Digital Commons Network^™

School Nurses And Administrators Perceptions Of School Preparedness: A Focused Ethnography, Deborah Horton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Disasters are dangerous for schools where many children are located in one area. Children were significantly impacted by a biological incident during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic. Research is needed to determine the values, perceptions, and beliefs of school disaster preparedness through a cultural lens.

Methods: A focused ethnography was used to interview school administrators and nurses from April-December 2022 to explore and understand the unique culture of school disaster preparedness. Data was analyzed according to Leininger’s Four Phases of Data Analysis.

Results: Twenty-four participants from K-12 public schools were interviewed resulting in …

Impact Of An Electronic Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Catch-Up Module For Women With Criminal-Legal System Involvement, Shawana Moore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Cervical cancer can often be prevented with targeted strategies such as Pap smear screenings and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, now also recommended for those aged 27-45 who have not received the vaccine previously. However, women involved in the criminal-legal system often miss out on primary and secondary prevention measures and are at increased risk for the development of cervical cancer caused by HPV. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an electronic HPV catch-up module for women in the criminal-legal system aged 27-45. The study, guided by the Health Belief Model, …

Parental Factors Associated With Covid-19 Vaccine Uptake For Children Over 5 Years Of Age In Texas, Paula M Cuccaro, Jihye Choi, Yordanos M Tiruneh, Journey Martinez, Jing Xie, Michelle Crum, Mark Owens, Jose-Miguel Yamal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for children, yet parental hesitancy towards vaccinating children against the virus persists. We conducted a telephone-administered weighted survey in Texas to examine parents' sociodemographic factors and medical conditions associated with COVID-19 vaccination intention for parents with unvaccinated children ages 5-17 years. We collected responses from 19,502 participants, of which 4879 were parents of children ages 5-17 years. We conducted multiple logistic regression with Lasso-selected variables to identify factors associated with children's vaccination status and parents' intention to vaccinate their children. From the unweighted sample, less than half of the parents (46.8%) had at …

From Crisis To Aftermath: The Role Of Nursing Professional Development Educators During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Realist Case Study, Kimberly Kanner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative, realistic inquiry case study was to examine and understand the experiences of NPD educators as they assisted new graduate nurses transitioning into clinical nursing practice during the COVID-19 pandemic in acute care hospitals in the state of New York. Moreover, this research study sought to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic brought about changes to the NPD educator's role and their ability to assist new graduate nurses transitioning into clinical practice post-pandemic. The sample included NPD educators from acute care hospitals in the state of New York. Data collection included semi-structured interviews and document collection. The …

Omani Camels From A Cultural And Genomics Perspective, Al Muatasim Al Zadjali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Dromedarian camel, Camelus dromedarius, is native to the Arabian Peninsula, including the Sultanate of Oman. These camels are used for food, milk, as well as show and racing competitions. Despite their economic and cultural importance research on camels in Oman is limited. The goal of this study was to examine their genomic variation, relationship with camels in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, and to determine if selective breeding has led to the establishment of distinct breeds in Oman. Information was compiled from multiple sources to produce a comprehensive review on the breeding, management, economic and cultural use, …

New Insights Into T Lymphocyte-Mediated Immunity To Toxoplasma Gondii, Claire Marie Doherty

Biology ETDs

With nearly a third of the global population infected with the protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii, this parasite sits at a unique, immune-mediated interface of health and disease. In healthy individuals, Toxoplasma results in a chronic yet asymptomatic infection of the central nervous system. This quiescent infection is the result of parasite exploitation of host immune barriers, yet Toxoplasma can quickly become an opportunistic pathogen when immunity is disrupted by illness or immunosuppressive therapies. During the HIV-AIDS pandemic, it was observed that once latent Toxoplasma infections became the cause of severe, even fatal, disease in the absence of an intact T …

Dnp Final Report: Central Line Dressing Change Regimen To Decrease Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections, Ann Campbell

