Digital Commons Network^™

Vector Status Of Aedes Albopictus In Connecticut: Analyses Of Invasion Pattern, Geographic Distribution, And Disease Risk, Meredith Bagger

Public Health Theses

Introduction: Aedes albopictus is a highly successful invasive mosquito. Its presence and expansion into Connecticut have implications for human and animal health. The factors limiting Ae. albopictus spread and risk by the pathogens it carries have not been previously examined. Methods: This study leveraged data from the Connecticut Mosquito and Arbovirus Surveillance Program during 2006-2022 and a project designed to characterize mosquito-borne filarial parasite species in Connecticut from 2020-2021. We examined correlations between mosquito abundance and winter temperature as well as land use. We described the arboviruses detected in Ae. albopictus collections and calculated the risk of Ae. albopictus transmitting …

Primary Liver Cancer In China From 2000-2020: Evolution Of Epidemiology, Clinical Disease, And Therapy, Wanqing Chi

Public Health Theses

Background & Aims: China contributed to 49% of all liver cancer deaths worldwide in 2020. We sought to investigate the relationship between clinical characteristics, antiviral therapy (ART), and multiple risk factors that affect the prognosis of primary liver cancer (PLC) patients over time to highlight proper chronic liver disease management.Methods: We identified 1322 PLC patients diagnosed between 2000 to 2020 in a major academic teaching hospital in Shanghai, China. We used descriptive epidemiology to characterize the evolution of liver cancer in China, and Cox proportional hazard models and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to assess the relationship between evolving ART and survival …

Prevalence And Genetic Determinants Of Vancomycin Resistance Of Clostridioides Difficile Isolates In Connecticut, Zeyu Fu

Public Health Theses

AbstractIntroduction: The emergence of vancomycin-resistant strains of C. difficile has become a growing concern, as it can lead to treatment failure and increased morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and mechanisms of vancomycin resistance in C. difficile isolates in Connecticut from patients with confirmed C. difficile infection at Yale New Haven Hospital. Methods: We collected 89 stool samples from patients with confirmed C. difficile infection, isolated C. difficile, and performed susceptibility testing on the isolates using the E-strip test method. Isolates with an MIC value below 4 μg/ml were classified as susceptible and isolates …

Attribution Of Febrile Illness To Circulating Respiratory Viruses In The United States, July 2016 - March 2023, Lily Kitfield-Vernon

Public Health Theses

Background: SARS-CoV-2, an emerging epidemic respiratory virus, has circulated in the United States since early 2020. The dynamics of Influenza (flu) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) have shifted, causing atypical timing and levels of illness across the country and in particular age groups. Fever, recorded on at-home bluetooth-enabled thermometers, is a promising new tool with which to monitor respiratory disease. Quantifying the proportion of fever attributable to these three viruses, at a particular time or within a particular age group, would strengthen the collective understanding of viral circulation in the U.S., and enable the use of fever data in the …

Protection Against Cholera From Killed Whole-Cell Oral Cholera (Kocv) Vaccines: Systematic Review And Meta-Regression Of Randomized Control Trials And Observational Studies, Helena Hojeong Kwon

Public Health Theses

Introduction: Although killed whole-cell oral cholera vaccines (kOCVs) are widely used as a part of cholera control strategy, mixed evidence around the vaccine induced protection remains.Objectives: The primary objective of this systematic review was to update estimates of kOCV protection: vaccine efficacy and effectiveness. A secondary objective was to estimate the waning dynamic of kOCV protection by duration of follow-up. Methods: On August 15th, 2022, we searched for randomized control trials and observational studies that reported kOCV protection in low- and middle-income countries on PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and The Cochrane Review Library with a start date …

Drivers Of Global Waterborne Disease Transmission Following Extreme Precipitation Events: A Systematic Review, Claire Latendresse

Public Health Theses

Precipitation events such as hurricanes, typhoons, and heavy rainfall can have devastating impacts on water and sanitation infrastructure around the world and have led to large-scale waterborne outbreaks. As climate change amplifies the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, it is also triggering an increase in waterborne disease transmission. This master’s thesis consists of a systematic review of academic literature pertaining to extreme precipitation events and the pathways by which they trigger waterborne outbreaks.

