Digital Commons Network^™

Differences In Special Education Teachers' Applied Behavior Analysis Scores: A Causal-Comparative Study, Delilah Mae Fernandez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, causal-comparative study aimed to determine if there was a difference in applied behavior analysis scores from the applied behavior analysis test between traditional and non-traditionally certified teachers and veteran and new teachers. This research also aimed to identify if there was an interaction effect between experience level and type of certification when considering understanding of applied behavior analysis. This study is important as the findings contribute to the education system within the central Texas area as it uncovered the level of knowledge specific special education teachers in self-contained classrooms have and determined if educators are implementing the best …

Type D Personality, Stressful Lifestyle, Coping Styles, And Social Support In Military Undergraduates, Thomas Richard Rabon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Type D personality, characterized by negative affectivity and social inhibition, has been shown to predict the prognosis of patients with heart disease. Type D personality has also been shown to have health-compromising effects on patients with other diseases and on the physical and psychological health of otherwise healthy individuals in the general population. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which a problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, dysfunctional or maladaptive coping, perceived stressful lifestyle, and perceived level of social support predict Type D personality in 203 individuals who maintain the dual roles of an active-duty enlisted member …

Air Quality And Mental Illness: Role Of Bioaerosols, Causal Mechanisms And Research Priorities, Kamaldeep Bhui, Marcella Ucci, Prashant Kumar, Simon K. Jackson, Corinne Whitby, Ian Colbeck, Christian Pfrang, Zaheer A. Nasir, Frederic Coulon

School of Biomedical Sciences

BACKGROUND: Poor air quality can both trigger and aggravate lung and heart conditions, as well as affecting child development. It can even lead to neurological and mental health problems. However, the precise mechanisms by which air pollution affect human health are not well understood.

AIMS: To promote interdisciplinary dialogue and better research based on a critical summary of evidence on air quality and health, with an emphasis on mental health, and to do so with a special focus on bioaerosols as a common but neglected air constituent.

METHOD: A rapid narrative review and interdisciplinary expert consultation, as is recommended for …

Exploring The Correlation Between Climate Change And Influenza Activity In The Northeast United States, 2003-2023, Emily M. Posadas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The influenza virus is influenced by a myriad of complex interactions with human and environmental factors, with changing climate patterns having significant effects on the health status of a population. This study investigates the correlation between climate change and influenza activity in the northeast United States from 2003 to 2023, providing insight and understanding into the interaction between the two variables. The anthropogenic factors that have contributed to climate change are recognized, and circulating seasonal and avian influenza viruses are discussed within the context of climate change. The investigation of the correlation between climate change and influenza activity across this …

Climate Change And Perceived Vulnerability: Gender, Heritage, And Religion Predict Risk Perception And Knowledge Of Climate Change In Hawaii, Kevin Showalter, David López-Carr, Daniel Ervin

The Geographical Bulletin

This study explores climate change related risk perception among residents of the ‘Big Island’ of Hawaii, an environmentally vulnerable region. Adapting established instruments, we investigated potential links among socio-demographic variables, risk perception, and perceived preparedness and knowledge, as they relate to climate change. Results reveal relationships between risk perceptions for climate change and gender, with females significantly more aware of the risks posed by climate change, but less prepared than men. Additionally, indigenous and native respondents felt that climate change events posed more risk and felt less prepared compared to non-indigenous. Results suggest that an understanding of how risk perceptions …

Can An Equine-Assisted Learning Course Improve Emotional Intelligence In Undergraduate Students?, Danielle Y. Clark, Julia M. Mack, Kenneth G. Mccurdy

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Background: Emotional intelligence, a construct that many experts consider an essential component of life success, is moving in a concerning direction among American college students. Equine-assisted interventions may be an innovative modality for influencing these skills. Purpose: This study explores the effectiveness of a 15-week equine-assisted experiential learning course on emotional intelligence among undergraduate college students. Methodology/Approach: The intervention group consisted of 18 students who participated in a three-credit psychology course entitled Horses for Interpersonal Skills, which involved classroom instruction and an equine-assisted learning (EAL) component. This group was compared to a no intervention sample of 26 students enrolled in …

