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Antimicrobial Efficacy And Safety Of A Novel Gas Plasma-Activated Catheter Lock Solution, Sudhir Bhatt, Poonam Mehta, Chen Chen, Dayle A. Daines, Leonard A. Mermel, Hai-Lan Chen, Michael G. Kong

Bioelectrics Publications

Antimicrobial lock solutions are important for prevention of microbial colonization and infection of long-term central venous catheters. We investigated the efficacy and safety of a novel antibiotic-free lock solution formed from gas plasma-activated disinfectant (PAD). Using a luminal biofilm model, viable cells of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans in mature biofilms were reduced by 6 to 8 orders of magnitude with a PAD lock for 60 min. Subsequent 24-h incubation of PAD-treated samples resulted in no detectable regrowth of viable bacteria or fungi. As a comparison, the use of a minocycline-EDTA-ethanol lock solution for 60 …

Ancylostoma Ceylanicum Hookworm In Myanmar Refugees, Thailand, 2012–2015, Elise M. O'Connell, Tarissa Mitchell, Marina Papaiakovou, Nils Pilotte, Deborah Lee, Michelle Weinberg, Potsawin Sakulrak, Dilok Tongsukh, Georgiette Oduro-Boateng, Sarah Harrison, Steven A. Williams, William M. Stauffer, Thomas B. Nutman

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

During 2012–2015, US-bound refugees living in Myanmar– Thailand border camps (n = 1,839) were surveyed for hookworm infection and treatment response by using quantitative PCR. Samples were collected at 3 time points: after each of 2 treatments with albendazole and after resettlement in the United States. Baseline prevalence of Necator americanus hookworm was 25.4%, Ancylostoma duodenale 0%, and Ancylostoma ceylanicum (a zoonosis) 5.4%. Compared with N. americanus prevalence, A. ceylanicum hookworm prevalence peaked in younger age groups, and blood eosinophil concentrations during A. ceylanicum infection were higher than those for N. americanus infection. Female sex was associated with a lower …

Effects Of A Mobile Tablet Device And An Augmentative And Alternative Communication (Aac) Application On Individuals With An Acquired Communication Disorder: Influence On Communication Abilities And Quality Of Life, Yamini Balasubramanian

Open Access Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a mobile tablet device and an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) application on the communicative abilities and quality of life of individuals with acquired communication disorders. A preexperimental single subject research design was replicated across one client with progressive dysarthria, and two clients with non-fuent aphasia to investigate effects of specifc communicative abilities (message intelligibility for the client with dysarthria and correct information units for the clients with aphasia) in addition to quality of life. Results suggest that improvements were noted in percent message intelligibility and correct information units …

Parental Restrictive Feeding With Latino Adolescents: Examining The Role Of Adolescent Self-Regulation In Associations With Body Mass Index, Carly Danae Evich

Open Access Theses

Latino adolescents in the U.S. are disproportionately affected by obesity compared to adolescents of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Previous studies have suggested that parental restrictive feeding may serve as a modifiable risk factor. However, given that obesity in youth often develops as a function of a child’s susceptibility for weight gain interacting with their environment, the suggested negative effects of parental restrictive feeding may not generalize across all Latino adolescents. One marker of susceptibility for weight gain in youth is poor self-regulation, which can lead to reliance on others to help regulate eating behavior. However, the potential for self-regulation …

Effects Of Per/Polyfluoroalkyl Substances On Larval Amphibians, Gary M. Hoover

Open Access Dissertations

Per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of persistent organic pollutants of emerging concern. Widespread use, along with volatility of some PFAS, has led to global distribution in soils and surface waters. The chemical stability of these compounds assures persistence in the environment, with effects unknown to much of the chronically-exposed biota. Many toxicology studies implicate PFAS in disruption of the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, which is known to play a major role in control of metamorphosis in amphibians. Thus, amphibians represent a class of organisms that may be susceptible to sub-lethal effects of PFAS exposure.

