Digital Commons Network^™

An Abnormal Presentation Of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: A Case Report, Joshua J. Nelson, Kaedon Buchmiller, Michael J. Valentine, Kirthika Lakshmanan, Ankur Kayastha, Jagjot S. Dhingra, Riley G. Fisher, Connor A. Parry, Annie K. Konrad, Arman Mughal, Carol E. Kirila

Student Publications

The intracellular coccobacilli Rickettsia rickettsii causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a potentially fatal illness. This bacterium is transmitted to humans through a tick vector. Patients classically present with a triad of symptoms, including fever, headache, and a rash that begins on the extremities and spreads proximally to the trunk. Diagnosis of this disease can prove difficult when patients have unusual symptoms, such as hypertensive crisis. In this case report, we present a 29-year-old male who arrived at the emergency room with altered mental status and a hypertensive crisis after his family reported one week of changes in his behavior. The …

Covid-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Among People Living With And Without Hiv In South Carolina, Usa: Protocol Of A Population-Based Cohort Study, Xueying Yang, Jiajia Zhang Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi, Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Introduction Despite the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes, a small percentage of fully vaccinated persons will develop symptomatic or asymptomatic infections with SARSCoV-2, which is referred to as ‘breakthrough COVID-19’. People living with HIV (PLWH) appear to have an elevated risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, yet the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine in this population remains unclear due to the limited research efforts in this population in the real world. This study aims to characterise and compare the breakthrough COVID-19 (eg, prevalence and disease severity) between PLWH and non-PLWH and then examine whether HIV markers play …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles (Cuo-Nps) As Larvicidal Agents Against Aedes Aegypti Larvae In A Laboratory Setup, Muhammad Ahsan Riaz, Ayesha Riaz, Muhammad Asif Mahmood, Muhammad Uzair Mukhtar, Waseem Akram, Ehtisham Arshad, Zaib Un Nisa, Beenish Ijaz, Muhammad Shahid Rasool

Journal of Bioresource Management

The control of Aedes aegypti (A. aegypti), the primary vector for dengue virus, requires effective larvicidal agents to target larvae breeding in various water sources. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) as larvicidal agents against A. aegypti larvae in a laboratory setup. Larvae were exposed to CuO-NPs at five contrasting concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, and 30 mg/l). Twenty-five fourth instar larvae were subjected to each concentration with three replicates and one control with the same number (n=25) of larvae under optimum laboratory conditions. The larval mortality was calculated after 24 hours. …

A Review On Trichomonas Vaginalis And The Impact Of Some Demographic Variables On The Prevalence In Iraq, Wesam Jasim Hansh

Maaen Journal for Medical Sciences

Trichomoniasis is a parasitic disease that infects the genitourinary system in humans and is caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. This disease has a high classification among non-viral sexually transmitted diseases in the world comprising Iraq. The Data in the present review about prevalence of T. vaginalis in Iraq were collected using databases such as (Iraqi Academic scientific Journals, Google scholar, Medline and pubMed) based on the recent studies. The current review exhibited that the highest infection rate by this parasite in females was 75.22%, 62% in Maysan and Tikrit provinces respectively, and the lowest infection rate was 1.6% and 1.66% …

The Impact Of Essential Amino Acids On The Gut Microbiota Of Broiler Chickens, Thyneice Taylor-Bowden, Sarayu Bhogoju, Collins N. Khwatenge, Samuel N. Nahashon

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

The research involving the beneficial aspects of amino acids being added to poultry feed pertaining to performance, growth, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio is extensive. Yet currently the effects of amino acids on the gut microbiota aren’t fully understood nor have there been many studies executed in poultry to explain the relationship between amino acids and the gut microbiota. The overall outcome of health has been linked to bird gut health due to the functionality of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) for digestion/absorption of nutrients as well as immune response. These essential functions of the GI are greatly driven by the …

Authentication Of Cybernetic Avatars And Legal System Challenges; With A View To The Trial Concept Of New Dimensional Domain Jurisprudence (Ai, Robot, And Avatar Law), Fumio Shimpo

