Digital Commons Network^™

Phosphorylation Of Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 Alpha In Response To Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress And Nitrosative Stress In The Protozoan Parasite, Entamoeba Histolytica, Heather Andrews Walters

All Theses

Entamoeba histolytica is an intestinal parasite infecting over 50 million people worldwide and is the causative agent of amebic dysentery and amoebic liver abscess. In the human host and nonhuman primates, E. histolytica experiences stress brought on by nutrient deprivation and the host immune response. To be a successful parasite, E. histolytica must counter the stress; therefore, understanding the stress response may uncover new drug targets. In many systems, the stress response includes down-regulation of general protein translation, which is regulated by phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF-2α). Previous work in E. histolytica has demonstrated that EheIF-2α phosphorylation increases …

Using Molecular Diet Analysis To Inform Invasive Species Management: A Case Study Of Introduced Rats Consuming Endemic New Zealand Frogs, Bastian Egeter, Cailín Roe, Sara Peixoto, Pamela Puppo, Luke J. Easton, Joana Pinto, Phillip J. Bishop, Bruce C. Robertson

Biological Sciences Faculty Research

The decline of amphibians has been of international concern for more than two decades, and the global spread of introduced fauna is a major factor in this decline. Conservation management decisions to implement control of introduced fauna are often based on diet studies. One of the most common metrics to report in diet studies is Frequency of Occurrence (FO), but this can be difficult to interpret, as it does not include a temporal perspective. Here, we examine the potential for FO data derived from molecular diet analysis to inform invasive species management, using invasive ship rats (Rattus rattus) …

Systemic Antibiotic Therapy Reduces Circulating Inflammatory Dendritic Cells And Treg-Th17 Plasticity In Periodontitis, Mythilypriya Rajendran, Stephen Looney, Nagendra Singh, Mahmoud Elashiry, Mohamed M Meghil, Ahmed R El-Awady, Omnia Tawfik, Cristiano Susin, Roger M Arce, Christopher W Cutler

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Periodontitis (PD) is a common dysbiotic inflammatory disease that leads to local bone deterioration and tooth loss. PD patients experience low-grade bacteremias with oral microbes implicated in the risk of heart disease, cancer, and kidney failure. Although Th17 effectors are vital to fighting infection, functional imbalance of Th17 effectors and regulatory T cells (Tregs) promote inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated, in a small pilot randomized clinical trial, whether expansion of inflammatory blood myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) and conversion of Tregs to Th17 cells could be modulated with antibiotics (AB) as part of initial therapy in PD patients. PD …

Investigation Of Optimal Dosing Strategies For Ertapenem For Varying Bmi Using Mathematical Modeling, Bethany Jewett

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Previous research suggests that the efficacy of Ertapenem, a carbapenem antibiotic administered intravenously, is related to a patient’s body mass index. Using an existing physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for Ertapenem, we constructed a least squares inverse problem to determine an optimal dose for males with varying body weights and heights. The criteria for an optimal dose was based upon pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) parameters calculated for a male with a body height of 175 cm and a weight of 72 kg. We also adjusted dosing intervals to ensure that effective concentration of drug between doses was the same for …

Isolation, Analysis, And Partial Characterization Of An Inhibitor Of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae, Natania Paul

Undergraduate Honors Theses

There is an emerging threat of Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains that are resistant to all antibiotics. Because of this, the purpose of this research is to isolate, analyze, and partially characterize a new inhibitor(s) of N. gonorrhoeae. Since there is an unknown molecule secreted by Candida albicans that inhibits N. gonorrhoeae, this molecule can be partially characterized using ¹H NMR Spectroscopy to assist in the development of a new antibiotic compound. It was hypothesized that quorum-sensing molecules, trans, trans- farnesol, tyrosol, phenylethyl alcohol, and tryptophol, could be possible candidates for the inhibitor. Because of this, ¹H …

Challenging The Paradigm Of Clinical Triazole Resistance In Aspergillus Fumigatus, Jeffrey Michael Rybak

