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The Hepatic Immunological Pattern Shaped By Dominant-Subdominant Cellular Interactions Creates A Collective Function Beyond The Function Of Each Cellular Constituent To Orchestrate Progression Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Nicholas J. Koelsch

Theses and Dissertations

Abundance of data on the role of inflammatory immune responses in the progression or inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has failed to offer a curative immunotherapy for HCC. This is largely because of taking reductionist approaches and missing the collective function of the hepatic immune system by focusing on specific immune cell types. To this end, we propose that focusing on the dominant-subdominant patterns of the immune cells would allow understanding of the mechanism by which a collective immune function emerges. To identify the collective immune function through a systems immunology perspective, we performed high-throughput analysis of snRNAseq data collected …

The Impact Of Hiv-1 Tat And Morphine On Spatial Distribution Of Drugs In The Brain., Austin M. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Despite combination antiretroviral therapy effectively suppressing HIV within the periphery, the central nervous system (CNS) remains affected by the virus. Approximately half of people living with HIV will experience HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) or neuroHIV. Concurrent opioid use exacerbates neuroHIV by promoting neuroinflammation, viral replication, and potentially altering the antiretroviral concentrations within the brain.

Using a transgenic mouse that expresses the HIV-1 Tat protein, we examined the effects of Tat and morphine on antiretroviral accumulation and distribution and the effects of Tat on morphine accumulation within the brain using infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization with mass spectrometry imaging (IR-MALDESI-MSI). …

Studying Gene Function In Streptococcus Sanguinis Using Rna-Sequencing Analysis, Ahmed Ismail

Theses and Dissertations

The oral cavity hosts hundreds of bacterial species, amongst them are the Streptococci family. More specifically, S. sanguinis is a benign bacteria in the oral cavity to protect the tooth surface from S. mutans. which is a pathogen causing dental caries. While S. sanguinis is harmless in the oral cavity, it becomes pathogenic once entering the bloodstream and causing Infective Endocarditis (IE). To further study S. sanguinis and eventually develop an effective drug to treat IE caused by S. sanguinis, a gene expression study was conducted. In order to study gene expression, RNA-sequencing was conducted, and appropriate methods to remove …

Transcriptional Coregulation Among Diabetes-Associated Pathways By Genome Organization, Musaddiq K. Lodi

Theses and Dissertations

There are currently 96 million individuals affected by diabetes in the United States alone. Crucial information such as biomarkers, regulatory networks, and metabolic pathways in diabetes still remain an active area of research. The primary focus of this study is on a phenomena known as transcription factor co-regulation. Transcription factors (TFs) are DNA-binding proteins that can control the rate of transcription of genetic information from DNA to mRNA, hence misregulation of one of them can lead to misregulation of many of its target genes and associated pathways. In this study I propose a framework to quantify transcriptional coherence in co-regulated …

Factors Associated With Turnover Intention Of Medical Laboratory Professionals During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Approach, Keandra Walthall

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted and strained healthcare systems worldwide. Frontline healthcare workers have experienced increased rates of psychological distress and burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic, which have led to high turnover intention and workforce shortages. Medical Laboratory Professionals have endured similar experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, there has been limited research exploring these factors for this group of professionals. This study utilized a convergent mixed methods approach to investigate the impact of psychological distress and burnout on the turnover intentions of Medical Laboratory Professionals in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to explore motivational factors …

Guardianship Before And Following Hospitalization, Jennifer Sullivan, Andrew B. Cohen, Kelly Stolzmann, Elizabeth J. Auguste, Casey C. Catlin, Zachary S. Sager, Rachel E. Weiskittle, Cindy B. Woolverton, Heather L. Connors

Publications

When ethics committees are consulted about patients who have or need court appointed guardians, they lack empirical evidence about several common issues, including the relationship between guardianship and prolonged, potentially medically unnecessary hospitalizations for patients. To provide information about this issue, we conducted quantitative and qualitative analyses using a retrospective cohort from Veterans Healthcare Administration. To examine the relationship between guardianship appointment and hospital length of stay, we first compared 116 persons hospitalized prior to guardianship appointment to a comparison group (n=348) 3:1 matched for age, diagnosis, date of admission, and comorbidity. We then compared 91 persons hospitalized in the …

