Digital Commons Network^™

Designing An Optimal Thermal Preference Arena For Southern Cricket Frog (Acris Gryllus) Juveniles, Eleanor E. Briggs, David M. Phillips Jr.

Honors Theses

Climate change has been altering ecosystems across the world at a substantial rate, disrupting the delicate ecophysiological relationships between ecosystems and the organisms that live in them. Ectotherms, such as amphibians, rely on external temperatures to behaviorally thermoregulate, making it especially imperative to study their thermal biology. Thermal preference, which assesses the environmental temperature an organism would seek out in the absence of external stimuli, provides valuable information about an amphibian’s thermal biology and can be used to predict the effects of climate change on a species or population. A commonly used method to measure thermal preference is an arena …

Faith In Action: An Evaluation Of An Hiv Stigma Reduction Scale Used In Faith-Based Communities, Andrea Williams Stubbs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

HIV-related stigma remains a substantial barrier to enhancing access to prevention, testing, and treatment, thereby perpetuating health disparities. Faith-based organizations, which serve as integral components of many Southern communities, possess the capacity to function as influential platforms for addressing this stigma and are pivotal allies in the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative. These environments, encompassing churches and health clinics, have the potential to cultivate supportive atmospheres for individuals living with HIV (PLWH) and to contribute to stigma reduction initiatives actively. A significant challenge in these efforts lies in the pressing need for more effective measurement tools to assess HIV-related …

Using The Reverse Testing Algorithm To Detect A Case Of Ocular Syphilis, Emily Rhoton

Dr. Jay W. Boland Research Day

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), incidence rates of syphilis have been steadily increasing in the United States over the last 5 years, despite well-established treatment and prevention precautions. Importantly, ocular syphilis can be the only presenting symptom in up to 40% of patients diagnosed with syphilis. This case report aims to identify symptoms, investigative factors, and ethical considerations involved in ocular syphilis to better recognize and manage future cases. An IRB-approved descriptive study and thorough chart review was conducted to examine the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and medical management course of a male in his mid-50s …

Information Seeking Behaviour Of Health Workers In Primary Health Centre In Ede Metropolis, Osun State Nigeria, Stephen Adekunle Ajayi, David Agbadaola, Adebayo Nurudeen

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The purpose of the study is to examine the Information seeking behaviour of primary health workers in primary health center in Ede metropolis. The study was guided by five objectives such as type’s health information seeking, factors influencing the information seeking behavior, the health information sources consulted among others. The study uses a quantitative research and data was collected through questionnaire. The questionnaires were coded, analyzed and presented in tables, while the population of the study is (135) in Primary health centres in Ede metropolis. Total enumeration sampling technique was used as the sampling technique. Only 97(79.9%) of the …

The Potential Impact Of Overusing Isolation Precautions, Laci Johnson

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

While Isolation Precautions (IP) help prevent infections, excessive use can harm patients' mental and physical health. Research shows that prolonged IP increases anxiety, depression, and social isolation, leading to worsened outcomes and longer hospital stays. Overuse may also create stigma and communication barriers, reducing care quality. This poster highlights the need for a balanced approach to IP to protect both patient well-being and infection control.

Detection Of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes In Bacteria Collected From The Triplett Creek Watershed, Heavenly Mays, Emily Morgan, Geoffrey W. Gearner

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Ongoing research in the Triplett Creek Watershed (TCW) focuses on assessing water quality and monitoring bacterial contamination. The spring 2024 sampling efforts aimed to evaluate bacterial density and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across multiple sites. To screen for AMR in bacteria, the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used. A total of 35 bacterial isolates were tested against multiple antibiotics. This revealed 26 isolates were resistant to Erythromycin, 32 isolates were resistant to Clindamycin, 2 isolates were resistant to Colistin, 7 isolates were resistant to Ampicillin, 4 isolates were resistant to Amoxicillin with Clavulanic acid, 2 isolates were resistant to tetracycline, 3 …