A systematic review of the literature in PubMed was conducted to identify waterborne disease outbreaks associated with extreme precipitation. The initial search yielded 3,248 results …

The Ethical And Legal Considerations Of Ai-Driven Healthcare In Infectious Diseases, Natalie Makableh

Public Health Theses

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been rapidly growing in the healthcare sector, with the potential to improve patient outcomes, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. However, as with any technological advancement, AI-driven healthcare presents ethical and legal challenges that must be addressed to ensure the responsible and beneficial use of the technology. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study to examine the ethical and legal considerations of using AI technology in healthcare, with a particular focus on infectious diseases. With the growing use of AI in healthcare, it is crucial to evaluate its potential benefits and challenges in …

Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices (Kap) About Lassa Fever Prevention And Control: A Survey Of Three Rural Communities In Central Liberia-Epidemiology Of Microbial Diseases, Joseph Gibson Jepru Lewis

Public Health Theses

Introduction: Since the discovery of Lassa fever in 1969 in Nigeria, the disease has become endemic in many West African countries. An estimated 500,000 cases of Lassa fever virus occur each year, leading to approximately 5,000 deaths annually. Liberia continues to record outbreaks almost every subsequent year in regions once considered non-endemic. With no effective vaccines, many studies have underscored the importance for residents in Lassa-endemic regions to have good knowledge and good prevention practices in place to prevent Lassa fever.

Methods: A cross-sectional data extracted from a longitudinal, observational, cohort study conducted using voluntary participant self-reported and study visits …

Demographics Of Hospitalized Covid-19 And Influenza Cases In Connecticut During The 2021-2022 Influenza Season: Is There Evidence Of Viral Interference?, Molly Mclaughlin

Public Health Theses

Since the COVID pandemic began in March 2020, the epidemiology of influenza has changeddramatically in the United States. During the 2021-2022 influenza season in Connecticut, only 262 hospitalized influenza cases were recorded in New Haven and Middlesex Counties from October 2021-June 2022, while there are usually well over 1,000 cases in a single season. While the decline in influenza cases could be due to preventive measures adopted early in the pandemic, viral interference could also be to blame. Viral interference is the process by which infection with one virus transiently protects against infection by another virus via a generalized immune …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Non-Typhoidal Salmonella Incidence And Exposures In Connecticut, 2015-2022, Adeline Morris

Public Health Theses

Background: During 2020, Salmonella incidence decreased by 22% in the United States.1 At the same time, many common activities were reduced or restricted, including travel and eating food prepared at restaurants or events, which are known risk factors for Salmonella infection. Methods: A descriptive analysis using Salmonella surveillance data collected in Connecticut between 2015 to 2022 was performed to characterize the changes in travel and outside food exposures. Frequencies of exposures were compared before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and after the vaccine was implemented and restrictions eased. Rate ratios of observed to expected cases were calculated to explore trends …

Impact Of The Covid-19 Outbreak On Mental Health And Public Practices In Rural Communities In China, Wenxin Liang

Public Health Theses

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has significant impact on people’s mental health. However, no nationwide study has investigated the mental health among rural residents during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. This study was aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the mental health and public practices for controlling and preventing the COVID-19 in rural communities in China. An anonymous online survey was sent to participants through WeChat, the most widely used Chinese social-networking app, from March 2 to 11, 2020. We recruited 4607 individuals from 11 representative provinces in mainland China. The analytical sample was 2159 rural residents. The …

Indirect Effects Of Covid-19 Vaccination Against Sars-Cov-2 Omicron: Rapid Review & Meta-Analysis, Brett Anthony Martini

Public Health Theses

Background: First identified in Wuhan, China in late 2019, the infectious viral disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected millions of lives worldwide and poses the largest public health crisis in the past century. The development and deployment of vaccines have been a key public health measure to mitigate the subsequent harm associated with the viral infection. Despite the mRNA vaccine platform being in development for 15+ years, the mass vaccination campaigns were the first large-scale use of this technology, leaving much to be learned about their effectiveness and longevity. Mass vaccination campaigns influence …

