Digital Commons Network^™

Anthelmintic Resistance In Sheep Across Ireland And The Uk: A Literature Review Of The In Vivo Versus In Vitro Methods, Megan Tumulty

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Background: The animal welfare and production consequences of gastrointestinal nematode infections, namely Nematodirus battus, on sheep are compelling. The control of gastrointestinal infections has been heavily reliant on the administration of anthelmintics since their introduction into mainstream use in 1960. However, their frequent and often excessive use has resulted in anthelmintic resistance being reported extensively in several gastrointestinal nematode species. The prevalence of anthelmintic resistance as well as the increase in the number of cases of multiple-drug resistance in nematode populations now poses substantial hindrance on the viability of sheep production systems. However, despite the threat N. battus poses …

A Multi-Method Exploration Of Health Disparities And Covid-19 Incidence And Mortality In The United States, S M Asger Ali

Theses and Dissertations

The 21^st century experienced several health crises, especially in the form of infectious disease outbreaks such as the SARS outbreak in 2003, the H1N1 in 2009, and Ebola outbreaks in 2013. However, none has produced a worldwide socio-economic and health impact compared to the recent pandemic, known as COVID-19. As of October 4, 2022, more than 614 million cases with 6 million deaths have been reported worldwide. The United States is currently in the leading position with more than 98 million cases and 1 million deaths. The pandemic, however, did not impact the entire region similarly, and the infections …

The Prevalence Of Sars-Cov-2 Antibodies Within The Community Of A Private Tertiary University In The Philippines: A Serial Cross Sectional Study, Lourdes S. Tanchanco, Jenica Clarisse Y. Sy, Angel Belle C. Dy, Myla D. Levantino, Arianna Maever L. Amit, John Wong, Kirsten Angeles, John Paul Vergara

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a public health emergency in all sectors of society, including universities and other academic institutions. This study determined the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among administrators, faculty, staff, and students of a private tertiary academic institution in the Philippines over a 7 month period. It employed a serial cross-sectional method using qualitative and quantitative COVID-19 antibody test kits. A total of 1,318 participants were tested, showing 47.80% of the study population yielding IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 virus. A general increase in seroprevalence was observed from June to December 2021, which coincided with the vaccine roll-out of …

Association Between The Health Belief Model, Exercise, And Nutrition Behaviors During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Keagan Kiely, Bill Mase, Andrew R. Hansen, Jessica S. Schwind

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected our nation’s health further than the infection it causes. Physical activity levels and dietary intake have suffered while individuals grapple with the changes in behavior to reduce viral transmission. With unique nuances regarding the access to physical activity and nutrition during the pandemic, the constructs of Health Belief Model (HBM) may present themselves differently in nutrition and exercise behaviors compared to precautions implemented to reduce viral transmission studied in previous research. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent of exercise and nutritional behavior change during the COVID-19 pandemic and explain the …

Impact And Cost-Effectiveness Of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Policies In The United States Uniformed Armed Forces, Noel Dickens

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Background. Virtually all cervical cancers and cases of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) as well as a large proportion of anal, penile, oropharyngeal, vulvar, and vaginal cancers and anogenital warts (AGW). Vaccination with the nonvalent HPV vaccine (9vHPV) is proven to prevent a significant proportion of HPV-associated diseases. Adoption of large-scale HPV vaccination programs by US public institutions requires careful consideration of the cost to benefit ratio of each program through economic evaluations. US Uniformed Armed Forces (USUAF) HPV vaccination policy would benefit from economic evaluations that consider the unique population and institutional characteristics of …

Nsu Md Research Link - Fall 2022 - Volume 2.3, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Florida Link Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Incident Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection In A High School Population, Jacques M. Nsuami, Wato Nsa, Catherine L. Cammarata, David H. Martin, Stephanie N. Taylor

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Prospective cohort studies of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are logistically impractical owing to time and expenses. In schools, students are readily available for school-related follow-ups and monitoring. Capitalizing on the logistics that society already commits to ensure regular attendance of adolescents in school, a school-based STI screening in New Orleans made it possible to naturally observe the occurrence of chlamydia and to determine its incidence among 14–19-year-old adolescents. Among participants screened repeatedly, we calculated incidence rates, cumulative incidence, and incidence times. Male (n = 3820) and female (n = 3501) students were observed for 6251 and 5143 person-years, respectively, during …

