Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Assessment Of Risk Of Dengue And Yellow Fever Virus Transmission In Three Major Kenyan Cities Based On Stegomyia Indices, Sheila B. Agha, David P. Tchouassi, Armanda D.S. Bastos, Rosemary Sang

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Dengue (DEN) and yellow fever (YF) are re-emerging in East Africa, with contributing drivers to this trend being unplanned urbanization and increasingly adaptable anthropophilic Aedes (Stegomyia) vectors. Entomological risk assessment of these diseases remains scarce for much of East Africa and Kenya even in the dengue fever-prone urban coastal areas. Focusing on major cities of Kenya, we compared DEN and YF risk in Kilifi County (DEN-outbreak-prone), and Kisumu and Nairobi Counties (no documented DEN outbreaks). We surveyed water-holding containers for mosquito immature (larvae/pupae) indoors and outdoors from selected houses during the long rains, short rains and dry seasons (100 houses/season) …

Molecular Detection Of Tick-Borne Pathogen Diversities In Ticks From Livestock And Reptiles Along The Shores And Adjacent Islands Of Lake Victoria And Lake Baringo, Kenya, David Omondi, Daniel K. Masiga, Burtram C. Fielding, Edward Kariuki, Yvonne Ukamaka Ajamma, Micky M. Mwamuye, Daniel O. Ouso, Jandouwe Villinger

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Although diverse tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) are endemic to East Africa, with recognized impact on human and livestock health, their diversity and specific interactions with tick and vertebrate host species remain poorly understood in the region. In particular, the role of reptiles in TBP epidemiology remains unknown, despite having been implicated with TBPs of livestock among exported tortoises and lizards. Understanding TBP ecologies, and the potential role of common reptiles, is critical for the development of targeted transmission control strategies for these neglected tropical disease agents. During the wet months (April-May; October-December) of 2012-2013, we surveyed TBP diversity among 4,126 ticks …

High Performance Computation Of Cardiac Models In Real-Time Using Webgl, Abouzar Kaboudian, Flavio H. Fenton

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Experimental Design For Parameter Estimation In An Allometric Food Web Model, Amanda Laubmeier

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Modeling The Breakup Of A Two-Layer Tear Film, Michael Stapf

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Unfolding Suicidality, Samantha N. Danko

Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Daily Home Fortification With Iron As Ferrous Fumarate Versus Nafeedta: A Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Non-Inferiority Trial In Kenyan Children, Emily M. Teshome, Pauline E.A. Andang'o, Victor Osoti, Sofie R. Terwel, Walter Otieno, Ayse Y. Demir, Andrew M. Prentice, Hans Verhoef

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: We aimed to show the non-inferiority of home fortification with a daily dose of 3 mg iron in the form of iron as ferric sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (NaFeEDTA) compared with 12.5 mg iron as encapsulated ferrous fumarate in Kenyan children aged 12-36 months. In addition, we updated a recent meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of home fortification with iron-containing powders, with a view to examining diversity in trial results. Methods: We gave chemoprevention by dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, albendazole and praziquantel to 338 afebrile children with haemoglobin concentration ≥70 g/L. We randomly allocated them to daily home fortification for 30 days with either …

Behavioral Activation For Smoking Cessation And Mood Management Following A Cardiac Event: Results Of A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Andrew M. Busch, Erin M. Tooley, Shira Dunsiger, Elizabeth A. Chattillion, John Fani Srour, Sherry L. Pagoto, Christopher W. Kahler, Belinda Borrelli

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Smoking cessation following hospitalization for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) significantly reduces subsequent mortality. Depressed mood is a major barrier to cessation post-ACS. Although existing counseling treatments address smoking and depression independently in ACS patients, no integrated treatment addresses both. We developed an integrated treatment combining gold standard cessation counseling with behavioral activation-based mood management; Behavioral Activation Treatment for Cardiac Smokers (BAT-CS). The purpose of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to test feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of BAT-CS vs. Standard of Care (SC). Methods: Participants were recruited during hospitalization for ACS and were randomly assigned to BAT-CS or …

Effect Of Early Tranexamic Acid Administration On Mortality, Hysterectomy, And Other Morbidities In Women With Post-Partum Haemorrhage (Woman): An International, Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial, Haleema Shakur-Still, Ian Roberts, Rizwana Chaudhri, Bukola Fawole, Mohamed El-Sheikh, Adesina L. Akintan, Zahida Qureshi, Hussein Kidanto, Bellington Vwalika, Abdulfetah Abdulkadir

Faculty of Health Sciences, East Africa

Background Post-partum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Early administration of tranexamic acid reduces deaths due to bleeding in trauma patients. We aimed to assess the effects of early administration of tranexamic acid on death, hysterectomy, and other relevant outcomes in women with post-partum haemorrhage.