Removal Of Common Antimicrobial Agents By Sustained Low- Efficiency Dialysis, Joanna Q. Hudson Pharmd, Bcps, Fasn, Fccp, Madelyn N. Hilgers Bs, Pharmd Candidate, Elvira O. Gosmanova Md

Faculty Publications

Adequate dosing of antimicrobials is paramount for treating infections in critically ill patients undergoing kidney replacement therapy; however, little is known about antimicrobial removal by sustained low-efficiency dialysis (SLED). The objective was to quantify the removal of cefepime, daptomycin, meropenem, piperacillin–tazobactam, and vancomycin in patients undergoing SLED. Adult patients ≥18 years with acute kidney injury (AKI) or end-stage kidney disease receiving one of the select antimicrobials and requiring SLED were included. Blood and dialysate flow rates were maintained at 250 and 100 mL/min, respectively. Simultaneous arterial and venous blood samples for the analysis of antibiotic concentrations were collected hourly for …

Exploring Barriers To Effective Covid-19 Risk Mitigation, Recovery, And Chronic Disease Self-Management: A Qualitative Multilevel Perspective, Gayenell S. Magwood Phd, Rn, Faha, Faan, Charles Ellis, Chanita Hughes Halbert, Ebony Allen Toussaint, Jewel Scott Phd, Rn, Fnp-C, Lynne S. Nemeth

Publications

INTRODUCTION: Many research activities have focused on SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent COVID-19 respiratory illness during the pandemic. However, significant racial inequities emerged months after the COVID-19 pandemic began. The similarity between racial/ ethnic disparities in COVID-19 and those for other diseases raised awareness about the context for risk exposure and healthcare access. The purpose of this study is to examine social and structural determinants of health among COVID-19 survivors, carepartners, and the perspectives of healthcare stakeholders who experienced disruption during the early pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A purposive sample of interviews (n=9) and focus groups (n=10) were used to collect …

Exploring Barriers To Effective Covid-19 Risk Mitigation, Recovery, And Chronic Disease Self-Management: A Qualitative Multilevel Perspective, Gayenell S. Magwood Phd, Rn, Faha, Faan, Charles Ellis Jr, Chanita Hughes Halbert, Ebony Allen Toussaint, Jewel Scott Phd, Rn, Fnp-C, Lynne S. Nemeth

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Many research activities have focused on SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent COVID-19 respiratory illness during the pandemic. However, significant racial inequities emerged months after the COVID-19 pandemic began. The similarity between racial/ ethnic disparities in COVID-19 and those for other diseases raised awareness about the context for risk exposure and healthcare access. The purpose of this study is to examine social and structural determinants of health among COVID-19 survivors, carepartners, and the perspectives of healthcare stakeholders who experienced disruption during the early pandemic.
Material and methods: A purposive sample of interviews (n=9) and focus groups (n=10) were used to collect …

14-Month-Old Female With Anti-Mda5 Juvenile Dermatomyositis Complicated By Liver Disease: A Case Report., Mitch Kinkor, Sameena Hameed, Alexander Kats, Voytek Slowik, Emily Fox, Maria Ibarra

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare disorder with subtypes associated with different myositis-specific antibodies (MSAs) including anti-MDA5. Hepatic involvement in JDM is rare and has not previously been documented in anti-MDA5 JDM. There is a lack of formal research on treatment protocols for anti-MDA5 JDM, though tofacitinib is a highly regarded emerging therapy.

CASE PRESENTATION: A previously healthy 14-month-old Hispanic female presented to a pediatric rheumatology clinic with eight months of worsening rash, weakness, periorbital edema, intermittent fevers, and weight loss. Her physical exam was notable for fever, thinning of hair, heliotrope rash, periorbital edema, violaceous macules on her …

Economic Development, Undernutrition And Diabetes, Kaivan Munshi, Swapnil Singh, Nancy Luke, Anu Mary Oommen

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This research connects two seemingly unrelated facts that have recently been documented in developing countries, with important consequences for global health: (i) the weak association between nutritional status and income, and (ii) the elevated risk of diabetes among normalweight individuals. The model that we develop to reconcile these facts is based on a set point for body size that is adapted to (low) pre-modern food supply, but subsequently fails to adjust to rapid economic change. During the process of development, some individuals thus remain at their low-BMI set point, despite the increase in their income (food consumption), while others who …

