Digital Commons Network^™

Design, Synthesis, And Nmr-Guided Characterization Of A Targeted Covalent Inhibitor-Like Molecule Against Ivyp1 From P. Aeruginosa, Samuel Taylor Moore

Master's Theses

Multi-drug resistance poses a serious threat to future generations and historical antibiotic pipelines; consequently, the medical and economic burdens associated with treating multidrug-resistant bacteria are substantiated. In this context, P. aeruginosa (PA) emerges as one of the most significant healthcare challenges, being a leading cause of resistance-associated mortality worldwide. Despite modern efforts to combat these poor outcomes, drug-resistant cases continue to rise, and the need for novel antibiotic treatment is apparent. To this end, we investigated relevant resistance mechanisms and past antibiotic targets within PA, and in doing so, we identified relationships between peptidoglycan biology and a periplasmic protein, Inhibitor …

Volume 41-1 Complete Issue, C. Nicholas Raphael

The Geographical Bulletin

Volume 41-1 Complete Issue

Drinking Water Issues And Management In The Republic Of The Philippines, William James Smith, Jr

The Geographical Bulletin

Major drinking water issues and management schemes in the Republic of the Philippines are examined utilizing a political geographic perspective. By examining these issues and management schemes, administrators in developing countries, such as the Philippines, can provide more effective drinking water management for their citizens. Effective drinking water management is an essential building block in the foundation of sustainable development. This type of socio-political and economic research demonstrates the importance of equity in "safe" drinking water distribution, and the value of watershedbased and integrated natural resource management. The importance of recognizing the provision of safe drinking water as a human …

Serological Study Of Prevalence Toxoplasmosis In Different Animals In Basra Province, Iraq, Sarah Kamal Naser

Al-Ameed Journal for Medical Research and Health Sciences

The current study is designed to identify Toxoplasma gondii at animals in Basra province - Iraq, (109) blood samples in all were collected from cows, sheep, goats and cats in urban domestic and Al-zubair abattoir (sheep n=42, goats n=19, cows n=24, and cats n=24) at Basra province were tested using a serological test to the identification of anti-Toxoplasmosis antibodies in animals during beginning of October 2022 until the end of April 2023, this research demonstrated that the overall infection rate was (19%), the highest rate observed in cats (33%), followed by sheep and goats (21%), the findings of the present …

Staphylococcus Epidermidis St2 Strains Associated With Bloodstream Infections Contain A Unique Mobile Genetic Element Encoding A Plasmin Inhibitor, Amy A Gomez, Clara Kjerfve, Minseo Choi, Wen Liu, Kelly Churion, Sheila Thomas, Holger Rohde, Sam Shelburne, Jon T Skare, Magnus Hook, Srishtee Arora

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Staphylococcus epidermidis, a common commensal bacterium, is a leading cause of nosocomial catheter-associated bloodstream infections. S. epidermidis sequence type 2 (ST2) is specifically recognized globally for causing invasive disease. In this study, we identified a novel putative integrated conjugative element, pICE-Sepi-ST2, unique to the genomes of S. epidermidis ST2. Our investigation identified pICE-Sepi-ST2 in all ST2 isolates from bloodstream infections. Meanwhile, ST2 isolates from other infection sources, such as catheters, prosthetic joints, and fracture fixations, showed variable pICE-Sepi-ST2 prevalence. pICE-Sepi-ST2 encodes two putative cell wall anchored proteins that we have designated SesX and SesY. Biochemical characterization of SesY revealed …

Nomenclature For Human And Animal Fungal Pathogens And Diseases: A Proposal For Standardized Terminology, Sybren De Hoog, Thomas J Walsh, Sarah A Ahmed, Ana Alastruey-Izquierdo, Maiken Cavling Arendrup, Andrew Borman, Sharon Chen, Anuradha Chowdhary, Robert C Colgrove, Oliver A Cornely, David W Denning, Philippe J Dufresne, Laura Filkins, Jean-Pierre Gangneux, Josepa Gené, Andreas H Groll, Jaques Guillot, Gerhard Haase, Catriona Halliday, David L Hawksworth, Roderick Hay, Martin Hoenigl, Vit Hubka, Tomasz Jagielski, Hazal Kandemir, Sarah E Kidd, Julianne V Kus, June Kwon-Chung, Shawn R Lockhart, Jacques F Meis, Leonel Mendoza, Wieland Meyer, M Hong Nguyen, Yinggai Song, Tania C Sorrell, J Benjamin Stielow, Rachel Vilela, Roxana G Vitale, Nancy L Wengenack, P Lewis White, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Sean X Zhang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Medically important pathogenic fungi invade vertebrate tissue and are considered primary when part of their nature life cycle is associated with an animal host and are usually able to infect immunocompetent hosts. Opportunistic fungal pathogens complete their life cycle in environmental habitats or occur as commensals within or on the vertebrate body, but under certain conditions can thrive upon infecting humans. The extent of host damage in opportunistic infections largely depends on the portal and modality of entry as well as on the host's immune and metabolic status. Diseases caused by primary pathogens and common opportunists, causing the top approximately …

