Diseases Commons^™

Stochastic Models Of Zoonotic Avian Influenza With Multiple Hosts, Environmental Transmission, And Migration In The Natural Reservoir, Kaia Smith

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Modeling The Effects Of Media Awareness On Sars-Cov-2 Transmission In Georgia, Eric Numfor

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Ischaemic Hepatitis (Ih): Modeling Outcome Based On Ih Patients' Attributes, Madison Utterback, Christiana Beard

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

An Agent-Based Model Of Covid-19 Transmission At Lewis University, Austin Kind, Brittany Stephenson Phd

Annual Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research

No abstract provided.

Sars-Cov-2 Spike Conformation Determines Plasma Neutralizing Activity Elicited By A Wide Panel Of Human Vaccines, John E. Bowen, Young-Jun Park, Cameron Stewart, Jack T. Brown, William K. Sharkey, Alexandra C. Walls, Anshu Joshi, Kumail Ahmed, Asefa Shariq, Najeeha Talat Iqbal

Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Numerous safe and effective coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines have been developed worldwide that use various delivery technologies and engineering strategies. We show here that vaccines containing prefusion-stabilizing S mutations elicit antibody responses in humans with enhanced recognition of S and the S1 subunit relative to postfusion S as compared with vaccines lacking these mutations or natural infection. Prefusion S and S1 antibody binding titers positively and equivalently correlated with neutralizing activity, and depletion of S1-directed antibodies completely abrogated plasma neutralizing activity. We show that neutralizing activity is almost entirely directed to the S1 subunit and that variant cross-neutralization is mediated …

A Macrocyclic Molecule With Multiple Antioxidative Activities Protects The Lens From Oxidative Damage, Jinmin Zhang, Yu Yu, Magy A. Mekhail, Hongli Wu, Kayla N. Green

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Growing evidence links oxidative stress to the development of a cataract and other diseases of the eye. Treatments for lens-derived diseases are still elusive outside of the standard surgical interventions, which still carry risks today. Therefore, a potential drug molecule ^OHPy₂N₂ was explored for the ability to target multiple components of oxidative stress in the lens to prevent cataract formation. Several pathways were identified. Here we show that the ^OHPy₂N₂ molecule activates innate catalytic mechanisms in primary lens epithelial cells to prevent damage induced by oxidative stress. This protection was linked to …

Video-Urodynamics Efficacy Of Sacral Neuromodulation For Neurogenic Bladder Guided By Three-Dimensional Imaging Ct And C-Arm Fluoroscopy: A Single-Center Prospective Study, Shuaishuai Shan, Wen Zhu, Guoxian Zhang, Qinyong Zhang, Yingyu Che, Jianguo Wen, Qingwei Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

To assess the efficacy of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) for neurogenic bladder (NB), guided by intraoperative three-dimensional imaging of sacral computed tomography (CT) and mobile C-arm fluoroscopy through video-urodynamics examination. We enrolled 52 patients with NB who underwent conservative treatment with poor results between September 2019 and June 2021 and prospectively underwent SNM guided by intraoperative three-dimensional imaging of sacral CT and mobile C-arm fluoroscopy. Video-urodynamics examination, voiding diary, quality of life questionnaire, overactive bladder symptom scale (OABSS) scoring, and bowel dysfunction exam were completed and recorded at baseline, at SNM testing, and at 6-month follow-up phases. Finally, we calculated the …

Probing Mechanisms Of Binding And Allostery In The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Omicron Variant Complexes With The Host Receptor: Revealing Functional Roles Of The Binding Hotspots In Mediating Epistatic Effects And Communication With Allosteric Pockets, Gennady M. Verkhivker, Steve Agajanian, Ryan Kassab, Keerthi Krishnan

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

In this study, we performed all-atom MD simulations of RBD–ACE2 complexes for BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, and BA.3 Omicron subvariants, conducted a systematic mutational scanning of the RBD–ACE2 binding interfaces and analysis of electrostatic effects. The binding free energy computations of the Omicron RBD–ACE2 complexes and comprehensive examination of the electrostatic interactions quantify the driving forces of binding and provide new insights into energetic mechanisms underlying evolutionary differences between Omicron variants. A systematic mutational scanning of the RBD residues determines the protein stability centers and binding energy hotpots in the Omicron RBD–ACE2 complexes. By employing the ensemble-based global network analysis, we …

Classification Of Breast Cancer Histopathological Images Using Semi-Supervised Gans, Balaji Avvaru, Nibhrat Lohia, Sowmya Mani, Vijayasrikanth Kaniti