Methods In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited women aged 16 years and older with a clinical diagnosis of post-partum haemorrhage after a vaginal birth or caesarean section from 193 hospitals in 21 countries. We randomly assigned women to receive either 1 g intravenous tranexamic acid or matching placebo in addition …

Ethnic Groups’ Knowledge, Attitude And Practices And Rift Valley Fever Exposure In Isiolo County Of Kenya, Hippolyte Affognon, Peter Mburu, Osama Ahmed Hassan, Sarah Kingori, Clas Ahlm, Rosemary Sang, Magnus Evander

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an emerging mosquito-borne viral hemorrhagic fever in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, affecting humans and livestock. For spread of infectious diseases, including RVF, knowledge, attitude and practices play an important role, and the understanding of the influence of behavior is crucial to improve prevention and control efforts. The objective of the study was to assess RVF exposure, in a multiethnic region in Kenya known to experience RVF outbreaks, from the behavior perspective. We investigated how communities in Isiolo County, Kenya were affected, in relation to their knowledge, attitude and practices, by the RVF outbreak of …

Outcomes Of Early Transition From Intravenous To Oral Antimicrobial Treatment In Pediatric Osteomyelitis, Sofia Rahmanzai

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

The purpose of this clinical study is to determine the effectiveness of the updated treatment for acute osteomyelitis. This treatment plan consists of early transition from intravenous to oral antimicrobial therapy. The efficaciousness of these therapies were compared with post-discharge outcomes and complication rates. This study will utilize patient records during 2011 to 2016 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Children’s Hospital and Medical Center. The study includes patients aged from 1 month to 18 years for acute or unspecified osteomyelitis. Excluded patients are children with chronic osteomyelitis, hospitalization of ten or more days, patients with comorbid conditions …

The Role Of Hyalomma Truncatum On The Dynamics Of Rift Valley Fever: Insights From A Mathematical Epidemic Model, Sansao A. Pedro, Shirley Abelman, Henri E.Z. Tonnang

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

To date, our knowledge of Rift Valley fever (RVF) disease spread and maintenance is still limited, as flooding, humid weather and presence of biting insects such as mosquitoes, have not completely explained RVF outbreaks. We propose a model that includes livestock, mosquitoes and ticks compartments structured according to their questing and feeding behaviour in order to study the possible role of ticks on the dynamics of RVF. To quantify disease transmission at the initial stage of the epidemic, we derive an explicit formula of the basic reproductive number, R0. Using the concept of Metzler matrix, we state necessary conditions for …

Distribution And Abundance Of Key Vectors Of Rift Valley Fever And Other Arboviruses In Two Ecologically Distinct Counties In Kenya, Rosemary Sang, Samwel Arum, Edith Chepkorir, Gladys Mosomtai, Caroline Tigoi, Faith Sigei, Olivia Wesula Lwande, Tobias Landmann, Hippolyte Affognon, Clas Ahlm, Magnus Evander

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis of ruminants and humans that causes outbreaks in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula with significant public health and economic consequences. Humans become infected through mosquito bites and contact with infected livestock. The virus is maintained between outbreaks through vertically infected eggs of the primary vectors of Aedes species which emerge following rains with extensive flooding. Infected female mosquitoes initiate transmission among nearby animals, which amplifies virus, thereby infecting more mosquitoes and moving the virus beyond the initial point of emergence. With each successive outbreak, RVF has been found to expand …

The One Health Approach To Identify Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices That Affect Community Involvement In The Control Of Rift Valley Fever Outbreaks, Osama Ahmed Hassan, Hippolyte Affognon, Joacim Rocklöv, Peter Mburu, Rosemary Sang, Clas Ahlm, Magnus Evander

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral mosquito-borne disease with the potential for global expansion, causes hemorrhagic fever, and has a high case fatality rate in young animals and in humans. Using a cross-sectional community-based study design, we investigated the knowledge, attitudes and practices of people living in small village in Sudan with respect to RVF outbreaks. A special One Health questionnaire was developed to compile data from 235 heads of household concerning their knowledge, attitudes, and practices with regard to controlling RVF. Although the 2007 RVF outbreak in Sudan had negatively affected the participants’ food availability and livestock income, …

Novel Rickettsia And Emergent Tick-Borne Pathogens: A Molecular Survey Of Ticks And Tick-Borne Pathogens In Shimba Hills National Reserve, Kenya, Micky M. Mwamuye, Edward Kariuki, David Omondi, James Kabii, David Odongo, Daniel Masiga, Jandouwe Villinger