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Invasive aspergillosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised populations and is predicted to cause more than 200,000 life- threatening infections each year. Aspergillus fumigatus is the most prevalent pathogen isolated from patients with invasive aspergillosis, accounting for more than 60% of all cases. Currently, the only antifungal agents available with consistent activity against A. fumigatus are the mold-active triazoles and amphotericin B, of which the triazoles commonly represent both front-line and salvage therapeutic options. Unfortunately, the treatment of infections caused by A. fumigatus has recently been further complicated by the global emergence of triazole resistance among …

Tuberculosis Of Male Breast: A Rare Benign Entity, Kulsoom Fatima, Farah Naz

Department of Radiology

Granulomatous mastitis is a rare benign condition often seen in young lactating females of reproductive age group. Prepubescent males or elderly women may also be the victim of this infectious disease. Primary infection of the breast may occur through skin abrasions, open wounds or through the lactiferous ducts while secondary spread occurs from an infective focus elsewhere in the body via lymphatic or hematogenous routes. We present a case of breast tuberculosis diagnosed in a 62-year-old man at our institution. The patient presented with a palpable painful mass in the left breast with chronic sinus formation and pus discharge for …

Attenuated Responses To Inflammatory Cytokines In Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells: Biological Implications And The Molecular Basis, Bohan Chen

Master's Theses

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have attracted intense interest due to their great potential for regenerative medicine. However, their immune property is an overlooked but a significant issue that needs to be thoroughly investigated not only to resolve the concern for therapeutic applications but also for further understanding the early stage of organismal development. Recent studies demonstrated that ESCs are deficient in innate immune responses to viral/bacterial infections and inflammatory cytokines. Inflammatory conditions generally inhibit cell proliferation, which could be detrimental to ESCs, since cell proliferation is their dedicated task during early embryogenesis. Thus, I hypothesize that the attenuated innate immunity …

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Program, Magdalena Ruiz

Doctoral Projects

Pediatric primary care focuses on maintaining patients’ health, preventing diseases, and assessing children’s developmental milestones. Vaccine administration and disease prevention are key components of a well-child exam for pediatric patients; however, vaccine refusal is an important complication of pediatric patient care. Of particular interest to this researcher is the HPV vaccine which was approved by the Federal Drug Administration and is currently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016) for both males and females, beginning at 11 or 12 years of age through age 26 years. The HPV vaccine protects against diseases and cancers caused by the …

Approximate Dynamic Programming: Health Care Applications, Amir Ali Nasrollahzadeh

All Dissertations

This dissertation considers different approximate solutions to Markov decision problems formulated within the dynamic programming framework in two health care applications. Dynamic formulations are appropriate for problems which require optimization over time and a variety of settings for different scenarios and policies. This is similar to the situation in a lot of health care applications for which because of the curses of dimensionality, exact solutions do not always exist. Thus, approximate analysis to find near optimal solutions are motivated. To check the quality of approximation, additional evidence such as boundaries, consistency analysis, or asymptotic behavior evaluation are required. Emergency vehicle …

Evaluation Of A Community Health Worker Intervention On Rates Of Measles, Mumps And Rubella Immunization In A Somali Population In Lexington, Nebraska, Melanie Menning

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It remains an important cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine.

There have been increasing outbreaks of measles to waning immunization. This study sought to evaluate rates of Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) immunization in a Somali population living in Lexington, Nebraska and to evaluate a community health worker intervention to improve immunization rates. NESIIS data for Lexington Regional Health Center (LRHC) was queried to assess MMR trends for all clinic patients between 15 and 72 months both before and after implementation of the …

Young Germ Cell Depleted Ovaries In Post-Reproductive Mice And Its Effects On Immune Function, Mckenna Walters

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

It has previously been shown that young, cycling ovarian transplantation in aged female mice increased the general health and life span in regard to their post-reproductive health. It has further been hypothesized that this enhancement of health is directly influenced by the ovarian somatic cells. To address this hypothesis, transplants of young germ cell depleted and germ cell containing ovaries were performed on female mice. The purpose of this study is to continue to discern the reproductive influence on aging health, specifically in the area of immunological well-being. Control group mice were separated by age and treatment mice were subsequently …

