensed ACT …

Mechanistic Insights Into Neutrophil Turnover During Gram-Negative Pneumonic Sepsis, Christopher Jondle

Theses and Dissertations

Sepsis is one of the oldest and most elusive syndromes in medicine. It is characterized by a systemic inflammatory response leading to acute organ dysfunction. In the United States alone there are over 750,000 cases of sepsis each year, with a mortality rate between 20-50%. Sepsis is the second leading cause of death in the ICU and the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States. Over half of all ICU resources are consumed in the treatment of sepsis. There are currently no effective therapies available against sepsis, all attempts to develop an effective therapy have failed. Respiratory …

Importance Of Physical Activity In Women, Minaz Mawani

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Slc11a1 Polymorphisms And Host Susceptibility To Cutaneous Leishmaniasis In Pakistan., Mariam Sophie,, Abdul L Hameed Institute Of Biomedical And Genetic Engineering (Ibge), 24-Mauve Area, G- 9/1, Islamabad, Pakistan., Akhtar Muneer, Azam J. Samdani, Saima Saleem, Abid Azhar

Department of Medicine

Background:The vector-borne cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in several regions of Pakistan mainly affecting poor populations. Host genetic factors, particularly SLC11A1 (solute carrier transmembrane protein) within macrophages, play a crucial role in disease pathology and susceptibility. Association of SLC11A1 with cutaneous leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease, is not well established. Inconsistencies have been observed within different populations worldwide with respect to genetic susceptibility. This study was designed to investigate genetic variation(s) in SLC11A1 and to assess possible association with cutaneous leishmaniasis in Pakistan.

Results: Eight polymorphisms (rs2276631, rs3731864, rs2290708, rs2695342, rs201565523, rs17215556, rs17235409, rs17235416) were genotyped across SLC11A1 in …

Unf Journal Winter 2017, University Of North Florida

UNF Journal

A university periodical for alumni and friends of the University of North Florida.

Multilevel And Multisectoral Processes Of Implementing Nutritionsensitive Ideology And Programming In Ethiopia’S Development Landscape, Andrea Marie Warren

Theses and Dissertations

This research sought to understand the ways in which ideas and discourses in international development are adapted in a country context. Our particular focus was on how ideas at the international and national level become reality at the subnational and community levels. We primarily examined the sensitization of Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program to nutrition across sectors and down levels of government as a way to understand how the global momentum around nutrition, particularly multisectoral or nutrition-sensitive initiatives, can be translated into action.

The first manuscript delves further into the operational realities of implementing multisectoral nutrition-sensitive programming among the neglected …

Implications Of Primary Cilia And Associated Lysophosphatidic Acid Signaling In Glioblastoma Biology And Therapy, Yuriy V. Loskutov

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The primary cilium is a ubiquitous organelle presented on most human cells. It serves as a crucial signaling hub for multiple pathways including growth factor and G-protein coupled receptors. Loss of primary cilia was observed in various cancers, however, the implications of this event are unclear. Several studies show that loss of cilia promotes cell proliferation, suggesting that alteration of ciliary-dependent signaling can drive the hyperproliferative phenotype of cancer cells, therefore re-establishing primary cilia or targeting altered signaling pathways could be a beneficial strategy as an anti-cancer therapy.;Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the deadliest cancers with a median survival of …

Characterizing The Role Of Cpsa In Mycobacterial Pathogenesis, Amir Hassan

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Mycobacterium tuberculosis infects one-third of the world’s population and causes an estimated 2 million deaths per year, more than any other single bacterial pathogen. The inadequacies of existing tuberculosis therapies demand the discovery of novel agents to treat M. tuberculosis infection, which requires mechanistic insight into the pathways involved in mycobacterial pathogenesis. We identified an unanticipated role of the M. tuberculosis protein CpsA in preventing phago-lysosome fusion by host macrophages, resulting in enhanced intracellular survival of bacteria within the host. Strains of M. tuberculosis lacking cpsA are severely attenuated in both macrophage and mouse models, thus establishing CpsA as a …

Toxocara Seroprevalence And Associated Risk Factors In The United States, Bruce L. Brown, Andrew N. Berrett, Lance D. Erickson, Shawn D. Gale, Allison Stone, Dawson W. Hedges

Faculty Publications

Caused by the parasitic nematodes Toxocara canis and cati, toxocariasis in humans can result in covert toxocariasis, ocular toxocariasis, visceral larval migrans, and neurotoxocariasis. A common infection, toxocariasis exposure varies widely within and between countries, with a previous estimate of Toxocara seroprevalence using data from 1988 to 1994 in the United States of approximately 13%. Age, poverty, sex, educational attainment, ethnicity, and region have been associated with Toxocara seroprevalence. In this study, we sought to determine the seroprevalence of and factors associated with Toxocara seropositivity in the United States using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from …

Racial Discrimination And Psychological Health Among Polynesians In The U.S., Kawika Allen, Hokule'a Conklin, Davis K. Kane