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Ticks are important vectors of emerging and re-emerging zoonoses, the majority of which originate from wildlife. In recent times, this has become a global public health concern that necessitates surveillance of both known and unknown tick-borne pathogens likely to be future disease threats, as well as their tick vectors. We carried out a survey of the diversity of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Kenya's Shimba Hills National Reserve (SHNR), an area with intensified human-livestock-wildlife interactions, where we collected 4297 questing ticks (209 adult ticks, 586 nymphs and 3502 larvae). We identified four tick species of two genera (Amblyomma eburneum, Amblyomma …

Mycotoxins In Sub-Saharan Africa: Present Situation, Socio-Economic Impact, Awareness, And Outlook, Patchimaporn Udomkun, Alexander Nimo Wiredu, Marcus Nagle, Ranajit Bandyopadhyay, Joachim Müller, Bernard Vanlauwe

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Many studies have reported the occurrence of mycotoxin in human foods and animal feeds in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, and zearalenone are among the most hazardous mycotoxins produced by fungal species, mainly in the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium. Due to their high stability, mycotoxins are a cause of concern not only during crop production, but also in storage, transport, processing, and post-processing steps. Mycotoxin contamination is one factor that reduces the competitiveness of agricultural commodities from SSA for export. Moreover, these impurities negatively impact the health of humans and livestock which affects household security, livelihood, productivity, and …

The Effect Of Current Low Back Pain On Volitional Preemptive Abdominal Activation During A Loaded Forward Reach Activity, V. R. Nagar, T. L. Hooper, G. S. Dedrick, J. M. Brismee, M. K. Mcgalliard, P. S. Sizer

Physical Therapy

No abstract provided.

Attenuation Of Postoperative Adhesions Using A Modeled Manual Therapy (Data Files), Geoffrey M. Bove, Susan L. Chapelle, Katherine E. Hanlon, Michael P. Diamond, David J. Mokler

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

These files include data and figures utilized to research and communicate the following:

Postoperative adhesions are pathological attachments that develop between abdominopelvic structures following surgery. Considered unavoidable and ubiquitous, postoperative adhesions lead to bowel obstructions, infertility, pain, and reoperations, and represent a substantial health care challenge. Despite over a century of research, no preventive treatment exists. Based on the hypothesis that postoperative adhesions develop from a lack of movement of the abdominopelvic organs, we proposed a relatively simple treatment approach using a modified manual therapy technique that mobilizes abdominopelvic structures in the immediate postoperative period while they are otherwise rendered …

Dynamical System Modeling To Simulate Donor T Cell Response To Whole Exome Sequencing-Derived Recipient Peptides: Understanding Randomness In Alloreactivity Incidence Following Stem Cell Transplantation, Vishal Koparde, Badar Abdul Razzaq, Tara Suntum, Roy Sabo, Allison Scalora, Myrna Serrano, Max Jameson-Lee, Charles Hall, David Kobulnicky, Nihar Sheth, Juliana Feltz, Daniel Contaifer, Dayanjan Wijesinghe, Jason Reed, Catherine Roberts, Rehan Qayyum, Gregory Buck, Michael Neale, Amir Toor

Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Data

Quantitative relationship between the magnitude of variation in minor histocompatibility antigens (mHA) and graft versus host disease (GVHD) pathophysiology in stem cell transplant (SCT) donor-recipient pairs (DRP) is not established. In order to elucidate this relationship, whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on 27 HLA matched related (MRD), & 50 unrelated donors (URD), to identify nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). An average 2,463 SNPs were identified in MRD, and 4,287 in URD DRP (p

Saving Lives And Reducing Harm: A Cauti Reduction Program, K. A. Scanlon, C. M. Wells, L. Woolforde, A. Khameraj, J. Baumgarten

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Making Marble Powder Waste Profitable By Using Nano-Tio2 Surface Modification For Air Quality Improvement Applications, Yaxiong Ji, Xing Rong, Hong Zhong, Yuanhao Wang, Shifeng Wang, Lin Lu

Faculty of Science & Technology (THEi)

We report a brand new recycling route of waste marble powder, by means of surface modification with homemade nano-TiO2 particles to produce low cost coating materials for the application in air quality improvement. The as-prepared nano-TiO2 in anatase phase exhibits excellent photocatalytic characteristic, reflected by the high degradation rate of over 95% of methylene blue within 6 hours of UV irradiation. The prepared coating consisting of nano-TiO2 clad marble powder was tested by monitoring the decomposition rate of formaldehyde gas. A high degradation efficiency of about 95% within 9 hours of illumination is achieved, demonstrating a promising potential for removing …

Silencing Science.Pptx, Kai Hung

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

This is a non-peer reviewed teaching resource.

Leonard Bagalwa, Leonard Bagalwa, Tsos

TSOS Interview Gallery

Leonard was forced to join the military at the age of 17 in his home country of the Congo. A Catholic priest smuggled me out of the country and I lived in refugee camps in several different countries until 2004 when he came to the United States.

