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Advances In Molecular Research On Bed Bugs (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), Sanjay Basnet, Shripat T. Kamble

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

With the resurgence and increase in infestations of the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), across the world, there has been renewed interest in molecular research on this pest. In this paper, we present current information on the biology, medical importance, management practices, behavior and physiology, and molecular research conducted on bed bugs. The majority of molecular studies are focused towards understanding the molecular mechanism of insecticide resistance. Bed bugs are hematophagous insects with no prior record of vectoring any disease organisms. An improved understanding of how bed bugs lack vector competency may provide information to prevent disease …

Wildlife Management Practices Associated With Pathogen Exposure In Non-Nativewild Pigs In Florida, U.S., Amanda N. Carr, Michael P. Milleson, Felipe A. Hernandez, Hunter R. Merrill, Michael L. Avery, Samantha M. Wisely

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Land use influences disease emergence by changing the ecological dynamics of humans, wildlife, domestic animals, and pathogens. This is a central tenet of One Health, and one that is gaining momentum in wildlife management decision-making in the United States. Using almost 2000 serological samples collected from non-native wild pigs (Sus scrofa) throughout Florida (U.S.), we compared the prevalence and exposure risk of two directly transmitted pathogens, pseudorabies virus (PrV) and Brucella spp., to test the hypothesis that disease emergence would be positively correlated with one of the most basic wildlife management operations: Hunting. The seroprevalence of PrV- …

Characterization Of The Microbial Phosphonate-Activating Pntc Enzymes, Kyle Rice

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

New strategies are urgently needed to combat infectious diseases in an era of rising antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, an emerging appreciation for the human microbiome’s role in maintaining health motivates discovery of species-specific antibiotics that minimally disrupt our native bacterial communities. Small molecule modifications to bacterial cell surfaces represent a potentially rich source of new targets for next generation antibiotics, as these molecules mediate virulence and evasion of the host immune response. Phosphocholine (PCho) is a rare cell surface modification that contributes to virulence, and modifications with phosphonates like 2-aminoethylphosphonate (AEP) are even more unusual and therefore provide opportunities for species- …

Rationality In Bargaining By Finite Automata, Jim Bell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Aspects of behavioral decision-making can be integrated into game-theoretic models of two-player bargaining using finite automata which can represent bargaining strategies in combination with various behavioral traits. The automata are used as bargaining agents who must jointly agree upon a fixed allocation of transferable utility in an infinite-horizon Rubinstein bargaining game. At each turn, the automata are given the opportunity to accept a proposed portion of the transferable utility, or to reject the proposal and make a counter-offer of their own. A round-robin tournament and ecological simulations were run to explore strategic dominance under different conditions. Principles of bargaining strategy …

Journal In Entirety

The Asbury Journal

No abstract provided.

Serological Proteomic Screening And Evaluation Of A Recombinant Egg Antigen For The Diagnosis Of Low-Intensity Schistosoma Mansoni Infections In Endemic Area In Brazil, Vanessa Silva-Moraes, Lisa Marie Shollenberger, William Castro-Borges, Ana Lucia Teles Rabello, Donald A. Harn, Lia Carolina Soares Medeiros, Wander De Jesus Jeremias, Liliane Maria Vidal Siqueira, Caroline Stephane Salviano Pereira, Maria Luysa Camargos Pedrosa, Nathalie Bonatti Franco Almeida, Aureo Almeida, Jose Roberto Lambertucci, Nidia Francisca De Figueiredo Carneiro, Paulo Marcos Zech Coelho, Refaella Fortini Queiroz Grenfell

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Despite decades of use of control programs, schistosomiasis remains a global public health problem. To further reduce prevalence and intensity of infection, or to achieve the goal of elimination in low-endemic areas, there needs to be better diagnostic tools to detect low-intensity infections in low-endemic areas in Brazil. The rationale for development of new diagnostic tools is that the current standard test Kato-Katz (KK) is not sensitive enough to detect low-intensity infections in low-endemic areas. In order to develop new diagnostic tools, we employed a proteomics approach to identify biomarkers associated with schistosome-specific immune responses in hopes of developing …

