Digital Commons Network^™

Contaminants Of Emerging Concern: Reconsidering Our Paradigm Of Water Pollution, Jonathan Gunasti

Pomona Senior Theses

In this senior thesis, I explore contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and discuss the ways in which these novel contaminants defy traditional notions of pollution. I discuss the history and “emergence” of CECs and EDCs in scientific and public spheres and outline ongoing challenges to recognizing, prioritizing, and understanding the action of these contaminants. I position EDCs within the framework of environmental injustice and health disparities and suggest that these compounds could reinforce multigenerational health inequities. Finally, I perform a pilot analysis of the EDC bisphenol A (BPA) in Mt. Baldy Creek, the Los Angeles …

Echo Care: Providing Multidisciplinary Specialty Expertise To Support The Care Of Complex Patients, Miriam Komaromy, Judy Bartlett, Andrea Zurawski, Sarah R. Gonzales-Van Horn, Summers G. Kalishman, Venice Ceballos, Xi Sun, Martin Jurado, Sanjeev Arora

Project ECHO Bibliography

BACKGROUND: Programs for high-need, high-cost (HNHC) patients can improve care and reduce costs. However, it may be challenging to implement these programs in rural and underserved areas, in part due to limited access to specialty consultation.

AIM: Evaluate the feasibility of using the Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) model to provide specialist input to outpatient intensivist teams (OITs) dedicated to caring for HNHC patients.

SETTING: Weekly group videoconferencing sessions that connect multidisciplinary specialists with OITs.

PARTICIPANTS: Six OITs across New Mexico, typically consisting of a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, a registered nurse, a counselor or social worker, and …

A Short Remark On Multipurpose Laser Therapy “Helios” In Ukraine And Its Potential Application For Treatment Of Neurology Disorders, Florentin Smarandache, Volodymyr Krasnoholovets, Victor Christianto, Rizha Vitania, The Houw Liong

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

However, a truly multipurpose laser therapy method is very rarely available. Here we introduce a multipurpose laser therapy device in Ukraine, which is capable to take care a multitude of diseases. It is called “Helios”, by one of us (VK). We also give a case where a patient who suffered from Covid-19 has been treated successfully until he is recovered to healthy condition. In the last section we also discuss potential future application of Helios for other fields; i.e. neurology disorders.

Lymesim 2.0: An Updated Simulation Of Blacklegged Tick (Acari: Ixodidae) Population Dynamics And Enzootic Transmission Of Borrelia Burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae), Holly Gaff, Rebecca J. Eisen, Lars Eisen, Robyn Nadolny, Jenna Bjork, Andrew J. Monaghan

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States, and the number of cases reported each year continues to rise. The complex nature of the relationships between the pathogen (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto), the tick vector (Ixodes scapularis Say), multiple vertebrate hosts, and numerous environmental factors creates challenges for understanding and predicting tick population and pathogen transmission dynamics. LYMESIM is a mechanistic model developed in the late 1990s to simulate the life-history of I. scapularis and transmission dynamics of B. burgdorferi s.s. Here we present LYMESIM 2.0, a modernized version of LYMESIM, that includes …

An Efficient Microinjection Method To Generate Human Anaplasmosis Agent Anaplasma Phagocytophilum-Infected Ticks, Vikas Taank, Ellango Ramasamy, Hameeda Sultana, Girish Neelakanta

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Ticks are important vectors that transmit several pathogens including human anaplasmosis agent, Anaplasma phagocytophilum. This bacterium is an obligate intracellular rickettsial pathogen. An infected reservoir animal host is often required for maintenance of this bacterial colony and as a source for blood to perform needle inoculations in naïve animals for tick feeding studies. In this study, we report an efficient microinjection method to generate A. phagocytophilum-infected ticks in laboratory conditions. The dense-core (DC) form of A. phagocytophilum was isolated from in vitro cultures and injected into the anal pore of unfed uninfected Ixodes scapularis nymphal ticks. These ticks …