Comparative Analysis Of R-Cards And Idexx Quanti-Tray/2000 For The Detection And Enumeration Of Bacteria In Environmental Water Samples, Heavenly Mays, Emily Morgan, Geoffrey W. Gearner

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

The Kentucky Watershed Watch program, a non-profit that relies on the help of volunteers, trains Kentucky residents on proper analytical procedures needed to assess waterways near their homes. Volunteers can deliver samples to established labs for bacterial analysis or independently test sample sites’ pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, temperature, and Escherichia coli levels. One of the ways the Watershed Watch program analyzes water quality is by using R-Cards, sample cards that contain a chromogenic medium useful for detecting and enumerating E. coli. These cards cost $1 each and are quite simple to set up, whereby one mL of sample site water …

Early Detection Of Colon Cancer Through Colonoscopy: Analysis Of Tumor Size And Resection Length, Alyssa Haddock

Honors Theses

Colon cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with early detection critical for improved outcomes. Colonoscopy is a primary screening tool that can reduce incidence rates through the identification and removal of precancerous polyps. This study examines how undergoing a colonoscopy prior to diagnosis impacts two key surgical outcomes: tumor size and colon resection length. Data were collected from 70 de-identified patients who underwent colon resection for colon cancer between 2019 and 2024 at two regional hospitals in East Texas: Hunt Regional Medical Center and Mother Christus Frances Hospital. Using pathology reports, tumor size and …

Fourth Annual Research Symposium Program With Abstracts, Office Of Research Affairs, Boonshoft School Of Medicine

Boonshoft School of Medicine Research Symposium

The program booklet is a compilation of abstracts from oral and poster presentations at Wright State University's Fourth Annual Boonshoft School of Medicine Medical Research Symposium held on April 16, 2025.

Infant Mortality In The Democratic Republic Of Congo: Public Health And Theological Perspectives, Samy Tshileu

Liberty University Research Week

Infant mortality remains a significant public health challenge globally, particularly in lower and middle-income regions such as Africa. Despite several global initiatives aimed at reducing infant mortality, it continues to disproportionately affect these regions, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) being one of the countries with the highest rates. According to the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation1, DRC ranks among the top ten countries worldwide in terms of infant mortality rates, with the eastern region, particularly South Kivu, contributing significantly to this crisis. This study aims to explore the various factors contributing to infant mortality in …

Mechanisms Of Behavioral Change In Hosts Of Toxoplasma Gondii: A Review, Olivia Grimsley, David Rockabrand

Liberty University Research Week

The parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a highly ubiquitous parasite that latently infects an estimated 33% percent of the global population. Toxoplasmosis is of obvious clinical significance due to the extremely high risks to the unborn who contract it congenitally. Less attention has been given to a more subtle aspect of latent infection, which is the behavioral alterations that are commonly experienced by those who contract the parasite. Infected individuals common display a variety of altered behaviors, such as increased aggression and risk-seeking behaviors, depression, higher tendency towards suicide and self-directed violence, a loss of fear response, and a greatly increased …

The Importance Of Wild Birds, Janice H. Cox

Nexus – UNEP – Animal Welfare, Environment, Sustainable Development

Wild birds are important in their own right, for their contribution to human wellbeing, and for their ecological value, as part of the “web of life”. Birds are sentient beings with complex thinking and social behaviors, and the ability to experience positive and negative feelings, including suffering. The ways in which birds contribute to the functioning of the world's ecosystems include: pest control, pollination, cleaning up nature, spreading seeds, keeping coral reefs alive and transforming landscapes. Yet wild bird populations are declining dramatically – with one in eight bird species threatened with extinction. Birds are one of the most important …

Antimicrobial Resistance (Amr) Emergence In Sewage Wastewater: An Investigation Based On Advanced Genomics Methods, Shahana Seher Malik