Statistical Analysis Methods Applied To Early Outpatient Covid-19 Treatment Case Series Data, Eleftherios Gkioulekas, Peter A. Mccullough, Vladimir Zelenko

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

When confronted with a public health emergency, significant innovative treatment protocols can sometimes be discovered by medical doctors at the front lines based on repurposed medications. We propose a statistical framework for analyzing the case series of patients treated with such new protocols, that enables a comparison with our prior knowledge of expected outcomes, in the absence of treatment. The goal of the proposed methodology is not to provide a precise measurement of treatment efficacy, but to establish the existence of treatment efficacy, in order to facilitate the binary decision of whether the treatment protocol should be adopted on an …

The Covid-19 Pandemic In South Asia: A Comprehensive Review Of The Genomic Variations, Epidemiological Features, Diagnosis, Treatment And Preventive Schemes, Abdullah Al Noman, Jannatul Efte Ekra, Rima Islam Meem, Sujan Islam, Fariha Sharzana, Shofiqul Islam, Samiron Sana, Masnoon Kabir, Niaz Mahmud, Abdullah Al Mahedi, Taufique Joarder

Journal of Health Research

Background: The purpose of the study was to outline the genomic and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in South Asian countries as well as the diagnosis, treatments, and prevention approaches undertaken by these countries to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We searched electronic databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus as well as various national and international COVID-19 websites, WHO databases, and electronic media. 63 articles were included from databases and 34 articles from various other sources.

Results: Scientists observed genomic variations including common mutations in ORF1ab, ORF1a, ORF3a, and S genes, while several unique mutations exist in most isolates …

Validating And Testing An Agent-Based Model For The Spread Of Covid-19 In Ireland, Elizabeth Hunter, John D. Kelleher

Articles

Agent-based models can be used to better understand the impacts of lifting restrictions or implementing interventions during a pandemic. However, agent-based models are computationally expensive, and running a model of a large population can result in a simulation taking too long to run for the model to be a useful analysis tool during a public health crisis. To reduce computing time and power while running a detailed agent-based model for the spread of COVID-19 in the Republic of Ireland, we introduce a scaling factor that equates 1 agent to 100 people in the population. We present the results from model …

Updated Estimates Of Sepsis Hospitalizations At United States Academic Medical Centers, Hei Kit Chan, Swapnil Khose, Summer Chavez, Bela Patel, Henry E Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: Sepsis is a major public health problem. Understanding the epidemiology of sepsis subtypes is important to quantify the magnitude of the problem and identify targets for system wide treatment strategies. We sought to describe the current national epidemiology of community-acquired (CAS), hospital-acquired (HAS) and healthcare-associated sepsis (HCAS) hospitalizations among academic medical centers in the United States using current discharge diagnosis taxonomies.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patient discharge data from the Vizient Clinical Data Base/Resource Manager. We identified sepsis hospitalizations using four ICD-10 coding strategies: (1) "Martin" sepsis codes (21 ICD-10 codes), (2) "Angus" sepsis codes (ICD-10 infection + ICD-10 …

Histomonosis In Turkeys – Factors Influencing Transmission, Pathogenesis, And The Search For Prophylactic Or Therapeutic Compounds, Thainá Landim De Barros

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The incidence of histomonosis has been increasing in poultry since the ban of prophylactic and therapeutic compounds. Histomonosis is caused by the protozoa Histomonas meleagridis. The objective of this dissertation was to investigate factors impacting the pathogenesis and transmission of histomonosis and to evaluate compounds that could potentially prevent or reduce the severity of histomonosis in turkeys. In the first study, the effect of sodium chlorate and sodium nitrate on reducing histomonads growth was tested in vitro and added to a basal turkey diet. A decrease in the growth of histomonads in vitro was observed, but no in vivo effect …

Confirming Multiplex Rt-Qpcr Use In Covid-19 With Next-Generation Sequencing: Strategies For Epidemiological Advantage, Rob E. Carpenter, Vaibhav Tamrakar, Harendra Chahar, Tyler Vine, Rahul Sharma

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

Rapid identification and tracking of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants are critical for understanding the transmission dynamics and developing strategies for interrupting the transmission chain. Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is an exceptional tool for whole-genome analysis and deciphering new mutations. The technique has been instrumental in identifying the variants of concern (VOC) and tracking this pandemic. However, NGS is complex and expensive for large-scale adoption, and epidemiological monitoring with NGS alone could be unattainable in limited-resource settings. In this study, we explored the application of reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) based detection of the variant identified by NGS. We analyzed a total …

