Digital Commons Network^™

Service Provider Perceptions Of Systems Serving Individuals Experiencing Homelessness: A Needs Assessment And Strategic Plan In Johnson City, Tn, Opal Frye-Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This Integrated Learning Experience (ILE) investigates service providers' perceptions of Johnson City, Tennessee's homelessness services, aiming to inform a city-wide strategic plan for reduction. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study gathered qualitative data through in-depth interviews with service providers in 2022 and quantitative data via a 2024 survey. The research focused on those directly involved in serving or significantly influencing the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness (IEH). Three key aims guided the investigation: (1) To analyze provider perspectives to identify community assets, opportunities, barriers, and unmet needs, informing a comprehensive needs assessment; (2) To refine these findings through SWOT analysis …

Elevated Levels Of Cd56+ T Cells, Cd16+ Cd56+ T Cells, And Cd56dim Nk Cells In Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Seropositive Healthy Individuals, Mazen Almehmadi, Mamdouh Allahyani, Abdulelah Aljuaid, Meshari A. Alsuwat, Mustafa Halawi

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To investigate the numbers of natural killer (NK) cells, CD56+ T-cells and CD56- T cells, and the levels ofCD16 in healthy individuals seropositive for herpes simplex virus Type 1 (HSV-1). Specifically, it seeks to measure the levels of these cells to learn about the possible immunological significance during HSV-1 seropositive status. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional research design to examine the levels of CD56+ T-cells and CD16+ among individuals seropositive for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in Taif city. A total of 112 participants were enrolled, with HSV-1 serostatus determined via ELISA, and cellular evaluation conducted using …

Rising Epidemiological Trends In Prevalence And Mortality Of Mpox: Global Insights And Analysis, Muhammad Os. Meo, Muhammad Zs. Meo, Isra M. Khan, Muhammad As. Butt, Adnan M. Usmani, Sultan A. Meo

Saudi Medical Journal

Objectives: To explore the global epidemiological trends in the prevalence and mortality due to mpox in various regions worldwide. Methods: In this cross-sectional study the data about mpox outbreak were recorded by the “World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and GSAID” from August 2023 to August 2024, analyzing the epidemiological trends from different countries worldwide. Results: The total number of mpox cases has reached 99,518 (95,196 cases from 115 countries that have not historically reported mpox; and 4,322 cases from 07 states that have traditionally reported mpox), from a total of 122 countries. The top 10 countries …

Comparing Tele-Pharmacy And Standard Clinic Follow-Up For Newly Initiated Warfarin Anticoagulation Therapy: A Retrospective Study, Sumaiah J. Alarfaj, Sara Alsulami, Ebtehaj Alashjaey, Reema Albulayhi, Faisal Alqarni, Abeer Alharbi

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of providing telepharmacy anticoagulation to on-site clinics in achieving optimal outcomes for patients newly starting warfarin. Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included adult patients who started warfarin for the first time and were monitored by clinical pharmacists either on-site or via telepharmacy anticoagulation clinics between January 2017 and March 2024. The primary outcome is to compare the time in therapeutic range (TTR) between the 2 groups. The secondary outcome is the occurrence of anticoagulation therapy–related complications. Results: We included 191 patients, with 77 in the telepharmacy group and 114 in the on-site group. …

Assessing The Accuracy And Efficiency Of Chat Gpt-4 Omni (Gpt-4o) In Biomedical Statistics: Comparative Study With Traditional Tools, Anusha S. Meo, Narmeen Shaikh, Sultan A. Meo

Saudi Medical Journal

ABSTRACT Objectives: To assess the accuracy of ChatGPT-4 Omni (GPT-4o) in biomedical statistics. The recent novel inauguration of Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT-Omni (GPT-4o), has emerged with the potential to analyze sophisticated and extensive data sets, challenging the expertise of statisticians using traditional statistical tools for data analysis. Methods: This study was performed in the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May 2024. Three datasets in a raw Excel file format were imported onto Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29 for data analysis. Based on this analysis, a script of 9 questions …

Beyond Charity: The Development Of The Mission Of The Daughters Of Charity In Sub-Saharan Africa, Theresa Eke