SMU Data Science Review

Breast cancer is diagnosed more frequently than skin cancer in women in the United States. Most breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women, while children and men are less likely to develop the disease. Various tissues in the breast grow uncontrollably, resulting in breast cancer. Different treatments analyze microscopic histopathology images for diagnosis that help accurately detect cancer cells. Deep learning is one of the evolving techniques to classify images where accuracy depends on the volume and quality of labeled images. This study used various pre-trained models to train the histopathological images and analyze these models to create a new …

Predicting Insulin Pump Therapy Settings, Riccardo L. Ferraro, David Grijalva, Alex Trahan

SMU Data Science Review

Millions of people live with diabetes worldwide [7]. To mitigate some of the many symptoms associated with diabetes, an estimated 350,000 people in the United States rely on insulin pumps [17]. For many of these people, how effectively their insulin pump performs is the difference between sleeping through the night and a life threatening emergency treatment at a hospital. Three programmed insulin pump therapy settings governing effective insulin pump function are: Basal Rate (BR), Insulin Sensitivity Factor (ISF), and Carbohydrate Ratio (ICR). For many people using insulin pumps, these therapy settings are often not correct, given their physiological needs. While …

Wastewater-Informed Public Health Intervention Playbook

Sustain Magazine

As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic quickly spread from country to country and continent to continent in 2020, governments and scientists needed a way to track COVID-19 through populations in order to position public health interventions in the most impactful locations. Having a decision-based risk framework may help to guide policy creation that could minimize or prevent possible outbreaks and surges of infection within communities. The University of Louisville in partnership with Louisville’s Department of Public Health and Wellness tested this strategy in 2021 and 2022. This Wastewater-Informed Public Health Intervention Playbook describes the decisions and actions of that academic and public …

Oral Nanomedicines For Sirna Delivery To Treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Jongyoon Shinn, Juyeon Lee, Seon Ah Lee, Seon Ju Lee, Ah Hyun Choi, Jung Seo Kim, Su Jin Kim, Hyo Jin Kim, Cherin Lee, Yejin Kim, Joohyeon Kim, Jonghee Choi, Byungchae Jung, Taeho Kim, Hyeontaek Nam, Hyungjun Kim, Yonghyun Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

RNA interference (RNAi) therapies have significant potential for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Although administering small interfering RNA (siRNA) via an oral route is desirable, various hurdles including physicochemical, mucus, and cellular uptake barriers of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) impede both the delivery of siRNA to the target site and the action of siRNA drugs at the target site. In this review, we first discuss various physicochemical and biological barriers in the GI tract. Furthermore, we present recent strategies and the progress of oral siRNA delivery strategies to treat IBD. Finally, we consider the challenges faced in the …

Immunotherapy For Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus By Adjuvant-Free Schistosoma Japonicum-Egg Tip-Loaded Asymmetric Microneedle Patch (Stamp), Haoming Huang, Dian Hu, Zhuo Chen, Jiarong Xu, Rengui Xu, Yusheng Gong, Zhengming Fang, Ting Wang, Wei Chen

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease mediated by autoreactive T cells and dominated by Th1 response polarization. Insulin replacement therapy faces great challenges to this autoimmune disease, requiring highly frequent daily administration. Intriguingly, the progression of T1DM has proven to be prevented or attenuated by helminth infection or worm antigens for a relatively long term. However, the inevitable problems of low safety and poor compliance arise from infection with live worms or direct injection of antigens. Microneedles would be a promising candidate for local delivery of intact antigens, thus providing an opportunity for the clinical immunotherapy …

Development Of Graphical Models And Statistical Physics Motivated Approaches To Genomic Investigations, Yashwanth Lagisetty

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Identifying genes involved in disease pathology has been a goal of genomic research since the early days of the field. However, as technology improves and the body of research grows, we are faced with more questions than answers. Among these is the pressing matter of our incomplete understanding of the genetic underpinnings of complex diseases. Many hypotheses offer explanations as to why direct and independent analyses of variants, as done in genome-wide association studies (GWAS), may not fully elucidate disease genetics. These range from pointing out flaws in statistical testing to invoking the complex dynamics of epigenetic processes. In the …

Radioluminescence Based Biochemical Sensing And Imaging Strategies To Measure Local Drug Release And Ph, Gretchen B. Schober

All Dissertations

In this dissertation we describe methods for measuring infection relevant biochemical analytes using radioluminescent and ultrasound luminescent materials. Films and nanoparticles fabricated with europium doped gadolinium oxysulfide (Gd₂O₂S:Eu³⁺) are used to quantitatively measure radiolabeled pharmaceutical concentration, specifically tritium labeled vancomycin (³H-vancomycin). Europium and dysprosium doped strontium aluminate is used to fabricate an ultrasound modulated, pH sensing film. These methods are indicated for theranostic evaluation of implant associated infection. Bacterial biofilms are inherently resistant to traditional antibiotic treatment and can coat biomedical implants. These biofilm related infections are difficult or impossible to eradicate …

