Digital Commons Network^™

Dispensing With Reductionism And Dualism: Biological Anthropological Perspectives Towards Understanding Disease, Epidemics, And Pandemics, Anne Grauer

Anthropology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

At no time in recent history has the topic of disease, epidemics and pandemics been more at the forefront of public conversation than it is now. Previously, the threat of epidemics such as Ebola, the 1918 influenza epidemic, and the plague, were commonly framed as “back then” or “over there.” Perhaps COVID ended the public's delusion. For biological anthropologists, however, the perspective has differed appreciably. Pandemics and epidemics are viewed as integral and repeated aspects of human existence, and the kindling to start an outbreak of gargantuan proportion has been delicately stacked for centuries (if not millennia). If the public …

In-Silico Approach For Predicting The Inhibitory Effect Of Home Remedies On Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2, Shankar Thapa, Mahalakshmi Suresha Biradar, Janmajoy Banerjee, Dipanjan Karati

Makara Journal of Science

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 is an infectious disease caused by coronavirus and spreads through infected droplets inhalation. For the past 3 years, COVID-19 has become a global threat. Vaccinations are currently available and have FDA approval. During the recent pandemic, people adopted a psychological belief that home remedies (turmeric, ginger, garlic, and coriander) can prevent COVID-19. This research aimed to predict the covid-19 inhibitory activities by home remedies through an in-silico approach. The 24 bioactive constituents of four home remedies plants were downloaded from PubChem and subjected to molecular docking with the three important proteins responsible for COVID-19 pathogenesis. …

Increasing Provider Confidence With Expedited Partner Therapy In Rural Health, Keisha Fox

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The amount of gonorrhea and chlamydia cases reported in the state of Arkansas over the past four years has gradually increased. Expedited partner therapy (EPT) offers secure, reliable treatment for heterosexual individuals exposed to gonorrhea or chlamydia by their sexual partner without a physical exam but is not commonly offered by providers at Lee County Cooperative Clinic. This quality improvement used CDC guidelines and Arkansas legal statutes to implement EPT education for the providers in a rural health clinic in Arkansas. The goal was to increase provider knowledge and comfort in prescribing EPT. Recruitment of four providers involved discussion of …

Blockade Of Interferon Signaling Decreases Gut Barrier Integrity And Promotes Severe West Nile Virus Disease, Shih-Ching Lin, Fang R Zhao, Hana Janova, Adrian Gervais, Summer Rucknagel, Kristy O Murray, Jean-Laurent Casanova, Michael S Diamond

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The determinants of severe disease caused by West Nile virus (WNV) and why only ~1% of individuals progress to encephalitis remain poorly understood. Here, we use human and mouse enteroids, and a mouse model of pathogenesis, to explore the capacity of WNV to directly infect gastrointestinal (GI) tract cells and contribute to disease severity. At baseline, WNV poorly infects human and mouse enteroid cultures and enterocytes in mice. However, when STAT1 or type I interferon (IFN) responses are absent, GI tract cells become infected, and this is associated with augmented GI tract and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, accumulation of gut-derived …

Understanding Expatriates' Cultural Adjustment And Performance In International Assignments, Iskra Reic

The Qualitative Report

The aim of this research is to explore the experience of expatriates about cultural differences between home and host countries through a narrative inquiry. There is not enough information in the literature about expatriates’ experiences and how they see the role of cultural differences, cultural distance and cultural competences in adapting to international assignments. Therefore, main research question was how expatriates working in a large multinational pharmaceutical company perceive the role of cultural differences and cultural competencies in their adjustment and performance. A total of 12 expatriates from different home countries on assignment in different host countries participated in the …

A Rare Cause Of Diarrhea: Intestinal Spirochetosis In An Hiv-Positive Patient., Lacey Falgout, Shilpa Kailas, Supraja Sridhar, Nisha Loganantharaj

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Intestinal spirochetosis (IS) is a rare gastrointestinal infection with vague presenting symptoms. Diagnosis is confirmed histopathologically. Risk factors include homosexuality and HIV. Antibiotic treatment with metronidazole usually leads to resolution of symptoms. We present the case of a 56-year-old HIV-positive man with chronic, watery diarrhea who was diagnosed with IS. This case highlights the importance of considering IS in the differential in HIV-positive patients with nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms after more common etiologies have been ruled out.

