Digital Commons Network^™

Angiopoietin-Like4 Is A Novel Marker Of Covid-19 Severity, Pavan K. Bhatraju, Eric D. Morrell, Ian B. Stanaway, Neha A. Sathe, Avantika Srivastava, Radu Postelnicu, Richard Green, Adair Andrews, Martin Gonzalez, Christopher J. Kratochvil, Vishakha K. Kumar, Tien-Ying Hsiang, Michael Gale, George L. Anesi, David Wyles, M. Jana Broadhurst, David Brett-Major, Vikramjit Mukherjee, Jonathan E. Sevransky, Douglas Landsittel, Chi Hung, William A Altemeier, Sina A. Gharib, Timothy M. Uyeki, J. Perren Cobb, Janice M. Liebler, David R. Crosslin, Gail P. Jarvik, Leopoldo N. Segal, Laura Evans, Carmen Mikacenic, Mark M. Wurfel

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

IMPORTANCE: Vascular dysfunction and capillary leak are common in critically ill COVID-19 patients, but identification of endothelial pathways involved in COVID-19 pathogenesis has been limited. Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) is a protein secreted in response to hypoxic and nutrient-poor conditions that has a variety of biological effects including vascular injury and capillary leak.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the role of ANGPTL4 in COVID-19-related outcomes.

DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred twenty-five COVID-19 ICU patients were enrolled from April 2020 to May 2021 in a prospective, multicenter cohort study from three different medical centers, University of Washington, University of Southern California and New …

Community Organization Perspectives On Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy And How They Increased Covid-19 Vaccine Confidence: A Canadian Immunization Research Network, Social Sciences And Humanities Network Study, Sarah Ashfield, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Gina Uppal, Michael A. Bauer

Publications

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 vaccines play a critical role in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and despite vaccine availability, disparities in COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Canadian subgroups exist. Community organizations are uniquely situated to relay important vaccine messaging around all vaccines, understand components of vaccine hesitancy, and facilitate vaccine uptake within the communities they serve. The objective of this research was to solicit community organizations perspectives specific to COVID-19 vaccines and explore strategies of increasing vaccine uptake within their communities. METHODS: A qualitative focus group study was held in the spring of 2021 with 40 community organizations from …

An Investigation Of Media Reports Of Digital Surveillance Within The First Year Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Leigha Comer, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Marionette Ngole, Jacob J. Shelley, Anita Kothari, Maxwell Smith, James M. Shelley, Saverio Stranges, Brad Hiebert, Jason Gilliland, Tommy Cooke, Jodi Hall, Jed Long

Publications

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a surge in digital public health surveillance worldwide, with limited opportunities to consider the effectiveness or impact of digital surveillance. The news media shape public understanding of topics of importance, contributing to our perception of priority issues. This study investigated news media reports published during the first year of the pandemic to understand how the use and consequences of digital surveillance technologies were reported on. METHODS: A media content analysis of 34 high- to low-income countries was completed. The terms "COVID-19," "surveillance," "technologies," and "public health" were used to retrieve and inductively code media reports. …

Use Of Digital Technologies For Public Health Surveillance During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Leigha Comer, Brad Hiebert, Jodi Hall, Jacob J. Shelley, Maxwell J. Smith, Anita Kothari, Jacquelyn Burkell, Saverio Stranges, Tommy Cooke, James M. Shelley, Jason Gilliland, Marionette Ngole, Danica Facca

Publications

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a variety of digital technologies have been leveraged for public health surveillance worldwide. However, concerns remain around the rapid development and deployment of digital technologies, how these technologies have been used, and their efficacy in supporting public health goals. Following the five-stage scoping review framework, we conducted a scoping review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature to identify the types and nature of digital technologies used for surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic and the success of these measures. We conducted a search of the peer-reviewed and grey literature published between 1 December 2019 and 31 December …