Incidence, Healthcare And Out-Of-Pocket Costs, And Mortality Of Clostridioides Difficile Infection Among Us Adults Aged 18 To 64 Years, Holly Yu, Tamuno Alfred, Jingying Zhou, Jennifer Judy, Margaret A. Olsen

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Wildlife Factors And Zoonotic Spillover In Sub-Saharan Africa, Bernard Mgba

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Zoonotic spillover, the transmission of infectious pathogens from animals to humans, is a critical public health concern in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines the role of wildlife factors in zoonotic spillover within this region, highlighting the complex interplay between human-wildlife interactions, environmental changes, and emerging zoonotic diseases. The research underscores that Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly vulnerable due to its rich biodiversity, cultural practices involving wildlife, and socioeconomic challenges. Factors such as habitat encroachment, wildlife consumption, and inadequate health infrastructure contribute to the heightened risk of zoonotic spillover. The study employs an online survey followed with a contextual analysis, and socioeconomic …

Exploring The Utility Of The Septicyte In Clinical Decision-Making In The Emergency Department, Sylvia Lowery-Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Know thy enemy. A significant obstacle in treating and managing sepsis is the absence of a test or method to diagnose the disease rapidly. Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection (Sinha & Ray, 2018). Despite improvements to sepsis-related care and sepsis outcomes, it remains a worldwide concern and a leading cause of mortality. Early recognition and management of sepsis is critical to provide rapid treatment and to prevent deaths associated with sepsis and septic shock. Since most patients with sepsis receive their initial care in the emergency department, it is …

The Mediation-Moderation Effects Of Religiosity On The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Marital Satisfaction In African American Couples, Pauletta Michele Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, multiple regression, mediation research design was to explore the impact of ACEs on Christian African American marital satisfaction. This study was grounded in the Family Systems Theory, introduced by Dr. Murray Bowen, investigating the relationship between ACEs and African American marital satisfaction mediated and moderated by religiosity. A Qualtrics survey was distributed through social media, and a QR code was posted at two churches located in Birmingham, AL, open to all African American married couples (n=105). PROCESS Models 1 and 4, were utilized to determine if religiosity mediates and moderates the relationship between ACEs and …

Malaria Parasites Require A Divergent Heme Oxygenase For Apicoplast Gene Expression And Biogenesis, Amanda Mixon Blackwell, Yasaman Jami-Alahmadi, Armiyaw S Nasamu, Shota Kudo, Akinobu Senoo, Celine Slam, Kouhei Tsumoto, James A Wohlschlegel, Jose Manuel Martinez Caaveiro, Daniel E Goldberg, Paul A Sigala

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Malaria parasites have evolved unusual metabolic adaptations that specialize them for growth within heme-rich human erythrocytes. During blood-stage infection,

Change Is In The Minds Of The Beholders: A Sociocognitive Comparison Of Crisis Perceptions And Change Predictions: Insights From China, New Zealand, And Slovenia, Zhonghui Ding, Matevž Rašković

Economic and Business Review

Inspired by research on the "geography of thought" within social psychology, we present a cross-cultural comparative study of sociocognitive patterns between China, New Zealand, and Slovenia. We study COVID-19 risk perceptions and also explore predictions of economic trends under four specific economic scenarios. Our results show that the East-versus-West demarcation in terms of cultural boundaries is useful but insufficient to understand culturally driven predictions of economic trends. In times of economic downturn, such as the one caused by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, there seem to be universal tendencies towards pessimism. However, significant differences emerge in times of economic growth. Hence, …

Immunization-Related Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Systematic Review Of Case Reports, William K Copenhaver, Brandon J Goodwin, Alexa Simonetti, Kunal P. Shah, Nicholas J Averell, David F Lo, Richard T Jermyn

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

AIM: Vaccines have been shown to have the highest efficacy in preventing infectious diseases through their ability to induce immunological memory against pathogens. An adverse reaction to a vaccine is an unexpected medical occurrence following immunization. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disease that has undergone much controversy regarding its onset post-vaccination. This systematic review aims to evaluate cases of CRPS post-vaccination to better understand the manifestation of the disease and its potential association with vaccines.