In 2005, a couple came to Leonard when he was homeless in the Provo library. They found out that he needed help and offered to let me live with them. They ended up paying my tuition for my education and I went to college for five years.

Leonard uses his experiences to teach …

Improving Adherence To Hepatitis C Screening: A Pilot Project, Thuy Vu

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to determine whether implementing a clinical prompt reminder in the electronic medical record (EMR) would improve provider's adherence to Hepatitis C Viral (HCV) screening per the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guideline. Background: Nearly four million Americans are infected with HCV, but the majority are unaware of their status (CDC, 2012). HCV is a chronic progressive disease and is strongly associated with liver cancer and other HCV complications in untreated individuals (El-Serag, 2012). Although HCV can be cured, the lack of HCV screening makes the disease underdiagnosed and undertreated. Methodology: A …

Improving Compliance With Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines For Bipolar I Depression Treatment By Mental Health Clinicians, Ket Davis

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Background: A large body of literature describes poor compliance among mental health providers with evidence-based practice (EBP) guidelines for Bipolar Disorder (BD) I depression treatment. Poor compliance to EBP guidelines has been linked to unfavorable patient outcomes. Specifically, the use of antidepressants (AD) in the treatment of BD has been linked to flares of mania and hypomania. Despite the ineffectiveness of these drugs, clinicians continue to use them. At one mental health primary care site, a lack of compliance with EBP guidelines for AD use in BD I depression was found. The purpose of this project was to implement a …

Evaluating Knowledge Of And Adherence To Chronic Kidney Disease Early Detection Guidelines: Education Intervention For Healthcare Providers In An Acute Care Setting, Hedrine Nana

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

Purpose: The purpose of the scholarly project was to evaluate the effect of an education intervention to increase healthcare providers' knowledge and adherence to Kidney Disease I Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2012 guidelines for CKD early detection in an adult population admitted to an Emergency Department (ED) observation unit in a tertiary hospital. Design: Through chart audits, a descriptive pre- and posttest design of two independent groups of patients admitted to ED observation status was used to determine healthcare providers' adherence to KDIGO CKD early detection. An education intervention using an investigator developed Identify-Detect-Intervene algorithm and survey were conducted prior …

An Educational Teaching Intervention For Patients Taking Warfarin, Sheryl D. Davis

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Scholarly Projects - Archive

A trial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are serious medical disorders that require anticoagulation to prevent potential problems such as stroke and/or death. Warfarin has been the anticoagulant used for over 50 years and continues to be prescribed despite the development of novel oral anticoagulant (NOAC) agents. Many studies mention the perils associated with patients' inadequate knowledge about warfarin and highlight the importance of patient education on warfarin anticoagulation in their conclusions (Vormfelde et al., 2014). By augmenting current instructive strategies with a validated, standardized questionnaire designed to assess sustained knowledge, areas needing reinforcement were targeted. Method: For this …

Relationship Between Engagement And Level Of Functional Status In Older Adults, Thomas A. Dombrowsky

Nursing Faculty Publications & Presentations - Archive

Functional status is an important component of quality of life for older adults and for their caregivers. Factors associated with level of functional status include age, comorbidity, cognitive status, depression, social support, and activity. Of the types of activity linked with functional status, the strongest evidence is for physical exercise, with weaker evidence for social and productive activity. Engagement is a construct including motivation, commitment, and participation. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether or not engagement is associated with level of functional status after controlling for age, comorbidity, and depression among older adults. Methods: In all, …

Effects Of Environmental Stressors And Design On Patient Outcomes In Icu Patients, Lauren Lea Mcnary, Jenea Ruttino, Kylie Thanasiu

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Over four million patients are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) every year. The ICU, along with many health care settings, is generally regarded as a stress inducing environment, which may contribute to negative patient outcomes. Yet, there has been little progress in developing environments that are optimal to patient healing and using evidence-based design for ICUs. Aspects of environment studied that can be manipulated to increase positive patient outcomes are aroma, light, noise, private rooms, windows, and layout of the room. The purpose of this systematic review is to answer the PICO question, in hospitalized critically ill adults, …

Characteristics Of Cigarette Smoking In Individuals In Smoking Concordant And Smoking Discordant Couples, Erin M. Tooley, Belinda Borrelli

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Partner smoking status may impact smoking cessation outcomes. The purpose of this study is to compare smokers in smoking concordant couples (both partners smoke) to smokers in smoking discordant couples (one partner smokes) on variables that are important for quitting smoking. Participants were 123 cigarette smokers with cohabitating romantic partners (smoking discordant: n = 60, smoking concordant: n = 63, 63.9% females). We used one-way MANCOVA, controlling for age and number of cigarettes smoked per day, to examine differences between groups on smoking outcome expectancies, motivation to quit smoking, and dyadic efficacy to quit smoking. We examined smoking behavior in …