Association Between Non-Injection Drug Use And Hepatitis C Infection Among Hiv-Negative Men Who Have Sex With Men, Jing Zhao, Charles Green, Christine Markham, Kayo Fujimoto, Alan G Nyitray, Lu-Yu Hwang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Prior research predominantly examined the association between HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) or those using injection drugs and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, limited attention has been given to understanding the association among HIV-negative MSM who do not inject drugs. This gap leaves apportion of the population unexamined, potentially overlooking important factor that may contribute to the transmission and prevalence of HCV. This study aims to investigate the relationship between non-injection drug use and HCV infection in this population.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed data on 118 MSM who reported use of non-injection …

Gut Phageome In Mexican Americans: A Population At High Risk For Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease And Diabetes, Suet-Ying Kwan, Caroline M Sabotta, Lorenzo R Cruz, Matthew C Wong, Nadim J Ajami, Joseph B Mccormick, Susan P Fisher-Hoch, Laura Beretta

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mexican Americans are disproportionally affected by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which often co-occurs with diabetes. Despite extensive evidence on the causative role of the gut microbiome in MASLD, studies determining the involvement of the gut phageome are scarce. In this cross-sectional study, we characterized the gut phageome in Mexican Americans of South Texas by stool shotgun metagenomic sequencing of 340 subjects, concurrently screened for liver steatosis by transient elastography. Inter-individual variations in the phageome were associated with gender, country of birth, diabetes, and liver steatosis. The phage signatures for diabetes and liver steatosis were subsequently determined. Enrichment of …

Development Of A Maturity Assessment Tool To Evaluate And Strengthen National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (Nitags), Eliza Dryer, Abigail Shefer, Shalini Desai, Lance Rodewald, Magdalena Bastías, Nathalie El Omeiri, Sidy Ndiaye, Kori Cook, Louise Henaff, Erin Kennedy

Staff and Researcher Publications

As dozens of new National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) were established worldwide in the past decade, and as existing NITAGs continued to play an important role in vaccine policy, global NITAG partners recognized a need for a standardized assessment tool to evaluate and strengthen their functions. This article describes the development of the NITAG Maturity Assessment Tool (NMAT), a stepwise evaluation tool that assesses NITAGs on seven key indicators of structure and process. A draft tool was developed through an iterative, consensus-based process with an expert working group before it was piloted with an economically and geographically diverse convenience …

Epstein-Barr Virus Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura In A Patient With Refractory Seizure Disorder: A Diagnostic Challenge, Darshak Sanyal, Weena Stanley, Shashikala T.S, Arjun Nidambur Ballal

Vedam- 2024, The Academic Fest and Undergraduate Medical Conference of KMC, Manipal

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Synergistic Antibacterial Effects Of Ulva Lactuca And Fucus Vesiculosus Extracts On The Growth Of Staphylococcus Epidermidis, Bryan Lee

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

This study investigates the antibacterial properties of extracts from marine macroalgae, Ulva lactuca (green algae) and Fucus vesiculosus (brown algae), individually and in combination, with a focus on combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The escalating challenge of antibiotic resistance requires the exploration of alternative antimicrobial agents derived from natural sources. Utilizing the agar well diffusion method, the study evaluates the inhibitory effects of the algae extracts on Staphylococcus epidermidis. Chloramphenicol serves as the positive control, while 5% dimethyl sulfoxide acts as the negative control. The combination of Ulva lactuca and Fucus vesiculosus extracts did not exhibit a significantly greater antibacterial effect than …

Beyond Covid: Towards A Transdisciplinary Synthesis For Understanding Responses And Developing Pandemic Preparedness In Alaska, Taylor P. Van Doren, Ryan A. Brown, Guangqing Chi, Patricia Cochran, Katie Cueva, Laura Eichelberger, Ruby Fried, Stacey Fritz, Micah B. Hahn, Ron Heintz, Davin Holen, Andrey N. Petrov

Faculty Publications

Pandemics are regularly occurring events, and there are foundational principles of pandemic preparation upon which communities, regions, states, and nations may draw upon for elevated preparedness against an inevitable future infectious disease threat. Many disciplines within the social sciences can provide crucial insight and transdisciplinary thinking for the development of preparedness measures. In 2023, the National Science Foundation funded a conference of circumpolar researchers and Indigenous partners to reflect on COVID-19-related research. In this article, we synthesise our diverse social science perspectives to: (1) identify potential areas of future pandemic-related research in Alaska, and (2) pose new research questions that …

