Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating The Impact Of Covid-19 On The Human Security Of Low-Income Migrant Workers’ In Singapore: Perspectives Among Policymakers, Community Stakeholders, And Academic Experts, Mukda Pratheepwatanawong, Rayner Kay Jin Tan, Waranya Jitpong

Asian Review

This research examines human security issues of low-income migrant workers in Singapore as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted stakeholder interviews and a review of secondary data, which were deductively analysed using themes adopted from a United Nations Development Programme human security framework. This research found that while several efforts by civil society and the government have been assessed to make a lasting, positive impact on human security, other areas may still have fallen short. We suggest that despite efforts to address the immediate needs of migrant workers, structural changes are needed to create a lasting impact on …

Meteorological Conditions And Pm2.5 Impact On Covid-19 Case Fatality Ratios (Cfr) In Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Viranphat Singrakphon, Chidsanuphong Chart-Asa, Pasicha Chaikaew

Applied Environmental Research

The emergence of a novel coronavirus strain triggered a global health crisis, impacting both health and economies worldwide, including Thailand since 2019. While prior research hinted at connections between environmental factors and rising COVID-19 cases, these links remained inconclusive. This study investigated indoor and outdoor (I/O) ratios and explored potential correlations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5), meteorological conditions, and the case fatality rate (CFR%) of COVID-19 in Bangkok and its metropolitan area from January to December 2021. In Spearman’s Rank correlation analysis, the results found that CFR% exhibited a positive correlation with relative humidity (RH) (r=0.187) and a negative correlation …

Diagnostic Imaging Approaches: Pet Imaging In Monitoring Immune Responses In Oncology And Tuberculosis, Chanelle Hunter

All ETDs from UAB

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents play a transformative role in personalized medicine through their application in disease diagnosis and immunotherapy monitoring, focusing on chemokine receptors, TH1-activated immune cells, and tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics. In immuno-oncology, accurately assessing TH1-activated immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is vital for evaluating cancer immunotherapy efficacy. Chemokine receptors, crucial in cellular signaling and inflammatory reactions, play a significant role in TH1 responses, thus serving as a potential area of interest in elucidating these anti-tumor responses. Through our work a novel CXCR3-targeting immunoPET probe, [89Zr]DFO-αCXCR3, was developed to detect and quantify these cells. This probe …

A Thematic Analysis Of Health Literacy And Education Disparities Regarding Medical Needs For Transgender Individuals, Rachel Mcmullen

All ETDs from UAB

Transgender individuals experience many challenges within the healthcare system including discrimination, socioeconomic struggles, financial strains, a lack of educated healthcare providers, and a health system framework that makes it even more challenging for them to receive their medical needs (Korpaisarn and Safer). One contributing factor to this lack of education is that on average medical schools in the United States only spend approximately five hours total on the health needs related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals (Miller et al.). Another contributing factor is the stigma around LGBTQ individuals within the medical community. The stigma is concerning …

Fentanyl Overdoses And Use Of Randox Multistat For Investigative Purposes, Clarissa Danielle Lawen

All ETDs from UAB

The opioid epidemic started in the early 1990s with the rise of prescription overdoses. In more recent years, heroin and fentanyl use has rapidly increased. Fentanyl, specifically, is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. To keep up with the ever-evolving epidemic, the Randox MultiSTAT was validated for use in the medical examiner autopsy suite for the potential to aid medical examiners in triaging the need for a full autopsy versus an external examination with toxicology testing. The Randox MultiSTAT is a triage tool and investigatory screen designed to provide presumptive test results across multiple matrices. It can detect …

The Intersection Of Health And Education: How School-Based Health Centers Address Health Disparities To Promote Learning, Sophie A. Koloski

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Through a review of studies and literature, this thesis examines the role of school-based health centers (SBHCs) in addressing disparities in health and education among student populations. By integrating public health services within educational settings, SBHCs aim to enhance both student well-being and academic achievement. This comprehensive review explores the history, services, and funding models of SBHCs, alongside their impact on physical and mental health, school connectedness, and academic outcomes. Findings reveal that SBHCs significantly improve access to preventive and intervention-based health care, reduce barriers to education, and foster environments that support student engagement and success. Furthermore, the review discusses …

Transcriptional Induction Of Immune Pathway Genes And Subsequent Antibacterial Activity In The Digestive Tract Of The Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides Felis)., Katie A. Weber