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health worry, which makes the treatment of infectious diseases difficult by compromising the effectiveness of antimicrobial medications. This issue got worsen by the use of antibiotics without proper prescription and care during the time of COVID-19. At that time more than 78% of patients were prescribed with the use of medications like azithromycin and cephalosporins. The urban wastewater systems like wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), hospital effluents, and residential wastewater were found to be bursting with antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and resistance genes (ARGs). This research used advanced metagenomics and LC-MS/MS techniques for the examination of …

Veterinary Medical Board, Isiah Artis, Katie González

California Regulatory Law Reporter

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Cyclic Peptide [R4w4] In Combination With First-Line Therapy On The Survival Of Mycobacterium Avium, Melissa Kelley, Kayvan Sasaninia, Ali Badaoui, Ira Glassman, Arbi Abnousian, Nadia Rai, Rakesh K. Tiwari, Vishwanath Venketaraman

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Mycobacterium avium (M. avium) is a nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) that can cause pulmonary and extrapulmonary infections mostly in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with HIV and diabetes. Traditionally, rifampicin (RIF) and azithromycin (AZ) have been used for a 12-month duration as first-line antibiotics against M. avium. Due to the increased multidrug resistance, novel ways, such as enhancement of macrophages response, are needed to provide adequate immune response required to clear M. avium infection.

Methods and findings: In this study, we aim to study the effects of using THP-1 cells, which are monocyte-like cells, to induce a …

Lyme Disease In The Pacific Northwest, Katie Allen

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Transmitted by ticks, Lyme disease is a zoonotic infectious disease that can cause debilitating long-term illness throughout the whole body that may affect many communities. This disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, carried by a biological vector known as the Ixodes tick. In the United States, Lyme disease has been primarily found in the Northeast via the Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the “deer tick.” Along the West Coast of the United States, many people are unaware they and their pets are consistently exposed to this disease in their environment. The Ixodes pacificus has been found …

Healthcare Workers' Attitudes And Practices Around Environmental Sustainability In Infection Prevention., Ashley L. Lin, Michelle E. Doll, Rachel J. Pryor, Elizabeth Monsees, Priya Nori, Gonzalo M. Bearman

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

We assessed healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices around disposable personal protective equipment (PPE) use. We observed that healthcare workers are interested in sustainable policies and identified areas for policy changes to reduce PPE waste.

Evolution Of The Tumor Immune Landscape During Treatment With Tebentafusp, A T Cell Receptor-Cd3 Bispecific, Joseph Sacco, Peter Kirk, Emma Leach, Alexander Shoushtari, Richard Carvajal, Camille Britton-Rivet, Sophie Khakoo, Laura Collins, Luis De La Cruz-Merino, Zeynep Eroglu, Alexandra Ikeguchi, Paul Nathan, Omid Hamid, Marcus Butler, Sarah Stanhope, Koustubh Ranade, Takami Sato

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Metastatic uveal melanoma is an aggressive disease with poor outcome, which is refractory to immune checkpoint inhibitors. A T cell receptor (TCR)-based CD3 bispecific, tebentafusp, delivers clinical benefit in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma. Understanding the molecular basis for the anti-tumor activity of tebentafusp in an indication where checkpoint inhibitors are ineffective could aid in identification of other solid tumor indications where CD3 bispecifics may serve an unmet need. By analyzing tumor biopsies taken prior to treatment, early on-treatment, and at progression (NCT02570308), using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), we show that expression of interferon-related genes in the tumor …

Comprehensive Assessment Of Initial Adaptation Of Extended-Spectrum Β-Lactamase-Positive St131 Escherichia Coli To Carbapenem Exposure, William C Shropshire, Xinhao Song, Jordan Bremer, Seokju Seo, Susana Rodriguez, Selvalakshmi Selvaraj Anand, An Q Dinh, Micah M Bhatti, Anna Konovalova, Cesar A Arias, Awdhesh Kalia, Yousif Shamoo, Samuel A Shelburne

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: It remains unclear how high-risk Escherichia coli lineages, like sequence type (ST) 131, initially adapt to carbapenem exposure in their progression to carbapenem resistance.