Development Of Mouse Models For Respiratory And Neurological Disease Caused By Enterovirus D68 And Evaluation Of Antiviral Therapies, Brett L. Hurst

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is a virus that normally causes disease in children. While this virus typically causes a respiratory infection, in 2014, a large outbreak of the virus was associated with patients that had paralysis of the arms or legs. Even though the virus was discovered in 1962, little was known about the life cycle of the virus or its ability to cause disease. An animal model of disease was needed to understand how the virus causes disease and to develop antiviral compounds to target the virus life cycle.

We adapted the virus by serial-passage in lung tissues from mice …

Male Reproductive Infection And Sexual Transmission Of Zika Virus In An Immunocompromised Mouse Model, Chad S. Clancy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a sexually transmitted viral infection most frequently transmitted by mosquitoes. The source of infectious virions in the male reproductive tract has yet to be elucidated. The goals of the studies included developing and characterizing two mouse models for reproductive transmission studies and demonstration of sexual transmission of virus via artificial insemination. The mouse strains used in the study lacked receptors to interferon molecules, key signaling proteins of the host immune response. Inflammation severity was assessed during acute disease, 5-11 days after infection using a novel histopathology grading system. ZIKV proteins and genome were initially detected in …

Vocal Performance From Renaissance To Modern Day, Katherine Souza

Senior Honors Projects

What’s your favorite song? Everyone, whether engineer, photographer, healthcare professional, retail sales associate, office worker, or taxi driver can name at least one song that they like. That is because music is ubiquitous in our lives. Whether or not you are a musician by trade, music is a language to which everyone relates. In this project, I sought out to investigate this universal language. I selected compositions by eleven different composers, from Renaissance to twentieth century. Further, I researched topics such as how the piece came to be written, translations for non-English pieces, details about the composer’s life and how …

Expedited Partner Therapy Using Oral Cefixime And Oral Azithromycin For Gonorrheal And Chlamydial Infections Among Adult Outpatients In The United States, Nicholas Coburn-Pierce

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) such as Neisseria Gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia Trachomatis pose a challenge to the healthcare system worldwide. Treating sexual partners is as crucial to controlling the spread of these infections as treating index patients. However, because of problems associated with stigma, reaching affected populations, and ensuring follow-up, unique solutions are require to ensure partners receive treatment. One solution is Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT). EPT refers to treating patients, and providing necessary medication for both patient and partner. Current recommendations are for oral doses one gram of azithromycin and 400 milligrams of cefixime. This literature review looked at thirteen …

Treatment Options For Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, Barbara Bowman

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

With the high incidence of Lyme disease in the endemic areas of North America, it is important to appropriately diagnosis and treat this condition to prevent post treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). Background information regarding Lyme disease is given. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the treatment options available for those patients that fit the case definition of PTLDS. A literature review was conducted using several different electronic databases finding peer reviewed research articles pertaining to the treatment options available for PTLDS. Extended antibiotic use is shown to be not beneficial in most cases. Alternative treatment options listed …

Benefits Of Hpv Vaccination In Adolescent Males, Budd Theriot

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a collection of between 120-150 viral strains that effect epithelial and mucosal tissue. Infections due to HPV are extremely common and some of the more high-risk strains can lead to severe consequences later in life. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, affecting approximately 75-80% of young adults at some point in their lives, and it is also known to be directly related to several forms of cancer including cervical, vaginal, penile, anal, oral, and oropharyngeal cancer. Vaccination against several high-risk strains of HPV first became available in the U.S. …

Male Nurses’ Experience Of Gender Stereotyping Over The Past Five Decades: A Narrative Approach, Michael W. Finnegan

Theses & Dissertations

Negative stereotyping of men in nursing has been a chronic problem that has a direct effect on males and detracts from efforts to recruit and retain them. At this time in American history (2018), traditionally male-dominated professions are making significant progress toward the goal of a gender-balanced workplace. However, the opposite is not true. Traditionally female-dominated professions are not attracting or appealing to men. In the nursing profession, the number of male nurses is relatively small and has remained relatively fixed over time. Estimates vary between 6-15 percent, with the current average being approximately 11 percent (American Nurses Association, 2014). …

