Digital Commons Network^™

Mathematical Analysis Of Monkeypox Transmission Dynamics With Control Strategie, Singo Juma Singo, Furaha Michael Chuma, Zubeda Seif Mussa

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study develops a mathematical model to analyze the transmission dynamics of Monkeypox and evaluate the effectiveness of control strategies. The model is formulated as a system of nonlinear differential equations, capturing key factors such as human-to-human transmission, zoonotic reservoirs, and control measures like vaccination, culling, personal hygiene and treatment. The model's equilibrium points, including the disease-free and endemic equilibria, are determined and analyzed for stability using the effective reproduction number, Re. Conditions under which Re<1 ensure the elimination of Monkeypox, while Re>1 indicates sustained transmission. A sensitivity analysis is performed to identify parameters that significantly influence Re​, such as the contact rate, effectiveness of control …

Impact Of Helminth Co-Infections On Clinical Malaria Severity Among Febrile School-Age Children: A Study From Mvomero, Tanzania, Winifrida Kidima, Christopher Kisiringo, Deokary Matiya, Felista Mwingira

Tanzania Journal of Science

Helminths may influence clinical malaria severity. The current study examined the impact of helminth infections on malaria severity among children in Mvomero, Tanzania. This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted from 2018-2019. Blood, stool and urine specimens from febrile subjects attending four health facilities in Mvomero were examined for malaria and helminth infection. Overall, 326 febrile children were enrolled. The range and mean ages were 5-17 and 10.2 years, respectively. Of 326 children, 46.8% (n = 153) had Plasmodium falciparum malaria, with prevalence being higher in males than females (p = 0.03). Among positive P. falciparum -infected children, 59.5% had …

Cytotoxicity Of Heliotropium Indicum Methanolic Leaf Extract In Mice, Claudius D Luziga, Benedictor J Jagadi, Jackson A Ngou, Frida R Mgonja

Tanzania Journal of Science

Heliotropium indicum grows well in wet fertile soils often near rivers and lakes in tropical and subtropical countries. It contains phytochemicals with beneficial health effects. However, information is scarce on its cytotoxicity. The objective of this study was to determine cytotoxic effects of methanolic leaf extract of the plant in mouse organs. Mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control group A received distilled water 10 ml/kg. Groups B, C, and D received orally plant leaf extract at doses of 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and 15 mg/kg respectively per day for 7 days. At the end of day 7 mice …

Design And Optimization Of Eco-Friendly Biocomposite Films For Packaging Applications Using Response Surface Methodology, Ba Omoike, Fe Okieimen, C Imoisi

Tanzania Journal of Science

The use of synthetic polymers as packaging materials constitutes environmental pollution due to the accumulation of plastic waste after they are discarded. This study aimed at preparing and optimizing an environmental-friendly carboxymethyl starch/PVA/kaolin composite film using response surface methodology to develop potential solutions for replacing synthetic packaging and optimize the formulation of the biocomposite films. The biocomposite films were prepared by solution casting method. The interactive effect of carboxymethyl starch (CMS) (2.0-5.0 g), poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) (0.0-3.0 g) and kaolin (0.00-0.22 g) on the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), percentage elongation at break (%EB) and water vapour permeability (WVP) were determined. The …

Optimizing Co2-Expanded Hexane For Enhanced Yield And Antioxidant Activity Of Essential Oils From Citrus Reticulata, Mathayo Gervas Mathias, Idzumi Okajima

Tanzania Journal of Science

Wide range applications of citrus essential oil (EO) and environmental issues resulting from citrus processing industries render in the evolution of extraction techniques. The efficacy of the CO2-expanded hexane (CXH) extraction technique on mandarin orange EO, D-limonene, and total phenolic compounds (TPC) was evaluated and compared with conventional methods; hexane extraction and hydro-distillation. Moreover, the correlation of EO components with antioxidant activity was studied. It was revealed that CXH had better EO and D-limonene yields than conventional methods. The CXH optimal extraction conditions of 25 °C, 6.5 MPa, and 0.70 CO2 mole fraction offered 0.155 g-EO/g-dry peel and 51% D-limonene …

Metagenomic Analysis Of Bacterial Communities In Waters Of Lake Natron, Arusha, Tanzania, Sadikiel E. Kaale, Robert S. Machang’U, Thomas J. Lyimo