Vincentian Studies

Theresa Eke recounts the history of the Daughters of Charity’s service in Africa and explains the evolution of their approach to poverty alleviation there. The Daughters learned the importance of knowing the cultures and languages of those they served. At first, they addressed poverty with donations of material goods, but later they empowered the poor, teaching them skills and helping them establish farms and businesses, particularly through helping them to purchase equipment. They learned to listen to what the poor themselves said would help them. They supported high school and university education, especially for women and girls. The Daughters also …

Lack Of Inflammatory Response In Mouse Embryonic Cells To Listeria Infection, Damilola Oyebode

Master's Theses

Approximately 1 in 5 pregnancies in the United States results in miscarriage, with a significant percentage of these losses attributed to failed implantation due to immunological challenges encountered by the early embryo. Recent research has shown that key cell types within mouse blastocysts, including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and trophoblast stem cells (TSCs), exhibit remarkable resilience against the cytotoxic effects associated with viral infections and embryotoxic cytokines, such as TNFα and IFNγ, both of which are known to hinder blastocyst development. However, the immune properties of the preimplantation stage embryo, specifically the blastocyst, remain poorly understood. Using mouse cell model, …

Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity And Virologic Failure Among People With Hiv: A Cohort Study In All Of Us Research Program, Fanghui Shi, Ruilie Cai, Buwei He, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Xueying Yang Ph.D., Sharon Weissman, Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background: Sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) are at higher risk of HIV incidence compared to their heterosexual cisgender counterparts. Despite the high HIV disease burden among SGMs, there was limited data on whether they are at higher risk of virologic failure, which may lead to potential disease progression and increased transmission risk. The All of Us (AoU) Research Program, a national community-engaged program aiming to improve health and facilitate health equity in the United States by partnering with one million participants, provides a promising resource for identifying a diverse and large volunteer TGD cohort. Leveraging various data sources available through …

Ten-Year Review Of St-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (Stemi) In Tanzania: A Single Center Retrospective Review, Nadeem Kassam, Mohamed Varwani, Mzee Ngunga, Jeilan Mohamed, Mangaro Mabusi, James Orwa, Salim Surani, Robert Mvungi, Nasiruddin Jamal

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Introduction: Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is an emerging epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Although the true burden may be underreported in the African continent, it still remains one of the leading causes of death among adults aged above 60 years. ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) is a clinically time-sensitive fatal sequela of IHD with timely reperfusion by primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) being the gold standard of care. There has been steady progress in coronary care services in Tanzania, alongside a rise in IHD-related risk factors. However, data on this is limited. This study aimed to examine trends in …

Navigating Physical Activity Promotion And Policy In The Post-Covid-19-Pandemic Era, Justin Richards, Katja Siefken, Michael Pratt, Adrian Bauman, Juliana Mejía-Grueso, Catherine B Woods, Wanda Wendel-Vos, Erica Hinckson, Deborah Salvo, Pedro C Hallal, Andrea Ramírez Varela

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: There is limited evidence on the priorities and opportunities associated with promoting population physical activity (PA) participation for the post-COVID-19-pandemic future.

Purpose: This study assessed government-led PA promotion efforts before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with post-COVID-19-pandemic priorities and recommendations.

Methods: Two separate cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2023. Survey 1 was targeted at the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) Country Contacts. Survey 2 also included key international informants representing influential stakeholders in PA policy implementation.

Results: There were 68 respondents to Survey 1, collectively representing 61 countries. An additional 37 people, including representatives from 14 key international …

The Role Of Lifr Signaling In Innate Immunity, Laura Kahn Serrudo

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The localized signals that bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and immune cells receive are critical in regulating their responses in the steady state and inflammation. Monocytes are an abundant and key population in the innate immune response that originates in the BM, and they circulate to monitor the periphery. Monocytes are composed of many subsets that have essential and specific functions, including swift egress from the BM, production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and differentiation into monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs), which are required for efficient pathogen eradication.

