Digital Commons Network^™

Preventing Transmission Of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus In The Hospital Setting: Perspectives From Health Care Workers, Dre-Quan Lee

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

As the leading cause of nosocomial infections in hospitalized patients, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. This poster presentation will include findings from a literature review exploring health care workers' perspectives towards MRSA transmission prevention practices.

Predator Diet Affects Perceived Oviposition Site Quality For Mosquitoes, Brandon Mcdaniel

Honors Theses

Ovipositing freshwater organisms rely primarily on cues to determine site quality (Silberbush and Blaustein 2008) and to select an ideal habitat for their offspring (Resetarits 2014). Characteristics of high quality oviposition sites that yield the greatest fitness for offspring include the absence of predators and high resource availability that allows for optimal growth and development (Kershenbaum et al. 2012). It has been shown that predator presence is a large deterrent of oviposition due to threats of offspring survival, however, there is a little information about the predatory cues mosquitoes experience before ovipositing (Angelon and Petranka 2002). One hypothesis is that …

Social Ecological Predictors Of Risky Sexual Behavior Among Young Adults, Maureen Muchimba

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Most studies on sexual behavior outcomes are restricted to adolescents. However, rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are highest among young adults. This study examined social–ecological predictors in adolescence that predict risky sexual behavior in young adulthood. Using longitudinal data, logistic regression was used to determine social–ecological factors that predict early sexual debut and a high number of lifetime sexual partners among 3,109 young adults. Risk-taking was associated with early sexual debut and a high number of lifetime sexual partners. Father–child connectedness decreased the odds of early sexual debut and a high number of lifetime sexual. School connectedness also decreased …

Update On The Human And Mouse Lipocalin (Lcn) Gene Family, Including Evidence The Mouse Mup Cluster Is Result Of An "Evolutionary Bloom"., Georgia Charkoftaki, Yewei Wang, Monica Mcandrews, Elspeth A Bruford, David C Thompson, Vasilis Vasiliou, Daniel W Nebert

Faculty Research 2019

Lipocalins (LCNs) are members of a family of evolutionarily conserved genes present in all kingdoms of life. There are 19 LCN-like genes in the human genome, and 45 Lcn-like genes in the mouse genome, which include 22 major urinary protein (Mup) genes. The Mup genes, plus 29 of 30 Mup-ps pseudogenes, are all located together on chromosome (Chr) 4; evidence points to an "evolutionary bloom" that resulted in this Mup cluster in mouse, syntenic to the human Chr 9q32 locus at which a single MUPP pseudogene is located. LCNs play important roles in physiological processes by binding and transporting small …

School Of Medicine And Southern Research Launch Three Collaborative Pilot Studies, Jeff Hansen

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Eis Inhibitors, Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova, Oleg V. Tsodikov, James E. Posey

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Patents

Provided herein are novel small-molecules that have use in the inhibition of Eis, which mediates kanamycin resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The presently-disclosed subject matter further includes a pharmaceutical composition including a small molecule inhibitor, as described herein, and a suitable pharmaceutical carrier. Methods of treating tuberculosis comprising administering to an individual an effective amount of the disclosed small molecule inhibitors to mediate kanamycin A resistance and treat tuberculosis are also provided.

Half A Century Of Supreme Court Clean Air Act Interpretation: Purposivism, Textualism, Dynamism, And Activism, David M. Driesen, Thomas M. Keck, Brandon T. Metroka

Washington and Lee Law Review

This Article addresses the history of the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Clean Air Act, which now goes back almost half a century. Many scholars have argued that the Court has shifted from an approach to statutory interpretation that relied heavily on purposivism—the custom of giving statutory goals weight in interpreting statutes—toward one that relies more heavily on textualism during this period. At the same time, proponents of dynamic statutory interpretation have argued that courts, in many cases, do not so much excavate a statute’s meaning as adapt a statute to contemporary circumstances.

