Digital Commons Network^™

Recent Expansion Of Gubernatorial Emergency Powers To Address The Covid-19 Pandemic: Examining Applications For The Climate Crisis, Juliet Israel

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

With a particular focus on the states of California and Florida, this Note delves into the leadership roles assumed by governors when addressing the global COVID-19 pandemic, evaluates the applicability of this gubernatorial strategy to the climate crisis, and examines the criticisms and constitutional challenges to expanding gubernatorial emergency powers. Part I explores the core similarities and differences between the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. Part II addresses the failure of federal and international policy responses to both the pandemic and climate change. Part III details the states’ use of gubernatorial emergency powers to respond to COVID-19. Part IV then …

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Friend Or Foe, Antonio Cordova, Jesse Powell, Whitney Elg-Salsman, Caroline Mcculley

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

Introduction: • Many cancers use mechanisms to escape killing by the immunesystem. • Cancer cells can mimicimmune checkpoint proteins such as cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) ligand and the programmed death1 receptor ligand (PD-L1) toinhibit the T-cell response. • Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI's) are a novel set of monoclonalantibody cancer therapies. • ICI'sblockcheckpoint proteins from binding with their partner proteins oncancer cells thus allowing T-cells to kill tumor cells. • ICIs have promising anti-cancer results. • ICIs are also associated with immune related adverse events(irAEs), including dermatitis, pneumonitis, colitis,hepatitis, nephritis. • A rare but seriousirAEisICI-associated myositis causing bulbar and …

Virulence Of Emerging Tick-Borne Pathogens, Borrelia Miyamotoi And Borrelia Mayonii, Dawn Cleveland

Theses and Dissertations

As climate change leads to global expansion of tick habitats, tick borne diseases are becoming more prevalent and widespread, and emerging tickborne pathogens Borrelia miyamotoi and Borrelia mayonii warrant increased study. Both B. miyamotoi and B. mayonii are vectored by the same tick species as B. burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, with B. miyamotoi causing a relapsing fever-like disease known as Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD), and B. mayonii causing a Lyme disease-like illness with atypical clinical presentations. This dissertation has two aims. The first aim encompasses B. miyamotoi infection and growth, isolation of clonal populations, and characterization of …

Investigating Antimicrobial Efficacy Of Turmeric And Rosemary Oil Against Staphylococcus Aureus, Aishwarya Tripathi

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

This study investigates the antimicrobial efficacy of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis) against Streptococcus aureus, with a comparative analysis to phenoxyethanol, a widely used synthetic preservative. The growing consumer demand for natural cosmetic formulations have intensified the search for plant-derived alternatives to synthetic preservatives. Turmeric and rosemary oil were selected based on their documented antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this research was to evaluate whether these natural agents can serve as effective preservatives in topical gel formulations, either individually or in combination, and how their efficacy compares to phenoxyethanol.

Eight gel-based formulations were …

Development Of Welfare Assessment Strategies For Indonesian Zoos, Yonathan Yonathan

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

Animal welfare assessment is a core element of zoo management, helping zoos achieve positive welfare state for their animals. Welfare should be assessed regularly to evaluate, monitor, and improve the standards of care. The research on welfare assessment and its development process increased after the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) launched the 2023 Animal Welfare Goals, which include mandatory welfare assessment process for national and regional zoo associations. In Indonesia, many zoos don’t have their own welfare assessment and find it difficult to adapt generic tools due to variation in husbandry, resources, and facilities. This project aims to …

Impact Of Dietary Functional Yeast Additives On Growth Performance And Health Of Selected Key Aquaculture Species, Sheu Odu-Onikosi

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The aquaculture industry has witnessed remarkable growth in recent decades underscoring its crucial role in global food security. However, this rapid expansion brings challenges, including the need to meet growing fish demand while minimising environmental impacts and managing disease prevalence. Functional feed additives (FFAs) have emerged as sustainable solutions to enhance fish health and performance. Among these, yeast-derived additives have garnered significant attention for their nutritional benefits and proven ability to promote growth and strengthen immune responses in fish.This study evaluates the effects of dietary brewer's yeast-derived additives on fish using a range of in-depth analyses, such as growth performance, …