Tanzania Journal of Science

Metagenomics involves genetic material extraction and sequencing directly from environmental samples in order to gain insights and relationships that exist between microbes and their surroundings. Few studies have been done in extreme environments including soda lakes such as Lake Natron which is found in Arusha region, Tanzania. This study recorded high pH and salinity values confirming the lake's extremity. Full-length 16S rRNA reads sequenced through PacBio was used to reveal first metagenomic snapshots of bacterial communities from 10 random points at the lake shoreline waters. The results showed the dominance of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes with relative abundances of 98.46% and …

Antioxidant Potential Of Stingless Bee Honey From Mangrove And Montane Vegetation Types In Tanzania, Christopher Alphonce Mduda, Mkabwa Lawrence Katambo Manoko

Tanzania Journal of Science

Stingless bee honey is a rich source of antioxidants and is highly regarded in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments. The antioxidant capacity of honey can be influenced by its origin and the floral resources used by bees. Consequently, this study evaluated the antioxidant potential of stingless bee honey from two vegetation types: montane and mangrove. The honey samples displayed remarkable antioxidant potential, with notable levels of total phenolic content (197.0–263.1 mg GAE/100 g), total flavonoid content (118.5–156.7 mg QE/100 g), ascorbic acid (25.1–30.0 mg/100 g), lycopene (2.8–3.7 mg/100 g), β-carotene (0.8–1.7 mg/100 g), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activity …

Spatio-Temporal Trends And Change Detection Of Surface Air Temperature In Tanzania: October To April Season., Laban Lameck Kebacho, Exavery Kisesa Makula, Paul Tilwebwa Shelleph Limbu

Tanzania Journal of Science

The paper examined the spatio-temporal variability and trends of minimum temperature (T-min), mean (T-mean), and maximum temperature (T-max) in Tanzania from October to April using the Climatic Research Unit Time Series version 4.06 from 1951-2021. The traditional Mann-Kendall (MK) test, modified MK, and Sen’s slope test were used to determine the trend direction and magnitude of the T-mean, T-max, and T-min trends, respectively. Sequential MK, standard normal homogeneity, and Pettitt tests were used to detect abrupt changes, while the Hurst coefficient (H) assessed future trend behavior. Results show a statistically significant increasing trend of 0.14 °C per decade, 0.18 °C …

Head-To-Head Comparison Of Aptamer- And Antibody-Based Proteomic Platforms In Human Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples From A Real-World Memory Clinic Cohort, Raquel Puerta, Yun Ju Sung, Carlos Cruchaga, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

High-throughput proteomic platforms are crucial to identify novel Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers and pathways. In this study, we evaluated the reproducibility and reliability of aptamer-based (SomaScan

Improving Work Motivation Of Nutrition Implementers In Health Centers: Analysis Of The Influence Of Work Experience, Competence, And Rewards, Fauzie Rahman, Syamsul Arifin, Meitria Syahadatina Noor, Husaini Husaini, Rosihan Adhani, Muhammad Abdan Shadiqi, Neka Erlyani, Muhamad Muslim, Ifa Hafifah, Ha Thi Thu Trang

Media Kesehatan Masyarakat Indonesia

Success in addressing nutritional problems can be achieved when nutrition implementers possess strong abilities and skills in executing nutritional service program activities at community health centers. High work motivation among nutrition implementers significantly contributes to the successful implementation of these programs. This study aims to analyze the influence of work experience, competence, and reward provision on the work motivation of nutrition implementers. This research employs a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional design. The population consists of all nutrition implementers in South Kalimantan Community Health Centers' work area in Indonesia. A sample of 253 respondents was selected using purposive sampling. The …

Ethnic Differences In Ascending Aorta Dimensions And Dilatation Rates: A Systematic Review, Ayub Ansari, Kazi A. Syed, Mirza Baig, Yazan Tanbour, Abdullah Baghdadi, Aisha Ansari, Ayman Nada

Student Publications

Ethnic differences may substantially influence the morphological characteristics of the ascending aorta, with potential implications for clinical assessment and management of aortic dilatation. This systematic review evaluated the impact of ethnicity on ascending aorta diameter and dilatation rates, highlighting the need for more tailored, ethnicity-specific care in cardiovascular practice. We identified 11 studies that measured ascending aorta dimensions using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), computed tomography (CT), or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Most investigations focused on Asian, Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic populations. Data extraction revealed notable variability in baseline aortic diameters across ethnic groups. Some studies found no significant differences between …