Here, we uncovered LIFR (leukemia inhibitory factor receptor) restrains low-grade chronic inflammation in …

Oncolytic Viruses Enhance Long-Term Nk Cell Anti-Tumor Cytotoxicity Through Ap-1 And Irf Pathway Activation, Xin Ru Jiang

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Natural killer (NK) cell therapeutics have emerged as a promising strategy in adoptive cellular therapy. While genetic modifications of NK cells can enhance their antitumor activity, modulating the tumor to augment NK cell recognition and function remains underexplored. In this study, we investigated the combination of NK cells with oncolytic viruses to treat solid tumors, specifically pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and glioblastoma. We demonstrated that infecting tumor cells with the oncolytic adenovirus Delta-24-RGD significantly increases their susceptibility to NK cell cytotoxicity, driven by a hyperactivated NK cell phenotype characterized by elevated expression of activating receptors and cytotoxicity markers. In a patient-derived …

Local Or Systemic Antibody-Targeted Sting Activation Drives Pro- Inflammatory Stromal Metabolic Changes And Downregulates C-Myc Oncoprotein, Akash Boda

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

The past decade has witnessed remarkable advances in the field of cancer immunotherapy. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has emerged as a cornerstone, achieving long-lasting tumor regression in several types of cancer. However, its effectiveness is often limited, particularly in certain tumor types. Immunologically "cold" tumors, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), remain clinically unresponsive to ICB, presenting a significant challenge in oncology. Amidst these challenges, the stimulation of the STING pathway via small molecule synthetic agonists has surfaced as a promising strategy. Acting as an in-situ vaccine, STING activation has the potential to transform the immune landscape of cold tumors …

The Role Of Ganglioside Gd2 And Gd3 Synthase (St8sia1) In The Regulation Of Immune Suppression In Breast Cancer, Bolutyfe Oderinde

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Gangliosides are acidic glycosphingolipids involved in cell adhesion, proliferation, and modulation of signal transduction pathways. It has been reported that tumor-shed gangliosides influence the activity of immune cells including macrophages, NK cells, and T cells. GD3 synthase (GD3S) is the key enzyme that regulates the biosynthesis of the b and c series gangliosides, particularly GD3 and GD2, and studies have shown that GD3S is upregulated in most tumors and plays a role in tumor progression. Similarly, we have previously found GD3S to be significantly upregulated in GD2+ breast cancer stem cells (BCSC) compared to GD2- cells, and the knockdown of …

Covid-19 Risk Assessment Among Vulnerable Small Business Owners In El Paso County, Texas, Sadie H Conway, Denise Vasquez, Kristina D Mena, Louis D Brown, Soyoung Kwon, Janelle Rios

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Our objective was to deliver actionable, worksite-specific COVID-19 risk assessments and mitigation strategies tailored to vulnerable workers in one of the highest-risk areas in the US.

Methods: Four trained, bilingual (English/Spanish) community health workers (CHWs) recruited small businesses (ie, ≤20 employees) across various industries and executed novel on-site infectious disease risk assessment surveys of at least one employer and one employee.

Results: Of 102 participating businesses (95% Hispanic-owned), 96% were characterized as "high risk" or "very high risk" for disease transmission. All businesses reported implementing at least one practice to reduce disease transmission; however, almost half of businesses lacked …

Effectiveness Of Enhanced Care For Treatment Of Acute Or Persistent Diarrhea In Malnourished Children Aged 0 Months To 10 Years: A Systematic Review, Ridwa Alam, Khadija Vadsaria, Ahmad Khan, Uswa Jiwani, Aqsa Ishaq, Anmol Minaz, Ashraf Sharif, Jai K. Das, Sajid Bashir Soofi, Shabina Ariff

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health

Background: Diarrhea poses a significant public health challenge, particularly affecting children under five. The link between malnutrition and diarrhea is well established, with diarrhea being a primary cause of malnutrition in young children and malnutrition exacerbating the severity of diarrhea. While the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a comprehensive approach to both diarrhea and malnutrition management, including oral rehydration, continuous feeding, zinc supplementation, and antibiotics for specific strains, it does not adequately address the complex needs of malnourished children with diarrhea who may benefit from enhanced care in the form of follow-up and monitoring beyond initial treatment. We aimed to …

Journey Of Decisions: Understanding Parental Perspectives On Vaccine Hesitancy And Decision-Making Approaches In Childhood Vaccinations, Carlene Joy Brown

Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of parental attitudes toward childhood vaccinations and decision-making styles. Overall, this study worked to comprehensively examine the factors influencing vaccine hesitancy among parents of children under 18 utilizing quantitative and qualitative methodologies and conducting qualitative analytic comparisons to enhance understanding for future research practices.