METHODS: A systematic review of case reports was conducted employing the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Outcomes of interest include type of vaccination, patient age, …

Teacher’S Perspectives Regarding Kindergarten Students’ Behaviors And Social Skills Post-Pandemic, Latalia Middlebrook Robbins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Kindergarten teachers and support professionals in the social-emotional community within a local school district experienced changes in student behaviors and social skills since returning to in-person schooling following the pandemic. After COVID-19, teachers found themselves engaging students who presented a lack of social skill development, contributing to the behaviors within the classroom microsystem. This study used Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to support research efforts to examine how learning environments and interactions contributed to students’ preparation for Kindergarten. The research explored 12 Kindergarten teachers' and support professionals' perspectives concerning Kindergarten student behaviors and social skills. The research design was an …

Teacher’S Perspectives Regarding Kindergarten Students’ Behaviors And Social Skills Post-Pandemic, Latalia Middlebrook Robbins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Kindergarten teachers and support professionals in the social-emotional community within a local school district experienced changes in student behaviors and social skills since returning to in-person schooling following the pandemic. After COVID-19, teachers found themselves engaging students who presented a lack of social skill development, contributing to the behaviors within the classroom microsystem. This study used Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory to support research efforts to examine how learning environments and interactions contributed to students’ preparation for Kindergarten. The research explored 12 Kindergarten teachers' and support professionals' perspectives concerning Kindergarten student behaviors and social skills. The research design was an …

A New Scoring In Differential Diagnosis: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Or Adenovirus Infection?, Mustafa Gençeli̇, Talha Üstüntaş, Özge Akcan, Si̇nan Saylik, Fati̇h Ercan, Sevgi̇ Pekcan, Si̇pi̇l Gençeli̇, Sevgi̇ Durmuş, Mustafa Argun

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Background/aim: Differentiating multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) from adenovirus infection (AI) can be challenging due to similar clinical and laboratory findings. This study aimed to identify distinguishing characteristics and develop a scoring system to facilitate accurate diagnosis.Materials and methods: A comprehensive review of medical records was undertaken for 108 MIS-C cases and 259 patients with confirmed AI. A comparison of laboratory data and clinical findings was conducted across patient groups through appropriate statistical tests.Results: MIS-C patients were significantly older than AI patients (p<0.001). Diarrhea, rash, abdominal pain, vomiting, non-exudative conjunctivitis, lymphadenopathy tachycardia, bradycardia, hypotension, hypoxia seizures, agitation, headache, and altered consciousness symptoms were more frequently associated with MIS-C (p<0.001), while cough and runny nose were significantly more common in AI (p<0.001). Lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia were more prevalent in MIS-C patients (p<0.001). AI and MIS-C were scored by giving 1 point each to the parameters that created the difference. For AI, ≤60 months, presence of cough, runny nose and absence of diarrhea, rash, abdominal pain, vomiting, non-exudative conjunctivitis, lymphadenopathy, tachycardia, bradycardia, hypotension, hypoxia seizures, agitation, headache, and altered consciousness, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia and CRP <124.5 mg/L were determined as each parameter plus one point. A total score above 14 could predict AI with a high degree of accuracy sensitivity values stood at around 97.5% and specificity at 92.6%.Conclusion: The proposed inpatient scoring system, when used in conjunction with polymerase chain reaction testing, may improve the early differentiation of AI and MIS-C. This approach could help reduce unnecessary testing and optimize resource allocation. Further research with larger samples should investigate this novel scoring system to establish its reliability and generalizability.