Japanese Society and Culture

This article aims to illustrate the basis for the development of authentication, which will be the foundation of future cybernetic-avatar (CA) infrastructures, enabling the safe and secure use of CA’s. This will be realised by the authentication of CA operators (User Authentication Technology), identification and authentication of CA’s (CA Authentication), and ensuring connectivity and existence between operators (User Entities) and the CA’s themselves (CA Notarisation). An ELSI (Ethical, Legal, Social Implications) research platform will be established, to develop a new dimension of the legal field, that is, AI, Robot, and Avatar Law to solve the social issues and realise an …

A New Federalist Approach To Reducing Gun Violence: Model State Policy For Medicaid-Funded, Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs, Racquel Bozzelli

Buffalo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Non-Thermal Plasma Reduces Hsv-1 Infection Of And Replication In Hacat Keratinocytes In Vitro, Julia Sutter, Jascha Brettschneider, Brian Wigdahl, Peter Bruggeman, Fred Krebs, Vandana Miller

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a lifelong pathogen characterized by asymptomatic latent infection in the trigeminal ganglia (TG), with periodic outbreaks of cold sores caused by virus reactivation in the TG and subsequent replication in the oral mucosa. While antiviral therapies can provide relief from cold sores, they are unable to eliminate HSV-1. We provide experimental results that highlight non-thermal plasma (NTP) as a new alternative therapy for HSV-1 infection that would resolve cold sores faster and reduce the establishment of latent infection in the TG. Additionally, this study is the first to explore the use of NTP …

Using Dematel, Clustering, And Fuzzy Logic For Supply Chain Evaluation Of Electric Vehicles: A Scor Model, Mehrbakhsh Nilashi, Rabab Ali Abumalloh, Hossein Ahmadi, Mesfer Alrizq, Hamad Abosaq, Abdullah Alghamdi, Murtaza Farooque, Syed Salman Mahmood

School of Nursing and Midwifery

The transportation sector is considered among the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Given advancements in transportation technology, customers’ willingness to reduce carbon footprints, as well as policy incentives, Electric Vehicles (EVs) are becoming an increasingly important part of the passenger vehicle industry. Evaluation of Supply Chain (SC) performance in the EV industry seems to contribute significantly to the enhancement of the operational consequences across the supply chain tiers. The SCOR (Supply Chain Operations Reference) model was designed to help businesses optimize their supply chain operations, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction. Although many performance measurement models have been developed …

Unlocking The Promise Of The ″Miracle Tree: A Review On Therapeutic Applications And Phytochemistry Of Moringa Oleifera L., Ali Zeeshan, Mubashrah Munir, Sehrish Sadia

Journal of Bioresource Management

Moringa oleifera, commonly known as the "miracle tree", has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and has recently garnered interest from the scientific community for its therapeutic potential. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the phytochemistry, nutritional composition, and medicinal properties of different parts of M. oleifera. The leaves, pods, bark, roots, seeds, and flowers contain various essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, and phytochemicals such as flavonoids, glucosinolates, and phenolic acids. These bioactive compounds confer anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, anti-venom, and wound healing properties. Extracts and isolates from M. oleifera have shown …

Association Of Nightly Fasting, Meal Frequency, And Skipping Meals With Metabolic Syndrome Among Kuwaiti Adults, Fatema Alkhulaifi, Suad Al-Hooti, Sameer Al-Zenki, Husam Alomirah, Qian Xiao, Wenyaw Chan, Fuqing Wu, Charles Darkoh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mounting evidence suggests that meal timing and frequency are associated with cardiometabolic health by influencing circadian rhythms. However, the evidence is inconsistent and limited, especially in non-Western cultures. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the association between temporal habits of dietary intake, such as nightly fasting duration and meal frequency, and metabolic syndrome among Kuwaiti adults. A 24-hour recall was used to assess temporal habits of dietary intake. Meal frequency was defined as the number of daily eating episodes. The study included a total of 757 adults aged 20 years and older. The participants' mean age was 37.8 ± 12.3 …

Drug Modification Of Synaptic Plasticity At The Inhibitory Synapses Involving Gaba Neurons In The Ventral Tegmental Area, Jie Wu