Pandemics & People: Designing A Virtual Epidemic Event For Immersive, Connected, And Playful Participation In An Infectious Disease Outbreak, Deborah Fields, Amanda Strawhacker, Michael Giang, Yasmin Kafai, Colby Tofel-Grehl, Tyler Hansen, Jen Sun, Mark Dinan

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

Researchers and educators have identified an urgent need for more rigorous teaching and learning about epidemiology topics and practices, such as engaging in behaviors that prevent the spread of viral disease such as COVID-19. Responding to this need, we designed a virtual epidemic as a special event hosted in a virtual world. In this paper we share the strategic, tactical, and detailed design of the SPIKEY-20 virtual epidemic and data that reflects back on the design in terms of player participation. Reflecting on the design, we ask: What kinds of players participated in the SPIKEY-20 virtual epidemic? How did players …

Using A Network Model To Control The Spread Of An Infectious Disease On A College Campus With Contact Tracing, Christopher R. Boyette

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Understanding Biofilm-Phage Interactions In Mathematical Framework, Blessing Emerenini

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Optimal Intervention Strategies To Minimize Spread Of Infectious Diseases And Economic Impact On A Dynamic Small-World Network, Malindi Whyte, Danielle Dasilva

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Multi-Strain Epidemic Model With Infected Vaccinated And Re-Infected Recovered Population: Application To Covid-19 Pandemic, Olusegun Michael Otunuga

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

On The Trajectory Of Gonorrhea In The Us: An Application Of Generalized Compartmental Models, Scott Greenhalgh, Anna Dumas

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Emergency Department Antimicrobial Use In A Low-Resource Setting: Results From A Retrospective Observational Study At A Referral Hospital In Liberia, Sojung Yi, Anu Ramachandran, Lane Epps, Alex Mayah, Taylor W Burkholder, Michael Senyu Jaung, Ahson Haider, Paul Whesseh, John Shakpeh, Kayla Enriquez, Corey Bills

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Data on antimicrobial use in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain limited. In Liberia, the absence of local data impedes surveillance and may lead to suboptimal treatment, injudicious use and resistance against antimicrobials. This study aims to examine antimicrobial prescribing patterns for patients in the emergency department (ED) of a large Liberian public hospital. Secondarily, this prescribing was compared with WHO prescribing indicators.

DESIGN: Retrospective observational study.

SETTING: An adult ED of a large public hospital in Monrovia, Liberia.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1082 adult patients (>18 years of age) were recorded in the ED, from 1 January …

Applications Of Dynamic Modeling And Statistical Analysis To Infectious Diseases, Alyssa Sholeh Parpia

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

In this dissertation, I explore the disproportionate burden of infectious disease outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics and the projected impact of interventions for mitigating their harm on populations in Cameroon and the United States. The spatial heterogeneity in vaccination coverage and access to care in Cameroon creates areas that are highly susceptible to measles transmission. In the US, the HIV epidemic is increasingly concentrated in the southern states in addition to larger cities with variable levels of prevention and linkage to sustained treatment. Disparities in COVID-19 burden exist by race and geography across Michigan, in part due to systemic racism and …

On The Surveillance And Spread Of Drug Resistant Malaria In Sub-Saharan Africa, Hanna Y. Ehrlich

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are among the most important tools in our arsenal to treat and control malaria. ACTs and other antimalarial drugs have contributed to significant declines in global malaria-attributed morbidity and mortality over the past few decades. However, progress is the effort to eradicate the disease has not been equally distributed: sub-Saharan Africa continues to experiences the vast majority of the burden of the disease. Recent reports of ACT resistance in Rwanda and Uganda confirm longstanding expectations that artemisinin-resistant parasites will eventually emerge in Africa. To delay the spread of artemisinin resistance across the malaria endemic sub-continent, it …

Synthesizing Epidemiological Evidence Of Respiratory Syncytial Virus To Predict The Potential Effectiveness Of Three Rsv Prevention Strategies, Zhe Zheng