Three main aims were accomplished to …

Early Social Origins Of Premature Aging: How Do Childhood Exposures Shape Aging And Mortality?, Blakelee R. Kemp

Open Access Dissertations

The early origins of health literature documents a distinct link between early life exposures and a range of pathologies in later life. However, it is still unclear if and which types of childhood events and experiences shape biological aging or increase mortality risk among older adults. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine (1) what types of early life exposures influence biological aging and mortality and for whom and (2) whether biological age acts as a marker of early life stress and a predictor of mortality. Drawing from cumulative inequality theory, this dissertation uses six waves of data (2004-2014) …

Particle Engineering For Intracellular Delivery Of Antibiotics, Yihua Pei

Open Access Dissertations

Infections by intracellular bacteria have been recognized for many years, but they are difficult to cure due to the poor intracellular penetration of most antibiotics. To overcome poor intracellular delivery of antibiotics, we developed two polymeric nanoparticle formulation (NPs) that efficiently encapsulate and deliver antibiotics to the target cells – the macrophages in the liver and spleen. The first formulation (PpZEV) was based on a blend of polymers with distinct functions: (i) poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA, P) serving as the main delivery platform, (ii) polyethylene glycol-PLGA conjugate (PEG-PLGA, p) to help maintain an appropriate level of polarity for timely release of …

The Effective Reproduction Number For A Class Of Mixing Matrices In Meta-Population Models In Epidemiology, Gayane Poghotanyan

Open Access Dissertations

Meta-populations models that account for population heterogeneities due to age, gender, spatial location, etc., and incorporate realistic mixing matrices are important for identifying optimal intervention strategies that can mitigate outbreaks of infectious diseases. Problems of finding optimal vaccination strategies for infectious diseases (including measles, mumps and rubella, HIV, and many others) based on such meta-population models are considered in this thesis. The problems are stated in the form of constrained minimization problems for the effective reproduction number, which is a threshold quantity that determines whether or not the disease can spread in the population. One of the most important findings …

Investigating Airflow Distribution And Contaminant Transport In Commercial Aircraft Cabins, Ruoyu You

Open Access Dissertations

Overhead gaspers are prevalently installed in aircraft cabins as a personalized ventilation system. The air distribution in cabins with gaspers on is crucial for creating a thermally comfortable and healthy cabin environment. This study aims to model the air distribution and contaminant transport in commercial aircraft cabins with gaspers on.

This study first conducted experimental measurements of airflow distribution in a mockup of half of a full-scale, one-row, single-aisle aircraft cabin with a gasper on. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to measure the complex airflow field above a human simulator. This investigation then used the measured data to evaluate …

The Oral Microbiome Of Site-Specific Dental Plaque In Health And Disease, Abdullah Abood

All Theses

According to the National Institutes of Health, dental caries is the leading chronic disease of children in the United States. Dental caries is biofilm-mediated, multifactorial and dynamic. Research using culturing techniques and high throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing unraveled the taxonomic complexity of mixed microbial communities (microbiome) in dental biofilms (plaque) and their abundance differences. However, 16S rRNA sequencing fails to resolve taxonomic assignment beyond genus level for certain taxa, which is problematic in identifying potential antagonistic species within the same genus. The presented work addressed current shortcomings in dental microbiome research. First, dental plaque samples used in this study …

Molecular Survey For The Honey Bee Trypanosome Parasites Crithidia Mellificae And Lotmaria Passim, Mary-Kate Williams

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Honey bee populations have been fluctuating within recent years. No one cause has been attributed to colony fluctuations due to the theory that multiple stressors interact with one another to impact colony health. Consequently, microorganisms such as internal parasites of honey bees have been understudied as a contributor to colony health decline.

Molecular diagnostics were utilized to detect the presence of two honey bee trypanosome parasites, Crithidia mellificae and Lotmaria passim, in managed and feral honey bee populations from eight states in the United States (USA). Because studies on trypanosome infections are lacking in the USA, it is important to …

Assessment Of A Nutritional Rehabilitation Model In Two Modern Broilers And Their Jungle Fowl Ancestor: A Model For Better Understanding Childhood Undernutrition, Mikayla Baxter

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The World Health Organization, estimated that 22.9% of children under the age of 5 are stunted. The etiology of stunting is multifactorial and is associated with poor linear growth, villous atrophy, dysbiosis, and increased intestinal permeability. Inclusion of rye in poultry diets induces nutrient deficiencies and increases intestinal permeability, dysbiosis and decreases growth rates. The objective of this dissertation was to determine if chickens consuming a rye based diet exhibited a similar pathophysiology of stunted children to develop a relevant animal model. Therefore, early or late phase malnutrition was induced determine the effects of malnutrition on performance, bone mineralization, intestinal …