Epidemiology Of Human Hookworm (Necator Americanus) Infection In Rural Ghana: Investigating Host-Parasite Factors That Mediate Infection, Savanna Randi

Public Health Theses

Abstract

Introduction: Hookworms are soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) that cause significant morbidity in high-risk populations, posing a global health concern in locations of rural poverty [1-5]. While there have been ventures by the World Health Organization to eliminate hookworms in Africa by 2030, there is variability in the effectiveness of current chemotherapy regimens. Studies have shown that benzimidazole anthelmintics have reduced effectiveness, and people living in endemic areas are quickly reinfected [6]. Critical gaps remain in understanding parasite-host interactions within communities, further challenging successful disease control. A study initiated in 2022 investigated the epidemiology of human hookworm infection in Beposo, Ghana. …

Antibiotic Prophylaxis For Prevention Of Surgical Site Infections In Orthopedic Surgery, Edwin Ruiz Fuentes

Public Health Theses

Background: In the past decades, there has been an increase in the proportion of orthopedic surgical site infections (SSIs) caused by gram-negative bacilli in various healthcare settings. SSI prevention guidelines suggest that gentamicin can be added to prophylactic antibiotic treatment to target gram-negative bacilli. However, the effectiveness of this strategy remains to be confirmed in orthopedic surgery.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the association between antibiotic prophylaxis with adjunctive gentamicin and SSI rates in orthopedic surgeries. 5,571 patients who underwent hip, knee, spine, and hip fracture surgeries between January 2019 and July 2021 at Yale-New Haven …

Characterizing Populations Living Near Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: Implications For Health Equity And Environmental Justice, Leah Salzano

Public Health Theses

Current literature has highlighted that concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOS) are associated with adverse health outcomes among populations living in close proximity to the farms and that, in certain states, vulnerable populations may be disproportionately exposed to CAFOs. However, none of the existing studies have assessed the sociodemographic makeup of areas highly exposed to CAFOs across a diverse geographic range. Using locations of CAFOs across six states with robust operations, we conducted logistic regression models assessing the likelihood of high exposure vs. low exposure at the census tract level for each 10% increase in sociodemographic variables (percent unemployed, percent minority, …

From Theory To Practice: Zoonotic Spillover, One Health And The Role Of Local Indigenous Communities, Pranav Prabhu Savanur

Public Health Theses

This paper discusses the impact of zoonotic spillovers on public health and the need for a One Health approach to preventing future pandemics. Zoonotic spillovers occur when pathogens are transmitted from animals to humans, facilitated by anthropogenic land changes, migration or trade, increased human-animal contact, and poor biosafety. However, anthropogenic land use change is the primary driver for zoonotic spillovers. Most emerging infectious diseases in humans are of zoonotic origin, and the impact of these spillovers on public health is significant. The paper emphasizes the need to prevent spillover events for primary pandemic prevention, which requires a coordinated and collaborative …

Compassion-Based Resilience Training (Cbrt) For Frontline Healthcare Workers In Contact With Covid-19 Patients, Michael Perez Sosa

Dissertations and Theses

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had deleterious consequences for the mental health of frontline healthcare workers worldwide. One systemic review of the literature found high prevalence rates of anxiety (67.55%), depression (58.89%), and stress (62.99%) reported by this population (Vizheh et al., 2020). Additionally, high rates of burnout and symptoms associated with trauma have also been ubiquitous during the pandemic for frontline healthcare workers. The purpose of this study is to investigate Compassion-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) as a remotely delivered intervention for frontline healthcare workers in contact with COVID-19 patients to reduce symptoms associated with stress, depression, anxiety, burnout, and …

The Nexus Of Climate Change And Human Rights: An Examination Of How Social, Political, And Environmental Impacts Of Climate Change Jeopardize The Protection Of Human Rights In The African Sahel, Camden R. Malone