A Novel Ruthenium-Silver Based Antimicrobial Potentiates Aminoglycoside Activity Against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Gracious Yoofi Donkor, Greg M. Anderson, Michael Stadler, Patrick Ofori Tawiah, Carl D. Orellano, Kevin A. Edwards, Jan-Ulrik Dahl

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

The rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance combined with the decline in the discovery of novel antibiotics represents a major challenge for infectious disease control that can only be mitigated by investments in novel treatment strategies. Alternative antimicrobials, including silver, have regained interest due to their diverse mechanisms of inhibiting microbial growth. One such example is AGXX, a broad-spec­trum antimicrobial that produces highly cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) to inflict extensive macromolecular damage. Due to the connections identified between ROS production and antibiotic lethality, we hypothesized that AGXX could potentially increase the activity of conventional antibiotics. Using the gram-negative pathogen Pseudomonas …

Hepatitis B Immunity Among Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Brief Report, Robin M. Dawson Phd, Rn, Cpnp-Pc, Courtney Catledge, Ann Scott Dnp, Rn, Ccrn-K, Cne, Leigh Blackmon Pate Dnp, Msn, Aprn, Fnp-Bc, Gail Vereen

Publications

Background: Health sciences students who report low/equivocal hepatitis B titers may be required to repeat the immunization series, even though the result may not indicate non-immunity. Method: To describe hepatitis B immunity patterns, this retrospective, descriptive study utilized de-identified vaccination records and anti-HBs titers of three cohorts of sophomore nursing students entering clinical rotations in 2018–2019. Results: Only 33% of students had initial anti-HBs quantitative serum titer ≥10 mIU/ml, demonstrating immunity. After students with low/equivocal titers (n = 191, 64%) were re-immunized per institution protocol, only 2% (n = 7) were identified as non-responders. Cumulative costs incurred by students for …

National Emissaries For Preventive Healthcare. Visiting Nurses In Interwar Bulgaria And Yugoslavia, Evguenia Davidova

History Faculty Publications and Presentations

In the interwar period, as part of a wholesale reorganization of public healthcare, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia saw the emergence of a new healthcare protagonist: the visiting nurse. Grounded in archival materials, by means of an analysis that intertwines gender and class, this article argues that the visiting nurse became a crucial (and cheaper) link between the hospital and the home in the fight against social diseases and reducing child mortality. These social interactions were often mediated by international humanitarian organizations. In this context, the visiting nurse serves as another bridge—this time between national and international public health policies. Visiting nurses …

Early Recognition Of Pulmonary Complications Of Sickle Cell Disease, Rayyan M. Almusally

Saudi Medical Journal

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hematological disorder with multiple-organ involvement. The pulmonary complications of SCD are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This article presents an important review of acute and chronic pulmonary complications, including acute chest syndrome, pneumonia, pulmonary thromboembolism, pulmonary fat embolism, chronic sickle cell lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension, in patients with SCD. Bronchial asthma and obstructive sleep apnea in relation to SCD are discussed in this article. Early recognition of pulmonary complications leads to early therapeutic interventions and improvement of the overall treatment outcome.

Pathogen Disgust Is Associated With Interpersonal Bias Among Healthcare Professionals, Anastasia Makhanova, W. Allen Lambert, Ryan Blanchard, Joe Alcock, Eric C. Shattuck, Michael P. Wilson

Psychological Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background and objectives

Pathogen avoidance is a fundamental motive that shapes many aspects of human behavior including bias against groups stereotypically linked to disease (e.g. immigrants, outgroup members). This link has only been examined in convenience samples and it is unknown how pathogen avoidance processes operate in populations experiencing prolonged and heightened pathogen threat such as healthcare professionals. We examined whether healthcare professionals demonstrate the same link between pathogen disgust and intergroup bias as has been documented among the general population.