2018-2019 Pediatric Subspecialty Trainees, Children's Mercy Hospital

Residents and Fellows Portraits

Photo composites of the graduate pediatric trainees in allergy/immunology, child abuse pediatrics, child neurology, clinical child psychology, coagulation, developmental-behavioral pediatrics, epilepsy, hospice & palliative care, neonatal-perinatal medicine, pediatric adolescent gynecology, pediatric anesthesiology, pediatric bioethics, pediatric cardiology, pediatric clinical pharmacology, pediatric critical care medicine, pediatric dentistry, pediatric emergency medicine, pediatric endocrinology, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric hematology/oncology, pediatric hospital medicine, pediatric infectious diseases, pediatric nephrology, pediatric ophthalmology, pediatric optometry, pediatric otolaryngology, pediatric pathology, pediatric pulmonology, pediatric radiology, pediatric rehabilitation, pediatric sleep medicine, pediatric sports medicine, pediatric surgery, pediatric residency and med/peds residency

Cannabidiol Alters The Immune Response To Porphyromonas Gingivalis In Mice., Shilpa Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis is an important etiologic agent of chronic periodontitis, an infectious disease defined by destruction of supporting tissues of the teeth. Marijuana is a risk factor for chronic periodontitis, although underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. As phytocannabinoids have been ascribed antiinflammatory properties, we hypothesized that cannabidiol exposure would lead to altered immune response to P. gingivalis infection facilitating bacterial persistence and, subsequently, increased alveolar bone loss in cannabidiol (CBD)-exposed mice. Methods: P. gingivalis-infected cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) knockout and wild type C57/Bl6 mice were exposed, or not exposed, to cannabidiol. Oral swabs from mice were used to monitor …

Social Determinants Of Health And A Grounded Mixed-Methods Approach To Explain Declining Life Expectancy In Eastern Kentucky : 1980 – 2014., William Renda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trends in life expectancy for the United States from 1980-2014 suggest general improvement overall. However, eastern Kentucky stands out with a cluster of counties experiencing declining life expectancy. Given that life expectancy is an excepted indicator of overall population health, this anomaly in eastern Kentucky warrants investigation. This thesis uses a grounded mixed methods approach to explore this trend across the greater Appalachian region. Content and discourse analysis of interviews with public health and medical professionals in the study area revealed key themes perceived as being related to declining life expectancy, which informed variable selection for regression analysis. Regression models …

Evaluation Of Drug-Loaded Gold Nanoparticle Cytotoxicity As A Function Of Tumor Tissue Heterogeneity., Hunter Allan Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The inherent heterogeneity of tumor tissue presents a major challenge to nanoparticle-medicated drug delivery. This heterogeneity spans from the molecular to the cellular (cell types) and to the tissue (vasculature, extra-cellular matrix) scales. Here we employ computational modeling to evaluate therapeutic response as a function of vascular-induced tumor tissue heterogeneity. Using data with three-layered gold nanoparticles loaded with cisplatin, nanotherapy is simulated with different levels of tissue heterogeneity, and the treatment response is measured in terms of tumor regression. The results show that tumor vascular density non-trivially influences the nanoparticle uptake and washout, and the associated tissue response. The drug …

Effects Of Toxic Fescue Exposure On Vaginal Microbial Communities Of Crossbred Beef Cows, Abby Ratton

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The consumption of toxic fescue by beef cattle results in several adverse physiological effects such as reduced reproductive success, severe vasoconstriction resulting in hoof sloughing, low body condition scores, hyperthermia, decreased prolactin levels, and reduced hair shedding. The purpose of this study is to characterize bacterial community of the reproductive tract as a potential predictor for toxin exposure. One-hundred fall-calving crossbred cows were allocated to graze Toxic (Toxic: n=50) or Novel (Novel: n= 50) fescue pastures for five months (March-August). Treatments were blocked by sire breed (Charolais or Hereford) and by parity (first, second, third). Animals rotated pastures biweekly and …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Applications Of Ammonium/Phosphonium Chitosan Derivatives For Investigative Dna Interactions, Quinton Kirk Wyatt

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Chitosan is examined as a non-viral vector capable of efficient gene delivery due to its favorable properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, and is non-toxic to mammalian cells. Cell modifications and vector permeability are enhanced in non-viral vectors that incorporate electrostatic interactions. This work synthesizes cationic (N⁺, P⁺) chitosan derivatives, to enhance electrostatic interactions towards nucleotides, using amide coupling agents EDC and HOBt. The final chitosan derivatives will bear cationic functional groups (N⁺, P⁺) with various alkyl groups (Me, Et, Pr, Ph) to examine their affinities to nucleotides and antifungal properties. mPEG grafted …