Lipid Discovery Enabled By Sequence Statistics And Machine Learning, Priya M. Christensen, Jonathan Martin, Aparna Uppuluri, Luke R. Joyce, Yahan Wei, Ziqiang Guan, Faruck Morcos, Kelli L. Palmer

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Bacterial membranes are complex and dynamic, arising from an array of evolutionary pressures. One enzyme that alters membrane compositions through covalent lipid modification is MprF. We recently identified that Streptococcus agalactiae MprF synthesizes lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol (Lys-PG) from anionic PG, and a novel cationic lipid, lysyl-glucosyldiacylglycerol (Lys-Glc-DAG), from neutral glycolipid Glc-DAG. This unexpected result prompted us to investigate whether Lys-Glc-DAG occurs in other MprF-containing bacteria, and whether other novel MprF products exist. Here, we studied protein sequence features determining MprF substrate specificity. First, pairwise analyses identified several streptococcal MprFs synthesizing LysGlc-DAG. Second, a restricted Boltzmann machine-guided approach led us to discover an …

Economic Analysis Of Hiv/Aids Treatment Costs And Policies In The U.S. And Canada, William Cramer '28

Best First-Year Seminar Writing

No abstract provided.

The Long Shadow Of Infection: The Long-Term Implications Of Herpes Simplex Virus And M. Tuberculosis Infection, Lydia Howell

Theses and Dissertations

Infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes (T1D), have traditionally been seen as distinct, with separate etiologies and courses of disease. Recent research has shown that infection and autoimmune disease are more closely woven together than previously thought; certain pathogens like Epstein-Barr virus and M. tuberculosis have been shown to cause long-term disruption to the immune system, for example (Bordignon et al 2011, #1) (Zhang et al 2023, #2) (Bjornevik et al 2023, #3). Conversely, a distinct pattern has emerged in developed countries where as rates of infection fall, rates of autoimmune disease …

Staff Education On Multidrug-Resistant Organisms And Infection Control And Prevention Practices In Long-Term Care Settings, Tanza Hester-Pugh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In long-term care (LTC) settings, common causes of morbidity among residents are caused primarily by healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). It is essential to address the practice problem of knowledge deficits of the appropriate infection control and prevention practices for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in LTC settings to mitigate this risk and provide safe and quality care to provide optimal patient outcomes. Hence, this doctoral project’s purpose was to develop and implement a staff education project to increase nursing staff knowledge of the appropriate infection control and prevention practices for LTC settings to achieve safe and optimal patient outcomes. The project addressed the …

Staff Education On Multidrug-Resistant Organisms And Infection Control And Prevention Practices In Long-Term Care Settings, Tanza Hester-Pugh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In long-term care (LTC) settings, common causes of morbidity among residents are caused primarily by healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). It is essential to address the practice problem of knowledge deficits of the appropriate infection control and prevention practices for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in LTC settings to mitigate this risk and provide safe and quality care to provide optimal patient outcomes. Hence, this doctoral project’s purpose was to develop and implement a staff education project to increase nursing staff knowledge of the appropriate infection control and prevention practices for LTC settings to achieve safe and optimal patient outcomes. The project addressed the …

Phenotypic And Molecular Characterization And Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern Of Pasteurella And Mannheimia Species Obtained From Cattle And Sheep With Pneumonia, Eli̇f Karadeni̇z Pütür, Fati̇h Büyük, Yaren Ersoy

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Among the heterogeneous Pasteurellaceae family, Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica are the pathogenic species that cause enzootic pneumonia in cattle and sheep. This study aimed to characterise Pasteurella and Mannheimia species obtained from pneumonia cases in cattle and sheep. 100 cattle and 100 sheep lungs diagnosed with infectious pneumonia as a result of histopathological examination were analyzed for Pasteurellaceae members by phenotypic methods, VITEK 2 Compact system and PCR. Antibiotic susceptibilities and phylogenetic analysis of the isolates were done by VITEK 2 Compact System and 16S rRNA-PCR, respectively. Seven Pasteurella multocida and 9 Mannheimia haemolytica were identified. All strains were …

Chest Disease Classification Using Transfer Learning, Adarsh Neema

Theses

In the domain of medical diagnostics, the precise classification of chest diseases has become very important, particularly during the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This project proposes an innovative approach to automate the classification process through the usage of deep learning technique, and more specifically making use of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transfer learning, with a prime focus on the RESNET50 architecture. The primary objective is to develop a model which is intelligent enough to detect various chest conditions, including COVID- 19, viral pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, and normal cases. Utilizing the rigorously pre-trained knowledge encoded within RESNET50, trained on …

Multidisciplinary Travel Health Education: Current Status And Rationale For Standardized Competencies, Karl M Hess, Sheila M Seed, Eva H Clark, Tara Lombardo, Francesca F Norman, Gerard Flaherty

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This perspective highlights the inconsistent integration of travel health education across medical, nursing and pharmacy educational programmes globally and calls for standardized travel health competencies based on the International Society of Travel Medicine’s (ISTM) Body of Knowledge to help improve patient care outcomes as global travel returns to pre-pandemic levels.