DNP Final Reports

Central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are dangerous and costly occurrences in healthcare facilities. This evidence-based project's purpose is to implement interventions to reduce CLABSIs in a healthcare facility that has higher than the national average of reported cases. The practice problem PICOT question is: In inpatients with indwelling central venous access devices at the facility, (P) how does implementation of evidence-based guidelines for central line dressing changes every seven days and as needed (I) compared to the current practice of dressing changes on Fridays (C) affect CLABSI rates over a three-month period (O). The body of evidence obtained in …

May 10, 2024 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Metabolic Changes Enhance Necroptosis Of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Mice Infected With Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Abhinav Vankayalapati, Olamipejo Durojaye, Tanmoy Mukherjee, Padmaja Paidipally, Bismark Owusu-Afriyie, Ramakrishna Vankayalapati, Rajesh Kumar Radhakrishnan

School of Medicine Faculty Publications and Presentations

Previously, we found that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice enhances inflammatory cytokine production which drives pathological immune responses and mortality. In the current study, using a T2DM Mtb infection mice model, we determined the mechanisms that make T2DM mice alveolar macrophages (AMs) more inflammatory upon Mtb infection. Among various cell death pathways, necroptosis is a major pathway involved in inflammatory cytokine production by T2DM mice AMs. AntiTNFR1 antibody treatment of Mtb-infected AMs from T2DM mice significantly reduced expression of receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) (necroptosis markers) and …

The Climate Moratorium, Keith H. Hirokawa, Cinnamon P. Carlarne

Texas A&M Law Review

Climate change is our new reality. The impacts of climatic changes, including massive forest fires, floods, drought, severe storms, saltwater intrusion, and the resulting migration of people displaced by such impacts, will continue to ravage communities across the nation into the foreseeable future. In the meantime, communities continue to expand and growth continues unabated in many of the most climate-impacted areas. Given that most communities are unprepared for the onslaught of climate disasters and many continue to increase existing community vulnerabilities through unsustainable growth and development practices, we need legal tools that will provide space to engage in effective adaptation …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Technology Professional Development And Implementation In An Urban Middle School: A Case Study, Valeria Williams

Dissertations

This qualitative case study focused on understanding teachers’ perceptions of technology-based professional development sessions and the impact of technology requirements on their decisions to remain in or exit the teaching profession. The study involved seven middle school teachers with varying teaching experience and technology backgrounds. Participants shared their insights through journals, interviews, and document notes, which were then organized into themes reflecting their responses to the research questions.

The findings revealed key themes such as the structure and availability of professional learning sessions, facilitators’ positive impact, teachers’ emotions during and after training, optional learning strategies, and how these factors influence …

Evaluation Of Fusobacterium Nucleatum Enoyl-Acp Reductase (Fabk) As A Narrow-Spectrum Drug Target, Jacob T Rutherford, Kristiana Avad, Chetna Dureja, Krissada Norseeda, Bibek Gc, Chenggang Wu, Dianqing Sun, Kirk E Hevener, Julian G Hurdle

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Fusobacterium nucleatum, a pathobiont inhabiting the oral cavity, contributes to opportunistic diseases, such as periodontal diseases and gastrointestinal cancers, which involve microbiota imbalance. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents, while effective against F. nucleatum infections, can exacerbate dysbiosis. This necessitates the discovery of more targeted narrow-spectrum antimicrobial agents. We therefore investigated the potential for the fusobacterial enoyl-ACP reductase II (ENR II) isoenzyme FnFabK (C4N14_ 04250) as a narrow-spectrum drug target. ENRs catalyze the rate-limiting step in the bacterial fatty acid synthesis pathway. Bioinformatics revealed that of the four distinct bacterial ENR isoforms, F. nucleatum specifically encodes FnFabK. Genetic studies revealed …

Identifying Immunogenic Pneumococcal Proteins With Roles In Colonization Of Human Epithelium, Abigail Cassibry