Immune Function And Metabolism Of Hibernating North American Bats With White-Nose Syndrome, Briana Nicole Anderson

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

White-nose syndrome (WNS) causes substantial mortality in certain species of hibernating North American bats. The responsible agent is Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), a fungus which causes physiological complications such as increased arousals and energy depletion during the hibernation season. Tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) and northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis) suffer extensive WNS mortality, while gray bats (Myotis grisescens) and big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) are infected, but mortality is rarely observed. It is hypothesized that there is a difference in immune responses and/or hibernation metabolism between these bat species, resulting in this …

Non-Mumps Viral Parotitis During The 2014-2015 Influenza Season In The United States., Lina I. Elbadawi, Pamela Talley, Melissa A. Rolfes, Alexander J. Millman, Erik Reisdorf, Natalie A. Kramer, John R. Barnes, Lenee Blanton, Jaime Christensen, Stefanie Cole, Tonya Danz, John J. Dreisig, Rebecca Garten, Thomas Haupt, Beth M. Isaac, Mary Anne Jackson, Anna Kocharian, Daniel Leifer, Karen Martin, Lisa Mchugh, Rebecca J. Mcnall, Jennifer Palm, Kay W. Radford, Sara Robinson, Jennifer B. Rosen, Senthilkumar K. Sakthivel, Peter Shult, Anna K. Strain, George Turabelidze, Lori A. Webber, Meghan Pearce Weinberg, David E. Wentworth, Brett L. Whitaker, Lyn Finelli, Michael A. Jhung, Ruth Lynfield, Jeffrey P. Davis

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background: During the 2014-2015 US influenza season, 320 cases of non-mumps parotitis (NMP) among residents of 21 states were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We conducted an epidemiologic and laboratory investigation to determine viral etiologies and clinical features of NMP during this unusually large occurrence.

Methods: NMP was defined as acute parotitis or other salivary gland swelling of >2 days duration in a person with a mumps- negative laboratory result. Using a standardized questionnaire, we collected demographic and clinical information. Buccal samples were tested at the CDC for selected viruses, including mumps, influenza, human parainfluenza …

Assessment Of Melanocyte-Specific Primary And Memory Autoimmune Responses In Vitiligo-Prone Smyth And Vitiligo-Susceptible, Non-Expressing Brown Line Chickens, Daniel Morales Falcon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Vitiligo is an acquired de-pigmentation disorder characterized by the post-natal loss of epidermal melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) resulting in the appearance of white patches in the skin. The Smyth line of chicken is the only model for vitiligo that shares all the characteristics of the human condition including: spontaneous post-natal loss of melanocytes, interactions between genetic, environmental and immunological factors and associations with other autoimmune diseases. In addition, an avian model for vitiligo has the added benefit of an easily accessible target tissue (a growing feather) that allows for the repeated sampling of an individual and thus the continuous monitoring of …

Fluorescent Labeling Of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Model Dna, Janice Darko

Theses and Dissertations

Global threats to treatment of bacterial infections due to antibiotic resistance (AR) have been on the rise in recent years. Current diagnostic tests identify bacteria by using blood culture, which takes more than 24 hours. This study focuses on the fluorescent labeling of DNA derived from bacterial AR genes (KPC & VIM) and other model DNAs using oligreen dye (OG) and molecular beacons (MB). A NanoDrop 3300 fluorospectrometer was used to take fluorescence measurements. Linear dynamic range and labeling efficiency were dependent on the following optimized conditions: dilution factor of OG (200 fold), buffer (20 mM Tris HCl, pH 8), …

Dynamics Of Coupled Particles In A Time-Dependent, Double-Gyre Flow, Manuel Albrizzio

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

We consider a time-dependent, wind-driven, stochastic double-gyre flow, and investigate the interaction between the flow and coupled particles operating within the flow. It is known that noise can cause individual particles to escape from one gyre to another gyre. By computing the Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) of the system, one can determine low and high probability regions of particle escape. We adjust the coupling between two particles, and study the effect on particle escape for a variety of initial conditions and noise intensities.