Integrating Conformational Dynamics And Perturbation-Based Network Modeling For Mutational Profiling Of Binding And Allostery In The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Variant Complexes With Antibodies: Balancing Local And Global Determinants Of Mutational Escape Mechanisms, Gennady M. Verkhivker, Steve Agajanian, Ryan Kassab, Keerthi Krishnan

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

n this study, we combined all-atom MD simulations, the ensemble-based mutational scanning of protein stability and binding, and perturbation-based network profiling of allosteric interactions in the SARS-CoV-2 spike complexes with a panel of cross-reactive and ultra-potent single antibodies (B1-182.1 and A23-58.1) as well as antibody combinations (A19-61.1/B1-182.1 and A19-46.1/B1-182.1). Using this approach, we quantify the local and global effects of mutations in the complexes, identify protein stability centers, characterize binding energy hotspots, and predict the allosteric control points of long-range interactions and communications. Conformational dynamics and distance fluctuation analysis revealed the antibody-specific signatures of protein stability and flexibility of the …

Assessing The Reidentification Risks Posed By Deep Learning Algorithms Applied To Ecg Data, Arin Ghazarian, Jianwei Zheng, Daniele Struppa, Cyril Rakovski

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

ECG (Electrocardiogram) data analysis is one of the most widely used and important tools in cardiology diagnostics. In recent years the development of advanced deep learning techniques and GPU hardware have made it possible to train neural network models that attain exceptionally high levels of accuracy in complex tasks such as heart disease diagnoses and treatments. We investigate the use of ECGs as biometrics in human identification systems by implementing state-of-the-art deep learning models. We train convolutional neural network models on approximately 81k patients from the US, Germany and China. Currently, this is the largest research project on ECG identification. …

Leveraging Single Cell Technologies For The Characterization And Treatment Of Refractory Pancreatic Cancer, Maria Monberg

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Heterogeneity is a hallmark of cancer, and the advent of multimodal single-cell technologies has helped uncover heterogeneity in a high-throughput manner in different cancers across varied contexts at an unprecedented resolution. In an effort to improve precision medicine approaches in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a highly lethal malignancy with a mere 11% 5-year survival rate, this dissertation focuses on first questioning the assumptions of the most basic models used to study PDAC via multimodal single-cell characterization methods at multiple levels of biological organization (scCNVseq and snATACseq for DNA assays, scRNAseq for transcriptomics, and paired protein assays such as multiplexed immunofluorescence …

How Environmental Change Will Impact Mosquito-Borne Diseases, Arsal Khan

Master's Projects and Capstones

Mosquitos, the most lethal species throughout human history, are the most prevalent source of vector-borne diseases and therefore a major global health burden. Mosquito-borne disease incidence is expected to shift with environmental change. These changes can be predicted using species distribution models. With the wide variety of methods used for models, consensus for improving accuracy and comparability is needed. A comparative analysis of three recent modeling approaches revealed that integrating modeling techniques compensates for trade-offs associated with a singular approach. An area that represents a critical gap in our ability to predict mosquito behavior in response to changing climate factors, …

Multi-Strain Epidemic Model With Infected Vaccinated And Re-Infected Recovered Population: Application To Covid-19 Pandemic, Olusegun Michael Otunuga

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

A Within-Host Modeling Framework For Sars-Cov-2 Infection To Support Vaccine Strategies, Morgan Rose, Rachel Jennings, Jeffry Schroeter

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Prep Uptake And Adherence On The Spread Of Hiv In The Presence Of Casual And Long-Term Partnerships, Sylvia J. Gutowska, Katharine Gurski, Kathleen Hoffman

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Dynamics Of The Climax And Attack Communities In Cystic Fibrosis, Peter Uhl

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

An Observational Retrospective Study Of Adverse Events And Behavioral Outcomes During Pediatric Dental Sedation, Kawtar Zouaidi, Gregory Olson, Helen H Lee, Elsbeth Kalenderian, Muhammad F Walji

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine a university-based dental electronic health records (EHR) database to identify sedation-related adverse events (AEs) and assess patients' behavioral outcomes during routine pediatric dental sedations (PDSs) in a dental school clinic.