Simulating Medical Isolation: Communicatively Managing Patient And Medical Team Safety, Elizabeth L. Spradley, R. Tyler Spradley

International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference

Reducing hospital acquired or associated infections (HAIs) is a national public health priority. HAIs pose risks to patients, visitors, and medical personnel. To better understand how to communicatively manage safety in medical isolation, data was collected with nursing students simulating medical isolation in a high-fidelity simulation with a medical mannequin with C. difficile. Observations of nursing students and faculty revealed four distinct communication practices: social support, patient education, humor, and storytelling. Conclusions include recommendations to intentionally design these communication practices into high-fidelity medial isolation simulations and scale up these communication practices in routines of safety.

Effort Reward Imbalance In The Nursing Profession - A Novel Way Of Gathering Data, Dorailys Fagundo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The effort-reward imbalance model allows us to see disparity in effort and reward and how this can be a predictor for a variety of constructs. The present study seeks to gather data utilizing the ERI modal in the nursing profession. Previous research has utilized the ERI model but methods for gathering data were not quick and efficient. This study seeks to utilize a database called Glassdoor to rapidly and effectively gather data. The researchers are interested in seeing the likelihood of nurses to recommend their company to a friend based on perceived effort and rewards. The sample included a random …

Variations In Diet Quality Among Undergraduate Students, William Johnson

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In order to prevent the onset of several chronic diseases, populations that exhibit poor dietary practices must be identified and educated on proper nutritional habits. This study used the pre-validated Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants – Shortened version (REAP-S) survey and a four-question demographic questionnaire to identify these populations among undergraduate students at the University of Central Florida. The participants were 171 students of at least 18 years of age who completed the 17-question online survey. The data collected indicated that significant differences in diet quality regarding consumption of fats and saturated fats exist between ages, class standings, and sexes …

Getting Lost: The Fungal Hijacking Of Ant Foraging Behavior In Space And Time, Thienthanh Trinh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Many parasites have evolved strategies to exploit host behavior such that it benefits parasite transmission. Ophiocordyceps manipulations of carpenter ant behavior represent an evident example. Manipulated ants are coerced to ascend vegetation and clamp down their mandibles in a stereotypical "death-grip" bite. The fungus then kills the ant, sprouts a stalk and releases infective spores. Research has focused on this ultimate manipulation, leaving the subtler behavioral changes pre-biting largely unexplored. Field and transcriptome data found that the host circadian clocks, olfaction, and communication may be disrupted, suggesting that the fungus is affecting ant foraging activity and effectivity. To test these …

Occupational Therapy In Haiti: A Pilot Study To Identify Intervention Methods Used During Short-Term Medical Missions, Sheelagh M. Schlegel, Kathleen Mathieson

Occupational Therapy Faculty Publications

Due to the shortage of occupational therapists (OTs) in Haiti and over 800,000 individuals with disabilities, most occupational therapy assessments and interventions are provided by OTs on short-term medical missions (STMMs). Learning which methods OT use to provide assessments and interventions during these STMMs is the first step to understanding how to facilitate followup and carry-over for clients and ensure longevity for STMMs in Haiti. This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive design to gather data on methods used by OTs. Thirty-three OTs, who travelled to Haiti on STMMs, completed a 16-question, online survey. The most common method provided by OTs …

Health Behaviors And Pandemics, Jay E. Maddock, Anna E. Greer

Public Health Faculty Publications

Human health behaviors are essential to reducing the spread and impact of pandemics. However, most behavioral scientists do not work in the area of pandemics given the infrequency of their occurrences. This editorial examines relevant health behavior theories, in particular the precaution adoption process model, and how these apply to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spies And The Virus: The Covid-19 Pandemic And Intelligence Communication In The United States, Ana Maria Lankford, Derrick Storzieri, Joseph Fitsanakis