Reduced Disposal Area Performance Utilizing Secondary-Treated Effluent In Profile-Limiting Soils, David A. Meints

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Onsite wastewater systems dispose of primary treated effluent by utilizing the soil for final recycling and renovation of wastewater into the environment. Soil and site limitations have become a challenge to design a wastewater system and dispose of onsite wastewater using a conventional pipe and gravel design. Using secondary-treated effluent from an advanced treatment unit applied to a reduced disposal area offers an additional alternative when developing an onsite wastewater system. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of hydraulically loading limiting soils with secondary-treated effluent in a reduced disposal area. A reduced disposal area was constructed …

Self-Deportation Nation, K-Sue Park

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

“Self-deportation” is a concept to explain the removal strategy of making life so unbearable for a group that its members will leave a place. The term is strongly associated with recent state and municipal attempts to “attack every aspect of an illegal alien’s life,” including the ability to find employment and housing, drive a vehicle, make contracts, and attend school. However, self-deportation has a longer history, one that predates and made possible the establishment of the United States. As this Article shows, American colonists pursued this indirect approach to remove native peoples as a prerequisite for establishing and growing their …

Telomeric Dna Damage And Repair Machineries In Hiv Infection, Lam Nguyen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we investigated T cell homeostasis and DNA damage repair machineries in HIV infection. We found that the frequencies of CD4T cells were low, which is associated with cell apoptosis in HIV patients compared to healthy subjects. Importantly, these events were closely correlated to the increase in T cell exhaustion, senescence, DNA damage, and telomere attrition. Mechanistically, while the DNA damage sensors Mer11, Rad50, and NBS1 (MRN) complexes remained intact, the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase and its downstream checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2) were significantly inhibited during HIV infection. Additionally, telomeric repeat-binding factor 2 (TRF2) that functions to protect …

Synthesis And Evaluation Of 1,2,4-Oxadiazolidinones: The Search For A Potential Non-Β-Lactam Β-Lactamase Inhibitors., Chimdi Eke Kalu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

β-lactam antibiotics have been the most widely used drug of choice to combat infectious disease caused by bacteria. Unfortunately, their effectiveness is drastically threatened by bacterial β-lactamases. β-lactamases is responsible for the resistance to most antibiotic drugs. For decades, β-lactam β-lactamases inhibitors have been used to reduce bacterial resistance; however, in this study 1,2,4-oxadiazolidinone derivatives as a non-β-lactam β-lactamases inhibitor against TEM-1 and P99 β-lactamases. The significance of oxadiazolidinone is the prominent five-membered ring scaffold in its structure, which is configurationally stable and present in other biologically active compounds such as linezolid and avibactam. Oxadiazolidinones were synthesized by treating nitrones …

The Role Of Plasmids And Clones In The Emergence Of Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae In The United Arab Emirates, Shaimaa Fekry Mahmoud Mouftah Ali

Dissertations

Resistance to carbapenems, the ultimate beta-lactam antibiotics used to treat life-threatening Gram-negative infections associates with very high mortality. Consequently, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), which are usually multi- or extremely drug-resistant, is considered a critical pathogen. To help to control their spread, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of CRE in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its neighboring countries. CRE isolated in the UAE were screened for IncX3 incompatibility type plasmids carrying carbapenemases. The complete sequence of the IncX3 plasmids identified was established. Thirty CRE carried blaNDM-1, blaNDM-4, blaNDM-5, blaNDM-7, blaOXA-181, and blaKPC-2 on IncX3 plasmids. …

Modelling Appropriate Use Of Trypanocides To Restrict Wide-Spread Multi-Drug Resistance During Chemotherapy Of Animal African Trypanosomiasis, Ibrahim I. Wangwe, Sarah A. Wamwenje, Caroline Mirieri, Nicodemus M. Masila, Lillian Wambua, Benard W. Kulohoma