Fair Domestic Allocation Of Monkeypox Virus Countermeasures, Govind Persad, R. J. Leland, Trygve Ottersen, Henry S. Richardson

Publications

Countermeasures for mpox (formerly known as monkeypox), primarily vaccines, have been in limited supply in many countries during outbreaks. Equitable allocation of scarce resources during public health emergencies is a complex challenge. Identifying the objectives and core values for the allocation of mpox countermeasures, using those values to provide guidance for priority groups and prioritisation tiers, and optimising allocation implementation are important. The fundamental values for the allocation of mpox countermeasures are: preventing death and illness; reducing the association between death or illness and unjust disparities; prioritising those who prevent harm or mitigate disparities; recognising contributions to combating an outbreak; …

Computational Studies On Molecular Mechanisms For Dysregulation Of Monoamine Transporters By Hiv-1 Tat And Drug Discovery Of Novel Phosphodiesterase-2 Inhibitors, Charles A. Adeniran

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Computational chemistry methods have been greatly used and has great potential in drug discovery and understanding the detailed molecular mechanism of biological processes. Scientific questions can initially be addressed using computational modeling and simulation studies. The common feature in this work is to understand intermolecular interactions related to protein targets in the brain, as it relates to HIV infection and Alzheimer’s Disease. HIV is among the world’s most deadly infectious diseases. Recent therapeutic advancements have begun to increase the life expectancy of people living with this virus. The mechanisms that lead to neurobiological complications known as HIV- associated neurocognitive disorders …

Evaluating The Contribution Of Adjacent Charges On The Observed Ph-Dependent Binding Profile For A Vhh/Antigen Interaction With A Linked Histidine Protonation Equilibria, Kiruthika Arulmoly

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

pH dependent protein-protein interactions are of great importance for various biological processes. In addition, the generation of engineered pH-dependent therapeutic antibodies opens opportunities for the extension of therapeutic half-life, thereby reducing drug dosage or frequency of administration, as well as providing pH-dependent targeting, such as the tumor microenvironment. Engineering pH-dependent antibody-antigen interaction is mostly achieved through the incorporation of ionizable residues within the antigen binding interface. These ionizable residues must undergo a change in environment upon forming a protein-protein complex, which causes a change in the ionizable group’s pKa value. This coupled protonation equilibria is responsible for the observed pH-dependent …

Grey To Green: The Impact Of Environmental Policy On Us Crime Rates, Kassandra Gonzalez

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study explores the social implications of climate change and environmental degradation on deviant and criminal behavior. This study employs general strain theory to examine the effectiveness of city-level climate change mitigation actions in reducing crime rates. Through a systematic approach, this study reviews literature on environmental harms and community strain and explores the impact of local pro-environmental policies on crime reduction. Focusing on the United States, UCR crime rate reports and UN-guided Sustainable Development Goal data are analyzed at the US county level. The findings suggest that sustainable practices, especially those related to local infrastructure and community engagement, could …

I. Design, Synthesis, And Evaluation Of The Human Phoshodiesterase-4 And Fungal Acetyl Coa Synthetase Enzyme Inhibitors Ii. Evaluation Of Biological Activity Of Kenyan Medicinal Plants, Chaitanya Kondam

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) enzyme mainly present in immune cells, epithelial cells, and brain cells that regulate inflammation and epithelial integrity in cells. Inhibition of PDE4 enzyme leads to regulation of various inflammatory mechanisms by elevation of cyclic adenosine monophosposphate (cAMP) levels in the cells. PDE4 enzyme is promising target for treatment of pulmonary, dermatological, and neurological inflammatory diseases. Several PDE4 inhibitor drugs Roflumilast, Apremilast, and Crisaborole were approved and marketed as Dalsirep, Otezla and Eucrisa for the treatment of inflammatory pulmonary diseases, psoriatic arthritis, and atopic dermatitis. However, these drugs have adverse effects such as nausea, emesis, and gastrointestinal effects. Benzothiazole …

Using The Best - Worst Scale To Assess The Relative Impact Of These Behaviors On Other Passengers On The Same Flight: The Disruptive Passenger Behavior, Quynh Thi Nhu Phan, Vi Tran, Nhan Huu Huynh, Thao Phuong Huynh, Duc Nhan Ho