Methods: Carbapenem mutation frequency was measured in multiple subclades of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-positive ST131 clinical isolates using a fluctuation assay followed by whole genome sequencing (WGS) characterization. Genomic, transcriptomic, and porin analyses of the ST131 C2/H30Rx isolate MB1860, under prolonged, increasing carbapenem exposure was performed using 2 experimental evolutionary platforms to measure fast versus slow adaptation.

Results: All 13 ESBL-positive ST131 strains selected from a diverse (n = 184) ST131 bacteremia cohort had detectable ertapenem …

Nanopore Sequencing For The Detection And Preliminary Identification Of Viruses In Amblyomma Americanum L. (Acari: Ixodidae), Mary Katherine Humphrey, Lorenza Beati, Ella Zierdt, Saviour Dralabu

Honors College Theses

Hard-bodied ticks are known to carry a wide range of viruses, some of which can cause human diseases. In the U.S., the tick Amblyomma americanum is an important disease vector. The tick has recently expanded its distribution range and its abundance is rising in many areas of the U.S. Its virome is, however, largely underexplored. In this preliminary study, we used a Nanopore MinION sequencer to detect and identify the viral fauna in nymphal ticks (n=43) collected in Statesboro, GA. Extracted DNA and RNA were analyzed separately. Nucleic acids were pooled into 6 groups according to their collection dates and …

Distinguishing Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children From Typhus Using Artificial Intelligence: Mis-C Versus Endemic Typhus (Ai-Met), Angela Chun, Abraham Bautista-Castillo, Isabella Osuna, Kristiana Nasto, Flor M Munoz, Gordon E Schutze, Sridevi Devaraj, Eyal Muscal, Marietta M De Guzman, Kristen Sexson Tejtel, Tiphanie P Vogel, Ioannis A Kakadiaris

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: The pandemic emergent disease multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) following coronavirus disease-19 infection can mimic endemic typhus. We aimed to use artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a clinical decision support system that accurately distinguishes MIS-C versus endemic typhus (MET).

Methods: Demographic, clinical, and laboratory features rapidly available following presentation were extracted for 133 patients with MIS-C and 87 patients hospitalized due to typhus. An attention module assigned importance to inputs used to create the 2-phase AI-MET. Phase 1 uses 17 features to arrive at a classification manually (MET-17). If the confidence level is not surpassed, 13 additional features …

Prm1 Influences Mating And Virulence In Cryptococcus Neoformans, Polycarp Amosun

Liberty University Research Week

Cryptococcus neoformans, an opportunistic pathogen, relies on homeostasis, environmental stability, and adaptability for its growth and survival. C. neoformans primarily infects immunocompromised individuals, increasing the propensity of invading the central nervous system. The most affected are individuals with HIV/AIDs. Recently, the World Health Organization classified C. neoformans as a Critical Priority fungal pathogen due to its widespread presence and high mortality rate. The ability to adapt to changes in environmental pH is one of the key factors contributing to C. neoformans pathogenicity. The gene CNAG_05866 was recently identified by researchers at Duke University via a mutagenesis screen to identify genes …

Carrying The Flag In Europe: The American Red Cross In France During World War I, Lillian Brown

Liberty University Research Week

Following an unsuccessful attempt to deploy American Red Cross (ARC) nurses in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson rearranged the American Red Cross for service in France a second time. In June 1917, the ARC left for France, arriving prior to the American Expeditionary Force (AEF), led by General John J. Pershing. Working simultaneously with the American Relief Cleaning House, the ARC established several field hospitals for the soldiers, as well as education and relief centers for French women and children. Under the command of Major Grayson M. P. Murphy, the American Red Cross carried an attitude of American pride and patriotism …

Complexity, Coordination, And The Politics Of Global Health Emergencies: Institutions, Actors, And Responses, Jennifer M. Kerner