Prime-Boost Vaccine Regimen For Sjtpl And Sjc23 Schistosome Vaccines, Increases Efficacy In Water Buffalo In A Field Trial In China, Akram A. Da'dara, Changlin Li, Xinling Yu, Mao Zheng, Jie Zhou, Lisa M. Shollenberger, Yue-Sheng Li, Donald A. Ham

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Schistosomiasis remains a serious zoonotic disease in China and the Philippines. Water buffalo and cattle account for the majority of transmission. Vaccination of water buffalo is considered a key strategy to reduce disease prevalence. Previously, we showed that vaccination of water buffalo with SjC23 or SjCTPI plasmid DNA vaccines, induced 50% efficacy to challenge infection. Here, we evaluated several parameters to determine if we can develop a two dose vaccine that maintains the efficacy of the three dose vaccine. We performed four trials evaluating: (1) lab produced vs. GLP grade vaccines, (2) varying the time between prime and boost, (3) …

Parasitic Dinoflagellate Hematodinium Perezi Prevalence In Larval And Juvenile Blue Crabs Callinectes Sapidus From Coastal Bays Of Virginia, H. J. Small, J. P. Huchin-Mian, K. S. Reece, K. M. Pagenkopp Lohan, Mark J. Butler Iv, J. D. Shields

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium perezi infects the American blue crab Callinectes sapidus and other decapods along the Eastern seaboard and Gulf of Mexico coast of the USA. Large juvenile and adult blue crabs experience high mortality during seasonal outbreaks of H. perezi, but less is known about its presence in the early life history stages of this host. We determined the prevalence of H. perezi in megalopae and early benthic juvenile crabs from multiple locations along the Virginia portion of the Delmarva Peninsula. The DNA of H. perezi was not detected in any megalopae collected from several locations within …

Unconventional Oil And Gas Energy Systems: An Unidentified Hotspot Of Antimicrobial Resistance?, Maria Fernanda Campa, Amy K Wolfe, Stephen Techtmann, Ann-Marie Harik, Terry C Hazen

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Biocides used in unconventional oil and gas (UOG) practices, such as hydraulic fracturing, control microbial growth. Unwanted microbial growth can cause gas souring, pipeline clogging, and microbial-induced corrosion of equipment and transportation pipes. However, optimizing biocide use has not been a priority. Moreover, biocide efficacy has been questioned because microbial surveys show an active microbial community in hydraulic fracturing produced and flowback water. Hydraulic fracturing produced and flowback water increases risks to surface aquifers and rivers/lakes near the UOG operations compared with conventional oil and gas operations. While some biocides and biocide degradation products have been highlighted as chemicals of …

Redefining "Life": The Constitutional Implications Of Patenting Immortality, Julia Spivak

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Improving Sexual Orientation And Gender Identity Knowledge In Convenient Care Clinics: A Toolkit And Competency Training For Caregivers, Elizabeth M. Gallagher

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

It is well documented that transgender individuals experience higher rates of discrimination than non-transgender, also known as cis-gender, individuals (Scandurra, Amodeo, Valerio, Bochicchio, & Frost, 2017). This discrimination extends into the healthcare system, a place where all individuals should be treated with dignity and respect (Bauer, Scheim, Deutsch, & Massarella, 2014). Over the last few decades, cultural humility has been promoted in health care professional training (Fisher-Borne, Cain, & Martin, 2015; Tervalon & Murray-Garcia, 1998). However, transgender care is rarely included. This lack of training can lead to a decreased confidence in providing care to transgender individuals and poor experiences …

The Effect Of Narrative Medicine Combined With Medication Assisted Treatment On Decreasing The Desire To Use Intravenous Substances In Hospitalized Patients With Infective Endocarditis, Paula Works

DNP Projects

Substance abuse is a significant problem that spans the nation. Of particular concern is the growing population of patients at UK HealthCare who have endocarditis as a complication from IV substance abuse.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were

1. To assess the effect of narrative medicine combined with MAT, compared to MAT alone, on desire to use in hospitalized patients with a history of IV substance use
2. To examine the changes in quality of life before and after the introduction of narrative medicine in hospitalized patients with a history of IV substance abuse using The Quality of Life Scale (QOLS). …