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

A method called the best-worst scaling method is proposed to overcome these problems by asking respondents to make tradeoffs among the variables being assessed. This paper raises issues in respect of supplementing and developing a block of disruptive behaviors exhibited by passengers during flights and assesses the impact of these behaviors on other passengers. To illustrate the proposed method and evaluate its performance, we surveyed 240 passengers, and data from 203 survey samples were analyzed. The data analysis results revealed three behaviors that were considered the most disruptive, including (1) Threatening and causing distress, (2) Harassment and disrupting public order, …

Editorial: Microglia In Neuroinflammation, Pinar Ayata, Ido Amit, Carla M. Cuda

Advanced Science Research Center

Microglia are a resident innate immune cell population of the central nervous system (CNS) derived from yolk sac erythro-myeloid progenitors that migrate to the developing brain prior to the formation of the blood-brain barrier. This critical cell population has gained considerable traction in the literature as it is considered a protective barrier from CNS damage and, yet, can also serve as a primary mediator of neuroinflammation. Under normal physiological conditions, microglia perform homeostatic functions, such as parenchymal surveillance, neurotrophic support, pathogen or debris removal, and maintenance of synaptic homeostasis and neuronal plasticity.

Pachamama Over People And Profit: A Case For Indigenous Ecology And Environmental Personhood, Hilda Loury

American Indian Law Review

No abstract provided.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Rna Genital Tract Shedding After Cryotherapy For Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia In Western Kenya, Elkanah Omenge, Anne Bocage, Tao Liu, Peter Itsura, Philip Tonui, Kapten Muthoka, Stephen Kiptoo, Angela Caliendo, Soya Sam, Susan Cu-Uvin

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Abstract :This prospective study of 39 women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on antiretroviral therapy in Western Kenya aimed to quantify genital tract HIV-1 RNA (GT-HIV RNA) shedding before and after cryotherapy for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Most GT-HIV RNA shedding was detected precryotherapy, suggesting that cryotherapy was not the primary cause of shedding.

Russian And U.S. News Media Coverage Of Ukrainian Biological Laboratories, February – March 2022, Annie E. Sundelson, Marc Trotochaud, Noelle Huhn, Tara Kirk Sell

Journal of Strategic Security

Soon after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, narratives about U.S.-funded biological weapons laboratories in Ukraine began circulating in both Russian and U.S. news. We sought to characterize news media coverage of this topic and to understand potential differences in coverage between different news sources. 401 news media items from Russian and U.S. news sources covering Ukrainian biological laboratories between February 24 and March 24, 2022 were analyzed for content and framing tactics based on theories of risk perception, persuasion, and misinformation/disinformation. Results showed strong differences between U.S. mainstream news coverage and Russian news coverage and similarities between U.S. hyper-partisan right …

Strengths-Based Case Management With Military Veterans: Building Protective Factors Against Suicide, Meredith Wingard Lange

DSW Capstone Projects

Abstract

Veteran suicide deaths remain between 16 and 18 daily despite over two decades of research and programming focused on suicide risk identification, therapeutic intervention, and suicide prevention. As research on suicidality among veterans and active-duty military continues, so do the efforts to develop new suicide prevention plans, interventions, and programs. When does one admit that suicide prevention strategies alone are not working? This paper introduces the application of a strengths-based case management approach to mitigating suicidality using a veteran’s inherent and communal protective factors. A new approach to mitigating suicidality emerges through the in-depth analysis of existing literature, a …

Veteran Status Affecting Health, Brittney Landry

Honors Theses - Providence Campus

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Post-Dobbs Abortion Bans On Prenatal Tort Claims, Aviva K. Diamond

Michigan Law Review

In June 2022, the Supreme Court revoked Americans’ fundamental right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. However, the Court said nothing about how its decision would impact tort claims related to reproductive care. Many states have since adopted near-total or early-gestational- age abortion bans, which has not only diminished access to reproductive care, but has also incidentally impaired the ability of plaintiffs to bring long-recognized prenatal tort claims. Prenatal tort claims—wrongful pregnancy, birth, and life—allow victims to recover when a medical professional negligently performs reproductive or prenatal care. This Note identifies the impact that post-Dobbs …