Algorithmic Reconstruction Of High-Fidelity Synthetic Sird Data, Dylan Mack

Electrical and Systems Engineering Undergraduate Student Research

During infectious disease outbreaks, epidemiologists are faced with problems similar to those of state estimation. Often, only population-level measures of the outbreak are available, such as infection counts per week or test positivity rates. However, these aggregate statistics yield little insight into the individual-level dynamics of an epidemic. Further, empirical data does not directly measure transmission network structure and producing this information via contact tracing is extremely resource-intensive and scales poorly. In this poster, I present an algorithm that produces synthetic, individual-level disease state measurements that both obey the mechanics of an SIRD model and, in aggregate, match empirical infection …

Appropriateness Of Ambulatory Antibiotic Prescribing In South Carolina, 2012–2017, Pamela Bailey, Majdi N. Al-Hasan, Julie Royer, Max Habicht, Julie Ann Justo, P. Brandon Bookstaver Pharm.D., Sharon Weissman, Hana R. Winders

Faculty Publications

This population-based cohort study examines the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in South Carolina via aggregated pharmacy claims data matched with diagnosis codes from medical claims. Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing decreased from 30.2% in 2012 to 22.6% in 2017 (P < 0.001) and was more common in adults >40 years old.

Early Palliative Care In Advanced Stage Cancer Patients: Barriers To Integration An Integrative Review, Wendy Jarrett, Rachel Girard

Master's Projects

This integrative review examines the barriers to early palliative care (PC) implementation in Stage IV cancer patients and the impact of timely PC on quality of life, symptom management, and patient autonomy. Despite clear evidence that early PC enhances patient outcomes and reduces the need for aggressive interventions at the end of life, its integration is often delayed due to insufficient standardized referral protocols, lack of education for healthcare providers, and misconceptions about its role. The studies included highlight the importance of addressing these barriers to improve care. Oncologists and healthcare providers often lack the necessary communication skills to initiate …

Covid For One: Identifying Obstacles To Self-Management Of Covid-19 For Single Adults, Linda A. Treiber, Christie Emerson, Jenna Shackleford

Faculty Articles

Given the complexities of healthcare provision, it is imperative to understand how single adults experience their interactions with medical professionals and health care organizations, manage care and treatment, and navigate the barriers encountered. This study’s purpose is to understand physical and mental health experiences in consideration of social determinants of health, barriers, and coping strategies for single adults diagnosed with COVID-19. An interpretive phenomenology study design was used with 12 individuals who were single and living alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured, open-ended interviews revealed important aspects of the COVID-19 illness experience. Interviews were transcribed for coding and thematic analysis. …

Modelling Malaria Dynamics In Children Under Five Years, Pregnant Women And The Influence Of Temperature, Paul K Robert, Jacob I Irunde, Adeline P Mtunya

Tanzania Journal of Science

Malaria remains a major public health problem worldwide and it affects the livelihood of people particularly children under 5 years and pregnant women. This study formulates and analyzes a mathematical model that incorporates children under five years, pregnant women and influence of temperature on the transmission dynamics of malaria. The next generation matrix method is applied to compute the basic reproduction number. Analysis shows that malaria-free equilibrium point exists and it is globally asymptotically stable when . Numerical simulations show that the rate of infections in both human and mosquito populations increases as temperature increases. Higher temperatures generally increase the …

Unraveling The Labyrinth: Disability, Spectacle, And Paranormal Tourism In The Winchester Mystery House, Karenna Gm Pullen

Student Theses

This thesis examines the intersection of disability, paranormal tourism, and cultural narratives through an analysis of the Winchester Mystery House and its owner, Sarah Winchester, from a Disability Studies perspective. The research problem centers on the commodification of disability within paranormal tourism, where disabled bodies and spaces are transformed into spectacles for public consumption. Using the Winchester Mystery House as a case study, the research explores how disability is framed within narratives of paranormal tourism, with a focus on stigma, fear, and cultural mythmaking. The methodology involves historical research, discourse analysis, and architectural evaluation to reveal how Sarah Winchester’s disability …