Outcomes Of A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial Testing Brief Interventions To Increase Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Uptake Among Rural People Who Inject Drugs Attending Syringe Services Programs, Hilary L. Surratt, Sarah Brown, Abby L. Burton, Will Cranford, Laura C. Fanucchi, Christie Green, Stephanie M. Mersch, Rebecca Rains, Philip M. Westgate

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Background: Kentucky is one of seven states with high, sustained rural HIV transmission tied to injection drug use. Expanding access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been endorsed as a key HIV prevention strategy; however, uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID) has been negligible in rural areas. Syringe services programs (SSPs) have been implemented throughout Kentucky’s Appalachian region, providing an important opportunity to integrate PrEP services. Objectives: The primary objective was to examine preliminary efficacy and effect sizes of the study interventions on PrEP initiation among HIV-negative PWID. Design: Parallel group randomized controlled trial. Methods: Eighty participants were enrolled from …

How Patient, Infection, And Cysticercus Characteristics Impact The Evolution Of Taenia Solium Larva In The Human Brain, Hongbin Zhang, Meghana G. Shamsunder, Pryanka Bawa, Arturo Carpio, W. Allen Hauser, Karina Quinde-Herrera, Alex Jaramillo, Elizabeth A. Kelvin

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Neurocysticercosis is a poorly understood infection of the central nervous system with Taenia solium larva and treatment often fails to kill all the parasitic larva. Most research on this infection has used patient-level data, looking at summaries of the encysted parasitic cysticercus burden. Cyst-level analysis is needed to identify factors that impact individual cyst trajectories and how that may vary based on characteristics of the patient, infection, and cyst being followed. We disaggregated data on 221 cysts from 117 patients who participated in a trial evaluating the impact of albendazole treatment to identify factors that impact cyst evolution over time …

A Virus Of The Mind: The Neurological Impact Of Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Infection, Abigail Jeanne Dutton

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

The ability of herpes simplex virus (HSV) to establish lifelong latency in sensory neurons makes it one of the most pervasive viruses worldwide. Although most HSV infections are asymptomatic or cause limited cutaneous symptoms, some give rise to serious central nervous system (CNS) manifestations. Both primary HSV infection and subsequent reactivation events can cause viral replication and spread within the brain, ultimately leading to pathologic inflammation and direct CNS damage. In addition to fulminant presentations of HSV encephalitis, subclinical HSV CNS infections have been implicated in neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and neurodegenerative impairment. To model the lifelong effects of subclinical HSV infection, …

Leveraging Epigenomics And Transcriptomics To Develop High-Dimensional Biomarkers Of Neuroinflammation, Steven C. Pike

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Neuroinflammation is a critical physiological phenomenon implicated in most neurological disorders, either as a cause or a consequence of pathology. Our understanding of neuroinflammation is limited by the inability to directly profile the cells of interest. Thus, developing biomarkers of neuroinflammation is clinically urgent as we know neuroinflammation correlates with patient outcomes and treatment success. The recent advances in “omics” technologies, particularly epigenomics and transcriptomics, provides the opportunity for high-dimensional profiling of biospecimens for potential biomarkers. Within this dissertation, I demonstrate that biomarkers obtained from “omics” platforms can detect neuroimmunological phenomena in clinical and preclinical settings. In chapter one, DNA …

‘Preventing Births’ As A Gender-Neutral Harm: Making Sense Of Reproductive Violence In South Africa’S Genocide Case Against Israel, Heidi Matthews