Incidence And Treatment Of Acute Sinusitis In Two Outpatient Primary Care Settings And Provider Challenges In Treating Adult Sinusitis, Britney Nicole Perkins

DNP Projects

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nationally, approximately one third of antibiotics are currently being prescribed unnecessarily. Antibiotic misuse can result in disability, longer hospital stays, increased costs to organizations, antibiotic resistance and death.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was two-fold: (1) explore current management of acute adult rhinosinusitis in an outpatient setting (2) assessing providers perceptions on the barriers to preventing antibiotic misuse.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 150 charts was performed to examine prescribing practices by providers treating rhinosinusitis at two primary care practices. An interview was conducted with the practice providers on barriers for compliance in antibiotic stewardship.

RESULTS: …

An Evaluation Of Preexisting Psychiatric Diagnosis: Patient Outcomes In An Intensive Care Setting, Nicole R. Ryan

DNP Projects

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual is able to acknowledge ability levels, cope with the normal stresses of life, be a productive member of society and contribute to the community. An important consideration for DNP prepared nurses is implementing principles of the Collaborative Care Model as a guiding framework to improve access to evidence-based mental health care in a medical care setting.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this DNP project was to examine the demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics of patients with both medical and psychiatric diagnoses admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) …

Identification Of Sero-Diagnostic Antigens For The Early Diagnosis Of Johne’S Disease Using Map Protein Microarrays, Lingling Li, J. P. Bannantine, Joseph J. Campo, Arlo Randall, Yrjo T. Grohn, Megan A. Schilling, Robab Katani, Jessica Radzio-Basu, Laurel Easterling, Vivek Kapur

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

Considerable effort has been directed toward controlling Johne’s disease (JD), a chronic granulomatous intestinal inflammatory disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in cattle and other ruminants. However, progress in controlling the spread of MAP infection has been impeded by the lack of reliable diagnostic tests that can identify animals early in the infection process and help break the transmission chain. To identify reliable antigens for early diagnosis of MAP infection, we constructed a MAP protein array with 868 purified recombinant MAP proteins, and screened a total of 180 well-characterized serum samples from cows assigned to 4 groups based …

Quantification Of Macrophages And Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis In Bovine Intestinal Tissue During Different Stages Of Johne’S Disease, Caitlin J. Jenvey, Jesse M. Hostetter, Adrienne L. Shircliff, John Bannantine, Judith R. Stabel

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

Johne’s disease is an enteric disease caused by the intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Upon ingestion of MAP, it is translocated across the intestinal epithelium and may be killed by intestinal macrophages, or depending on the bacterial burden and immunological status of the animal, MAP may thwart innate defense mechanisms and persist within the macrophage. This study aimed to determine the numbers of macrophages and MAP present in bovine midileal tissue during different stages of infection. Immunofluorescent (IF) labeling was performed on frozen bovine midileal intestinal tissue collected from 28 Holstein dairy cows. The number of macrophages in …

The Prevalence And Risk Factors Of Oral Soft Tissue Lesions In Kidney Transplant Recipients, Charinrat Sirivichayakul

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background: Kidney transplantation is considered to be the best treatment for end-stage renal disease patient, and widely accepted it improves quality and length of life. However, the kidney transplant recipient has to receive long-term immunosuppressive therapy in order to prevent kidney transplant rejection, causing the immune function system declined. Oral and dental problems also increase in these patients, which mostly develop as a result of side effects and drug interaction. This study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors of oral soft tissue lesions in kidney transplant recipients. Methodology: The cross-sectional study was conducted in April to October 2019. …

Violence And Postpartum Drug Abstinence Among Substance-Using Mothers, Pooja Reddy Bollampally

Public Health Theses

Background: Substance use during pregnancy can have numerous detrimental effects on maternal and infant health. This knowledge contributes to high rates of abstinence during pregnancy, but pregnant women with substance use disorders are at high risk for relapse postpartum. Experiences of violence can have a substantial impact on the behavioral and mental health of women; its compounded consequences with those of substance use can lead to a population vulnerable to drug relapse and other negative health effects. The objective of this study was to examine the association between experiences of violence and drug abstinence at delivery and postpartum.