Intelligence and Security Studies

This paper introduces a crucial parameter to the novel coronavirus response in the United States, by shedding light on the early-warning role of intelligence agencies. It argues that the intelligence components of the federal government's Biological Defense Program offered actionable forewarning about an impending pandemic in the years leading to the COVID-19 outbreak. Yet, almost from the opening stages of the pandemic, senior US government officials, including President Donald Trump, have repeatedly claimed that the virus "came out of nowhere"and that "nobody saw it coming."We show that these assertions contradict more than 15 years of pandemic preparedness warnings by intelligence …

Molecular Epidemiology Of Hookworm Infection In The Ashanti Region, Ghana., Emma Allen

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: Parasitic helminth infections have persisted in resource-limited settings around the world, leading to greater numbers of people experiencing sequelae including malnutrition, anemia, and impaired growth and cognitive function among children. Despite periodic deworming efforts, a high burden of disease remains in sub-Saharan Africa. Establishing baseline prevalence of these infections can inform local and national deworming campaign objectives as well as tailor additional interventions accordingly. Here we describe our efforts to determine baseline prevalence and analyze potential risk factors for infection in Ashanti Region, Ghana.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to characterize the molecular epidemiology of hookworm …

The Impact Of Medicaid Expansion On Childhood Vaccination Rates, 2010-2018, Chandra K. Couzens

Public Health Theses

Background

The relationship between coverage expansions and vaccination coverage is not well characterized, through previous work as linked coverage expansions with insurance rates and insurance rates with vaccination completion. We examined whether Medicaid expansions implemented by the end of 2015 in 29 states and D.C. were associated with changes in MMR vaccination and 7-series vaccination completion among low income children from 2010-2018.

Methods

Changes in mean vaccination coverage were compared between the four years before expansion (2010-2013) and the four years post expansion (2015-2018), using data from the 2010-2018 National Immunization Child Survey. The final study sample (N=36,591) included children …

Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis In Connecticut, 2014-2019: An Analysis Of Surveillance Data And Future Recommendations, Taylor Eisenstein

Public Health Theses

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis is a tickborne zoonosis caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum and first became a nationally notifiable human disease in 1999. In 2008, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) added it to the list of reportable diseases for the state. In 2019, there was a three-fold increase in case counts compared to previous years. To understand trends in anaplasmosis and generate hypotheses regarding this increase, descriptive analyses were performed on confirmed cases reported to the CT DPH from 2014 to 2019. Percentage of cases by gender, age, county, and month were calculated for each year, and …

Lessons From Disaster: Assessing The Covid19 Response In Youth Jails & Prisons, Madalyn K. Wasilczuk

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Molecular Detection Of Intestinal Helminths And Protozoa Among Young Children In Dosso Region, Niger, Kristen Aiemjoy, Ahmed M. Arzika, Catherine Cook, Elodie Lebas, Nils Pilotte, Jessica R. Grant, Steven A. Williams, Thomas M. Lietman, Jeremy D. Keenan

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Eukaryotic parasites are significant contributors to childhood illness in Niger. While helminthiases have received national attention through mass deworming efforts, the epidemiology of intestinal protozoa in Niger remains underexamined. This study employed real-time PCR diagnostics to describe the prevalence of two schistosomes, four soil-transmitted helminths, and one protozoan parasite in Boboye Department, Dosso Region. Prevalence was assessed using bulk stool specimens collected from a population-based sample of 86 children residing in 9 communities. Anthropometric measurements were used to calculate child growth z-scores and stool consistency was graded. Helminths were absent from the study population, with the exception of a single …

The Wisdom Of A Crowd Of Near-Best Fits: Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis In The United States, Ellie Mainou, Gwen Spencer, Dylan Shepardson, Robert Dorit

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis (TB) strains pose a major challenge to TB eradication. Existing US epidemiological models have not fully incorporated the impact of antibiotic-resistance. To develop a more realistic model of US TB dynamics, we formulated a compartmental model integrating single-and multi-drug resistance. We fit twenty-seven parameters to twenty-two years of historical data using a genetic algorithm to minimize a non-differentiable error function. Since counts for several compartments are not available, many parameter combinations achieve very low error. We demonstrate that a crowd of near-best fits can provide compelling new evidence about the ranges of key parameters. While available data is …