Toxoplasma Gondii Igg Associations With Sleepwake Problems, Sleep Duration And Timing, Celine C. Corona, Ma Zhang, Abhishek Wadhawan, Melanie L. Daue, Maureen W. Groer, Aline Dagang, Christopher A. Lowry, Kathleen A. Ryan, Andrew J. Hoisington, John W. Stiller, Dietmar Fuchs, Braxton D. Mitchell, Teodor T. Postolache

Faculty Publications

Background: Evidence links Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a neurotropic parasite, with schizophrenia, mood disorders and suicidal behavior, all of which are associated and exacerbated by disrupted sleep. Moreover, low-grade immune activation and dopaminergic overstimulation, which are consequences of T. gondii infection, could alter sleep patterns and duration. Methods: Sleep data on 833 Amish participants [mean age (SD) = 44.28 (16.99) years; 59.06% women] were obtained via self-reported questionnaires that assessed sleep problems, duration and timing. T. gondii IgG was measured with ELISA. Data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regressions and linear mixed models, with adjustment for age, sex and family …

The Fight Against Polio, Kamal Siddiqi

Faculty Research - Newspaper and Magazine Articles

No abstract provided.

A Unique Presentation Of A Large, Seven-Segment, Spinal Epidural Abscess In A Patient With A Pleural Empyema, Kyle Barner, Kyle M. Yuquimpo, David A. Mcmillan, Evan M. Shaw

Student Publications

Spinal epidural abscesses are insidious infections spread via hematologic, contiguous, or iatrogenic routes. On average, spinal epidural abscesses span two to four vertebral segments and are most commonly localized to the thoracic region. Fever, back pain, and neurological deficits are the most common clinical manifestations. However, the triad of these findings are not always detected. Patients may present with subtle symptoms leading to misdiagnosis and poor prognosis. We present a case of a large, anteriorly located, spinal epidural abscess in a patient originally admitted for dyspnea and confusion.

Marshallese Beliefs, Perceptions, And Practices Related To Child Feeding Among Marshallese In The United States: Implications For Childhood Obesity, Kelly Vowell Johnson, Allison L. Scott, Marilou Shreve, Britni L. Ayers, Victoria S. Seaton, Pearl A. Mcelfish

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Faculty Publications and Presentations

Obesity affects more than 40 million children globally. Efforts to promote proper nutrition in an attempt to reduce childhood obesity should consider maternal beliefs and cultural customs around food. Little is known regarding child feeding, including weaning practices and foods consumed in the first years of life among Marshallese children, a sub-group of Pacific Islanders, residing in the United States.

This study aims to explore the influences on introduction of complementary foods among Marshallese mothers and caregivers residing in the United States, to serve as the basis for promotion of improved nutrition. Focus groups and demographic surveys were conducted with …

Honors Seminar In Global Responsibility And Social Sciences Hpr 375, Michael Cerbo

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Dna-Binding Site For Virb, A Key Transcriptional Regulator Of Shigella Virulence Genes, Using An In Vivo Binding Tool, Monika M.A. Karney, Joy A. Mckenna, Natasha Weatherspoon-Griffin, Alexander D. Karabachev, Makensie E. Millar, Eliese A. Potoceck, Helen J. Wing

Life Sciences Faculty Research

The transcriptional anti-silencing and DNA-binding protein, VirB, is essential for the virulence of Shigella species and, yet, sequences required for VirB-DNA binding are poorly understood. While a 7-8 bp VirB-binding site has been proposed, it was derived from studies at a single VirB-dependent promoter, icsB. Our previous in vivo studies at a different VirB-dependent promoter, icsP, found that the proposed VirB-binding site was insufficient for regulation. Instead, the required site was found to be organized as a near-perfect inverted repeat separated by a single nucleotide spacer. Thus, the proposed 7-8 bp VirB-binding site needed to be re-evaluated. Here, we engineer …

February 2019, Randy Curry, Cindy Brooks

RURAL ROCKS

Rural Rocks, the Rural Health Network newsletter by the SWOSU College of Pharmacy

Implementation And Evaluation Of An Antimicrobial Stewardship Program In The Outpatient Setting, Carey Marie Phelan

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The rapidly emerging crisis of antibiotic resistance has created a prodigious global health threat. To address this crisis, an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program was designed and implemented. Through various interventions, the DNP lead program optimized the prescription of antibiotics, enhanced clinical outcomes, supported providers, and decreased adverse events.

Revision Of Standard Operating Procedures For A Hospital-Based Infectious Disease Response Team, Monica Elaine Meier

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

The purpose of this project, to determine the need for revisions of standard operating procedures for a hospital based infectious disease response team, following fourth quarter, and first quarter training. Experiences associated with the training will be assessed via electronic survey, using Likert scale responses and an open-ended question.