Prescribed Child Abuse? Using The Americans With Disabilities Act To Deconstruct Discrimination Against Medication For Opioid Use Disorder In Child Abuse & Neglect Proceedings, Makenzie Stuard

The Scholar: St. Mary's Law Review on Race and Social Justice

The opioid crisis has disrupted parent-child relationships across the United States. While states actively seek to remove children from households with current drug use in order to protect the children, state entities often fail to protect the parent-child relationship itself by imposing counterproductive policies and stereotypes on parents who are in treatment for their drug use, which makes maintaining "recovery" and parental rights an uphill battle. This note argues that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides a novel path to root out discrimination in child abuse and neglect proceedings against parents who either take prescribed buprenorphine or are interested …

Curcumin Alleviates Inflammatory Effects Of Ketamine Anesthesia In Postnatal Rats, Soroush Afshar Ghahremani, Abbas Raisi, Sohrab Minaei Beirami, Houman Kahroba, Mahnaz Mardani, Omid Dezfoulian, Vahideh Tarhriz

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Curcumin has been employed in traditional medicine for over a millennium to treat various ailments, and its global use is now widespread. Chinese medicine relies heavily on curcumin as a primary element and uses it to cure infectious diseases, skin disorders, depression, and stress. It has cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-diabetic properties, as well as pharmacological effects on disorders like type II diabetes, atherosclerosis, and human immunodeficiency virus replication. The anti-cancer activity of curcumin has been studied extensively with notable improvements in gastrointestinal, melanoma, urogenital, breast, and lung malignancies. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin on expression of tumor necrosis …

Functional Gold Nanoparticles For Analysis And Delivery Of Nucleic Acids, Po-Tsang Huang, Yen-Ling Chen, Yi-Hui Lin, Chun-Chi Wang, Huan-Tsung Chang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have become the rising stars in the field of nanotechnology and made a revolution in exploiting the profundity of genomics due to their distinguished properties such as stability, ease in preparation and conjugation, biocompatibility, and unique optical properties. These characteristics have greatly expanded their applications such as sensitive and selective quantitation of nucleic acids and as effective carriers for specifically delivering various important molecules/biomolecules to various targets, which are the cornerstone in treating genetic disorders. This review comprehensively discusses the most recent progress in utilization of AuNPs in quantitation and delivery of nucleic acids. The future prospects …

Love Is Finished, Miranda Gillespie

PoemMemoirStory (literary magazine)

pp. 45-53

Pms 7 (Complete Issue), Poemmemoirstory Staff

PoemMemoirStory (literary magazine)

No abstract provided.

Prediction Of Ehrlichia Canis And Babesia Canis In Canine Blood Sample By Mindray Bc-5000 Vet Hematology Analyzer, Sorawat Thongsahuan, Hansuk Buncherd, Supinya Thanapongpichat, Sataporn Noosong, Siriyaporn Choobunsong, Kanitta Srinoun

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Tick-borne diseases caused by the Babesia canis (B. canis) and Ehrlichia canis (E. canis), have been increasing recently in clinical veterinary. In veterinary clinics, complete blood counts (CBCs) are commonly analyzed using automated flow cytometric analyzers like the Mindray BC-5000 Vet hematology analyzer. In this study, the predictive significance of the diagnostic blood parasites B. canis and E. canis obtained from hematological parameter were measured. Red blood cell (RBC) and platelet parameters firstly discriminated the canine blood parasites infection from those healthy dogs. The diagnostic performance of absolute number of monocytes between B. canis and E. …

2024 September 13 - Board Of Trustees Agenda And Minutes, Board Of Trustees, East Tennessee State University

Board of Trustees Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Multi-Parallel Quantitative Real-Time Pcrs Targeting Different Dna Regions And Detecting Soil-Transmitted Helminths In Stool, Marina Papaiakovou, Rubén O Cimino, Nils Pilotte, Julia Dunn, D Timothy J Littlewood, Steven A Williams, Alejandro J Krolewiecki, Rojelio Mejia

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Soil-transmitted helminths infect an estimated 18% of the world's population, causing a significant health burden. Microscopy has been the primary tool for diagnosing eggs from fecal samples, but its sensitivity drops in low-prevalence settings. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is slowly increasing in research and clinical settings. However, there is still no consensus on preferred qPCR targets.