Correlation Of Serum Fatty Acid Binding Protein-4 And Interleukin-6 With Airflowlimitation And Quality Of Life In Stable And Acute Exacerbation Of Copd, Mohammad Reza Aslani, Zeynab Ghazaei, Hassan Ghobadi

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: The serum fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP-4) level increases in chronic inflammatory diseases. The present study aimed to examine serum FABP-4 and interleukin (IL)-6 levels in patients with stable and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the correlation of these markers with airflow limitation. Materials and methods: We measured serum FABP-4 and IL-6 levels in 60 COPD patients [30 stable COPD (SCOPD), and 30 acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD)], and 30 healthy subjects and compared them with airflow limitation according to the COPD stage in the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (GOLD) criteria, …

Is There Relationship Between Sars-Cov-2 And The Complement C3 And C4?, Hamad Dhei̇r, Savaş Si̇pahi̇, Selçuk Yaylaci, Mehmet Köroğlu, Ali̇ Fuat Erdem, Oğuz Karabay

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Antibiotic Prescribing Behaviors Of Physicians Are Changed Via Rapid Antigen Testpractice In The Context Of Rational Drug Use, Deni̇z Uzun, Hali̇l Kara, Muhammed Fati̇h Doğan, Seyfullah Oktay Arslan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Rapid antigen test (RAT) is a practical test to detect the presence of Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus antigens in throat swab samples. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in the empiric antibiotic prescribing behavior of 10 family physicians in Kırıkkale Province after using RAT in 2017. Materials and methods: RAT test practice started in Family Medicine in February 2017. Family Medicine Information System (FMIS) includes clinical and prescription records of 10 family physicians, providing health service to approximately 35,000 residents in Kırıkkale. The numbers of antibiotics prescribed by the physicians according to the ICD-10 …

Melatonin, Aging, And Covid-19: Could Melatonin Be Beneficial For Covid-19 Treatment In The Elderly?, Güler Öztürk, Kazi̇me Gonca Akbulut, Şevi̇n Güney

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The aim of this review is to summarize current studies on the relationship between melatonin and aging. Nowadays, age-related diseases come into prominence, and identifying age-related changes and developing proper therapeutic approaches are counted as some of the major issues regarding community health. Melatonin is the main hormone of the pineal gland. Melatonin is known to influence many biological processes in the body, including circadian rhythms, the immune system, and neuroendocrine and cardiovascular functions. Melatonin rhythms also reflect the biological process of aging. Aging is an extremely complex and multifactorial process. Melatonin levels decline considerably with aging and its decline …

Anakinra, An Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist, Increases The Morphine Analgesic Effectand Decreases Morphine Tolerance Development By Modulating Oxidative Stress Andendoplasmic Reticulum Stress In Rats, Onur Avci, Ahmet Şevki̇ Taşkiran

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Recent studies have shown that inflammation plays a role in morphine analgesia and tolerance development. Anakinra is a competitive inhibitor of IL-1 receptors and an antiinflammatory protein regulating IL-1ß's biological activity by avoiding signal transduction. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of anakinra on morphine analgesia and tolerance. Materials and methods: In this study, 36 Wistar Albino (230-250 g) male rats were used. Animals were divided into 6 groups: saline (S), 100 mg/kg anakinra (A), 5mg/kg morphine (M), M+A, morphine tolerance (MT), and MT+A. The resulting analgesic effect was measured with hot plate and tail-flick analgesia …

Crushing The Curve, The Role Of National And International Institutions And Policy Makersin Covid-19 Pandemic, Zeli̇ha Koçak Tufan, Bi̇rcan Kayaaslan