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of respiratory infection and hospitalization for infants, children, and the elderly [1]. In this dissertation, I present five quantitative studies aimed at improving our understanding of the disease burden, epidemic timing, geographic spread, and prevention of RSV. Specifically, I applied statistical and mathematical models to (1) estimate respiratory hospitalizations attributable to RSV across age and socioeconomic groups; (2) identify drivers that impact RSV epidemic spatiotemporal patterns in a typical winter season; (3) estimate the timing and intensity of RSV reemergence following the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) compare the geographic spread of RSV epidemics …

“Pandemias Políticas: The Effects Of Political And Social Instability On Infectious Disease Epidemiology In Latin America"”, Sarah H. Noonan

Senior Theses

This paper seeks to analyze the relationship between political and social unrest and conflict and infectious disease epidemiology in Latin America. An analysis of published literature regarding epidemiological, biomedical, political, and historical content was conducted to highlight potential connections between infectious disease epidemics and sociopolitical conflict in the region. Specific analyses of Smallpox, Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis, Chagas disease, Cholera, Dengue, and COVID-19 were conducted, in an effort to uncover potential causations and context of epidemics of these conditions. Results of this analysis depict a necessity for further research into public health and disease control mechanisms during times of conflict and …

Current Epidemiological Status And Antibiotic Resistance Profile Of Urinary Tract Infection, Muddasir Khan, Syed Hussain Shah, M. Abdullah, Muhammad Salman, Fawad Hayat, Raheela Sarwar, Neelma Hassan, Sohail Ahmad Jan, M. Saddam, Ziaur Rahman, Imran Qazi

Journal of Bioresource Management

With a longitudinal (2020–2021) completion, a set of 300 urine samples of individuals suspected of UTI was characterized based on the biochemical analysis and Kirby Bauer's disc diffusion method. Throughout, a total of 167 samples revealed UTI positivity by obtaining bacterial growth. Reporting that E. coli (69.4 %) was the most dominant when compared with Klebsiella (14.3 %), Proteus (5.9 %), S. aureus (4.7 %), P. aeruginosa (3.5 %), and Enterobacter (1.7 %), respectively. Gender-wise discrimination showed that E. coli was highly distributed among female (50.2 %) patients. A prominent percentage of E. coli (41.9 %) was found in the …

Analysis Of Sir Epidemic Models With Sociological Phenomenon, Robert F. Allen, Katherine C. Heller, Matthew A. Pons

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

We propose two SIR models which incorporate sociological behavior of groups of individuals. It is these differences in behaviors which impose different infection rates on the individual susceptible populations, rather than biological differences. We compute the basic reproduction number for each model, as well as analyze the sensitivity of R₀ to changes in sociological parameter values.

Clinical Outcomes For Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia Are Worse In Those With A History Of Stroke, Pradeepthi Badugu, Dilip Kc, Bibodh Jung Karki, Mahder A. Tella, Vidyulata Salunkhe

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background: Stroke is one of the most prevalent neurological diseases in the United States. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the leading cause of infections in survivors of stroke. There is limited research evaluating the clinical outcomes of CAP in patients with stroke. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized patients with CAP and a history of stroke.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the University of Louisville Pneumonia Study database. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of a history of stroke. Clinical outcomes were length of …

Trends In Premature Mortality From Acute Myocardial Infarction In The United States, 1999 To 2019, Sourbha S. Dani, Ahmad N. Lone, Zulqarnain Javed, Muhammad S. Khan, Muhammad Zia Khan, Edo Kaluski, Salim S. Virani, Michael D. Shapiro, Miguel Cainzos‐Achirica, Khurram Nasir

Office of the Provost

Pagination are not provided by the author/publisher. This work was published before the author joined Aga Khan University.

Covid-19: A Review Of Random Testing As An Augmentation Of A Close-Contact Testing Regime In Response To The Covid-19 Pandemic, John Mcdonnell

Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented the world with a huge challenge to balance the health of the population with the scale of stringent response measures. Policy makers need evidence based recommendations to inform their response to the pandemic and the ever changing landscape it creates. Testing and isolation of infected individuals plays a critical role in containing the spread of the disease, but is aimed primarily at detecting symptomatic individuals. However, asymptomatic individuals are much more difficult to detect. This study presents the augmentation of a close contact testing regime with random testing to examine the elect on the number …

An Odd-Protocol For Agent-Based Model For The Spread Of Covid-19 In Ireland, Elizabeth Hunter, John D. Kelleher

Reports

No abstract provided.