METHODS: We aimed to compare soil-transmitted helminth (STH) DNA detection methods by testing naïve stool samples spiked with known quantities of STH eggs and larvae. DNA extracts from spiked samples were tested using independent quantitative realtime PCR (qPCR) assays targeting ribosomal …

A Random Forest Classifier Model For Predicting The Impact Of Viral Infections On Adults With Chronic Conditions, Fungai Jacqueline Kiwa, Martin Muduva

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

This study investigates the impact of viral infections on adults with chronic illnesses, focusing on the development of a Random Forest classifier model. The research aims to predict outcomes among individuals with conditions like diabetes, cancer, and tuberculosis, analyzing severity, age groups, and travel patterns. The study aims to assist healthcare professionals in resource allocation and patient prioritization based on disease severity. It reviews literature on viral infection risks for chronic illness patients and explores machine learning applications in infectious disease management. Methodologically, the study adopts a structured approach similar to the Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CRISP -DM) …

Stealthy Intrusion: Multivalve Culture-Negative Infective Endocarditis, Jennifer Rojas Huen, Carlos Luis Alejos Aguero, Duc Khiem Ngo, Maria E. Torres Perez

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Infective endocarditis (IE) typically targets a single valve, with involvement of more valves being rare. Timely targeted therapy hinges on identifying the responsible microorganism through blood culture. However, blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE), representing 5% of all endocarditis cases, poses diagnostic challenges and is associated with higher long-term mortality rates compared to blood culture-positive endocarditis (BCPE).

Case Presentation: A 53-year-old male with a history of congestive heart failure (CHF), end stage renal disease on peritoneal dialysis, and 30- years of cocaine use presented with an abnormal echocardiogram. The patient reported a two-week history of chills, sweat, generalized weakness, and exertional …

Houston, We Have A Problem: Diagnostic Difficulties In The Aids Patient With Tuberculosis Infection, Hector D. Preciado, Maria E. Torres, Muhammad A. Siddiqui, Liza Salloum, Lee Gelpi, Jose E. Campo Maldonado

Research Colloquium

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of infectious death worldwide with 1.5 million deaths annually and nearly 1/4th of the world’s population (1.7 billion) infected with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in 2014. Its diagnosis conventionally relies on tuberculin skin testing (TST), and Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) which relies on the production of Interferon Gamma (IFN-y) in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) specific antigens. IGRA is a useful tool for detecting latent TB disease, and can be used as an adjunct for the diagnosis of active TB cases. Increases in IFN-y levels might support the diagnosis of a new TB …

The Hidden Dangers Of Cocaine: A Rare Case Of Necrotic Penile Ulcer, Roy Kondapavuluru, Khairiya Haj-Yahya, Elimar Gonzalez, Victor Tran, Roque Mifuji, Luis Rosas

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Cocaine is a strong central nervous system stimulant that is highly addictive with a wide potential for abuse as a recreational drug. The use of cocaine in an estimated 3 million Texans and 560 million Americans, has led to a growing health care hazard with many detrimental effects. Physiologically, cocaine causes significant vasoconstriction often leading to venous occlusion with subsequent ulceration and necrosis of mucosal membranes. Although cocaine is typically abused by inhalation or intravenous routes, few cases of injection into the genital region have been reported as means of abuse, leading to priapism, vasculitis, and in some cases …

Pseudogout: A Rare Cause Of Pseudoseptic Arthritis - A Case Report, Yareli Durazo, Corey Haines, Elimar Gonzalez, Brandon Cantazaro, Michael Sander

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Pseudoseptic arthritis is the umbrella term designated to various mimics when they present with clinical stigmata indicative of septic arthritis. The underlying causes of these mimics can vary, depending on whether they are associated with autoimmune inflammatory arthritis or crystalline-associated inflammatory arthritis such as gout and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD). In clinical practice, pseudoseptic arthritis can be difficult to differentiate from infectious arthritis, leading to frequent misdiagnosis. However, key differences will exist in the joint aspirate. With septic arthritis, the synovial fluid cultures are positive. However, with pseudoseptic arthritis, the synovial fluid may appear purulent but is sterile. …