Theses and Dissertations

The neurobiological underpinnings of substance use disorders (SUDs) involve complex alterations in synaptic plasticity within the mesolimbic dopamine system, particularly within the ventral tegmental area (VTA). While dopamine neurons in the VTA are extensively studied in addiction research, less attention has been given to the plasticity exhibited by VTA GABAergic neurons, despite their established regulatory role in modulating dopamine cell activity. Building upon the ground-breaking work of Bocklisch et al. (2013), we investigated the plasticity at the GABAergic to VTA GABA neuron (VTA GABA-to-GABA) synapse utilizing whole-cell electrophysiology in GAD67 GFP knock-in mice. Our findings revealed an exceptionally rare duo-plasticity …

Faculty Senate Agenda, Georgia Southern University, Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Antitumor Efficacy And Safety Of Unedited Autologous Cd5car T Cells In Relapsed/Refractory Mature T-Cell Lymphomas, Laquisa C Hill, Rayne H Rouce, Mengfen J Wu, Tao Wang, Royce Ma, Huimin Zhang, Birju Mehta, Natalia Lapteva, Zhuyong Mei, Tyler S Smith, Lina Yang, Madhuwanti Srinivasan, Phillip M Burkhardt, Carlos A Ramos, Premal Lulla, Martha Arredondo, Bambi Grilley, Helen E Heslop, Malcolm K Brenner, Maksim Mamonkin

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Despite newer targeted therapies, patients with primary refractory or relapsed (r/r) T-cell lymphoma have a poor prognosis. The development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell platforms to treat T-cell malignancies often requires additional gene modifications to overcome fratricide because of shared T-cell antigens on normal and malignant T cells. We developed a CD5-directed CAR that produces minimal fratricide by downmodulating CD5 protein levels in transduced T cells while retaining strong cytotoxicity against CD5⁺ malignant cells. In our first-in-human phase 1 study (NCT0308190), second-generation autologous CD5.CAR T cells were manufactured from patients with r/r T-cell malignancies. Here, we report safety …

The Role Of A Cancer Testis-Antigen In Regulating Tumor Growth And Oncogenic Pathways In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer., Melina J. Sedano, Alana L. Harrison, Victoria Reid, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani, Shrikanth S. Gadad

Research Symposium

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, after lung cancer. Unfortunately, it is the primary cause of death among Hispanic women. Approximately 10-20% of breast cancers are classified as basal (triple-negative) subtypes, which are challenging to treat due to the absence of specific targets. Triple-negative breast cancer is a highly aggressive and lethal type of tumor, particularly among Hispanic women, with a poor prognosis compared to other breast cancer subtypes. Therefore, it is crucial to identify new molecules with therapeutic and prognostic values to treat this evolving disease. Multiple studies have demonstrated that X-linked genes …

Research Advances On The Association Between Human Milk Oligosaccharides And Infant Health, Jiang Yikang, Dong Ling, Liu Hongfei, Pan Lina, Hu Yibo, Peng Xiyang, Kang Wenli, Peng Xiaoyu, Wang Jiaqi, Li Wei

Food and Machinery

Human milk oligosaccharides （HMOs） are a group of complex glycans in human milk and play an important role in promoting the growth and development of infants, and more than 200 kinds of HMOs have been identified so far. In this paper, the types and structures of HMOs and their roles in improving infant intestinal health, promoting immune system development and brain development were reviewed. The application status of HMOs was summarized, the possibility and necessity of industrial production and application of HMOs in the future were prospected.

Optimization Of Culture Conditions For Maximum Viable Count Of Brevibacillus Laterosporus Based On Mtt Colorimetry And Response Surface Methodology, Song Peng, Li Lixiang, Zhao Biao, Wang Zele, Sun Xingxin

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to explore the optimal medium composition and culture conditions for obtaining the maximum viable count of Brevibacillus laterosporus. Methods: Based on establishing the correlation regression equation between the MTT colorimetric method and plate counting method, the optimal medium composition (carbon source, nitrogen source, inorganic salt) and fermentation conditions (initial pH, temperature, inoculation amount, KH₂PO₄) for obtaining the maximum viable count of B. laterosporus were optimized. Results: A significant linear correlation for viable count determination between MTT colorimetry and plate counting (R²>0.999) was found; Maltose, CaCl₂, initial …

Retention Strategies: A Mixed Methods Research Study On Factors That Motivated Black Educators To Stay And Teach At A K-12 School During A National Crisis, E Jean Pemberton