The study’s objective in the first phase was to quantitatively assess whether decision-making styles predict vaccine hesitancy, considering demographic factors. The contextual research question guiding this phase was, “Do general decision-making styles predict vaccine hesitancy controlling for age, gender, level of education, employment status, marital status, …

Exploring Mechanisms Of Chemical Resistance In Xanthomonas Arboricola Pv. Pruni And Strategies To Mitigate Resistance And Improve Disease Control, Milan Panth

All Dissertations

Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (XAP) is a phytopathogenic bacterium that causes bacterial spot of peach. It causes spotted lesions on leaves and fruit, leading to early defoliation and unmarketable fruit, respectively. The pathogen can overwinter in twig cankers, which serve as the primary initial inoculum source for the next season’s leaf and fruitlet infection. The current disease management practice mainly relies on routine application of chemical bactericides containing copper or oxytetracycline (OTC) in the growing season. However, disease incidence can still be high despite chemical control measures in warm, rainy seasons.

Frequent applications of copper and OTC in United …

Emerging Agency In Border Communities During Pandemics, William Ordeman

All Dissertations

“Emerging Agency in Border Communities During Pandemics” uncovers the complex natural and social histories of two Texas border counties, El Paso and Hidalgo, to explain how these counties became highly susceptible to the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. This work argues that humans engaging with natural resources throughout history created a rhetoric of exploitation and social hierarchy along the Texas/Mexico border. Rhetoric from Spanish and Anglo colonists coupled with environmental phenomena across time displaced Latinx/e bodies living in these counties into precarious communities called colonias, and the presence of these colonias made each county highly susceptible to disease outbreak. I …

Promoting Adolescent Mental And Physical Health: Initiatives Focused On Connecting Public Health And Social Services To The Health Sector In Nebraska, Theresa Nguyen

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

This capstone focuses on the second recommendation of improving access to comprehensive, coordinated health services from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report The Promise of Adolescence: Realizing Opportunity for All Youth (2019). This proposal uses secondary data from the research project, Moving Evidence-Based Recommendations to Practice to Strengthen the Health Care System in Nebraska. Key stakeholders (n=28) were interviewed from the health care, public health, social services, and policy sectors. Each subject was asked to participate in a semi-structured interview by a trained interviewer. The interview was 1 hour long and conducted via phone call or Zoom. …

The Informal, Non-Prescribed Use Of Antiretroviral Medications For Prep Among A National Us-Based Sample Of Gay, Bisexual, And Other Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Cross-Sectional Study, Mance E. Buttram, Matthew S. Ellis, Krishen D. Samuel, Matthew Hayhurst

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

This brief report presents findings on informal, non-prescribed PrEP use among an online sample of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (n = 196). Mean age was 33.4. Participants were Hispanic (13.3%), African American (15.8%), white (63.8%), and other race/ethnicity (6.6%). Informal PrEP users (11%) more frequently reported past year sexually transmitted infections (p < 0.001), group sex (p < 0.001), sex in public (p < 0.01), transactional sex (p < 0.001), ever receiving a formal PrEP prescription (p < 0.05), and ease of finding diverted HIV medications on gay dating/sex apps (p < 0.05). Formal PrEP uptake should be encouraged to mitigate potential negative consequences of informal use.

Maternal Adverse Childhood Experiences And Non-Live Births, Mudasir Mustafa

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Around 62 percent of adults in the United States have endured at least one type of Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), and 25 percent of women reported experiencing three or more ACEs in their lifetime. This study explored whether maternal exposure to ACEs was associated with pregnancy loss or abortion, utilizing the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (known as Add Health) to explore this association. I found that cumulative ACEs, assessed through either the conventional ACE scale (reflecting 10 types of ACEs) or the extended ACE scale (reflecting 14 types of ACEs), are associated with a higher likelihood …

Immune Variation Across Different Contexts In Non-Model Systems, Kwanho Claudia Ki

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The immune system is important to an animal’s survival against disease-causing agents and physical injuries. Accordingly, many resources are required to maintain and activate the immune system (such as energy). However, as these resources also need to be shared with other important systems of the body, the portion of resources that can be allotted to the immune system is variable. Thus, many different factors may alter how well the immune system operates. My dissertation sought to understand what sorts of factors can lead to changes in the immune system. Reptiles are known to have a very robust immune system. Therefore, …