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Fleas (Order Siphonaptera) are ectoparasites that serve as vectors of several human diseases (cat scratch disease, flea-borne spotted fever, murine typhus, and plague). Typically, these pathogens are acquired through the ingestion of a host-derived bloodmeal; thus, the lumen of the gut is the first barrier encountered by imbibed pathogens. During the early stages of infection, microbes come into contact with surrounding midgut epithelial cells which trigger a series of host responses to combat local infection. Specifically, pathogen recognition leads to intracellular signaling and an increase in the production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) via the IMD and Toll immune pathways. While …

A Digital Platform That Integrates Biogeographic, Molecular, And Phenotypic Relationships Of Wild Plants, Fruits, And Associated Insects In Kenya, Bonface Odhiambo Onyango

All Master’s Theses

Museum biocollections contribute to exploratory studies on insects, which are increasingly providing insights into their interactions with fruits. Scientists at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) conducted a study which documented data on biocollections of wild plants, fruits, and associated insects. Despite publishing this study, most of the data records remained secluded within icipe. In addition, the biocollections lacked associated molecular data information limiting the understanding of their phylogenetic relationships.The aim of this study was to digitize the icipe biocollections and integrate the corresponding publicly available molecular barcodes. First, a database was designed.Second, respective barcodes were retrieved …

Clostridioides Difficile: Identification Of Rival Organisms & Evaluation Of Non-Antibiotic Treatment Implementation, Justin Davis

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Clostrioides difficile is a common cause of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections. Patients receiving antibiotic treatment experience dysbiosis of gut microbiota, and C. difficile, normally held in check by the various other organisms, takes this opportunity to propagate. Symptoms of infection generally include diarrhea, colitis, dehydration, and fever. Understanding that C. difficile generally only causes illness when it is the dominant bacterium (i.e. when growth is relatively unchecked by other microbes), it is appropriate to investigate potential competitive organisms that may be introduced after antibiotic courses or during active C. difficile infection to effectively displace it. Fecal samples from the University …

Tim/Tam Receptors: A Potential Biomarker For Predicting Sensitivity To Zika Virus-Induced Oncolysis In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers, Shankari Somasekar

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) constitute 80-85% of lung cancers and are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. The most common cause is prolonged smoking. Current treatment options for NSCLC include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy. Although these medications are effective in the short term, patients often face issues of drug resistance and debilitating side effects with prolonged use. Currently, the use of Zika virus (ZIKV) is being researched as a possible alternative treatment for cancer, which minimizes side effects and the risk of drug resistance. TIM/TAM proteins are identified as the putative ZIKV receptors on …

Pandemics Of Limitation Of Rights, Rinat Kitai-Sangero

Touro Law Review

This Article discusses the limitation of rights due to pandemics. It analyzes from a constitutional standpoint the holding of the German Federal Constitutional Court (Das BUNDESVERFASSUNGSGERICHT) from April 2022 as a symptom of moral panic disguised through an analytical process. Though it focuses on this case, it sheds light on the moral panic that characterized many countries’ approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 27, 2022, the German Federal Constitutional Court held that a provision to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19, recovery from COVID-19, or a medical exemption to COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment in the health …

Identifying New Cancer Genes Based On The Integration Of Annotated Gene Sets Via Hypergraph Neural Networks, Chao Deng, Hong-Dong Li, Li-Shen Zhang, Yiwei Liu, Yaohang Li, Jianxin Wang

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Motivation

Identifying cancer genes remains a significant challenge in cancer genomics research. Annotated gene sets encode functional associations among multiple genes, and cancer genes have been shown to cluster in hallmark signaling pathways and biological processes. The knowledge of annotated gene sets is critical for discovering cancer genes but remains to be fully exploited.