Methods: A database was screened for patients younger than 18 years old who had received dental sedation in 2019. The qualifying EHRs were then accessed and sedations were reviewed for AEs, which were categorized using a 12-point classification system and the Tracking and Reporting Outcomes of Procedural Sedation Tool. Patient behaviors were assessed using provider progress notes and categorized as presence/ …

Hepatitis B And D: A Forecast On Actions Needed To Reduce Incidence And Achieve Elimination, Scott Greenhalgh, Andrew Klug

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

Viral hepatitis negatively affects the health of millions, with the worst health outcomes associated with the hepatitis D virus (HDV). Fortunately, HDV is rare and requires prior infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) before it can establish infection and transmit. Here, we develop a mathematical model of HBV and HDV transmission in Sub-Saharan Africa to investigate the effects of hepatitis B vaccination on both HBV and HDV. Our findings illustrate a hepatitis B vaccination rate above 0.006 year^-1 reduces hepatitis D by over 90%, and a vaccination rate above 0.0221 year^-1 reduces hepatitis B by over 90%, …

Biophysical Insight Into The Sars-Cov2 Spike–Ace2 Interaction And Its Modulation By Hepcidin Through A Multifaceted Computational Approach, Hamid Hadi-Alijanvand, Luisa Di Paola, Guang Hu, David M. Leitner, Gennady M. Verkhivker, Peixin Sun, Humanath Poudel, Alessandro Giuliani

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

At the center of the SARS-CoV2 infection, the spike protein and its interaction with the human receptor ACE2 play a central role in the molecular machinery of SARS-CoV2 infection of human cells. Vaccine therapies are a valuable barrier to the worst effects of the virus and to its diffusion, but the need of purposed drugs is emerging as a core target of the fight against COVID19. In this respect, the repurposing of drugs has already led to discovery of drugs thought to reduce the effects of the cytokine storm, but still a drug targeting the spike protein, in the infection …

Building An Artificial Intelligence Framework For Hypertension Diagnosis: A Use Case Of The Problem List Curation, Ketemwabi Yves Shamavu

Theses & Dissertations

Hypertension is the world's leading factor in cardiovascular disease. Forty-seven percent or close to one in two Americans aged 18 and older are affected. It predicts approximately a thousand deaths per day. Based on recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three patients with hypertension does not know they are hypertensive. Seventy-five percent of hypertensive patients have uncontrolled hypertension - meaning that they are not treated to target. While there is extensive literature on hypertension diagnosis and management, there is an apparent gap in understanding and acknowledging that a person is hypertensive. Moreover, blood pressure …

An Application Of Differential Mathematical Modeling Techniques To Study The Ongoing Rabies Epizootic In China, Christopher Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rabies remains a global public health issue with a wide variety of neurological symptoms such as confusion, slight paralysis, hypersalivation, and hydrophobia. Rabies is usually fatal once symptoms appear. Many species are reservoirs for rabies, such as foxes, racoons, and wild dogs, which in turn can transmit the disease to humans, leading to complex transmission chains. There is a long latent period of rabies, between 1 to 3 months after infection, which further complicates control efforts. Mathematical modeling is a valuable tool in the study of infectious disease outbreaks and there have been many models applied to rabies outbreaks. However, …

The Efficacy Of The Covid-19 Vaccine In Mississippi, Ilyse Miriam Levy

Honors Theses

The Efficacy of The COVID-19 Vaccine in Mississippi

(Under the direction of Dr. Xin Dang)

By tracking and analyzing fifty-three weeks of COVID-19 data, this thesis analyzes the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine within the State of Mississippi. Over the course of these fifty-three weeks, I have also been able to calculate the confidence intervals for vaccination efficacy and the risk reduction due to vaccination by using data regarding the correlations between deaths and vaccination status, provided to me by the Mississippi Office of Epidemiology. My analysis demonstrates that the COVID-19 vaccine is effective not only in Mississippi but also …

“Translation Of Hdac6 Pet Imaging Using [18f]Ekz-001 – Cgmp Production And Measurement Of Hdac6 Target Occupancy In Nhps” – A Review, Dania Rahal

Chemistry & Biochemistry Undergraduate Honors Theses

The inhibition of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) has been reported to alleviate the effects of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. The brain-penetrant PET radioligand [¹⁸F]EKZ-001 has high affinity and selectivity towards HDAC6 and therefore suggests great promise in therapeutic treatment studies and development for neurodegenerative diseases. “Translation of HDAC6 PET imaging using [¹⁸F]EKZ-001 – cGMP production and measurement of HDAC6 target occupancy in NHPs” has achieved an effective, fully automated method of producing [¹⁸F]EKZ-001 in compliance with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) to support the translation of [¹⁸F]EKZ-001 PET for …