Factors Driving Sugar Cane Production In The Kingdom Of Eswatini, Brooke Danielle Anderson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sugar cane is the largest industry in Eswatini with 16 percent of the total workforce working directly or indirectly in the sugar industry. Like all agricultural industries the sugar industry in Eswatini is heavily dependent on an abundant labor supply and climatic conditions. Labor efficiency and abundance is a defining factor of food security and profitability in Eswatini, having one of the highest national HIV/AIDS rates in the world. Small-scale sugar cane producers are often the hardest hit by HIV/AIDS as they traditionally rely on family labor more than hired labor. The 2016 Eswatini Vulnerability Assessment Report indicated that over …

Development And Commissioning Of An Independent Peer Review System For A Small Animal Irradiator, Mary Peters

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Dosimetry for small animal irradiators lacks the standardization of clinical radiotherapy practice, yet plays a central translational role in human trial design. The purpose of this work was to improve the dosimetric accuracy and consistency of animal studies by developing an independent peer review system to verify dose delivery from animal irradiators. This study focused on the development of a mouse phantom and characterization of the thermoluminescent dosimetry system for a commonly used small animal irradiator.

First, a mouse model and irradiation stand were designed with the purpose of being used in a mailable audit. Two mouse phantoms were machined …

Prevalence Of And Factors Associated With Negative Microscopic Diagnosis Of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis In Rural Peru., Ryan Lamm, Clark Alves, Grace Perrotta, Meagan Murphy, Catherine Messina, Juan F. Sanchez, Erika Perez, Luis Angel Rosales, Andres G. Lescano, Edward Smith, Hugo Valdivia, Jack Fuhrer, Sarah-Blythe Ballard

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic to South America where diagnosis is most commonly conducted via microscopy. Patients with suspected leishmaniasis were referred for enrollment by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Lima, Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, and several rural areas of Peru. A 43-question survey requesting age, gender, occupation, characterization of the lesion(s), history of leishmaniasis, and insect-deterrent behaviors was administered. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted on lesion materials at the Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6 in Lima, and the results were compared with those obtained by the MoH using microscopy. Factors associated with negative microscopy and positive PCR results …

Impairment Of Retinal Function In Yellow Perch (Perca Flavescens) By Diplostomum Baeri Metacercariae, John L. Ubels, Randall J. Dejong, Brittany Hoolsema, Amy Wurzberger

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Histologic studies of fish from Douglas Lake, Cheboygan County, Michigan, USA show that Diplostomum spp. infect the lens of spottail shiners (Notropis hudsonius) and common shiners (Luxilus cornutus). In contrast, infection was confined to the choroidal vasculature of yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and the morphology of the pigment epithelium and retina in regions adjacent to the metacercariae was abnormal. The difference in location of metacercariae within the host suggested that different Diplostomum species may infect shiners and perch in Douglas Lake. Species diversity was investigated by sequencing the barcode region of the cytochrome oxidase I gene of metacercariae. Four species …

Studying The Applicability Of Biostimulated Calcite Precipitation In Stabilizing Expansive Soils, Md Touhidul Islam

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Of the four types of soils, clays are often associated with issues related to low bearing capacity, high compressibility, swelling and shrinking nature. For example, expansive soils swell and shrink with moisture ingress and digress and are prevalent in several parts of the world causing billions of dollars in damages annually to various civil infrastructures. Several ground improvement techniques such as chemical stabilization, deep soil mixing, moisture barriers, and others were employed to counteract these soils. However, these methods are impractical in certain situations and unsustainable in others due to their economic and environmental impacts. Microbiological treatment of soils could …

An Analysis Of The Impact Of Birthing Practices On Long-Term Health And Reproductive Outcomes From The 1970 British Cohort Study: Insights From Evolutionary Theory, Elizabeth Turner

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

A wealth of research has been amassed and continues to grow through efforts to understand the complex nature of the relationship between the colonization and development of the human gut microbiota, its influence on the development of the immune system, and its role in both health and disease. Since previous research has demonstrated early life conditions can influence the colonization and development of the human gut microbiota, it is critical to understand how circumstances around the birthing process affect long-term outcomes beginning at this crucial stage in our development. Using the 1970 British Cohort Study, this thesis examines the relationship …

Health Professional Treatment Practices For Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease In Nigeria, Natalie Wichelt

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Abstract

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is caused by a genetic defect that results in abnormal hemoglobin genes that can cause devastating health effects like chronic hemolytic anemia and vaso-occlusive crises. Additionally, sickle cell disease can cause defects in the immune system, leaving those with the disease highly susceptible to a variety of different infections. In the pediatric population specifically, the complications of sickle cell disease contribute significantly to the under-five mortality rate of Nigeria. In response to the Millennium Development Goals 4, 5 and 6, as well as with growing national concern over the challenges faced by sickle cell disease …