Dissertations and Theses

Climate change is a threat multiplier by its driving forces of environmental stress and scarcity. In the developing world, countries are hit hardest and most frequently by the effects of climate change, such as severe floods, droughts, and desertification. In this thesis, I argue that existing models for the umbrella-term of climate-security underemphasize dimensions of human security through exclusion of HR violations linked to climate such as subjection to food/water stress, compromised health, displacement, and violent conflict. Therefore, the climate-security paradigm should be recast to pay closer attention to its consequences related to human rights protection, which I refer to …

Major Biotic Stresses Affecting Maize Production In Kenya And Their Implications For Food Security, Faith Njeri Njeru, Angeline Wambua, Edward Muge, Geert Haesaert, Jan Gettemans, Gerald Misinzo

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a staple food for many households in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and also contributes to the gross domestic product (GDP). However, the maize yields reported in most SSA countries are very low and this is mainly attributed to biotic and abiotic stresses. These stresses have been exacerbated by climate change which has led to long periods of drought or heavy flooding and the emergence of new biotic stresses. Few reports exist which compile the biotic stresses affecting maize production in SSA. Here, five major biotic stresses of maize in Kenya are presented which are attributed to …

Association Between Objectively-Measured Sedentary Time And Self-Reported Prescription Medication Use Among Adults: A Pilot Study, Ciarra Ashley Boyne

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Prescription medication use and extended sedentary time are independently related to poor health outcomes (e.g., diabetes, metabolic syndrome, mortality). Historically, survey methods have been used to obtain estimates of total sedentary time (ST), however, recent use of accelerometers avoids self-report bias and affords more characteristics of ST that may be factors in health outcomes (e.g., frequency and duration of sedentary bouts). The aims of this pilot study were to 1) examine the association between objectively measured ST via accelerometers and self-reported prescription medication use in adults and 2) examine the independent association of sedentary bout length and frequency with …

New Principals: Experiences That Influence The Role, Marianne P. Simon

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenology-informed study is to examine the lived experiences of new principals and to understand the experiences that have influenced their role as principal. Phenomenological research is “interested in an analytical and descriptive experience of phenomena by individuals in their everyday world” (Eddles-Hirsch, 2015). This framework is what drove the research study into the lived experiences of new principals and the experiences that have influenced their role. The study is qualitative in nature using three in-depth, semi-structured interviews with five new principals in a Northeast Florida school district for a total of 15 interviews. The research …

The Development Of Stem Teachers' Conception On Stem Education, Abd Rauf Rose Amnah

Research Publications (2021 to 2025)

Abstract not available.

Identifying Resilience Strategies For Disruption Management In The Healthcare Supply Chain During Covid-19 By Digital Innovations: A Systematic Literature Review, Goli Arji, Hossein Ahmadi, Pejman Avazpoor, Morteza Hemmat

School of Nursing and Midwifery

The worldwide spread of the COVID-19 disease has had a catastrophic effect on healthcare supply chains. The current manuscript systematically analyzes existing studies mitigating strategies for disruption management in the healthcare supply chain during COVID-19. Using a systematic approach, we recognized 35 related papers. Artificial intelligence (AI), block chain, big data analytics, and simulation are the most important technologies employed in supply chain management in healthcare. The findings reveal that the published research has concentrated mainly on generating resilience plans for the management of COVID-19 impacts. Furthermore, the vulnerability of healthcare supply chains and the necessity of establishing better resilience …

Immigrants Or Prostitutes? "White Slavery" Panics And Reform In France, England, And The United States, 1885-1915, Journey Steward

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The late nineteenth century ushered in an era of global moral panic focusing on prostitution, venereal disease, and working-class female immigrants’ sexuality. By the early 1900s, European and American social reformers cooperated with national governments and immigration bureaus to stop “white slavery,” or the forced movement of white European and American women worldwide for purposes of commercial sex. This dissertation focuses on international trafficking in women and the ways in which accompanying moral panics developed from 1885 to 1915. It demonstrates how middle-class and nationalist assumptions about lower class sexuality, prostitution, and migration resulted in bourgeois social reform that influenced …

Discovery Of Acetyl Coa Synthetase And Sars-Cov-2 Protease Inhibitors, Taiwo Elijah Esan