Methodology

Participants (N = 317; 210 healthcare professionals) were recruited using snowball sampling to take an online survey. …

Speech-Language Pathology Students' Perspective Of Working With Older Adults, Anna Hamill

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

There is an increasing demand for speech language pathologists (SLPs) willing to work with older adults. Demographic trends warn that the number of people over 65 will double by 2050 (Vincent, 2010). Studies reveal that only 37.3% of SLP students prefer to work with older adults after graduation (Leonard et al., 2016). Ageism is affecting speech-language pathology and related health care professions. Research within the last five years has shown that ageism towards older adults exists across multiple medical professions in all fields and settings (Heape et al., 2020). Interdisciplinary fields report negative feelings towards older adults (Ortiz-Rubio et al., …

Health Misinformation During Epidemiological Crises, Bethany Stefan, Alexis L. Emich, Katrina R. Lamp

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Health misinformation is more prevalent than ever in the modern age and poses serious risks for those who believe it. Medical fallacies can become especially harmful during periods of widespread disease when the misinformed respond in ways that increase threats to public health. The purpose of this systematic review is to describe and critically appraise the evidence about how health misinformation during endemics and pandemics can influence behaviors and responses, as well as the implications of interventions affecting these behaviors. A systematic search of the literature with inclusion/exclusion criteria using CINAHL Plus with Full Text, MEDLINE, and PsychINFO resulted in …

Access To Prenatal Care And Mental Health In Pregnant Women During Covid-19: A Systematic Review, Chloe Feezel, Marin Kahoun, Kaija Kunttu

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

COVID-19 affected the world in many ways. Pregnant women were greatly impacted by a change in their access to prenatal care, from in-person care to telehealth methods, and social support being limited by social isolation. Compared with prevalence of anxiety and depression in pregnant women pre-COVID-19, pregnant women during COVID-19 reported higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms due to the stress of circumstantial changes. The purpose of this systematic review is to review and critically appraise the evidence about access to prenatal care and mental health in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. The following PICOT formatted question will …

Performance Evaluation Of Face Mask Detection For Real-Time Implementation On An Rpi, Ivan George L. Tarun, Vidal Wyatt M. Lopez, Pamela Anne C. Serrano, Patricia Angela R. Abu, Rosula Reyes, Ma. Regina Justina Estuar

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

Mask-wearing remains to be one of the primary protective measures against COVID-19. To address the difficulty of manual compliance monitoring, face mask detection models considerate of both frontal and angled faces were developed. This study aimed to test the performance of the said models in classifying multi-face images and upon running on a Raspberry Pi device. The accuracies and inference speeds were measured and compared when inferencing images with one, two, and three faces and on the desktop and the Raspberry Pi. With an increasing number of faces in an image, the models’ accuracies were observed to decline, while their …

A Meta-Critique Of Frontier Scholarships On The Laws Of Peacetime Espionage: Towards A Systemic Framework For Lex Specialis, Yang Liu

Journal of Law, Technology, & the Internet

No abstract provided.

Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Qualitative Study Exploring Factors In Vaccine Decision-Making In Parents Of School-Aged Children, David Misslbeck

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: As of May 3, 2023, within Washington state, of those aged 5-11 years old only 36.8% having received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and only 32.3% are fully vaccinated. Since October 2021, the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer-BioNTech has been approved for everyone ages 5 years and older. Current recommendations encourage parents to vaccinate their children in this age group, but it is possible Washington parents have some reservations or other difficulties with choosing to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore what factors influence parents of Washington state when …

Characterization Of The Function And Regulation Of The Hmpv Phosphoprotein, Rachel Thompson

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a non-segmented, negative strand RNA virus (NNSV) that frequently causes respiratory tract infections in infants, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. Despite the initial identification of HMPV in 2001, there are currently no FDA approved antivirals or vaccines available. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of HMPV replication is critical for the identification of novel therapeutic targets. A key feature in the replication cycle of HMPV and other NNSVs is the formation of membrane-less, liquid-like replication and transcription centers in the cytosol termed inclusion bodies (IBs). Recent work on NNSV IBs suggests they display characteristics of biomolecular condensates formed …

Activity Levels Of Different Cell Types In An Epileptogenic Model Of Cortical Microgyria: A Cfos Investigation, Peter F. Lamothe