A Retrospective Analysis Of The Effects Of Pneumonia And Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease On Patient Mortality In Southwest Missouri, Cameron Smith, Monika Ziogaite, Lindsay Doolan-Mattice, Heather Vonhegel, Mariam Akhtar, Nova Beyersdorfer, Kerry Johnson, John Paulson

Student Publications

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of COPD and pneumonia on the mortality rates among patients admitted to the Freeman Health System in Southwest Missouri, to provide a better idea of whether there is a correlation between the two and whether the presence of both adds to the mortality rates. Patient data were extracted from electronic medical records, focusing on patients with or without COPD and pneumonia diagnoses. Analyses revealed a statistical difference, with a p-value of <0.0001, in mortality rates between COPD patients with (P1) and without (P3) pneumonia, indicating that pneumonia did have an impact on COPD patients. However, pneumonia patients without COPD (P2) had a higher, but non-statistical difference in mortality rates compared to COPD patients with pneumonia (P1), with a p-value of 0.0806. These findings emphasize the severe influence of pneumonia in both COPD and non-COPD populations in the area, warranting further investigation and emphasizing the importance of timely and appropriate treatment. These results provide insights into the interplay between COPD and pneumonia in the geographic area, which may provide guidance in treatment decisions that may improve patient outcomes.

Survey And Comparative Analysis Of Pollinator Diversity, Abundance, And Foraging Activity Of Diptera And Hymenoptera In Selected Habitats Of South Texas, Melissa Villarreal

Theses and Dissertations

With the declining bee population, non-bee pollinators can serve as an alternative source for pollination. Diptera is a potential source of untapped pollinator resources based on their abundance and visitation rate, but they are understudied in the field of pollination ecology. This study aimed to characterize the pollinator community in selected areas of South Texas. It focused on the Diptera and Hymenoptera families to compare their diversity, relative abundance, foraging behaviors, environmental influences, and vegetation associations. Active sampling and line transect were used in the survey to sample the Hymenoptera and Diptera communities to their family taxonomic rank. Statistical analyses …

Ai-Assisted Academia: Unveiling Doctoral Students' Perspectives On Dissertation In Practice Innovation, Jennifer J. Lesh, Jévaughn J. Lancaster

Faculty and Staff Publications & Presentations

This action research study explores 73 doctoral students' perceptions of using Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) throughout their research journey in one educational doctorate (Ed.D) program. The first phase employed surveys, while the second incorporated semi-structured focus group interviews based on the survey data from a diverse sample of students across educational disciplines currently enrolled in the university's educational leadership doctoral program. In the study's first phase, the survey quantified educators' familiarity with, attitudes towards, perceived challenges, ethical considerations, and benefits of using GAI in doctoral research. The exploration of GAI in this practitioner-inspired doctoral program has uncovered essential insights into …

Saponin Tql1055 Adjuvant-Containing Vaccine Confers Protection Upon Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Challenge In Mice, Mushtaq Ahmed, Eric Farris, Rosemary V Swanson, Shibali Das, Yan Yang, Tyler Martin, Shabaana A Khader

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the intracellular pathogen

Approved Car-T Therapies Have Reproducible Efficacy And Safety In Clinical Practice, Daniel Goyco Vera, Hiral Waghela, Mohamed Nuh, Jonathan Pan, Premal Lulla

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

CAR-T cell therapy has established itself as a highly effective treatment for hematological malignancies. There are currently six commercial CAR-T products that have been FDA approved for diseases such as B-ALL, LBCL, MCL, FL, MM, and CLL/SLL. "Real-world" studies allow us to evaluate outcomes from the general population to determine their efficacy and safety compared to those who were included in the original trials. Based on several well conducted "Real-world" studies that represent diverse populations, we report that outcomes from the original trials that led to the approval of these therapies are comparable to those in practice.