Hpv-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer Early Detection In Gay And Bisexual Men Is An “Orphan” Practice: A Qualitative Analysis Among Healthcare Providers, I Niles Zoschke, Sarah L Bennis, J Michael Wilkerson, Cynthia L Stull, Alan G Nyitray, Samir S Khariwala, C Mark Nichols, B R Simon Rosser, Charlene Flash, Michael W Ross

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Among US men, oropharyngeal cancer (cancer of the back of the mouth and throat) is the 8th most common cancer. If detected early, human papillomavirus (HPV)-16-associated oropharyngeal cancer has a high 5-year survival rate. Risk factors such as high numbers of oral sex partners, disparities in smoking and drinking, and low rates of HPV vaccination may put gay and bisexual men at even higher risk for oropharyngeal cancer.

Methods: We recruited 21 healthcare providers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota and Houston, Texas to participate in semi-structured interviews. Nurses, physician assistants, dental hygienists, and dentists were asked about their clinical experiences …

Identification Of Microbiological Factors Associated With Periodontal Health Disparities, Bing-Yan Wang, Aize Cao, Meng-Hsuan Ho, Derek Wilus, Sally Sheng, Hsiu-Wan Meng, Elissa Guerra, Jianming Hong, Hua Xie

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The present study aimed at identifying risk factors associated with periodontitis development and periodontal health disparities with emphasis on differential oral microbiota. The prevalence of periodontitis is recently rising dentate adults in the US, which presents a challenge to oral health and overall health. The risk of developing periodontitis is higher in African Americans (AAs), and Hispanic Americans (HAs) than in Caucasian Americans (CAs). To identify potentially microbiological determinations of periodontal health disparities, we examined the distribution of several potentially beneficial and pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavities of AA, CA, and HA study participants. Dental plaque samples from 340 …

Assessing Pandemic Preparedness, Response, And Lessons Learned From The Covid-19 Pandemic In Four South American Countries: Agenda For The Future, Andrea Ramírez Varela, Michael Touchton, J Jaime Miranda, Juliana Mejía Grueso, Rachid Laajaj, Gabriel Carrasquilla, Martha Vives Florez, Ana María Vesga Gaviria, Ana María Ortiz Hoyos, Esteban Orlando Vanegas Duarte, Alejandra Velásquez Morales, Nubia Velasco, Silvia Restrepo Restrepo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic emerged in a context that lacked adequate prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) activities, and global, regional, and national leadership. South American countries were among world's hardest hit by the pandemic, accounting for 10.1% of total cases and 20.1% of global deaths.

METHODS: This study explores how pandemic PPR were affected by political, socioeconomic, and health system contexts as well as how PPR may have shaped pandemic outcomes in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. We then identify lessons learned and advance an agenda for improving PPR capacity at regional and national levels. We do this through a …

Missed Opportunities To Vaccinate Teens Against Human Papillomavirus: Variation And Mechanisms Between Public And Private Facilities, Patrick E. Boise

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection that causes at least 37,300 new cases of cancer every year in the United States. While effective vaccines to prevent HPV infection have been approved and available since 2006, 23.1% of US adolescents aged 13- 17 continue to miss out on the opportunity for immunization (Pingali 2022). This study examines missed opportunities (MOs) for HPV vaccination among US teens, where the teen receives either Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) and/or Meningococcal vaccines, but the recommended HPV dose is not administered. This study uses a health economics framework and multinomial logistic …

A Dual-Function Filamentous Pf Bacteriophage Protein Modulates Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Virulence Potential, Caleb Michael Schwartzkopf

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that often plagues hospitals. More than half of P. aeruginosa isolates are infected by temperate Pf bacteriophage. Pf virions protect bacteria from antibiotics, promote biofilm formation, and modulate animal immune responses in ways that promote chronic infection. These virions can be produced without lysing P. aeruginosa, but lysis may occur during superinfection. Superinfection is the process whereby virions of the same or similar phage infect an already infected host. Temperate phages typically encode superinfection exclusion mechanisms. Here we elucidate one such mechanism in Pf phage. We observed that superinfection-surviving P. aeruginosa were transiently resistant …

A Novel Bayesian Spatial-Temporal Approach To Quantify Sars-Cov-2 Testing Disparities For Small Area Estimation, Cici Bauer, Xiaona Li, Kehe Zhang, Miryoung Lee, Esmeralda Guajardo, Susan Fisher-Hoch, Joseph Mccormick, Maria E Fernandez, Belinda Reininger

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives. To propose a novel Bayesian spatial–temporal approach to identify and quantify severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing disparities for small area estimation.