Clostridium Difficile Specimen Selection Checklist, Jordin Rex, Mona Cockerham

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

A clostridium difficile specimen selection checklist was implemented on a Medical Surgical unit to increase adherence to hospital policy on appropriate sampling for laboratory testing.

New Morbidities 2.0, Angelo P. Giardino, Robert Sanborn

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Robert Sanborn and Angelo Giardino's introduction for Volume 4, Issue 1: New Morbidities 2.0

Mrub_3019 Casa Gene Is An Ortholog To E. Coli B2760, Kelsey Heiland, Dr. Lori Scott

Meiothermus ruber Genome Analysis Project

This research is part of the Meiothermus ruber genome annotation project which aims to predict gene function with various bioinformatics tools. We investigated the function of Mrub_3019, which encodes the CasA protein involved in the multi-subunit effector complex for the CRISPR-Cas immunity system and predicted it to be an ortholog of E. coli K12 MG1655 b2760 (casA). We predicted that Mrub_3019 encodes the protein CasA, which is involved in PAM recognition of CRISPR interference pathway. Foreign DNA will bind to CasA, which signals Cas3 for helicase-mediated DNA degradation. Our hypothesis is supported by low E-values for pairwise alignment in NCBI …

Interaction Between Nectin-1 And The Human Natural Killer Cell Receptor Cd96., Veronica M Holmes, Carlos Maluquer De Motes, Paige T Richards, Jessenia Roldan, Arjun K Bhargava, Jordan S Orange, Claude Krummenacher

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

Regulation of Natural Killer (NK) cell activity is achieved by the integration of both activating and inhibitory signals acquired at the immunological synapse with potential target cells. NK cells express paired receptors from the immunoglobulin family which share common ligands from the nectin family of adhesion molecules. The activating receptor CD226 (DNAM-1) binds to nectin-2 and CD155, which are also recognized by the inhibitory receptor TIGIT. The third receptor in this family is CD96, which is less well characterized and may have different functions in human and mouse models. Human CD96 interacts with CD155 and ligation of this receptor activates …

A Model Of The Transmission Of Cholera In A Population With Contaminated Water, Therese Shelton, Emma Kathryn Groves, Sherry Adrian

CODEE Journal

Cholera is an infectious disease that is a major concern in countries with inadequate access to clean water and proper sanitation. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "cholera is a disease of inequity--an ancient illness that today sickens and kills only the poorest and most vulnerable people\dots The map of cholera is essentially the same as a map of poverty." We implement a published model (Fung, "Cholera Transmission Dynamic Models for Public Health Practitioners," Emerging Themes in Epidemiology, 2014) of a SIR model that includes a bacterial reservoir. Bacterial concentration in the water is modeled by the Monod …

An Epidemiological Math Model Approach To A Political System With Three Parties, Selenne Bañuelos, Ty Danet, Cynthia Flores, Angel Ramos

CODEE Journal

The United States has proven to be and remains a dual political party system. Each party is associated to its own ideologies, yet work by Baldassarri and Goldberg in Neither Ideologues Nor Agnostics show that many Americans have positions on economic and social issues that don't fall into one of the two mainstream party platforms. Our interest lies in studying how recruitment from one party into another impacts an election. In particular, there was a growing third party presence in the 2000 and 2016 elections. Motivated by previous work, an epidemiological approach is taken to treat the spread of ideologies …

Modeling The Spread And Prevention Of Malaria In Central America, Michael Huber

CODEE Journal

In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that there were 216 million cases of Malaria reported in 91 countries around the world. The Central American country of Honduras has a high risk of malaria exposure, especially to United States soldiers deployed in the region. This article will discuss various aspects of the disease, its spread and its treatment and the development of models of some of these aspects with differential equations. Exercises are developed which involve, respectively, exponential growth, logistics growth, systems of first-order equations and Laplace transforms. Notes for instructors are included.

Sir Models: Differential Equations That Support The Common Good, Lorelei Koss

CODEE Journal

This article surveys how SIR models have been extended beyond investigations of biologically infectious diseases to other topics that contribute to social inequality and environmental concerns. We present models that have been used to study sustainable agriculture, drug and alcohol use, the spread of violent ideologies on the internet, criminal activity, and health issues such as bulimia and obesity.