Graduate Liberal Studies Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to improve retention of Black educators of K-12 schools during a national crisis. To do so, this research study investigated Black educators of K-12 schools to determine factors that motivated them to stay and teach during a national crisis. This research used Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory of Motivation- Hygiene for its theoretical framework. A convergent mixed-methods design was used to collect the qualitative and quantitative data, analyze the data separately, and then merge the data to determine the findings from this research study (Creswell, 2018). The data collected was from Black educators of K-12 …

Changing Healthy Living Behavior In The Post-Pandemic Era: New Communication Culture, Kinkin Y. S. Putri, Yasir Riadi, Annisa Putri Suwito

JURNAL KOMUNIKASI INDONESIA

Changes in human life from 2019 to 2023 were reported to shift behavior, with an emphasis on well-being. In this context, the paradigm of healthy living is important, manifesting as a new cultural phenomenon. Therefore, this research was carried out to explore the transformation of post-pandemic healthy living behaviors into new cultural practices. The paradigms of health communication, healthy living attitudes, and new communication culture were also examined. Previous research supported the hypothesis and a quantitative approach was used by distributing questionnaires in several cities. Meanwhile, the validity and reliability tests of the variables enabled the continuation of the bivariate …

Centralizing Pharmaceutical Innovation, Sapna Kumar

Maryland Law Review

No abstract provided.

Fibrinolytic-Deficiencies Predispose Hosts To Septicemia From A Catheter-Associated Uti, Jonathan J Molina, Wei Xu, Karla Bergeron, Aleksandra Klim, Michael G Caparon, Scott J Hultgren, Alana Desai, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are amongst the most common nosocomial infections worldwide and are difficult to treat partly due to development of multidrug-resistance from CAUTI-related pathogens. Importantly, CAUTI often leads to secondary bloodstream infections and death. A major challenge is to predict when patients will develop CAUTIs and which populations are at-risk for bloodstream infections. Catheter-induced inflammation promotes fibrinogen (Fg) and fibrin accumulation in the bladder which are exploited as a biofilm formation platform by CAUTI pathogens. Using our established mouse model of CAUTI, here we identified that host populations exhibiting either genetic or acquired fibrinolytic-deficiencies, inducing fibrin deposition …

Existence Of A Nonzero Worst-Case Ach For Short-Term Exposure In Ventilated Indoor Spaces, K. A. Krishnaprasad, ‪Nadim Zgheib, K. Choudhary, M. Y. Ha, C. Y. Choi, K. S. Bang, S. Jang, S. Balachandar

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

A well-ventilated room is essential to reduce the risk of airborne transmission. As such, the scientific community sets minimum limits on ventilation with the idea that increased ventilation reduces pathogen concentration and thus reduces the risk of transmission. In contrast, the upper limit on ventilation is usually determined by human comfort and the need to reduce energy consumption. While average pathogen concentration decreases with increased ventilation, local concentration depends on multiple factors and may not follow the same trend, especially within short exposure times over large separation distances. Here, we show through experiments and high-fidelity simulations the existence of a …

The Imitation Game: Drug Reaction Presenting As Autoimmunity Presenting As Syphilis, Victoria W. Murray, Liam Courtney, Judith Lightfoot

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Symposium

Introduction: Syphilis screening, a common medical test in the US, is recommended annually in sexually active women younger than 25, annually for women older than 25, and annually for men(1). Standard tests include rapid reagin tests and Venereal Disease Research Laboratory tests, which react to membrane antigens of Treponema pallidum(2). Case reports of patients with autoimmune conditions have been described (3) but rarely considered in clinical practice. Additionally, patients may be underdiagnosed with autoimmune conditions with clinically relevant antibodies (4). Here, we describe one such case where a patient received delay in care prior to referral to our service. Case …

Ebola Distribution Prediction In Africa

Defensive Publications Series

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a deadly illness with a fatality rate around 50%, which can spike to 90% during outbreaks. First identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo, EVD has caused sporadic but devastating outbreaks. The recent epidemic in West Africa is the most significant yet, affecting Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia the most due to their weak healthcare systems. This situation has highlighted the need for better global health security and international cooperation to manage such diseases. Our paper focuses on these three countries to analyze the outbreak and response strategies, aiming …