Results

Here, we present the DIsease-Specific Hypergraph neural network (DISHyper), a hypergraph-based computational method that integrates the knowledge from multiple types of annotated gene sets to predict cancer genes. First, our benchmark results demonstrate that DISHyper outperforms the existing state-of-the-art methods and highlight the advantages of …

An Extensive Examination Of The Iot And Blockchain Technologies In Relation To Their Applications In The Healthcare Industry, Karthik Kumar Vaigandla, Madhu Kumar Vanteru, Mounika Siluveru

Mesopotamian Journal of Computer Science

Numerous domains have been transformed by the communication technologies made possible by the Internet of Things (IoT), one of which is health monitoring systems. Patterns associated with diseases and health conditions can be identified through the utilization of machine learning and cutting-edge AI techniques. Currently, scientific endeavours are concentrated on enhancing IoT-enabled applications such as medical report administration, prescription traceability, and infectious disease surveillance through the amalgamation of blockchain technology(BCT) and machine learning(ML) models. Although recent advancements have attempted to increase the adaptability of blockchain(BC) and ML for IoT applications, there are still a number of crucial considerations that must …

A Comparative Study Of Chest Radiographs And Detection Of The Covid 19 Virus Using Machine Learning Algorithm, Shaimaa Q. Sabri, Jahwar Y. Arif, Ghada A. Taqa, Ahmet Çınar

Mesopotamian Journal of Computer Science

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak that is causing coronavirus disease 2019 is being deemed a pandemic because of its quick spread around the globe.  Because chest X-ray pictures have shown to be beneficial in monitoring a variety of lung disorders, they have recently been utilized to monitor COVID-19 disease. It takes time to manually analyze a lot of chest X-ray pictures. Several previous studies have suggested machine-learning (ML)-based techniques for COVID-19 detection from chest X-ray pictures as a solution to this issue. Though little effort has been made to use traditional machine learning (ML) methods, the …

Exploring Deep Learning Methods Used In The Medical Device Sector, Fredrick Kayusi, Benson Turyasingura, Petros Chavula, Orucho Justine Amadi

Mesopotamian Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

The healthcare sector is witnessing significant development in many aspects thanks to the effects of artificial intelligence or software, which has turned out to be the centre of attraction all over the world. This is evidence of a simple development in acquiring deep knowledge of the methods and areas in which they are used. Face detection, voice recognition, autonomous use, the defence industry, the security industry, and other fields may be displayed as examples that help complete tasks. This article surveys the impact of deep learning methods and practices in the medical device industry, and we also examine the distribution …

Creating The New Normal: A Historical Approach To Understanding Marketing Agility And Its Implications Across Business, Healthcare, And Social Welfare In A Post Pandemic World, Elan Burton, Delancy Bennett, Linda Burton

Atlantic Marketing Journal

The purpose of this article is to expand our understanding of how marketing agility shapes business, healthcare, and social welfare policy and societal responses to global pandemics. We set the stage for this discussion by presenting an historical exemplar case of marketing agility during the 1918 Influenza pandemic in the US. Next, we outline a necessary conceptual revision and update to previous treatments of marketing agility relative to historical pandemics considering the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Our novel conceptualization focuses on a firm’s (business, healthcare, social welfare) prompt response to dynamic and turbulent circumstances beyond the control of the firm (Araújo …

A Review Of The Effects Of Different Types Of Stigmas On The Retention Rates Of Patients In Medication-Assisted Treatment And How To Combat The Problem, Pamela Cox

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

It is difficult to turn on the news without hearing about the opioid epidemic or a recent opioid overdose. There is hope because there is a treatment to help prevent this epidemic. That treatment is known as medication-assisted therapy (MAT), where patients can present and, if they meet the criteria, can be given a prescription for buprenorphine/naloxone combination medication. Treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone has been shown to be highly effective treatment for substance use disorder (SUD). Even though it has been proven that this combination works, less than 20% of patients diagnosed with SUD present for treatment. This study focused on …

Initial Refugee Health Assessment Educational Session, Yolondra Cochnan

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

The initial refugee health assessment presents an excellent opportunity to identify communicable diseases in newly arriving refugees. As the number of refugee arrivals increases, so will the need for nurses who possess the skills necessary to conduct the initial refugee health assessment. Prior to the pandemic, the United States was facing a nursing shortage. The impact of the pandemic devastated the nursing community, leaving them exhausted and burnt out, which led many nurses to retire and leave the field of nursing (National Council of State Boards of Nursing [NCSBN], 2023). Skilled nurses are needed to prevent the spread of communicable …

A Quality Improvement Initiative To Redefine The Process Of Instrument Decontamination From The Surgical Field In The Operating Room To The Sterile Processing Department., Nicole Dannett Denton

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: The Operating Room (OR) faces a significant challenge with the increasing presence of bioburdens on instruments. Research-based on evidence has demonstrated the critical role of precleaning at the point of care with sterile water in reducing bioburden incidence. While current practices recommend the use of an enzymatic solution post-procedure to spray instruments, it is clear that a more comprehensive approach is needed to effectively manage bioburdens and reduce the risk of Surgical Site Infections (SSI).