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Nobody can be fully prepared to a pandemic. Of course there are signs of it, the scientists can predict, alarming speeches can be made. But there are always alarmist people around, maybe that is why sometimes even the most serious warnings may be not considered by the authorities on time. The first patients may be lost without a proper diagnosis. When everybody realizes that there may be a big problem in the horizon, sometimes it is too late. That is why it is very important to monitor contagious diseases and follow the warnings and releases of national and international disease …

Antiviral Treatment Of Covid-19, Serap Yavuz, Serhat Ünal

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Currently, there is not any specific effective antiviral treatment for COVID-19. Although most of the COVID-19 patients have mild or moderate courses, up to 5%-10% can have severe, potentially life threatening course, there is an urgent need for effective drugs. Optimized supportive care remains the mainstay of therapy. There have been more than 300 clinical trials going on, various antiviral and immunomodulating agents are in various stages of evaluation for COVID-19 in those trials and some of them will be published in the next couple of months. Despite the urgent need to find an effective antiviral treatment for COVID-19 through …

Immune Gene Therapy Of Cancer, Hakan Akbulut

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Cancer gene therapy emerged as a promising treatment modality 3 decades ago. However, the failure of the first gene therapy trials in cancer treatment has decreased its popularity. Likewise, immunotherapy has followed a similar course. While it was a popular and promising treatment with IL-2 and interferon and cancer vaccines in the 1980s, it later lost its popularity. Immunotherapy became one of the main options for cancer treatment with the successful use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in clinics approximately 10 years ago. The success of immunotherapy has increased even more with the introduction of cancer gene therapy methods in this …

A Quality Improvement Initiative To Manage Shingrix Vaccine Inventory In Ambulatory Clinics, Tracy Colburn

DNP Scholarly Projects

Abstract

Background: Inventory control practices for adult vaccines, specifically Shingrix, in ambulatory clinics are not well known or researched. This quality improvement project takes place at a small healthcare organization consisting of a hospital and thirteen ambulatory clinics in Northern New England. Seven of the thirteen clinics have the Shingrix vaccine in their inventory.

Purpose: The aim of this quality improvement project was multifaceted. The first matter was the establishment of a two-week PAR level at seven of the thirteen ambulatory clinics connected to the organization. The second was the design and implementation of a Shingrix vaccine management program …

Essential Concepts And Learning Outcomes For Cell And Molecular Biology, Laura L. Newcomb Phd, Mike Chao Phd, Dan Nickerson Phd, Paul Orwin Phd, Jeremy Dodsworth Phd, David Rhoads Phd

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

In the new, transformed Biology BS program for conversion from quarter to semester, multiple faculty will teach varied courses under the “Cell and Molecular” requirement for our program. Our old program required multiple core courses, leading to bottlenecks as students could not get seats in needed classes. We have designed our new program to provide students with options under core categories, providing students more flexibility which should improve time to graduation. Students must take at least ONE of the courses, although students who chose to focus on Cell and Molecular Biology should be able to learn new material in ALL …

"Retribution, Not A Solution": Drug-Induced Homicide In North Carolina, J. Matthew Gorga

Campbell Law Review

Two men - we'll call them John and Will - share an apartment. Unfortunately, both men are addicted to heroin. The men are struggling to get by. Neither one of them would consider themselves "drug dealers," but both have made minor sales here and there to help support their drug habit, and both have had their share of run-ins with the law. One evening, John tells Will he is going to pick up some heroin, and John asks Will if he wants any. Will decides to chip in; he gives some money to John. John takes the money, pools it …

Development And Validation Of A Predictive Model For Oncology Hospital-At-Home, Keval Niraj Desai

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Background:

Hospital-at-Home (HaH) is a unique care model that allows for the provision of inpatient level care in the patient’s home. HaH has been used to facilitate early discharge from inpatient care or to substitute entirely for an inpatient admission. Hospital-at-Home has been shown to have similar clinical outcomes to inpatient care, while reducing cost and complications associated with inpatient admission. Application of the HaH model to patients with oncologic disease is a promising avenue to reduce healthcare costs while improving patients’ quality of life by increasing time spent at home. A major challenge to implementing a Hospital-at-Home program for …