Methods: Data …

Prep Uptake, Adherence, And Persistence: Qualitative Interviews With Women Experiencing Ipv, Ipv Service Providers, And Healthcare Providers, Amy Janet Caplon

Public Health Theses

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been associated with HIV susceptibility and

acquisition. Studies have found that women who had experienced IPV were at least three times more likely to have a diagnosis of HIV. Women are interested in taking PrEP, however barriers to uptake, adherence, and persistence are not widely known, and present knowledge excludes experiences of healthcare providers and IPV service providers. In this qualitative study, we examined the perceived facilitators and possible solutions to PrEP uptake, adherence, and persistence. This was done using a sample of women experiencing IPV, Reproductive Health Providers, PrEP Providers, and IPV service …

Association Of Hpv And Oral Cancer, Qizheng Chen

Public Health Theses

According to the International Research on Cancer (AIRC) oral cancers are a type of cancer that develops in people’s lip linings, mouth, and the oropharynx. Studies have shown that the consumption of alcohol and tobacco products are the primary carcinogens that cause oral cancers. However, increasing cases of young individuals with no previous exposure to alcohol or tobacco who are getting oral cancers have prompted studies to look into the role of other carcinogens, especially viruses. Currently, the IARC presents oral cancers as the sixth most common type of cancer in the world. High-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) types are …

Development And Evaluation Of A Clinical Quality Scorecard For Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center, Hailey Jordan

Public Health Theses

Abstract

Background

Healthcare organizations are making the transition from volume to value-based care, thus relying on standardized performance measures for quality improvement. Some challenges of this strategy include the following: ambiguity and inconsistency of metric definitions across reporting systems, a dearth of measures that are representative of clinical care and patient experience, and unfair or inappropriate comparisons of organizations serving patients exposed to different sociodemographic risk factors.

Rationale

Developing and evaluating a clinical quality scorecard that is internal to a federally qualified health center will provide insight into its value-based performance. It will also allow for efficient improvement in clinical …

Prevalence Of Asymptomatic Malaria Among Children In Kumasi, Ghana, Natalie Olson

Public Health Theses

As the landscape of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa changes due to improved control efforts, there is increasing interest in elucidating the epidemiology of asymptomatic P. falciparum infection and its role in disease transmission, particularly in school age children. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in the summer of 2018 of children attending 4 primary/junior high schools within a 5 km radius of HopeXchange Medical Centre in Kumasi, Ghana, a city of 2.5 million inhabitants with year-round malaria transmission. Informed consent/assent and demographic information was obtained from 634 subjects (ages 5-17 years), after which measurements of height/weight/body temperature were recorded and a …

Effect Modification Of Greenness In The Residential Environment On Temperature-Mortality Relationship Among Older Adults In China, Chengcheng Qiu

Public Health Theses

Older adults are highly vulnerable to adverse climate-related impacts, with temperature-related mortality that are likely to vary according to geographic characteristics, vegetation abundance and socioeconomic conditions. We examined how mortality among older adults in China was associated with different temperatures over 14 years (2000-2014), and how geolocation, vegetation abundance in the residential environment and socioeconomic conditions modulate this association. We used case-crossover study design with distributed nonlinear modeling method to estimate heat- and cold-related mortality, and stratified the analysis by the level of vegetation abundance, calculated from light reflectance of remotely sensed imagery, and socioeconomic characteristics including education and residence …

Evaluation Of The Ltbi Cascade Of Care At The Winchester Chest Clinic, Alyssa Manni Robinson

Public Health Theses

Background: Latent tuberculosis infections affect around two billion people world-wide. In order to effectively control and reduce TB incidence, latent TB cases must be identified and treated. The latent TB cascade of care involves screening, diagnosis, evaluation, prescription of a treatment regimen, and completion of treatment. Existing studies have identified low rates of LTBI treatment completion among patients in diverse settings.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess certain steps in the cascade of care among the LTBI-positive patients referred to the Winchester Chest Clinic in order to determine where patients were lost to follow up and potential …