Launching A New Data Management Service In A Health Science Library, Sharon J. Duffy

Library Faculty Publications

2023 Joint Chapter Meeting : South Central Chapter (SCC)/Southern Chapter (SC), New Orleans, LA, September 21-26, 2023

Molecular Imaging Of Ace2 Expression In Infectious Disease And Cancer, Zhiyao Li, Abbie Hasson, Lasya Daggumati, Hanwen Zhang, Daniel L J Thorek

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a cell-surface receptor that plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Through the use of ligands engineered for the receptor, ACE2 imaging has emerged as a valuable tool for preclinical and clinical research. These can be used to visualize the expression and distribution of ACE2 in tissues and cells. A variety of techniques including optical, magnetic resonance, and nuclear medicine contrast agents have been developed and employed in the preclinical setting. Positron-emitting radiotracers for highly sensitive and quantitative tomography have also been translated in the context of SARS-CoV-2-infected and control patients. Together …

The Emerging Oral Pathogen, Filifactor Alocis, Modulates Antimicrobial Responses Of Primed Human Neutrophils., Ian J. Snider, Aruna Vashishta, Richard J. Lamont, Silvia M. Uriarte

The Cardinal Edge

Almost 50% of the adult population older than 30 years of age suffers from some form of periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the periodontal tissue caused by microbial subversion of the host immune response. Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocyte present in the oral mucosa. In periodontitis, periodontal pathogens have developed strategies to evade neutrophil antimicrobial responses and promote bacterial growth. Among these oral pathogens is Filifactor alocis which can modulate neutrophils’ antimicrobial responses by preventing phagosome maturation. During inflammation, neutrophils that reach the gingival tissue are primed by cytokines and chemokines. However, the response of primed human neutrophils …

Exploring Opportunities To Expand And Improve Prep Uptake In Vulnerable Us Communities., Pedro B. Carneiro

Dissertations and Theses

The implementation of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the United States has fallen short of meeting both 2020 and projected 2030 milestones, with less than one-third of those who would benefit most from PrEP choosing to initiate it. High discontinuation rates and persistently elevated HIV incidence underscore the need for improvement. However, opportunities exist to enhance PrEP uptake, supported by a growing pipeline of PrEP innovations. To achieve this, effective implementation of available tools to combat HIV and the inclusion of all communities as stakeholders are essential. One such tool is event-driven (ED) PrEP, also known as PrEP 2-1-1, which is …

Comparative Analysis Of Covid-19 Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention Videos On Facebook: Insights From Nigeria And Benin Republic, Jimme Matyek, Sheba Umbule Tayo-Garbson, Philomena Effiong Umoren Phd, Benmun Paul, Emeka Williams Etumnu

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Facebook has been adopted by public health organisations for health promotion, psychoeducation and behaviour change campaigns. Studies have underscored the potential advantages of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in decelerating the transmission of COVID-19 and mitigating its severe health consequences. However, these studies did not content analyse these NPI messages especially on Facebook. This study sought to investigate the phenomenon of NPI COVID-19 videos on Facebook that were viewed by Nigerians and Beninese. This study used quantitative content analysis as the research design and analysed 56 Nigerian videos and 36 Beninese videos totalling 92 on Facebook with an inter-rater reliability of 96%. …

The Constraints Within Capitalism: An Evaluation Of Ann E. Cudd's "Enlightened Capitalism" In 'Capitalism, For And Against', Phoebe E. Shown

The Cardinal Edge

There is extreme partisanship in the United States regarding whether or not capitalism should continue to be implemented. This partisanship is apparent in Capitalism, For and Against: A Feminist Debate, by Ann E. Cudd and Nancy Holmstrom. The published debate between Cudd and Holmstrom ultimately discusses whether systemic changes can be placed upon capitalism for an ideal "enlightened capitalism", presented by Cudd, or if the United States should adopt a new economic system altogether, suggested by Holmstrom. I address Ann E. Cudd's argument for an "enlightened capitalism" by summarizing her main ideas, and proceed to refute it on the grounds …

Methionine Biosynthesis Enzyme Momet2 Is Required For Rice Blast Fungus Pathogenicity By Promoting Virulence Gene Expression Via Reducing 5mc Modification, Huimin Li, Pengcheng Mo, Jun Zhang, Zhuoer Xie, Xinyu Liu, Han Chen, Leiyun Yang, Muxing Liu, Haifeng Zhang, Ping Wang, Zhengguang Zhang

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The emergence of fungicide resistance severely threatens crop production by limiting the availability and application of established fungicides. Therefore, it is urgent to identify new fungicidal targets for controlling plant diseases. Here, we characterized the function of a conserved homoserine O-acetyltransferase (HOA) from the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae that could serve as the candidate antifungal target. Deletion of the MoMET2 and MoCYS2 genes encoding HOAs perturbed the biosynthesis of methionine and S-adenyl methionine, a methyl group donor for epigenetic modifications, and severely attenuated the development and virulence of M. oryzae. The ΔMomet2 mutant is significantly increased in 5-methylcytosine (5mC) …