Theses and Dissertations

Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is a Gram positive opportunistic bacterium that is a primary cause of pneumonia in young children and immunocompromised individuals. This microorganism colonizes the nasopharynx of all age groups and health levels and is easily transmitted through respiratory droplets or aerosols. While capsule-based vaccines are available, these are becoming more obsolete as S. pneumoniae strains are undergoing serotype replacement, thus evading detection, and antibiotic resistant strains are increasing in prevalence. This study has taken a different approach by identifying immunogenic proteins that elicit antibodies which block attachment of bacteria to host epithelial cells. Proteins with the most potential …

Conservation At The Speed Of Light: Applications Of Non-Invasive Technologies For Assessing Physiological Phenomena In Amphibians, Li-Dunn Chen

Theses and Dissertations

The Anthropocene epoch in which we are currently living, also known as the Holocene, has brought about unprecedented losses in planet Earth’s biodiversity. Numerous extirpations of floral and faunal species have been influenced by human encroachment and more specifically, the exploitation of such species and the respective habitats in which they reside. It is this notion that has propelled many scientists to take up intellectual arms in an effort to protect these invaluable resources. The purpose of this research was to develop technologies to measure and evaluate various variables that influence animal physiology, specifically in amphibians who represent the most …

Effect Of Metaphylaxis In High-Risk Stocker Heifers On The Nasopharyngeal Microbiome, Resistome, And Antimicrobial Resistance Of Mannheimia Haemolytica, William Byrn Crosby

Theses and Dissertations

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the leading cause of morbidity in feeder and stocker cattle, resulting in large impacts on economics of stocker and feedlot operations. One of the most effective means of controlling BRD is the mass administration of antimicrobials (AM) at arrival or “metaphylaxis”, potentially leading to increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Mannheimia haemolytica (MH), the most commonly isolated bacterial pathogen in BRD cases in feedlot cattle, has been shown to have integrative-conjugative elements (ICE), which are mobile genetic elements that have the ability to integrate themselves in the host genome. Notably, these ICE have been shown to contain …

Collective Bodies And Individual Experiences: The Case Of Chamber Tomb Four At Nikoleika Aigio, Achaea, Greece​, Daniel David Dillon

Theses and Dissertations

The end of the Bronze Age was a tumultuous period throughout the Mediterranean, seeing the fall of the major palatial economy in Greece. This project seeks to reconstruct the lived experiences of individuals interred at the Nikoleika cemetery in eastern Achaea, utilizing a variety of methods to analyze biological profiles and pathological conditions. Through the analysis of the 55 burials of Chamber Tomb Four, it was found that low levels of pathology and the presence of locally-produced goods may emphasize the self-sufficient nature of Achaea during the Bronze Age. The osteobiographies of three primary burials also revealed a great deal …

Evaluating The Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation’S Utility As A Tool For Preventing Reproductive Inefficiency, Todd Galen Gunderson

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most impactful challenges beef cow-calf producers face is the need to optimize reproductive efficiency. The ability of a veterinarian to identify potential sources of reproductive inefficiency is a valuable service they can offer. The breeding soundness evaluation (BSE) is one tool veterinarians use to identify subfertile bulls prior to use. This body of research shows that producers who have a defined breeding season have higher odds of hiring a veterinarian to perform BSEs, and that as breeding season length decreases, the probability of a management strategy that uses BSEs being profitable increases. Furthermore, not all veterinarians use …

Evaluating The Vertical Transmission Potential Of Salmonella Reading In Broiler Breeders, Abubakar Shitu Isah

Theses and Dissertations

Salmonellosis, a significant foodborne illness in humans, is caused by Salmonella, with poultry and poultry products acting as significant reservoirs and sources of human infection. Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype Reading has recently emerged as a notable foodborne pathogen responsible for extensive multistate human outbreaks in North America. This study focused on evaluating the capacity of the emerged serotype to colonize broiler breeder reproductive tissues and potentially contaminate eggs, indicating the potential for vertical transmission. For this investigation, two Salmonella Reading strains were utilized, one associated with outbreaks and another non-outbreak strain. Both strains were initially modified with bioluminescent marker …

Disruptors And Resilience Capabilities Of Pharmaceutical Supply Chains Exposed To Rare Catastrophic Disasters: Case Studies Of One Localized And One Global Disaster, Jeanne-Marie Elizabeth Lawrence