Inter-Institutional Analysis Of Skin Of Color Representation In Dermatological Lecture Content At Md And Do Medical Schools, Oluwafunke O. Ogunremi, Blake Fredericksen, John Komas, Sana F. Ismail, Siri Knusten-Larson, Valeriy Kozmenko, Afia Albin

Student Publications

The purpose of this study was to analyze the lecture materials provided in medical schools through a diversity lens. Skin pathologies manifest distinctively on various shades of skin and physicians must be equipped with the proper knowledge to identify and diagnose these conditions accurately and promptly. For most medical students, images in prominent textbooks and lecture slides are their first encounter with disease presentations. Therefore, it is important to analyze the diversity of skin tones in the content that is being delivered. Specifically, the use of images featuring darker skin tones compared to those depicting lighter skin tones. This study …

The Implementation Of Behaviour Change Practices In Physical Activity Referral Schemes: A Narrative Review, John Downey, Katie Shearn, Nicola Brown, Ross Wadey, Jeff Breckon

School of Nursing and Midwifery

BackgroundPhysical activity referral schemes have been used extensively as one pathway to support behaviour change in people with long term conditions. Best practice guidance, across countries, recommend that schemes use behaviour change practices. The effectiveness of these schemes is inconsistent, yet, little is known about the implementation of specific approaches, or what influences practitioner’s delivery. This article provides a narrative review of evidence exploring the implementation of behaviour change practices in physical activity referral schemes.MethodsAn electronic search of three databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar) was undertaken. A menu of iterative techniques was also applied from the CLUSTER approach to increase …

Biostatistik In Ophthalmologie Und Optometrie: Eine Artikelserie Zur Unterstützung Evidenzbasierter Entscheidungsprozesse, Daniela Oehring, Pedro Miguel Serra

School of Health Professions

Zweck. Fortschritte in der Augen- und Sehversorgung basieren auf der Anwendung von Forschungsergebnissen und der präzisen Interpretation klinischer Daten. Dennoch treten in der Augen- und Sehforschung (EVR) häufig Forschungsverschwendungen auf, bedingt durch methodische Mängel und unangemessene statistische Analysen. Dies untergräbt die Validität von Studien und führt zu ineffizienter Nutzung erheblicher finanzieller Ressourcen. Dieser Artikel, der erste Teil der Serie „Entwicklung statistischer Kompetenzen in der Augenheilkunde: Eine Reihe zur Unterstützung evidenzbasierter Entscheidungsprozesse”, zielt darauf ab, diese Herausforderungen anzugehen, indem er die statistische Kompetenz von Fachkräften in der Augenheilkunde stärkt.Material und Methoden. Anhand einer umfassenden narrativen Literaturübersicht und der Erstellung simulierter klinischer …

2024 Scholarly Productivity Report, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Scholarly Productivity Reports

No abstract provided.

The Association Of Caregiver Attitudes, Information Sources, And Trust With Hpv Vaccine Initiation Among Adolescents, Akila Anandarajah, Thembekile Shato, Sarah Humble, Alan R Barnette, Heather M Brandt, Lisa M Klesges, Vetta L Sanders Thompson, Michelle I Silver

2020-Current year OA Pubs

This study described caregiver attitudes and the information sources they access about HPV vaccination for adolescents and determined their influence on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination initiation. An online survey was administered to 1,016 adults in July 2021. Participants were eligible if they were the caregiver of a child aged 9-17 residing in Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, and select counties in Southern Illinois. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the association of caregiver attitudes and information sources with HPV vaccination. Information from doctors or healthcare providers (87.4%) and internet sources other than social media (31.0%) were the most used sources …

Supporting Teams With Designing For Dissemination And Sustainability: The Design, Development, And Usability Of A Digital Interactive Platform, Maura M Kepper, Allison J L'Hotta, Thembekile Shato, Bethany M Kwan, Russell E Glasgow, Douglas Luke, Andrea K Graham, Ana A Baumann, Ross C Brownson, Brad Morse

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Designing for Dissemination and Sustainability (D4DS) principles and methods can support the development of research products (interventions, tools, findings) that match well with the needs and context of the intended audience and setting. D4DS principles and methods are not well-known or used during clinical and public health research; research teams would benefit from applying D4DS. This paper presents the development of a new digital platform for research teams to learn and apply a D4DS process to their work.

METHODS: A user-centered design (UCD) approach engaged users (n = 14) and an expert panel (n = 6) in an iterative …

Artificial Intelligence To Quantify Employee Communication And Personality Dynamics

Defensive Publications Series

Systems and methods for evaluating an employee’s professional personality are provided. The systems and methods may enable the use of artificial intelligence to perform sentiment analysis on one or more employee communications, and quantify one or more personality characteristics based on the one or more employee communications. The systems and methods may compare the quantified personality characteristics to one or more employees, and may generate one or more employee scores for employees for each of the one or more personality characteristics.