Addressing Ethics As A Rural Behavioral Health Provider, Paul Force-Emery Mackie

Social Work Department Publications

Knowledge of sound professional ethics in behavioral health delivery is critical to achieving good practice, protecting consumers, and providing the highest quality care. To satisfy continuing education licensing expectations, most behavioral health providers are required to complete periodic ethics training. This workshop focuses on practice ethics from a rural perspective where unique dilemmas often experienced by rural providers are discussed (e.g., confidentiality, consumer/practitioner relationships, expertise levels, geography). Here, we will explore some of the elements that create ethical challenges when practicing in rural and small communities. This training may satisfy up to one hour of required ethics training for a …

Cytomegalovirus Esophagitis In An Immunocompromised Patient, Adya A. Ali, Sheela Anasseri, Jaafar Abou-Ghaida, Leslie Walker, Tye Barber

HPD Articles

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can present with end-organ disease (EOD), particularly in patients with a CD4 cell count <50/mm3. While EOD in immunocompromised patients commonly presents as CMV retinitis (30%) and CMV colitis (5-10%), CMV esophagitis is rare. CMV is the third most common infectious esophagitis following Candida and Herpes Simplex. CMV esophagitis presents with odynophagia, dysphagia, and abdominal pain. Endoscopic exam may reveal large, linear distal esophageal ulcers. Histopathology or serology studies are diagnostic, though serology may be unreliable in the extremely immunosuppressed. Current treatment consists of antivirals such as ganciclovir and valganciclovir. Esophageal disease due to CMV carries a poor prognosis in the immunocompromised. We present the case of a 56-year-old male with a medical history of HIV/AIDS and stage III rectal squamous cell cancer who presented with shortness of breath, weakness, and chronic diarrhea. His HIV was previously well-controlled on antiretroviral therapy. However, due to his malignancy, he was undergoing treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. Initial labs revealed a CD4 count of 42. His clinical course consisted of Escherichia coli septicemia, new-onset atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular response, worsening pneumonia, possible metastasis, progressive diarrhea, and potential oropharyngeal candidiasis. Despite several broad-spectrum antimicrobial regimens, he remained symptomatic with new complaints of dysphagia and odynophagia. Eventually, the appearance of vesicular lesions on the lips and a repeat CD4 count of 13 garnered a suspicion of HSV or CMV. This complicated case highlights the necessity for a high index of suspicion of rare manifestations of CMV EOD in an immunocompromised patient presenting with confounding …

Case Study And Recommendations On Technological Collaboration In Supporting Development Of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Under The Belt And Road Initiative, Xiaowei Nie, Xiaoduo Pan, Zhuoying Zhang, Yang Yang, Yang Yang, Xinyu Gong

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The Belt and Road Initiative has played an important role in promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind and actively integrated into the global governance system over the past decade. At the same time, through scientific and technological cooperation, it has also significantly impacted domestic regional development. The Tibetan Plateau, known as the “Third Pole” of the Earth, is not only an important internationalized region but also a crucial component of the Belt and Road Initiative, offering opportunities to establish a South Asian land corridor. This study analyzes and summarizes the role of scientific and …

Main Climate Change Characteristics And Disaster Risks Oriented Towards Carbon Neutrality Over The Belt And Road Regions, Jingyong Zhang, Jing He, Lixia Zhang, Zhencai Du, Renqiang Li, Ming Xu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Climate change has been widely recognized as one of most severe risks that the world faces. The recent 50 years are the warmest period in the last 2 000 years with respect to surface temperature averaged over the Belt and Road regions, which is mainly attributed to continuously increasing and accumulating of carbon emissions from human activities. Since the 1980s, over the Belt and Road regions mean climate change is characterized as surface warming at a faster rate, increased precipitation and evaporation, and accelerated sea level rise among others, and extreme weather and climate events such as hot extremes, rainstorms …

Accelerating Construction Of New Development Pattern Of Dual Circulation By Building Belt And Road With High Quality, Xiong Ying, Zijian Shangguan, Ying Liu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

This paper firstly reviews the achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) since its raise 10 years ago in terms of policy communication, facility connectivity, trade exchanges, financial integration, and people-to-people bond, and explains the significance of BRI to the new development pattern of the dual circulation. Then, combined with the actual national conditions of China's new development stage, it analyzes the opportunities and challenges of the construction of the Belt and Road in the new situation of the global economy and trade. Finally, it puts forward policy suggestions for the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road in …