The Mathematics Of Gossip, Jessica Deters, Izabel P. Aguiar, Jacquie Feuerborn

CODEE Journal

How does a lie spread through a community? The purpose of this paper is two-fold: to provide an educational tool for teaching Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) and sensitivity analysis through a culturally relevant topic (fake news), and to examine the social justice implications of misinformation. Under the assumption that people are susceptible to, can be infected with, and recover from a lie, we model the spread of false information with the classic Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model. We develop a system of ODEs with lie-dependent parameter values to examine the pervasiveness of a lie through a community.

The model presents the opportunity …

Global Disease Outbreaks Associated With The 2015–2016 El Niño Event, Assaf Anyamba, Jean-Paul Chretien, Seth C. Britch, Radina P. Soebiyanto, Jennifer L. Small, Rikke Jepsen, Brett M. Forshey, Jose L. Sanchez, Ryan D. Smith, Ryan Harris, Compton J. Tucker, William B. Karesh, J. Linthicum

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Interannual climate variability patterns associated with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomenon result in climate and environmental anomaly conditions in specific regions worldwide that directly favor outbreaks and/or amplification of variety of diseases of public health concern including chikungunya, hantavirus, Rift Valley fever, cholera, plague, and Zika. We analyzed patterns of some disease outbreaks during the strong 2015–2016 El Niño event in relation to climate anomalies derived from satellite measurements. Disease outbreaks in multiple El Niño-connected regions worldwide (including Southeast Asia, Tanzania, western US, and Brazil) followed shifts in rainfall, temperature, and vegetation in which both drought and flooding occurred in …

Diagnostic Dilemma Of Disseminated Histoplasmosis Mimicking Hemophagocytosis Lymphohistiocytosis In Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis On Anti-Tnf Therapy: Case Report And Review Of The Literature, Saurav Suman, Aleksander Lenert

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) have become the cornerstone for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and other systemic autoimmune conditions. However, these biologic DMARDs can lead to various opportunistic infections such as viral infection, tuberculosis, and histoplasmosis. Furthermore, these biologics can also cause severe systemic inflammatory reactions known as hemophagocytosis lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) that can lead to multiorgan failure and high mortality. Due to overlapping clinical features and time-intensive microbiological culture methods, distinguishing between HLH and opportunistic infections can be challenging early in the disease course. We present a similar situation with our patient where the patient met the diagnostic criteria …

Orphan Genes Shared By Pathogenic Genomes Are More Associated With Bacterial Pathogenicity, Sarah Entwistle, Yanbin Yin

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Orphan genes (also known as ORFans [i.e., orphan open reading frames]) are new genes that enable an organism to adapt to its specific living environment. Our focus in this study is to compare ORFans between pathogens (P) and nonpathogens (NP) of the same genus. Using the pangenome idea, we have identified 130,169 ORFans in nine bacterial genera (505 genomes) and classified these ORFans into four groups: (i) SS-ORFans (P), which are only found in a single pathogenic genome; (ii) SS-ORFans (NP), which are only found in a single nonpathogenic genome; (iii) PS-ORFans (P), which are found in multiple pathogenic genomes; …

Yap1-Lats2 Feedback Loop Dictates Senescent Or Malignant Cell Fate To Maintain Tissue Homeostasis, Chunbo He, Xiangmin Lv, Cong Huang, Guohua Hua, Bowen Ma, Xingcheng Chen, Peter C. Angeletti, Jixin Dong, Jin Zhou, Zhengfeng Wang, Bo R. Rueda, John S. Davis, Cheng Wang

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Dysfunction of the homeostasis-maintaining systems in specific cell types or tissues renders the organism susceptible to a range of diseases, including cancers. One of the emerging mechanisms for maintaining tissue homeostasis is cellular senescence. Here, we report that the Hippo pathway plays a critical role in controlling the fate of ovarian cells. Hyperactivation of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), the major effector of the Hippo pathway, induces senescence in cultured primary human ovarian surface epithelial cells (hOSEs). Large tumor suppressor 2 (LATS2), the primary upstream negative regulator of YAP1, is elevated in both YAP1-induced and natural replicative-triggered senescence. Deletion of LATS2 …

Introducing Foster Care: Challenges And Opportunities To Reducing Health Disparities, Anu Partap

Journal of Applied Research on Children: Informing Policy for Children at Risk

Guest editor Dr. Anu Partap introduces Volume 9, Issue 1 of the Journal of Applied Research on Children.