Methods. In step 1, we used a Bayesian inseparable space–time model framework to estimate the testing positivity rate (TPR) at geographically granular areas of the census block groups (CBGs). In step 2, we adopted a rank-based approach to compare the estimated TPR and the testing rate to identify areas with testing deficiency and quantify the number of needed tests. We used weekly SARS-CoV-2 infection and testing surveillance data from Cameron County, Texas, between March 2020 …

From The National To The Local: Issues Of Trust And A Model For Community-Academic-Engagement, Olufunmilayo Chinekezi, Lauri Andress, Etsemaye P Agonafer, Susan Massick, Sarah Piepenbrink, Karey M Sutton, Philip M Alberti, Desiree De La Torre, Shannon Guillot-Wright, Marshala Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Inequities in health and health care in the United States have persisted for decades, and the impacts on equity from the COVID-19 pandemic were no exception. In addition to the disproportionate burden of the disease across various populations, the pandemic posed several challenges, which exacerbated these existing inequities. This has undoubtedly contributed to deeply rooted public mistrust in medical research and healthcare delivery, particularly among historically and structurally oppressed populations. In the summer of 2020, given the series of social injustices posed by the pandemic and highly publicized incidents of police brutality, notably the murder of George Floyd, the Association …

A Case Of Successful Treatment Of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection By Extended-Spectrum Β-Lactamase Producing, Naomi Bier, Blake Hanson, Zhi-Dong Jiang, Herbert L Dupont, Cesar A Arias, William R Miller

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a challenging clinical entity that can be frustrating for patient and physician alike. Repeated rounds of antibiotics can select for multidrug-resistant organisms, further complicating care. We describe the successful use of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for the treatment of recurrent extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing

The Experiences Of Resettled Liberian Refugees: A Research Study On Whether Public Assistance Can Affect Their Living Standards., Mwalimu Steve Boley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe study investigated the extent to which the thoughts, feelings, and attitudes of resettled Liberian refugees in the Delaware Valley region have been affected by their use of public assistance and the overall effect that it has had on their living standards. It also explored whether participants in the study would likely persuade other resettled Liberian refugees in their community to utilize available public assistance programs as a means of improving their living standard. The study utilized Humanist Theory as the theoretical framework to interpret its findings. The research methodology was based on phenomenological approach in which a generic demographic …

Moderators Of Peripheral Neuropathy On Overall And Cardiovascular Mortality In People Without Diabetes, Adeoye Muideen Adenekan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Peripheral neuropathy (PN), a group of common heterogeneous disorders with varied etiologies, is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. PN presents both as a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to physicians and other healthcare providers. Socioeconomic moderators of PN in adults without diabetes in the United States have not been well studied. The consequences of PN can be devastating and include foot ulcers, amputations, a general decline in the quality of life, and death. The overall prevalence of PN in the United States is 13.5% in adults with diabetes and 11.6% in adults without diabetes. Clearly, these statistics indicate a public …

A Comparison By Ethnicity Of Usage Of Medication, Intubation Use, And Mortality Rates Of Covid-19 Patients In An Urban Hospital, Howard Rubin Baruch

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Evidence from an urban hospital initially revealed that ethnicity had no bearing on treatment modalities or mortality among patients admitted and diagnosed with COVID-19 symptoms from January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021. The purpose of this study was focused on answering three principal research questions concerning evidence at one hospital of differences in medication used, whether intubation was used, and mortality by ethnicity for those treated for COVID-19 while controlling for age, gender, and co-morbidities. The health belief model served as the theoretical framework. Data was collected from 1188 patient charts, and binary logistic regression was used to test …