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

There is an urgent need for new antifungal drugs. Acetyl CoA synthetases (ACSs) are Acyl-CoA/NRPS/Luciferase (ANL) superfamily enzymes that couple acetate with CoA to generate acetyl CoA, a key component of central carbon metabolism in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Normal mammalian cells are not dependent on ACSs, while tumor cells, fungi, and parasites rely on acetate as a precursor for acetyl CoA. Consequently, ACSs have emerged as a potential drug target. This body of work focuses on the inhibition of the Acetyl CoA synthetase enzyme in fungal species. This work has involved designing and synthesizing compounds that are potential fungal ACS1 …

Industry Update October 2022, Elaine Harris

Articles

Company news Bend Bioscience invests in expansion of drug-delivery capabilities Bend Bioscience (OR, USA) and NovaQuest Private Equity, have announced plans on 11 October 2022 to invest in a new facility in Bend, Oregon. The group will focus on developing new R&D partnerships, and early phase manufacturing and development activities based on proprietary particle engineering-based drug-delivery technologies. This new facility will consist of approximately 20,000 square feet of laboratory and processing areas and it is anticipated that manufacturing and analytical capabilities will operational by the end of Q2 2023. Announcing the investment decision, Dan Dobry, Bend Bioscience’s co-founder said “We …

Covid-19 Patients’ Health Monitoring System Using Fuzzyontology And Internet Of Things, Abdelhalim Hadjadj, Khaled Halimi

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

COVID-19 is a very dangerous pandemic attacking the respiratory organs of humans. It ischaracterized by its contagious speed, especially with its last versions. Effectiveness of confrontation resides in astrategy based on the speed of intervention, early detection, and appropriate and quick treatment. However, thisstrategy requires more effort and enormous human, material, and financial resources. The latter situation requiresa much more efficient solution based on using new technologies. Through the integration of the internet of thingsin healthcare, the quality of the latter will be improved. This integration requires suitable architecture representthe foundation for the system that handles the data generated by …

Exploring Shear Wave Elastography And B-Mode Ultrasound Measurements As Potential Biomarkers In The Diagnosis And Monitoring Of Patients With Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: A Novel Approach, Shereen Paramalingam

Theses

Background

Ultrasound (US) modalities, shear wave elastography (SWE), B mode US and power Doppler (PD) show great potential as imaging tools in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), but their utility requires further validation, reliability, and discrimination studies. This data are presented in five result chapters.

Methods

The initial literature review chapters set the foundation for the study. Chapter four assessed the face validity of US by comparing IIM patients and healthy controls. Chapter five aimed to establish criterion validity by comparing US with gold standard techniques. Chapter six and seven were longitudinal studies examining a non-inclusion body myositis (IBM) and IBM …

Healthcare Provider Uncertainty And Communicative Management Strategies, Katie Benson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Uncertainty exists ubiquitously within provider-patient interactions. Healthcare providers (HCPs) often face uncertainty during patient-provider interactions, for reasons including inconclusive test results, ambiguous communication, and lacking the resources to make diagnoses. When healthcare providers experience uncertainty, their behavior and communication can be negatively impacted. For example, prior research suggests when HCPs experience uncertainty, they may engage in authoritative, prejudiced and assumption-ridden behavior towards patients (Dietta & Rand, 2007; Drewniak et al., 2017: Portnoy et al., 2013; Poteat et al., 2013). To date, research on HCP uncertainty has been limited to specific health conditions and contexts such as cancer, vascular anomalies, and …

Mentoring Deep Learning Models For Mass Screening With Limited Data, Suprim Nakarmi

Dissertations and Theses

Deep Learning (DL) has an extensively rich state-of-the-art literature in medical imaging analysis. However, it requires large amount of data to begin training. This limits its usage in tackling future epidemics, as one might need to wait for months and even years to collect fully annotated data, raising a fundamental question: is it possible to deploy AI-driven tool earlier in epidemics to mass screen the infected cases? For such a context, human/Expert in the loop Machine Learning (ML), or Active Learning (AL), becomes imperative enabling machines to commence learning from the first day with minimum available labeled dataset. In an …