Designing Technology-Enriched Learning Environments: The Effects Of An Agent-Based Computer Model On Biology Students' Understanding Of The Covid-19 Pandemic And The Nature Of Models In Science, April Sullivan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Science education researchers have called for increased attention to the science practice of modeling to engage students in authentic scientific inquiry. A major challenge to integrating the modeling practice into science instruction is that students tend to conceptualize models as static end-products of research rather than generative tools for theory-building. Engaging students in using computer models, specifically agent-based computer models (ABMs), to explain and predict scientific phenomena could improve students' understanding of models in science. In this design-based research project I investigate the effects of an ABM-supported learning environment on high-school biology students' understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic and the …

Viking And Native North American Interactions: The Spread Of Disease In The Norse Discovery Of North America, Sarah N. Haughawout

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This paper evaluates the potential for spread of disease in the Norse and Native North American interactions around 1000 CE. At this time, the Vikings were expanding their territory in search of land and natural resources following the Viking Raids in mainland Europe. They traveled to Iceland, then Greenland, and finally the eastern coast of northern Canada. Norse explorers faced numerous obstacles on their journeys, but they still prospered in North America for a time. The Vikings hunted the land and sea mammals, used the land, and found ways to thrive while having hostile relations and contact with the Native …

Developing A Bioengineered Nanoparticle For Improving Oral Absorption Of Iron Supplements., Mila Biswas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are widespread nutritional issues, affecting millions globally. Conventional iron supplements often suffer from low absorption rates and gastrointestinal side effects. We investigated β-glucan derivatives as potential carriers to enhance iron absorption and mitigate these drawbacks. This study explored a novel β-glucan-based carrier system loaded with ferrous sulfate heptahydrate. In-vitro studies demonstrated sustained iron stability for over six hours in simulated gastric fluids due to the carrier's affinity for stomach mucin. Particle size analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed this specific binding. Additionally, drug release studies revealed a pH-dependent release profile, …

Implementing The Methodology To Generate Diagnostic And Therapeutic Antibodies, Andrea Mariana Carlin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research aimed to establish the methodology for developing monoclonal antibodies at The University of Texas at El Paso. Monoclonal antibodies are indispensable across multiple fields, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and biotechnology, yet there is a shortage of commercially available antibodies targeting specific proteins or possessing specialized characteristics. To address this gap, three models were selected: a peptide derived from the intracellular protein Schlafen 8 and two cell surface protein receptors: mouse vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) and human melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R). These proteins present unique challenges in antibody generation, including issues of accessibility, expression, and specificity.

Throughout …

Enhancement Of Zika Virus Infection By West Nile And Dengue Virus Antibody Positive Cord-Blood Samples From Mothers In El Paso-Texas, Jeanette Orbegozo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The recent Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak and its association with microcephaly cases and other neurological syndromes are important public health concerns. A phenomenon known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) involves preexisting flavivirus antibodies to a specific flavivirus that enhances the severity of a second infection with a different flavivirus. Since ZIKV is related to flaviviruses like West Nile virus (WNV) and dengue virus (DENV), prior exposure to these viruses could elicit cross-reactive antibodies that may enhance a subsequent ZIKV infection. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if WNV and DENV antibodies from cord blood enhanced ZIKV infection in vitro. Initially, a …

What You Must Know: Retention And Destruction Of Dental Records And Your Most-Asked Questions About Dental Records, Daniel Schulte Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

An overview of the basic information about dental records, including retention and destruction, that you and your staff should be aware of, provided by MDA Legal Counsel Dan Schulte, J.D. Plus, for your reference, answers to the questions Michigan dental offices are asking about dental record retention, access, release, and destruction.

Dental records are vital for patient care, legal compliance, and professional practice management. Michigan law mandates retaining dental records for a minimum of 10 years, ensuring their confidentiality, accessibility, and integrity. Destruction of records less than 10 years old requires patient notification and authorization, while those over 10 years …

Environmental Change As A Driver Of The Evolution Of Migratory Behavior In Suboscine Birds, Emily Johns

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Avian migration, particularly long-distance seasonal migratory movement, has long captured the attention of researchers and the public alike. However, the evolutionary origins of migratory behavior are poorly understood, in part due to limited understanding of the full range of migratory strategies including short-distance and intra-tropical movements. We examine the climatic drivers of migration across suboscine birds, a group of roughly 1,300 primarily Neotropical species with a complex array of migratory strategies. Our reconstructions of the evolutionary history of suboscine migration reveal that migratory behavior is labile and is lost approximately twice as often as it is gained. We find that …