Building The Health Silk Road Within The Belt And Road Initiative From A Systematic View, Shouyang Wang, Qin Bao, Qi Zhang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Life and health are common challenges faced by mankind, and the building of the Health Silk Road is the fundamental content of the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. There are great differences in the level of economic and social development of the countries and regions along the Belt and Road. Under the increasingly complex and severe global biosecurity situation, scientific guidance from a systematic perspective is required for comprehensively improving the medical and health conditions and life and health quality of different countries and regions. Aiming at the challenges faced by the building of the Health Silk …

Post-Hysteroscopy Ruptured Tubo-Ovarian Abscess With Atypical Bacteremia: A Case Report, Jillian H. Linck, Wanda I. Torres, Shailja T. Dayal

HPD Articles

Hysteroscopies are commonly performed in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. Current research suggests a low rate of all types of complications following hysteroscopies. The rate of infectious complications has been reported as exceptionally low. We present a case of tubo-ovarian abscess with Escherichia coli bacteremia and eventual abscess rupture in a 51-year-old gravida 3, para 2012 (G3P2) woman who underwent a hysteroscopy with concurrent polypectomy. The patient had no risk factors that have historically been attributed to the development of post-hysteroscopy infection, such as a history of pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis. The patient also …

Epicutaneous Sensitization To The Phytocannabinoid Β-Caryophyllene Induces Pruritic Inflammation, Saadet Inan, Sara J Ward, Citlalli T Baltazar, Gabrielle A. Peruggia, Elham Javed, Ajay P. Nayak

Center for Translational Medicine Faculty Papers

In recent years, there has been increased accessibility to cannabis for recreational and medicinal use. Incidentally, there has been an increase in reports describing allergic reactions to cannabis including exacerbation of underlying asthma. Recently, multiple protein allergens were discovered in cannabis, yet these fail to explain allergic sensitization in many patients, particularly urticaria and angioedema. Cannabis has a rich chemical profile including cannabinoids and terpenes that possess immunomodulatory potential. We examined whether major cannabinoids of cannabis such as cannabidiol (CBD) and the bicyclic sesquiterpene beta-caryophyllene (β-CP) act as contact sensitizers. The repeated topical application of mice skin with β-CP at …

Poor Sensitivity Of The Maldi Biotyper® Mbt Mbt Subtyping Module For Detection Of Klebsiella Pneumoniae Carbapenemase (Kpc) In Klebsiella Species, Luz Cuello, Judith Alvarez Otero, Kerryl E Greenwood-Quaintance, Liang Chen, Blake Hanson, Jinnethe Reyes, Lauren Komarow, Lizhao Ge, Zane D Lancaster, Garrett G Gordy, Audrey N Schuetz, Robin Patel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Rapid detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) in the Klebsiella species is desirable. The MALDI Biotyper® MBT Subtyping Module (Bruker Daltonics) uses an algorithm that detects a peak at ~11,109 m/z corresponding to a protein encoded by the p019 gene to detect KPC simultaneously with organism identification by a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS). Here, the subtyping module was evaluated using 795 clinical Klebsiella isolates, with whole genome sequences used to assess for blaKPC and p019. For the isolates identified as KPC positive by sequencing, the overall sensitivity of the MALDI-ToF MS subtyping module was …

Post-Publication Analysis Of Digital Culture And Education Journal (Dcej) From 2009 To 2018, Seno Essien Antia-Obong

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study analysed the trends and patterns of articles published in Digital Culture and Education Journal (DCEJ) from 2009 to 2018 covering a period of 10 years. Five bibliometric measures were used for the analysis: Year-wise productivity of articles; authorship pattern of articles; core authorship; degree of author collaboration; Institution and country affiliation of authors in DCEJ. The results revealed that a total of 108 articles were published and the year 2014 (Vol. 6) had the highest number of articles with 26 (24.07%). The most prolific authors was Fabian Schäfer with three (3) articles. Single authorships were the most …

Influencing Air Force Logisticians' Information Seeking During The Covid-19 Pandemic: The Role Of Organizational Meetings In An Expanded Prism Framework, Matthew D. Roberts, Christopher T. Price, Seong-Jong Joo

Faculty Publications

Purpose: This research aims to understand how organizational workplace meetings surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic impacted logistics Airmen across the United States Air Force and how these meetings impacted their risk seeking behavior on social media.

Design/methodology/approach: This survey research tested an extended Planned Risk Information Risk Seeking Model (PRISM) with organizational meetings as an antecedent to determine if current meetings influenced an Airman's perceived behavioral control, attitude toward seeking, subjective norms, knowledge sufficiency and intention to seek information regarding COVID-19.