Articles & Book Chapters

Abstract In its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, South Africa alleges that, in the period since October 7, 2023, Israel has imposed measures intended to prevent births within the Palestinian group in Gaza. To the extent that South Africa’s case for ‘preventing births’ relies on the traditional framing of reproductive justice, wherein violations are conceptualized in terms of restrictions on reproductive (read: women’s) health and capacity, it risks advancing the human rights of ‘women and children’ at the expense of a more progressive development of the law of genocide. This article uses the ongoing genocidal …

Characterization Of Municipal Solid Waste Using Machine Learning Based Imaging And Chemical Analysis, Enyonam Ahadzi

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023-billion-ton report, the United States generates nearly 300 million tons of municipal solid waste every year. More than 50% of that waste is underutilized and ends up in landfills. This poses serious public health and environmental risks. But beyond the environmental and health implications, this is also a wasted opportunity. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that, for every 100 lbs of waste we throw away, about 85% can be used as fuel or for electricity generation. However, its complex and heterogeneous nature poses challenges for efficient sorting and valorization in waste to …

Covid-19 Impacts On Refugee-Serving Ngos In Clarkston And The Atlanta Metropolitan Area, Georgia, United States, Ghazal Khaksari

Theses and Dissertations--Anthropology

This study provides a unique anthropological perspective on how technology, language, NGO staff, and culture intersect during emergency times, which can affect NGOs’ abilities to reach and help communities. Findings of this study emphasize the importance of equality in digital access and of available and culturally competent interpreters in reducing the gap between NGOs and refugee communities. The digital divide has played a fundamental role during the pandemic, often leading to other problems for both NGOs and refugees. This issue has taken a variety of forms in terms of access to education, language classes, community cohesion, and communication with and …

Advancing Virtual Care Practices Across The Cognitive Impairment Continuum, Tara Sklar, Kathryn Huber

Health Matrix: The Journal of Law-Medicine

As the population of older adults grows, providing high-quality, costeffective healthcare for those with cognitive impairments is an increasing priority. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift towards receiving virtual care at home through temporary Medicare flexibilities. However, the uncertainty surrounding the continuing extension of these flexibilities at the federal level and variations in reimbursement policies across the states present challenges for virtual care practices to meet the rising demand for care amid unprecedented workforce shortages. Sustainable, long-term reimbursement at the federal and state levels, a trained and integrated healthcare workforce, and adherence to recognized accreditation standards and guidelines are essential …

Early Management Of Kodamaea Ohmeri Infection In A Diabetic Patient With Recurrent Otitis Externa: A Case Report, Madison Groom, Linette Diaz, Ryan Fernandez, Jose Vasquez

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Breaking The Iv Habit: Oral Antibiotics For Gram-Negative Bacteremia In The Modern Era, Adam Albadawi, Maria Milko

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

First Reported Case Of Upadacitinib-Induced Cmv Viremia And Pneumonitis In Ulcerative Colitis, Wilfredo Jhoel Javier-Rojas, Alvin Boyd Newman-Caro, Mamoon Guellai, Vamsee Mupparaju, Sreekanth Chandrupatla, Yizhi Lin, Ivan Rascon-Aguilar

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Inked And Infected: A Case That Highlights The Emerging Concern Of Tattoo-Associated Mycobacterium Abscessus, Tory Starzyk, Neena Edupuganti

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

The Final Beat: A Case Report On Recurrent Endocarditis And The Ethical Dilemmas Of Surgical Futility, Jenie Yeh, Marek Solomianko, Robert Sanchez

West Florida Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Isolation And Identification Of Lactic Acid Bacteria From Bee Body Parts Surviving High Temperature Exposure, Sean Derrick M. Oliquiano, Noel G. Sabino, Renard M. Zamora

Journal Article

Temperature stress can influence the composition and stability of microbial communities associated with bees; however, some lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains demonstrate tolerance to such environmental stresses, allowing them to persist and remain functionally active under challenging conditions. This study aimed to isolate and identify LAB associated with honeybees that are capable of surviving exposure to high temperatures. A total of 196 bee samples were processed under unheated and heat-treated conditions (80 °C for 10 min) to selectively recover thermotolerant bacteria. Cultivation on Yeast Glucose Starch Agar supplemented with nalidixic and pipemidic acid favored the growth of LAB under oxygen-limited …