Methods: Utilizing the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model to create a Quality Improvement (QI) solution, the project leader recommended using sterile water at the point of …

Challenging The Criminalization Of Undocumented Drivers Through A Health-Justice Framework, Jason A. Cade

Scholarly Works

States increasingly use driver’s license laws to further policy objectives unrelated to road safety. This symposium contribution employs a health justice lens to focus on one manifestation of this trend—state schemes that prohibit noncitizen residents from accessing driver’s licenses and then impose criminal sanctions for driving without authorization. Status-based no-license laws not only facilitate legally questionable enforcement of local immigration priorities but also impose structural inequities with long-term health consequences for immigrants and their family members, including US citizen children. Safe, reliable transportation is a significant social determinant of health for individuals, families, and communities. Applying a health justice lens …

Faculty Authors & Achievers Bibliography 2024, James Miller

WRL: Faculty Authors & Achievers Bibliographies

The office of Academic Affairs and the Wyndham Robertson Library congratulate all Hollins faculty who published or presented creative or scholarly works from Fall 2022 - Summer 2024. These pages include a list of those activities.

Essential Oil Supplementation Improves Insulin Sensitivity And Modulates The Plasma Metabolome Of Hyperinsulinemic Horses, Caroline M.M. Loos, Shuang Zhao, Liang Li, Janet Li, Wei Han, Eric S. Vanzant, Kyle R. Mcleod

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of essential oil (EO) supplementation on insulin sensitivity (IS) and the plasma metabolome in insulin dysregulated (ID) horses. Horses were blocked by degree of IS and assigned randomly to treatment: oral daily bolus (50 mL) of either a plant derived EO supplement or carrier (CON). Mares were housed in dry lots with ad libitum access to grass hay and supplemented individually twice daily with a concentrate to meet nutrient requirements for mature horses. Before and after 6 wks of treatment, mares underwent a combined glucose-insulin tolerance test (CGIT) and an …

Extracellular Free Water As An Imaging Biomarker Of Neuroinflammation, Cristina N. Pinheiro

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Older adults experience a chronic state of heightened immune response referred to as “inflammaging” which can be observed by detecting levels of proinflammatory cytokines in blood serum. These proinflammatory cytokines are secreted in the central nervous system and may also enter the brain through the blood brain barrier. Previous literature has suggested that extracellular free water, a magnetic resonance imaging metric, may allow us to detect alterations in the extracellular space which are thought to correlate with inflammation in the central nervous system. This study examined the correlation between two proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and TNFα, collected longitudinally and cross-sectionally imaged …

Synapsis: South Georgia Campus (2024), Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

DO Yearbooks (1925-2019)

The 2024 South Georgia Campus Synapsis includes Student National Medical Association 2023-2024, White Coat, DO Class of 2024, DO Class of 2025, DO Class of 2026, DO Class of 2027, Master's of Biomedical Sciences Class of 2024 and 2025, Faculty and Staff, Student Ambassadors, Student Government Association, Student Osteopathic Medical Organization, Student Organizations Council, Student Ambassadors-Pathway Coordinators, Infectious Disease Society, Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA), Research Club, American Medical Women's Association (AMWA), Emergency Medical Club, Nutrition in Medicine, Pediatric Club, PsyCOM, Sports Medicine and Orthopedics Club, Wilderness Medicine Club, Wholistic Wellness Committee, Diversity Equity & Inclusion Council, Sisters in Medicine, …

Epidemiology And Antimicrobial Resistance Of Mycobacterium Spp. In The United Arab Emirates: A Retrospective Analysis Of 12 Years Of National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Data, Jens Thomsen, Najiba M. Abdulrazzaq, Najiba M. Abdulrazzaq, Peter S. Nyasulu, Farida Al Hosani, Maya Habous, Stefan Weber, Fouzia Jabeen, Godfred Antony Menezes, Carole Ayoub Moubareck, Abiola Senok, Dean B. Everett, Adnan Alatoom, Agnes-Sonnevend-Pal, Ahmed Abdulkareem Al Hammadi, Ahmed Elhag Ahmed, Ahmed F. Yousef, Alaa M.M. Enshasy, Amal Mubarak Madhi, Amna Alblooshi, Andreas Podbielski, Anju Nabi, Anup Shashikant Poddar, Arun Kumar Jha, Ayesha Abdulla Al Marzooqi, Bashir Aden, Dean Everett, Deeba Jafri