Theses and Dissertations

A large percentage of individuals with intractable epilepsies have an accompanying cortical malformation, the underlying cellular mechanisms of which are not fully understood. In an animal model for one such malformation, polymicrogyria, epileptogenesis occurs most easily in a region of tissue just adjacent to the microgyria termed the paramicrogyral region (PMR). Previous studies implicate somatostatin containing interneurons (SOM) as a potential contributor to this pathology, and show increased excitation of SOM in the PMR. We hypothesis that SOM are more active in the PMR when compared to SOM within the homologous region of the control cortex. In addition to this …

Horizontal And Vertical Transmission Of Microbes Associated With Blow Flies Of Forensic Importance, Gabrielle Alisa Burton

Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects

Entomological and microbiological evidence can be used in the estimation of postmortem intervals (PMI). This study observes the horizontal and vertical transmission of the microbial community associated with blow flies of forensic importance. Variable region four (V4) of the 16S ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) was amplified and sequenced from various life stages of blow flies (n=72) using dual-index high throughput sequencing strategy on the MiSeq FGx platform. No significant difference in bacterial community structure was observed between blowfly adults with carrion access and blowfly adults with no carrion access. Dysgonomonas, unclassified Proteobacteria, Escherichia, Ignatzschia, Providencia, …

Regulation Of Cathepsin L Expression And Activity By Cell Confluence And The Circadian Clock, Prashant Gaikwad

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Cathepsin L is a lysosomal cysteine protease that is encoded by the CTSL gene in humans. Previous results have shown that CTSL expression and activity towards the DNA repair protein XPA are elevated in lysates of confluent/quiescent HaCaT keratinocytes. Because other nuclear proteins, including 53BP1 and histone H3, have also been reported to be CTSL substrates under conditions of cell differentiation, senescence, or quiescence, CTSL expression and activity (cleavage) of multiple nuclear proteins was examined in lysates from HaCaT cells and other cell lines at various days after plating and cell confluency. Our study found that adding CTSL inhibitors to …

A Fecal Survey To Evaluate The Prevalence Of Enteric Viruses In Laboratory Mice, Amina Khatun

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of four enteric viruses in mouse research facilities that may not be captured by routine pathogen screening. Fecal samples were collected from contact-sentinel mouse cages between April 2022 and January 2023, and screened for the presence of viral genome by RT-qPCR. Out of a total of 50 samples, murine norovirus and murine astrovirus were detected in two (4%) and one (2%) sample, respectively, while murine adenovirus and murine rotavirus were not detected. Furthermore, all samples were screened for the presence of infectious murine noroviruses and astroviruses using the RAW264.7 and Vero cells …

2023-2024 Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook, Morehead State University. Nursing Department.

Nursing Department Publications Archive

2023-2024 Undergraduate Student Handbook of the Department of Nursing at Morehead State University.

Urban/Rural Differences In Food Security In America’S East North Central Region, Eva Marie Long

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The literature on food insecurity in America is extensive, but there is still a lack of understanding of urban/rural differences. Food insecure populations in urban communities undoubtedly experience different and unique challenges to food access than food insecure populations in rural areas. While urban households may face a lack of options for fresh produce, rural households may find that they live an inaccessible distance from the nearest grocer. Through analysis of the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey and Food Security Supplement, this project seeks to discover common, underlying variables in food-insecure communities in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas in America’s East …

Ptsd Endorsement Among Diverse Populations During Covid-19 Pandemic, Noor Jassim

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health diagnosis that is a reaction to very stressful experiences. PTSD may hamper the quality of life for individuals suffering from it. It has been shown that being part of disadvantaged groups racially and socioeconomically may pose a higher risk of experiencing PTSD. The stress component of PTSD is the imbalance between the demands of an environment and an individual's ability to cope. A mismatch between degree of demands and coping ability influences psychological and physiological well-being. The impact on well-being varies by stress being acute, chronic, or a combined state of acute …

Chairs Of Excellence Annual Report 2023, Tennessee. Higher Education Commission.