Toxin-Like Proteins In The Venom Of Drosophila Parasitoids, Lady V. Cardenas

Dissertations and Theses

The figitid parasitoid wasps of Drosophila are gaining importance in agriculture due to their ability to kill the resilient soft-fruit pest Drosophila suzukii. Their success and infection strategies vary, and the mechanisms underlying these differences are largely unknown. Some of their venom proteins have been shown to be important in suppressing host defense. Here, we report that Ganaspis brasiliensis, a parasitoid of D. suzukii survives well on Drosophila yakuba, a host species with a strong cellular immunity, and infected flies are unable to mount a strong immune response. To predict possible toxin-like proteins in Ganaspis venoms that might suppress cellular …

Modeling Hydrological Impacts Of Land- Use Change In The Sam Ngao Watershed Using Swat And Ca-Markov, Banchongsak Faksomboon, Nares Khamcharoen, Thipphaphone Keoviyavong

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This study investigates the hydrological consequences of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) transformations within the Sam Ngao Watershed (SNgW) from 2000 to 2020. Utilizing the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), the research simulates watershed hydrological responses to observed LULC dynamics. To forecast future hydrological conditions, LULC scenarios for 2040 and 2060 were generated using a hybrid Cellular Automata-Markov Chain (CA-Markov) modeling approach. A hybrid classification methodology enhanced the accuracy of LULC mapping from Landsat imagery, integrating multiple classification techniques. Results reveal that LULC alterations between 2000 and 2020 significantly influenced the watershed’s hydrological regime, including declines in dry …

Intracellular Survival Of Staphylococcus Aureus In Macrophages During Osteomyelitis, William A. Lathram, Christopher D. Radka

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Staphylococcus aureus, traditionally viewed as an extracellular pathogen, is increasingly recognized for its ability to persist intracellularly, particularly within macrophages. This intracellular lifestyle is central to osteomyelitis, a chronic bone infection characterized by persistent inflammation, bone destruction, and impaired repair. Within bone, S. aureus exploits macrophage plasticity by driving a shift from pro-inflammatory, bactericidal M1-like states to anti-inflammatory, tissue-reparative M2-like phenotypes. This polarization suppresses immune clearance and promotes an environment conducive to bacterial survival and dissemination. Additional strategies – including biofilm formation, small colony variants, and inhibition of phagolysosomal killing – further enhance persistence and immune evasion. While these …

A Mathematical Modeling Approach To Investigate The Impacts Of Post-Infection Mortality And Partial Immunity On Disease Endemicity, Brendan M. Shrader

Honors Undergraduate Theses

A number of infectious diseases cause post-infection conditions or complications, such as COVID- 19, Q fever, and Polio. These conditions result in recovered individuals having a higher mortality rate than susceptibles, and this can impact disease dynamics. An existing mass-action model in the literature that incorporated post-infection mortality was shown to have limit cycles, or persistent oscillations, in the infected population. To better understand what causes these limit cycles, we develop and analyze a new epidemiological model with standard incidence. We show standard results, including the existence, uniqueness, and stability of the disease-free and endemic equilibria, and we rule out …

Unmasking The Mimic: Leprosy Neuropathy Misdiagnosed As Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: A Case Report From Saudi Arabia, Muteb K. Alotaibi, Bashaier G. Alqahtani, Raniah M. Alqawahmed

Neurosciences

ABSTRACT Leprosy neuropathy can mimic chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), especially in non-endemic areas. We report a 72-year-old Saudi woman initially misdiagnosed with CIDP based on nerve conduction studies. The patient presented with widespread pruritus, erythematous cutaneous lesions, and progressive sensorimotor symptoms. Despite treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, her condition worsened. Subsequent sural nerve and skin biopsies revealed acid-fast bacilli, confirming leprosy. This case highlights the importance of considering leprosy in the differential diagnosis of neuropathies, even in regions where it is rare. Nerve ultrasound, a valuable diagnostic tool in differentiating leprosy from CIDP, should be incorporated into the diagnostic workup …