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, rare catastrophic disasters have triggered pharmaceutical supply chain disruptions, resulting in product shortages and other problems that have negatively impacted healthcare delivery. Since the health sector is part of many nations’ critical infrastructure, ensuring minimal disruption in the supporting supply chains is an essential aspect of national security. While traditional risk management approaches have proven adequate for handling independent routine operational risks, these methods are inadequate for infrequent disruptive risks that propagate further risks, producing a domino effect in complex systems. Since today’s pharmaceutical supply chains have many characteristics of complex systems, elucidating the disruptive risks and …

Evaluating The Effects Of Key Virulence-Associated Genes In Estimating The Virulence Of Escherichia Coli, Using Embryo Lethality Assay And Experimental Infection Studies, Fozol Korim Ovi

Theses and Dissertations

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes a wide range of diseases in chickens called colibacillosis, resulting a substantial economic loss to the poultry industry. This dissertation aims at addressing this disease by exploring key virulence-associated genes (VAGs), swarming motility (SM), and multi-locus sequence types (MLST) of E. coli isolates obtained from colibacillosis-infected or asymptomatic commercial hens. Secondly, by classifying the E. coli isolates into different virulence categories based on the presence of five key VAGs [iroN, ompT, hlyF, iutA, and iss]. Finally, by performing embryo lethality assays and experimental infection studies to establish the effect of these VAGs. Our findings …

Examining The Authenticity Of The 'Ether Model' In Certain O-Glycosylation Reactions, Varad Vinayak Agarkar

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Acinetobacter baumannii is a gram-negative bacterium species that is responsible for nosocomial infections. It has shown antibiotic resistance and has been designated an urgent threat by the CDC. In Chapter 1, I highlight my efforts in the synthesis of a Kdo building block in the journey towards the construction of an A. baumannii lipooligosaccharide (LOS) core pentasaccharide- a potential candidate for glycoconjugate vaccine against A. baumannii infection. I talk about various optimizations and improvements in the Kdo monosaccharide synthesis and the mechanistic insights I provided about a critical transformation in the synthetic sequence.

Chemical O-glycosylation is a significant research …

Extension-Clinical Approach To Covid-19 Testing And Vaccination, Camden Bryan, Rhonda Matthews, Kapri Kreps, David Thornal, Danielle Mcfall, David Sudduth, Michelle Parisi

Journal of Extension

Vaccination rates against COVID-19 are lower in rural areas across the country, including SC. This paper highlights the work conducted by Clemson Cooperative Extension Service in SC to increase rural access to COVID-19 testing and vaccine services. Extension Agents engaged in clinical and community partnerships to coordinate COVID-19 vaccine and testing clinics in rural and underserved communities. Agents established 204 test clinics and 220 vaccination clinics. The total number of people tested and vaccinated was 9,331 and 2,037, respectively. The success of this project shows Extension agents can be instrumental in bridging the gap between clinical resources and rural communities.

Single-Institutional Analysis Of Post-Splenectomy Vaccine Administration And Infectious Complications In Trauma Patients, Rebekah Fayard, Logan Gold, Lillian Bellfi, John Hunt, Alan Marr, Lance Stuke, Patrick Greiffenstein, Jonathan Schoen, Monique St. Romain, Cynthia Armstrong, Ana Payne, Alison A. Smith

Surgery Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

A Novel Humanized Mouse Model For Hiv And Tuberculosis Co-Infection Studies, José Alejandro Bohórquez, Sitaramaraju Adduri, Danish Ansari, John Sahana, And Additional Authors

School of Medicine Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), continues to be a major public health problem worldwide. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is another equally important life-threatening pathogen. HIV infection decreases CD4+ T cell levels markedly increasing Mtb co-infections. An appropriate animal model for HIV/Mtb co-infection that can recapitulate the diversity of the immune response in humans during co-infection would facilitate basic and translational research in HIV/Mtb infections. Herein, we describe a novel humanized mouse model. Methods: The irradiated NSG-SGM3 mice were transplanted with human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, and the humanization was monitored by staining various immune cell markers …

Pyogenic Tenosynovitis Of Tibialis Anterior Tendon After Cat Bite, Daniel Blascak, David Sosnoski, Aaron Seidman

Posters

Pyogenic tenosynovitis is a bacterial infection of the synovial sheath that surrounds a tendon.