Faculty Publications

There is a dearth of research on the mental health of Polynesians residing in the United States. The aims of this study were to examine experiences of racial discrimination, self-esteem, trait anger, satisfaction with life, and psychological well-being among 628 Polynesians (e.g., Native Hawaiian, Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, Tahitian, Maori; 60% women (n 378) and 40% men (n 249); mean age 28.7). Method: Measures were administered through an online survey to 628 Polynesians residing in the United States. Comparison analyses between men and women, correlations, and path analyses were analyzed for this Polynesian sample. Results: Polynesian women showed higher levels of …

Pseudomonas Aeruginosa And Its 4 Arsenal Of Proteases: Weapons 5 To Battle The Host, A.C.M. Galdino, M.H.B Branquinha, A.L.S. Santos, L. Viganor

Books/Book chapters

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous and opportunistic human pathogen that 12 represents a critical problem to the clinician due to the increased number of 13 resistant strains isolated from hospital settings. In addition, there is a great 14 variety of pathologies associated with this versatile Gram-negative bacterium. 15 P. aeruginosa cells are able to produce an incredible arsenal of virulence factors, 16 especially secreted molecules that act singly or together to ensure the 17 establishment, maintenance, and persistence of a successful infection in 18 susceptible hosts. In this context, pseudomonal proteases roles are highlighted 19 due to their ability to …

Double Whammy: Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Of Older African Americans Experiencing Hiv & Age Related Comorbidities, James W. Chavers

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

HIV among older African Americans represents one of the fastest and largest growing populations of infected groups in America (CDC, 2008). With the availability of anti-retrovirals (ARV), or AIDS cocktail drugs, HIV has become a chronic illness. As African Americans are living longer with HIV, they are encountering the diseases that are consonant with aging. The effect of aging with HIV and an age-related comorbid condition can be physically and emotionally debilitating. Many of these older adults are also dealing with poverty, stigma, poor healthcare access, and limited social support. The purpose of this study was to explore how these …

Efficient Augmented Inverse Probability Weighted Estimation In Missing Data Problems, Jing Qin, Biao Zhang, Denis H. Y. Leung

Research Collection School Of Economics

When analyzing data with missing data, a commonly used method is the inverse probability weighting (IPW) method, which reweights estimating equations with propensity scores. The popularity of the IPW method is due to its simplicity. However, it is often being criticized for being inefficient because most of the information from the incomplete observations is not used. Alternatively, the regression method is known to be efficient but is nonrobust to the misspecification of the regression function. In this article, we propose a novel way of optimally combining the propensity score function and the regression model. The resulting estimating equation enjoys the …

The Outcome Of Elisa For Antiphosphatidylethanolamine Antibodies Is Dependent On The Composition Of Phosphatidylethanolamine, Songwang Hou, Paul E. Harper, Nathalie Bardin, Ming Zhao

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Objective The presence of circulating autoantibodies against phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) has been shown to be positively associated with symptoms of antiphospholipid syndromes (APS). However, the current ELISA-based tests for antiphosphatidylethanolamine (aPE) antibodies remain inconsistent and controversial. The term PE refers to a collection of phospholipids that have phosphorylethanolamine head group as a common structural feature, but can vary in fatty acids with diverse physicochemical properties. The present study was to investigate, using synthetic positionally symmetrical PE species as a model system, the impact of PE structural variations on aPE ELISA. Methods Single and combinations of synthetic PE species, including 16:0 (fatty …

Implementation Of The Signs Of Suicide Prevention Program With 9th Grade Students In A Public School Setting, Jessica Tennant

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This quality improvement project examined the effectiveness of the use of the Signs of Suicide Prevention Program for educating 9th grade students. Pre-tests and post-tests were administered to twelve participating students which focused on knowledge about depression, suicide and suicide prevention. A t-test was performed to evaluate a difference in pre-test and post-test scores. A single open-ended question was included on the post-test, "Please write 2 things you could do to prevent suicide?" Results were found to be statistically significant (t(11) = 4.432, p=11), 95% confidence interval (-2.49, -0.84). The overall mean difference was -1.67. Additional descriptive data was collected …

A System Dynamic Transmission Model (Systrans) To Simulate Epidemic Dengue Environment, Rifat Anwar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Dengue is the most significant arthropod-borne virus in terms of human morbidity and mortality. Geographic expansion of dengue and intensity of outbreak has amplified significantly during the last few decades. Thus, the understanding of the dynamic of the large outbreaks has become indispensable for planning of control interventions in future epidemics. In this regard, local entomological, meteorological and epidemiological parameters based dengue models can be an essential tool for better interpretation of dengue-climate relationship at a regional scale. Process based modelling is resourceful in combining the vector and host dynamic along with the response to the meteorological factors for dengue …

Coupling Ecological And Social Network Models To Assess “Transmission” And “Contagion” Of An Aquatic Invasive Species, Danielle Haak, Brian D. Fath, Valery E. Forbes, Dustin R. Martin, Kevin L. Pope

Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: Staff Publications

Network analysis is used to address diverse ecological, social, economic, and epidemiological questions, but few efforts have been made to combine these field-specific analyses into interdisciplinary approaches that effectively address how complex systems are interdependent and connected to one another. Identifying and understanding these cross-boundary connections improves natural resource management and promotes proactive, rather than reactive, decisions. This research had two main objectives; first, adapt the framework and approach of infectious disease network modeling so that it may be applied to the socio-ecological problem of spreading aquatic invasive species, and second, use this new coupled model to simulate the spread …

Patient Characteristics Of The Accident And Emergency Department Of Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional, Prospective Analysis, Justin Guy Myers, Katherine M. Hunold, Karen Ekernas, Ali Wangara, Alice Maingi, Vincent Mutiso, Stephen Dunlop, Ian B K Martin

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background Resource-limited settings are increasingly experiencing a ‘triple burden’ of disease, composed of trauma, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and known communicable disease patterns. However, the epidemiology of acute and emergency care is not well characterised and this limits efforts to further develop emergency care capacity.

Objective To define the burden of disease by describing the patient population presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department (A&E) at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Kenya.

Methods We completed a prospective descriptive assessment of patients in KNH’s A&E obtained via systematic sampling over 3 months. Research assistants collected data directly from patients and their charts. …

Cardiovascular Adverse Events In Patients Receiveing Qt Interval Prolonging Medications, Yizhou Ye

Open Access Dissertations

Background

Drug-induced QT interval prolongation is associated with rare but life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death. To study ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death associated with QT prolongation in large databases, an accurate operational definition of this outcome is needed. Frequently prescribed macrolide and fluoroquinolone antibiotics are associated with torsades de pointes arrhythmia and sudden death. Due to the dose-dependent nature of the risk, concomitant use of multiple QT-prolonging drugs may pose a greater threat than singular use. Several observational epidemiologic studies suggest that azithromycin may have an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. Meanwhile, other observational …

Agency In Eating Disorders: American Literary And Visual Memoirs Of Anorexia And Bulimia, Jenny Platz

Open Access Dissertations

In my dissertation I examine the representation of self-creation through anorexia and bulimia in memoiristic narratives, blogs, and YouTube videos in contemporary American culture. I argue that the highly crafted characterizations and structures of the anorexic and bulimic memoirs and blogs implement the disorders into temporary tools of self-care that grant the subjects agency through their pursuits of maturation and identity creation and cannot be simplified into mere warnings and retellings of the dangers of the eating disorders. I am locating my research in the late twentieth and early twenty-first century to encompass the emergence of eating disorder memoirs, Ana …

Characterization Of The Immune Response To Lipopolysaccharide In Early Pregnant Ewes As A Model To Study Bacterial Infection Induced Embryonic Loss, Jessalyn Marie Hadfield

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

An immunological balance has to be established during pregnancy that protects the mother yet tolerates the semi-allogenic fetus. To understand the innate immune response during bacterial infections that may cause early embryonic loss, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated sheep model was used. Two objectives of this study were to examine if omega-3 PUFAs in the form of supplementary whole flaxseed could reduce the inflammatory response to an LPS challenge and to examine if there is a differential immune response to LPS in Suffolk and Dorset ewes. A total of 3 experiments were conducted; two investigating the effect of supplement and one …

Geographic Biases In Human Lyme Disease Surveillance And Utility Of Companion Animal Sentinel Programs: Exploratory Spatial Analysis, Brian Hendricks

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Background and Objectives: Mapping and exploratory spatial data analyses are ideal tools for characterizing spread and occurrence of human Lyme disease infection. Unfortunately, many mapped displays utilizing Lyme disease surveillance data are prone to bias due to a lack of consideration for geographical confounders. The objectives of our study were to 1) characterize the geographic effects that boundary and travel related biases have on visualization of human Lyme disease occurrence and 2) apply these findings to develop a more precise methodology for evaluating efficacy of animal sentinel surveillance programs in predicting incidence of human Lyme disease infection.;Methods: County-level human Lyme …

Injection Drug Use Among West Virginia Medicaid Beneficiaries: An Analysis Of Health Outcomes, Service Utilization, And Cost, Michael J. Cima

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In the United States, injection drug use is a serious public health concern associated with an array of negative health outcomes and substantial financial consequences for systems of care. The purpose of this study was to characterize a statewide sample of Medicaid insured persons who inject drugs in terms of health outcomes, service utilization and cost. A cross-sectional, retrospective analysis of West Virginia Medicaid claims data between 2014 and 2016 was conducted. Between 2014 and 2016, 5,082 West Virginia Medicaid beneficiaries amassed 14,414 service visits, among which inpatient, emergency room, and mental health and substance abuse were the most common. …

Women In Science 2017, Clark Science Center's Summer Research Fellows Program

SURF Abstracts (Women in Science)

Ever since its 1967 start, SURF has been a cornerstone of Smith’s science education. Women in Science 2017 summarizes research done by Smith College’s SURF Program participants during the summer of 2017. 151 students participated in SURF (144 hosted on campus and nearby eld sites), supervised by 58 faculty mentor-advisors drawn from the Clark Science Center and connected to its eighteen science, mathematics, and engineering departments and programs and associated centers and units. At summer’s end, SURF participants summarized their research experiences for this publication.