Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Epidemiology And Pathophysiology Of Common Skin Diseases In West Africa: An Immunodermatological Framework, Osazomon Imarenezor

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

This capstone reviews the common skin diseases on a global scale. With these dermatoses being further funneled into Africa and then magnified into common West African dermatoses, the meta-analyses of literature available paints a clear picture of the epidemiological & pathological factors and their contribution to the skin disease. Each article analysed in this analysis was taken from a 20-year span of January 2000 to December 2019. The selection of articles was fine-tuned by identifying the distribution of skin disease, revealing the populations affected (age, gender, ethnicity, etc), the main causes, country of origin, the prognosis of disease, and the …

Video Education For Improved Education Of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis Patients, Theresa Mccrumb

Doctoral Projects

Anxiety and depression are prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, especially those newly diagnosed. Receiving a diagnosis of MS can be overwhelming and impact patients in multiple areas including physical issues, cognitive changes and anxiety and depression (Kantor, Bright & Burtchell, 2017). This anxiety and depression can cause patients to be less engaged in their plan of care and thereby reduce their quality of life (Rieckmann, et al., 2015). According to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA), four of 10 MS patients are diagnosed with depression and anxiety, with the highest incidence at diagnosis (Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, …

Associations Among Beef Cattle Genotypes, Neospora Caninum Infection, And Reproductive Performance, Ryan James Page

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Reproductive performance is crucial for sustained financial success in the beef cattle industry. This dissertation includes a population study that quantified the incidence of Neospora caninum infections in the central region of the United States and tested its relationship with reproductive performance in beef cattle. Trial one of that study concluded that 6.9% of open, replacement heifers (n = 1306) tested seropositive. The second trial in that project found that 9.6% of the breeding age females (n = 500) tested were seropositive for Neospora caninum; and that state in which the cattle lived and age impacted (P < 0.05) infection rate. Breed composition, number of farm dogs on the ranch, and use of total mixed rations were not associated (P > 0.1) with seropositive …

On The Dynamics And Structure Of Multiple Strain Epidemic Models And Genotype Networks, Blake Joseph Mitchell Williams

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Mathematical disease modeling has long operated under the assumption that any one infectious disease is caused by one transmissible pathogen. This paradigm has been useful in simplifying the biological reality of epidemics and has allowed the modeling community to focus on the complexity of other factors such as contact structure and interventions. However, there is an increasing amount of evidence that the strain diversity of pathogens, and their interplay with the host immune system, can play a large role in shaping the dynamics of epidemics.

This body of work first explores the role of strain-transcending immunity in mathematical disease models, …

State Park Selection As Determined By User Health, Connor Phelan

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether state park difficulty affected location of travel. This study was conducted at three state park locations within the United States. Surveys and on-site examinations were made at the following locations; Wilson State Park, Kansas, Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas, and Kiholo State Park, Hawaii. Park locations were chosen by varying levels of terrain difficulty, as well as a rating from the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum. Participants were asked to report data via iPads on exercise habits, mobility limiting impairments, and frequency of exercise so a ranking of the healthiest participants could be …

Investigating The Morphology Of Iprgcs In Control Vs. Glaucomatous Retinas, Samantha Cook

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Glaucoma is a build-up of pressure in the eye that leads to the gradual loss of sight. The intention of this study was to investigate how glaucoma affects intrinsically photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells (ipRGCs). These cells contain melanopsin, a photopigment, that enables the cells to react to light. Four-month-old control and five-month-old glaucoma mice retinas were dissected, stained using primary and secondary antibodies, then traced using ImageJ’s Simple Neurite Tracer. There were no significant differences in soma size, total dendritic length, dendritic field size, and dendritic field diameter between control and glaucoma ipRGCs. However, further research is needed to provide …

The Delicacy Of Breath: Tribute To Cystic Fibrosis, Natalie Minns

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

A simple breath is something that we do not completely focus on enough in the art of dance, and it can be something that we often take for granted. For my project, my goal is to not only shed light on the simple breath, but to delve deeper into its importance in someone living with a breathing condition. My ultimate goal is to allow these separate entities to coexist through a piece of choreographic work. Through the art of dance, I want to be able to bring awareness to cystic fibrosis (CF) in a more expansive and exploratory approach. This …