Impacts Of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Treatment For Patients In Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder, Brooke Severe

Public Health Theses

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common among patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), a population who faces barriers to HCV treatment access. Co-located treatment for HCV within an opioid treatment program (OTP) addresses gaps in the HCV care continuum. Few reports have analyzed outcomes related to OUD, such as OUD treatment retention, associated with onsite HCV treatment. Patients (N=89) treated for chronic HCV infection in a Connecticut OTP from January 2014 through July 2017 were compared to control patients (N=199) with HCV-based ICD10 coding (B18.2) who were not treated during the same period. All patients received opioid agonist treatment …

Time Series Analysis For Effect Of Vaccines On Pneumonia Or Gastrointestinal Disorders In Brazil, Kang Shen

Public Health Theses

It is important for public health professionals to understand the effects of vaccine introduction and compare different types of vaccinations. This study will focus on understanding the pre and post vaccination effects of two different infectious diseases: pneumonia and gastrointestinal disorders. One of approaches of getting the accurate estimate of vaccine impact is by comparing rates or trends of the targeted disease in the years after introduction with rates of trend in the year before introduction using a time-series analysis. Specifically, in this study, the synthetic controls method implements an approach to estimating the causal effect of a designed intervention …

Impacts Of Ambient Temperature On Foodborne Salmonella Infection, Victoria E. Shirriff

Public Health Theses

Foodborne Disease (FBD) impacts individuals through the ingestion of foods contaminated with microbes and can lead to an array of adverse health consequences ranging from mild symptoms such as nausea to those that evolve to become life-threatening (World Health Organization, 2015a). The incidence of FBD is expected to increase in the presence of climate change due to an increase in ambient temperature creating an environment where microbes can rapidly multiply and thrive (Gregory, Johnson, Newton, & Ingram, 2009; Kovats et al., 2004). Foodborne cases of Salmonella make up the second largest cause of gastrointestinal infection in the United States (Scallan …

Declines In Human Papillomavirus (Hpv) – Associated High-Grade Cervical Neoplasia By Sociodemographic Factors After Introduction Of Hpv Vaccines In Connecticut, Usa 2008-2017, Mike Yepes

Public Health Theses

Abstract

Background: In 2006, the FDA approved the first vaccine against human papillomavirus. Trends in HPV-related sequalae are an effective method of analyzing HPV vaccine impact. Our primary objective was to measure trends in cervical neoplasia based on sociodemographic characteristics including race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.

Methods: Since 2008, Connecticut has required reporting of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia labeled grade 2+ and adenocarcinoma in situ. CIN 2+ diagnoses trends were modeled by area-based measures of age, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status using negative binomial regression and change-point analysis. Incidence rate measurements were adjusted to reflect inclusion of women who had completed …

Safety Of Opat In Older Versus Younger Adults, Kaylen Elizabeth Brzozowski

Public Health Theses

Introduction Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is considered practical, safe, and cost-effective, but roughly 20% of all adult patients on OPAT experience an adverse event (AE). Frequency of AEs and healthcare utilization, defined as emergency department visits and infectious disease office visits, phone calls, and emails, may be greatest in the first two weeks of OPAT. Given that older adults (age ≥ 65) have greater cognitive decline, ADL limitations, and comorbidities than younger adults, we sought to evaluate the frequency and timing of AEs in older adults on OPAT. We examine patients on OPAT at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) …

Quantifying Influenza Exposure Within Hospitals And Nursing Homes, Drew Taylor Dickinson

Public Health Theses

Abstract

Background: Influenza acquisition in hospitals and nursing homes (NHs) highlights the need for infection prevention to protect patients from contagious diseases while under the care of a healthcare facility. We quantified influenza exposure in both settings and compared facility-onset influenza rates in order to determine if risks of acquiring influenza differed by type of healthcare facility since infection prevention practices are less standardized and less rigorous in NHs.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of California hospital and NH inpatients during the 2015-2016 influenza season, defined as the peak influenza month, plus the two adjacent months, using claims …