Academic Programs and Workforce Reports

No abstract provided.

Let's Not Be Dumb: Government Transparency, Public Records Laws, And "Smart City" Technologies, Amy Kristin Sanders, Daxton R. Stewart

University of Florida Journal of Law & Public Policy

As the tools to automate our lives become more commonplace, so do the concerns about their use and the data they collect. State and local governments in the United States are increasingly turning to smart city technologies for everything from law enforcement and traffic management to public health monitoring and wastewater testing. Yet often, citizens are left in the dark about the ways in which their elected officials are researching, purchasing, and implementing these technologies. Public records laws represent one mechanism to help improve the public’s understanding of smart city technology and its uses in their communities. But not all …

Protein S In Coagulation And Inflammation, Martha Mega Silvia Sim

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Protein S (PS) is a key regulator, which links inflammation and coagulation and performs multiple proposed functions in both processes. PS exists in the blood as a free soluble form (~40%), bound to complement component 4b-binding protein/ C4BP (~60%), and packaged in platelet α-granules (~2.5%). Subendothelial tissue factor (TF), upon exposure to blood, initiates coagulation, a proteolytic cascade which results in the activation of thrombin, the enzyme responsible for formation of a fibrin clot. PS is a critical anticoagulant that inhibits multiple steps of this process. Only the free fraction of PS has full anticoagulant properties, as C4BP blocks this …

Improving Early Identification Of Sepsis And Compliance Of The Core Measures In The Elderly Population, Katelyn Hood

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s immune system is overwhelmed by infection. This can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death with the most vulnerable population being those who are 65 years or older, have chronic comorbidities, have recent hospitalization, are immunocompromised, and have had a previous sepsis diagnosis. In diagnosing and treating sepsis promptly, clinical outcomes can be improved and limit the delay in diagnosis and treatment implementation. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to use evidence-based practice to implement the Surviving Sepsis Campaign screening tool for patients …

Prevention Of False-Positive Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections In Adult Patients In The Medical Intensive Care Unit, Jennifer Ghidini

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

False-positive central line bloodstream infections in the adult medical intensive care unit increase patient mortality. This project aimed to implement a blood culture draw team to contain a small core group of competent clinical staff who would only draw blood cultures. This clinical practice change occurred in two 28-bed adult medical intensive care units requiring a blood culture draw. A core group of 33 adult medical intensive care unit staff members comprised 11 patient care associates and 22 RNs trained as component blood culture drawers. This training occurred through an online self-learning module, psychomotor skills validation with return demonstration, and …

Determinants Of Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Hesitancy Among Lebanese Parents, Ramia Zakhour, Hani Tamim, Farah Faytrouni, Maha Makki, Rayan Hojeij, Lama Charafeddine

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. HPV is responsible for cancer of cervix uteri. Despite its safety and immunogenicity, HPV vaccine hesitancy is one of the most challenging topics that pediatricians face.

Methods: We aimed to describe the impact of knowledge, attitude, and practice towards vaccines in general, on practice related to HPV vaccination in Lebanon. A questionnaire addressed to parents of students (3-18 years of age) was distributed in 2 public and 2 private schools randomly selected from the greater Beirut area during the school year 2017-2018. Questionnaires covered knowledge, attitude, and practices of …

Is Patient Controlled Analgesia A Feasible Method Of Pain Relief In The Emergency Department: A Mixed Method Study, Raja Natasya Raja Azlan

Theses

Although pain is the most common reason for patients to present to emergency departments (EDs), conventional methods of pain management in EDs are suboptimal. Patient controlled analgesia (PCA), commonly used for post operative pain relief, was proposed as a modality of pain management in ED. PCA enables the patient to self-administer intravenous analgesia, has been rigorously evaluated in acute care settings and is widely used in many clinical areas. It is not routinely used in EDs. The literature review found critical gaps in the existing evidence of PCA use in EDs justifying this research. A three-phase sequential mixed methods study …