All Works

Introduction: The Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) region accounts for almost 8% of all global Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) cases, with TB incidence rates ranging from 1 per 100,000 per year in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to 204 per 100,000 in Djibouti. The national surveillance data from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region on the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance trends of TB, including MDR-TB remains scarce. Methods: A retrospective 12-year analysis of N = 8,086 non-duplicate diagnostic Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB complex) isolates from the UAE was conducted. Data were generated through routine patient care during the 2010–2021 …

Analysis Of Sir Model With Optimal Control Strategy For A Simple Traffic Congestion Process, Ratna Herdiana, Zani Anjani Rafsanjani, R. Heru Tjahjana, Yogi Ahmad Erlangga, Moch Fandi Ansori

All Works

Traffic analysis on highways at the macroscopic level is very similar to the analysis of the spread of infectious diseases, namely the susceptible-infected-recover (SIR) model. We propose the SIR model with a control variable. The dynamics with fixed control and stability of the model are analyzed. Sensitivity analysis was also carried out. Variable control is applied as an effort to regulate or change the duration of the green light at an intersection. We obtain an optimal control strategy when the control is time-dependent. Numerical results show the positive impacts of implementing the control to susceptible vehicles and treatment for congested …

An Examination Of Airlines Employees' Perceptions Of Sustainability, Green Business Behaviors And Employees' Views On Corporate Reputation, Seda Mumlu Karanfil, Büşra Karakuş

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Purpose: The increase in environmental pollution due to the depletion of natural resources has attracted the attention of society and businesses, and the importance of sustainability has increased. In this direction, enterprises have started to carry out activities related to sustainability. The sustainability activities carried out by businesses also have an impact on their corporate reputation. One of the important issues regarding corporate reputation is the perception of sustainability among employees and green business behaviors. For this reason, the research aims to determine the sustainability perceptions and green business behaviors of employees and to evaluate the corporate reputation of businesses …

Justifying The Cost Of Implementing Contactless Travel In Non-Primary Airports: A European Perspective, Sumeet Hassan Anwar Mr., Humna Asad Miss

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the aviation industry faces an unprecedented push towards digital transformation. This paper delves into the economic, operational, and safety imperatives of implementing contactless travel solutions in Europe's non-primary airports. By juxtaposing the substantial upfront costs against the long-term operational savings and improved passenger experience, the study presents a compelling financial justification for such investments. Drawing on case studies and current trends, the research demonstrates that, despite initial expenditures, the adoption of contactless technology is a prudent strategy that aligns with evolving consumer preferences and the heightened need for efficiency and safety. The paper …

Development And Validation Of A Patient-Reported Experience Measure For Older Adults Attending The Emergency Department: The Prem-Ed 65 Study, Blair Graham

School of Nursing and Midwifery Theses

Emergency Department (ED) care traditionally focuses on resolving single-organ pathology, emphasising rapid patient flow. As such, ED care may fall short of addressing the holistic needs of older adults, where atypical and complex presentations exacerbated by frailty, comorbidity, polypharmacy, and sensory deficits are much more prevalent than in the general population. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to the effects of ED crowding and prolonged length of ED stay and suffer increased in-hospital mortality as a result.Patient experience is a central determinant of quality of care and is positively associated with improved outcomes for acute conditions, including pneumonia, asthma, and acute …

Knowledge Construction And Multiple Realities: Global Health Collaborations, Development Practices, And Face Masks In The Context Of Covid-19, Linan Zhang

School of Art, Design and Architecture Theses

This thesis is inspired by a global health collaborative programme named GRASPIT and by my own desire to do something good which can benefit the people in need as well as reduce suffering. The GRASPIT collaboration intended to improve post-operative outcomes, but the programme failed to deliver the expected result. Preliminary analysis by the GRASPIT team identified issues with knowledge sharing as one of the contributory causes of its failure. This prompted the reflection in this thesis upon apparent asymmetries when knowledge is shared. Quite soon after the research began, the global pandemic COVID-19 revealed the issue of having inconsistent …