Findings: Results of the CFA showed that the expanded PRISM model had good model fit. Additionally, using …

The Effect Of Blended Learning And Virtual Learning On Student Performance In High School Physical Education, Frances E. Caulder

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The relationship between blended, virtual, and traditional learning on student performance can significantly affect the future of physical education programs’ curriculum and instructional methods. This causal-comparative research design study examines the difference in student performance measured by FitnessGram® scores between ninth-grade female physical education students who participate in an all-online/virtual learning instructional model, a blended learning instructional model, and a traditional face-to-face learning instructional model. Using a random sample of 143 students from six physical education classes from two high schools in a rural South Carolina school district, a one-way ANOVA was conducted to examine the difference in student performance …

Impact Of Mental Health Disorders On Partner Mental Health And Marital Satisfaction, Tabitha G. Hennagan

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Mental health effects have been continually documented to include difficulty with building relationships with others, issues with communicating needs effectively, and difficulty maneuvering community services and supports. These difficulties can add pressure on individuals with mental health issues and can cause the difficulties of symptoms to increase. These pressures of dealing with the symptoms of mental illness do not only fall on the individuals with mental illness but also fall on their caregivers, family members, and spouses. These individuals may play multiple roles to assist the individual with mental illness with feeling supported. The constant need for support and sometimes …

Investigating Nurses Lived Experiences Toward Family Presence During Resuscitation To Enhance The Future Of Nursing Curriculum, Laurie Stone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Death is inevitable, but dying alone can be an agonizing prospect for patients and their families. Family presence during resuscitation (FPDR) is a controversial but evidence-based concept that helps relieve some of the fear and anxiety for the family. Sadly, loved ones are often not allowed to be with the patient during resuscitation. FPDR importance is typically taught within the healthcare setting but still lacks implementation. By starting education while healthcare students are in a higher learning setting, this concept has a higher probability of success. To fill the gap concerning FPDR, this researcher interviewed nurses who have witnessed FPDR. …

Hypothermia In The Operating Room Promoting Normothermia In The Hysterectomy Population, Adina Indries

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists are Advanced Practice Providers that provide safe, evidence-based practice to their surgical patients. They not only monitor the vital signs throughout surgery but also strive to improve care and outcome by implementing different measures to keep the patient safe and promote a positive outcome during a stressful time for the surgical patient. To improve outcomes, it has been identified that hypothermia is a common occurrence in the surgical patient, especially in the GYN surgical population at this level one trauma center. Hypothermia is defined as the body’s core temperature less than 36 degrees Celsius. With hypothermia …

The Creative Arts Personal Growth Group With Centering Prayer For Sexual Trauma Survivors: A Transformative-Coping Focused Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Study, Rachel M. Parrish-Martin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Copious research demonstrates an epidemic of sexual trauma (ST) among females resulting in excruciating shame and fear of exposing oneself to others. Shame is an under-researched emerging mental health concern. This study addressed a gap in the literature regarding interventions for shame symptoms experienced by female survivors of ST. Specifically, it was an intervention study that applied a spiritually integrated form of the Creative Arts Personal Growth Group (CAPG) with Centering Prayer (CAPG-CP). Utilizing the Theory of Transformative Coping and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, this study explored the lived experience of nine female Christian ST survivors who participated in the CAPG-CP. …

A Naturally Derived Watercress Flower-Based Phenethyl Isothiocyanate-Enriched Extract Induces The Activation Of Intrinsic Apoptosis Via Subcellular Ultrastructural And Ca2+ Efflux Alterations In An In Vitro Model Of Human Malignant Melanoma, Sotiris Kyriakou, Louiza Potamiti, Nikoletta Demosthenous, Tom Amery, Kyle Stewart, Paul G. Winyard, Rodrigo Franco, Aglaia Pappa, Mihalis I. Panayiotidis

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The aim of the current study was to (i) extract isolated fractions of watercress flowers enriched in polyphenols, phenethyl isothiocyanate and glucosinolates and (ii) characterize the anticancer mode of action of non-lethal, sub-lethal and lethal concentrations of the most potent extract fraction in primary (A375) and metastatic (COLO-679) melanoma cells as well as non-tumorigenic immortalized keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. Cytotoxicity was assessed via the Alamar Blue assay, whereas ultrastructural alterations in mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum were determined via transmission electron microscopy. Mitochondrial membrane depolarization was determined using Mito-MP dye, whereas apoptosis was evaluated through the activation of caspases-3, -8 and …