Political Science ETDs

This dissertation examines the politics of global health emergencies through three interconnected studies. First, it analyzes the declaration of Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEICs), revealing that while World Health Organization (WHO) protocols influence decisions, political factors may also play a role. Second, a case study of the 2014 Ebola outbreak explores the complexities of international response coordination. It highlights the importance of established protocols, clear leadership, and effective communication, while also noting the challenges posed by resource constraints and inter-organizational dynamics. Third, the research investigates the impact of military involvement in global health emergencies. It reveals that military …

Health Crisis And Currency Risk: Fresh Evidence From New Data Sets, Afees A. Salisu, Dinci J. Penzin, Yinka S. Hammed

Bulletin of Monetary Economics and Banking

With the aid of a method of predictability analysis that involves a feasible quasigeneralized least squares estimator, we examine the predictive power associated with the newly computed COVID-19 indices, which are disaggregated into six indices for currency market risks (realized volatility of exchange rate). Our sample size covers the period between December 31, 2019, and December 28, 2021. We note mixed outcomes for the major currency markets considered. On average, while the health crisis seems to have heightened the risks associated with Pounds Sterling, Australian Dollar and Canadian Dollar against USD, it exerts a moderating effect on the Euro, Yen …

A Hitchhiker’S Guide To Long-Read Genomic Analysis, Medhat Mahmoud, Daniel P Agustinho, Fritz J Sedlazeck

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Over the past decade, long-read sequencing has evolved into a pivotal technology for uncovering the hidden and complex regions of the genome. Significant cost efficiency, scalability, and accuracy advancements have driven this evolution. Concurrently, novel analytical methods have emerged to harness the full potential of long reads. These advancements have enabled milestones such as the first fully completed human genome, enhanced identification and understanding of complex genomic variants, and deeper insights into the interplay between epigenetics and genomic variation. This mini-review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in long-read DNA sequencing analysis, encompassing reference-based and de novo assembly …

Intouch Week Of April 14, 2025, New York Medical College

InTouch

• White Coat Ceremony Marks Key Milestone for SLP Class of 2026
• Class of 2027 D.P.T. Students Don White Coat for the First Time
• 36th Annual Graduate Student Research Forum Brings Together Researchers and Scholars
• NYMC/WMC Neurology Alumni Reconnect at AAN 2025 in San Diego
• Study Highlights Clinician Perspectives on ESitter’s Role in Epilepsy Care
• Promoting Children's Environmental Health Center of the Hudson Valley at the White Plains Health Fair
• Student Spotlight: Jesus Vasquez, M.S., M.P.H. '23, Finds His Way Back to NYMC

The Antimicrobial Resistance-Water-Corporate Interface: Exploring The Connections Between Antimicrobials, Water, And Pollution, Jason P Burnham

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Antibiotic resistance is a public health emergency, with ten million deaths estimated annually by the year 2050. Water systems are an important medium for the development and dissemination of antibiotic resistance from a variety of sources, explored in this perspective review. Hospital wastewater and wastewater systems more broadly are breeding grounds for antibiotic resistance because of the nature of their waste and how it is processed. Corporations from various sectors contribute to antibiotic resistance in many direct and indirect ways. Pharmaceutical factory runoff, agricultural antibiotic use, agricultural use of nitrogen fertilizers, heavy metal pollution, air pollution (atmospheric deposition, burning of …

Farm Until It’S Gone: Industrial Animal Agriculture And The Limits Of Law, Douglas A. Kysar

DePaul Law Review

No abstract provided.

Pain For Profit The Motivations Of Slave Surgeons In The Eighteenth To Nineteenth Century Caribbean, Gabe Smock

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

When late eighteenth- century British surgeon Dr. Alexander Falconbridge ventured belowdecks to check on the hundreds of slaves chained there, he had no illusions about the horrors of the Middle Passage. After all, this was not his first voyage providing medical care for slaves until they disembarked at the infamous markets of colonial Kingston, Jamaica. He took a moment to brace himself, then ventured down into the damp air below only to encounter a sight so awful that it was difficult to put into words when he recounted the experience years later to Parliament. As a consequence of being packed …