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Trypanocide resistance remains a huge challenge in the management of animal African trypanosomiasis. Paucity of data on the prevalence of multi-drug resistant trypanosomes has greatly hindered optimal veterinary management practices. We use mathematical model predictions to highlight appropriate drug regimens that impede trypanocide resistance development in cattle. We demonstrate that using drugs in decreasing resistance order results in a negligible increase in number of cattle with resistant infection, in contrast to a more pronounced increase from trypanocide use in increasing resistance order. We demonstrate that the lowest levels of trypanocide resistance are achieved with combination therapy. We also show that …

Knowledge And Attitudes Regarding Cervical Cancer Screening Among Women Living With Hiv/Aids In Malawi: A Cross-Sectional Study, Jasintha Mtengezo

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Cervical cancer is the third most frequent cancer among women worldwide and about 265,672 women die from the disease annually. Abnormal cervical cells caused by human papillomavirus are more common in HIV-positive women than in HIV-negative women due to their compromised immune system. Malawi, in Sub-Saharan Africa, is one of the countries with the highest rates of cervical cancer and HIV in the world. The incidence of cervical cancer and deaths can be reduced by 80% if women go for screening. There are limited studies about cervical cancer screening behavior, level of knowledge and attitudes regarding cervical cancer and screening …

Contagious Or Not Contagious: Is That The Question? Evaluating The Effects Of Disease Contagion On Memory For Word Lists, Laura Pazos

Honors Theses

Researchers have suggested that individuals possess a disease-avoidance system designed to detect and remember potential sources of harmful pathogens, a system termed the behavioral immune system. Recently, Fernandes, Pandeirada, Soares, and Nairne (2017) reported an increase in memory for objects associated with individuals that are contaminated with a disease. My thesis extends this finding by examining whether disease-related memory benefits are due to the mere presence of a disease or whether the disease needs to be perceived as contagious and thereby threatening to facilitate memory. Two experiments, one between- and one within-subjects, were designed to test memory performance in the …

Age-Related Tick Infestation Patterns In Springtime Migratory Passerines, Matthew Dunning

Honors Theses

To test the hypothesis that younger migrants are more prone to arrive at stopover sites on the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico with ticks than adult migrants, 2177 migratory passerines were screened for ticks at Gulf Coast sites in Texas and Louisiana. Fifty eight (2.7%) were infested with ticks with 28 (1.3%) being young birds and 30 (1.4%) being adult birds. The body condition of the birds was assessed to determine if tick infestation had negative consequences and if the severity of consequences varied between ages. I found no relationship of age with the prevalence of a tick …

Infection Control Practice On Vital Signs Equipment: A Survey Among Senior Nursing Students In Iloilo City, Philippines, Zea Maize Suarez, Ryan Michael F. Oducado, Eric Lorenz Josue, Treesha Llen Gayoso, Christy Anne Ocate, Janelene Joy Lujan

Individual Articles

Blood pressure apparatuses, stethoscopes and thermometers serve as vehicles for pathogens. Previous studies have shown that this equipment harbor potentially pathogenic microorganisms and even antibiotic-resistant strains within the hospital environment. Practice of good infection control on vital signs equipment therefore plays an important role in preventing the spread of infections that can be acquired during hospitalization. However, studies on infection control practice of these equipment among nursing students have not been given much attention. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the senior nursing students' practice of infection control on vital signs equipment. A researcher made, self-administered survey instrument …

A Hepatitis C Screening Tool For An Uninsured Population, Kimberly Belle Babcock-Nobles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a public health epidemic effecting 3.5 million people in the United States alone. The uninsured, underserved residents of a rural county in North Carolina have limited access to screening and early detection for HCV. Through collective efforts, a free medical clinic partnered with a grant funded, nonprofit organization to provide free hepatitis C testing by use of a mobile medical unit. The aim of this study was to determine if use of an HCV screening tool would increase the number of patients screened for testing as compared retrospectively to the number of patients screened without …