Methionyl-Trna Synthetase Synthetic And Proofreading Activities Are Determinants Of Antibiotic Persistence, Whitney N. Wood, Miguel Angel Rubio, Lorenzo Eugenio Leiva, Gregory J. Phillips, Michael Ibba

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Bacterial antibiotic persistence is a phenomenon where bacteria are exposed to an antibiotic and the majority of the population dies while a small subset enters a low metabolic, persistent, state and are able to survive. Once the antibiotic is removed the persistent population can resuscitate and continue growing. Several different molecular mechanisms and pathways have been implicated in this phenomenon. A common mechanism that may underly bacterial antibiotic persistence is perturbations in protein synthesis. To investigate this mechanism, we characterized four distinct metG mutants for their ability to increase antibiotic persistence. Two metG mutants encode changes near the catalytic site …

Hesitation Towards The Covid-19 Vaccine In The United States: A Digital Ethnographic Study [Vacilación Ante La Vacuna Contra El Covid-19 En Estados Unidos De América: Un Estudio Etnográfico Digital], Rosalynn A. Vega

Anthropology Faculty Publications

Following the authorization of the use of COVID-19 vaccines in babies age 6 months through children 4 years old in the United States, some individuals (parents, pediatricians, and communicators) framed COVID-19 vac-cination as an issue of access, while many others expressed hesitancy, and some resisted recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In this context, this study aimed to explore: 1) divergent reactions to the authorization of COVID-19 vaccine use in children aged 6 months to 4 years; and 2) opposing logics underlying attitudes towards pro-vaccination, anti-vaccination, and vaccine hesitancy regarding COVID-19 vaccines. To achieve this, a …

Changes In Human Resources Function In Higher Education Institutions During A Pandemic, Naterena Anevia Parham-Cofield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Efficacy And Feasibility Of Short-Stretch Compression Therapy For Filarial Lymphedema In Sri Lanka, Jaimee M Hall, Nirmitha Lalindi De Silva, Janaka Ruben, Sandani S Thilakarathne, Thishan Channa Yahathugoda, Philip J Budge

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The WHO-recommended essential package of care (EPC) for filarial limb lymphedema consists of daily limb washing, entry lesion management, limb protection, exercises, and elevation. Decongestive therapy (DT) with compression bandaging by trained lymphedema therapists adds additional benefit but is unavailable for most in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To determine whether DT using self-adjustable, short-stretch compression garments (SSCG), prefitted using portable, three-dimensional infrared imaging (3DII), would be effective and feasible in LMIC settings, we conducted a pilot 6-week, interventional, single-group, open-label pilot study in Galle, Sri Lanka. Ten participants with Dreyer stage 3 lymphedema used SSCG for 2 weeks after …

Exploring The Associations Between Drug Resistant Mutations, Low-Level Viremia, And Virological Failure In Persons With Hiv In Florida, Adriana Campos

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Virologic suppression is an essential part to a successful regimen for Persons with HIV (PWH) and the 95-95-95 initiative. Yet, PWH experiencing episodes of low-level viremia (LLV) may be more prone to experience virological failure (VF). Currently, studies debate the clinical relevance of LLV and its effect on virological outcomes, but none have explored its interconnectedness with drug resistant mutations (DRM) and antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence – all integral elements in predicting virological outcomes.

The goal of the proposed study was to contribute to the knowledge gap regarding the interconnectivity of drug resistant mutations, low-level viremia, adherence, and virological failure …

Community-Centered Early Warning For Outbreaks In Humanitarian Emergencies: Evaluating Community-Based Surveillance For Priority Communicable Diseases Among Internally Displaced Populations In Iraq, Caitlin M. Wolfe

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Community based surveillance (CBS) is the organized and rapid collection of information from health events identified in the community and includes the systematic detection and reporting of events of public health significance. While used globally to enhance the detection of priority diseases, CBS has not been routinely deployed in Iraq, where a once-robust health system has been devastated by decades of war, international sanctions, and large-scale population displacement. During infectious disease outbreaks, it is imperative to quickly detect and isolate suspect cases, investigate confirmed cases, and trace and monitor the contacts of confirmed cases. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the …