Commonly occurs within flexor tendons of the hand; theoretically can occur within any sheathed tendon.

Delayed diagnosis may lead to spread of infection to surrounding tissues and tendon rupture.

Tibialis anterior tendon is encased in a synovial sheath that runs from above the superior extensor retinaculum to the talonavicular joint.

Only five cases of pyogenic tenosynovitis of the tibialis anterior tendon have been reported in the literature.

None of the reported cases were due to animal bite injury.

The Impact Of Certified Pool Operator Training On Swimming Pool Inspection Outcomes, Vonia Louise Grabeel

Online Theses and Dissertations

Background: At the time of this study, the Commonwealth of Kentucky had over 3,800 active public bathing or swimming pool facilities. In compliance with 902 KRS 10:010 Kentucky Swimming and Bathing Facility regulation, all bathing and swimming pools for public access are subject to inspection and monitoring by local and state health agencies. The regulation requires the facilities to be inspected for code violations on the protection and safety of swimming patrons. It mandates inspections on: water supply and wastewater disposal; bathhouses and attendant structures; safety; and general facility operations. However, the regulations do not require the pool operators or …

Physician Burnout And The Marital Relationship: Spouse Perspective, Lisa Anne Muehlenbein

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Physician burnout rates have consistently been higher than the general working population; however, recent literature suggested that after a steady decline in physician burnout rates, the COVID-19 global pandemic and additional organizational factors have caused physician burnout to reach an all-time high. Substantial research is available on physician burnout; however, little is known about how a physician’s burnout is experienced in the marital relationship through the spouse’s perspective. This basic qualitative study used purposive, convenience, and snowball sampling methods to recruit 10 female spouses of male physicians to participate in semi-structured interviews. The research question investigated the participants’ perceptions of …

Laryngeal Tuberculosis Mimicking Laryngeal Candidiasis, Claire Walters, Maranda Saigh, Eytan Keidar

Posters

Tuberculosis (TB) from the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis and candidiasis from the fungus Candida albicans are both opportunistic pathogens with the ability to instigate infections within the larynx with similar clinical features, yet vastly different diagnostic parameters and treatment regimens.

Here, we highlight a case of an Indian woman on immune-modulating drugs who presented with severe laryngeal symptoms initially presumed to be laryngeal candidiasis but was later discovered to be laryngeal tuberculosis.

Perception Of African Immigrants Living In The United States Towards Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment Hesitancy, Akinwale O. Obatayo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

About 80% of active tuberculosis (TB) cases are caused by untreated latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), with most being foreign-born United States residents. Despite the availability of preventive therapies, African immigrants living in the United States are hesitant to accept LTBI treatment. Although researchers have explored LTBI treatment hesitancy among foreign-born United States citizens, no study has explored the perspectives of African immigrants living in the United States. This generic qualitative study explored the perception of African immigrants living in the United States on LTBI treatment hesitancy. Participants’ inclusion criteria include those 18 years and older with a positive TB test, …

Jamestown Canyon Virus Meningoencephalitis: A Case Report, Amy Ishbia, Hannah Guide, Matthew Sierra, Jonathan Doty

Posters

Jamestown Canyon virus is a rare mosquito-borne orthobunyavirus that typically is asymptomatic or causes mild symptoms. However, it can rarely cause severe neuroinvasive disease [2,5]. The primary hosts include white-tailed deer, although moose, elk, and bison can also be hosts [2].

Typically, cases are seen between April and September, with a bimodal distribution peaking in spring and late summer [2].

Number of cases in the U.S. in 2024: 16 total cases, 11 neuroinvasive [1]. Number of cases in the U.S. between 2011-2023: 308, with 10 deaths, 206 neuroinvasive. One case was reported from Alpena, MI, where our patient resided [1].