From Neoliberalism To Neofeudalism, Jodi Dean

Emancipations: A Journal of Critical Social Analysis

No abstract provided.

Online Learning Transition: An Analysis Of Proactive Institutional Assistance In Reducing Difficulties During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Mohammed Yahya Alghamdi

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The COVID-19 pandemic caused major changes in the education system, with a shift to online learning, and experience has shown that transitioning from face-to-face instruction is difficult. This study involved 80 academic staff members from Al-Baha University in Saudi Arabia to learn about the benefits, limitations, and institutional support of online education in the setting of an epidemic. The study answers two primary questions: The first study question was, What difficulties did instructors face when they switched to online instruction? While the second research question was, How did institutional support influence the transition to online instruction? The study’s research methodology …

Evaluation Of The Effect Of Vitamin D Deficiency On Liver And Kidney Functions Of Iraqi Type Ii Diabetic Patients, Alaa Matar, Sarah Al-Tamimi, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is widespread across different age groups globally, linking to conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune disorders, and notably type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Investigating the impact of vitamin D on T2DM and associated kidney and liver functions has gained recent attention.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the effect of vitamin D deficiency on kidney and liver functions in T2DM Iraqi patients.

Methods: Fifty T2DM patients and 50 controls were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were analyzed for glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), vitamin D, urea, creatinine, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline …

The Effect Of Annona Muricata Leaves’ Extract On Wnt Signaling Pathway In Induced Colorectal Cancer In Mice, Layane Massri, Jamilah Borjac, Alaa Matar, Dania Natour

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health issue. The Wnt signaling pathway, activated by mutations in APC and β-catenin genes, plays a crucial role in CRC development, leading to the activation of inflammatory pathways involving COX-2 and iNOS, as well as the continuous transcription of cell cycle-related genes promoting CRC pathogenesis. Annona muricata (A. muricata), a tropical tree with various biological activities, including anti-cancerous properties, was investigated for its potential effect on mice induced with colon cancer using 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH, 20 mg/kg) over 12 weeks, and treated with oral A. muricata extract (100 mg/kg, 5 days/week).

Methods: Histopathological …

Cropsync: Ai-Powered Sustainable Crop Management, Ziad Doughan, Ibrahim Mneimneh, Zouheir Nakouzi, Noor Al Khaib, Samer Damaj, Jamal Chaaban, Hamza Mrad, Sari Itani

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

CropSync is a smart agriculture system that uses AI and IoT technologies to enable sustain- able crop management and precision farming. The system aims to address the challenges faced by the agriculture sector, such as increasing food production to meet global population demands while minimizing environmental impact. CropSync integrates sensors, cameras, and cloud-based analytics to provide farmers with real-time insights and recommendations for optimizing crop cul- tivation. The system upholds engineering professional and ethical standards, considering broader social, environmental, and economic implications. From a social perspective, CropSync improves food security and enhances farmers’ livelihoods through increased productivity and efficient re- …

Development Of An Injectable Chitosan-Based Bioink For Enhanced Bone Fracture Healing Via Msc-Derived Osteogenesis, Zeina H. Adel, Jana A. Hassan, Hala H. Muhammed, Haneen M. Elsaeid, Raghad M. Nasr, Ahmed M. Deghidy

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Worldwide, bone fractures are a major public health concern and, there is an urgent requirement to create new treatments to accelerate the rate of the bone healing process. This research mainly relies on creating a hydrogel that satisfies the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) and makes it a suitable medium to differentiate into osteogenic cells. We combine the BM-MSCs with a chitosan polymer-based hydrogel, infused with PVA to enhance bone healing, this unique mixture forms " Bioink ". We induced a closed fracture model in the rat's right humerus, followed by injection of a single dosage of bioink. On …

Debunking Misperceptions: The Interfaith Dental Program, Colette Smiley

West Michigan District Dental Society Bulletin

When thousands of Afghans were evacuated to the U.S. in 2021, they brought resilience, hope—and an urgent need for dental care. Recognizing this, Christ Church Cranbrook, the Muslim Unity Center, and partners like Delta Dental came together to create the Interfaith Dental Program. The Interfaith Dental Program supports general dentists and dental specialists so they can offer their services to provide needed dental care not covered by insurance or Medicaid.