Integrating Human And Animal Health In The Stop Spillover Outbreak Scenarios, Kathleen E. Angell, He Julia Bai, Katherine C. Prager, Janetrix H. Amuguni, Felicia B. Nutter, Jonathan D. Gass Jr, David Brett-Major

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

OBJECTIVES: To generate and employ scenarios of sentinel human and animal outbreak cases in local contexts that integrate human and animal health interests and practices and facilitate outbreak risk management readiness.

METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of past outbreaks and the strengths and weaknesses of response efforts in USAID STOP Spillover program countries. This information and iterative query-and-response with country teams and local stakeholders led to curated outbreak scenarios emphasizing One Health human:animal interfaces at sub-national levels.

RESULTS: Two core scenarios were generated adapted to each of 4 countries’ pathogen priorities and workflows in Africa and Asia, anchoring on …

Dialing In Or Dialing Out? The Relationships Between State Telemedicine Law And Access To Buprenorphine, Stacey A. Tovino

Faculty Articles

This Article begins by reporting the results of a comprehensive 50-state survey assessing state laws and other state sources governing the telemedicine induction (“tele-induction”) and subsequent telemedicine prescription (“tele-prescription”) of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder (“OUD”) following the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency (“PHE”). Original, concrete findings include: (1) the glaring patchwork of state law governing the tele-induction and subsequent tele-prescription of buprenorphine for the treatment of OUD in the United States; (2) the variety of primary authorities and secondary sources that house relevant permissions, prohibitions, and affiliated requirements; (3) the number of primary authorities …

Comparative Dna Extraction Methods To Use For Lamp Assay As Molecular Diagnosis Of Human Schistosomes From Urine Samples, Brittany R. Pulkkila, Chummy Sikasunge, James Mwansa, Nilanjan Lodh

Clinical Lab Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Schistosomiasis in Africa is an ongoing public health problem that is caused by two major human species, Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium, which often cause concurrent infections. Due to the global goal of controlling or eliminating schistosomiasis as a public health problem, the issue of diagnostic sensitivity has become more critical in the assessment of program success. In that regard, the World Health Organization (WHO) has drawn attention to the need for field-applicable tests with high specificity and sensitivity.

Methods

To address this, we have evaluated the amplification of S. mansoni and S. haematobium cell-free repeat DNA by …

Development Of Chinese Medicinal Ointment With Antibacterial Properties From Tripterygium Wilfordii, Ching Tung, Dawn Au

Department of Food and Health Sciences

Background: Chinese medicinal ointment was first recorded in the Shan Hai Jing (The Classic of Mountains and Seas). Different formulations of Chinese medicinal ointments have been made based on the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory. Many TCMs possessed antibacterial properties that were used as microecological regulators to inhibit the growth of gram-negative bacteria, “Escherichia coli.” Purpose: To develop and make an antibacterial ointment by Tripterygium wilfordii (TW) and evaluate its antibacterial function. Materials and Methods: The methodologies included physical (cream selection), chemical [ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD)], and biological (agar assay) experiments for making TW ointment. …

Occupational Participation Through Harm Reduction, Allie Reiffenberger

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: Individuals who have experienced homelessness face higher risks of physical disabilities, mental illnesses, and substance use disorders (SUD), which often co-occur, compared to the general population (Mosel, 2024; Parker & Scaffa, 2020; SAMHSA, 2023a). Due to past experiences and unmanaged chronic conditions, substance use, and negative health behaviors are common. The high prevalence of SUD, mental illness, and chronic health conditions in this group severely affects their ability to engage in daily activities, influencing overall health and well-being (Marshall et al., 2020a). While complete abstinence is often deemed ideal, it can be unrealistic for this population. Harm reduction seeks …