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In vivo evaluation of novel nanoparticles and repurposed pharmaceuticals to combat antimicrobial resistance
Full text linkIn a 2019 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infections resistant to antibiotic treatment amount to about three million infections and 48,000 deaths. Antimicrobial resistance is an escalating global threat as existing antibiotics lose efficacy over time. The project described is focused on partnering with pharmaceutical researchers and producers to test new nanoparticle-based or repurposed compounds. The central hypothesis of this thesis is that pharmaceutical formulations such as nanoparticles may provide a cost-effective means of combating the emerging antimicrobial resistance. The nanoparticle compounds allowed for a wide range of customization for the pharmaceutical design, since the particle can be made from various materials including deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) and lipids (fats). Repurposing existing drugs can accelerate the transition from basic research to clinical application, leveraging established safety profiles. Both design of new drugs and repurposing can be used to help alleviate the growing resistance amongst deadly microbes. There were four areas of emphasis during this project. The first project focused on the testing of a DNA-nanoparticle peptide compound in a Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain pulmonary infection mouse model. The nanoparticle was a tetrahedron structure built from DNA particles with the antimicrobial peptide SMAP-29 attached. The peptide demonstrated promising in vitro results but failed to replicate these results in vivo. This project led to the second project on the expansion of information on the successful storage and use of B. anthracis Sterne strain for standard research laboratories. The bacterial strain lacks applicable information for pharmaceutical research at the level available to most academic institutions. Other strains, such as B. anthracis Ames strain, require higher safety levels, indicating that an increase in methodological information for Sterne strain could increase the amount of research being conducted on B. anthracis overall. During the third project, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and lipid-nanoparticles were used to treat acute lung inflammation in a mouse model. The lipid-nanoparticle was a collection of fats designed to form a protective shell around the CBDA particle. The compound decreased inflammatory signaling molecules and was comparable to high concentrations of the powerful steroid Dexamethasone, often used for severe inflammation in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The CBDA-nanoparticles were also found to have antimicrobial properties that could provide a promising avenue for addressing pulmonary infections by gram-positive bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia. The final project involved the repurposing and monitoring of disulfiram via analysis of the effect on the mouse gut microbiome. The compound has a similar structure to the antibiotic metronidazole with physicians warning of “disulfiram-like effects” when metronidazole is prescribed. It is also currently FDA approved for use as a sobriety aid which would fast-track approval for new uses considering the current safety profile. The live animal and laboratory results indicated an inhibitory effect towards select gram-positive pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, while maintaining other anaerobe populations such as the probiotic Lactobacillus, potentially alleviating the intestinal discomfort associated with antimicrobial therapies. The data and interpretation of experiments in this document, which may be preliminary and require future validation, suggest alternative therapeutic strategies in combating antimicrobial resistance and avenues for future academic research on key pathogens of interest
Discrete fractional Gompertz models
Full text linkThis thesis explores the theory and application of discrete fractional Gompertz models—systems that integrate fractional difference operators into the classical Gompertz growth paradigm. By doing so, these models capture both discrete time steps and the long-range memory effects characteristic of fractional calculus. After outlining the fundamental notions of discrete calculus, discrete fractional sums and differences, and related special functions such as the discrete Mittag–Leffler function, we derive various fractional Gompertz-type equations. We prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions to these fractional difference equations, often employing discrete analogues of standard solution methods like variation of constants. We also investigate the long-term behavior of solutions, providing conditions under which they converge, blow up, or stabilize. Numerical examples illustrate how the interplay between the fractional order, the growth rate, and other parameters can substantially alter the trajectory of these systems. The results highlight the potential of discrete fractional modeling to capture complex dynamics in fields where data collection or intervention occurs in discrete units of time, and where past states continue to influence the present
Review of Movie Mavens
Full text linkReview of the book Movie Mavens: US Newspaper Women Take on the Movies (Richard Abel, ed)
20250219: College of Arts and Media, 1982-2019
Full text linkThese items include materials from the College of Arts and Media at Marshall University from 1982-2019. Items were received in 2024 and include notable materials from the Tri-State Arts Forum Newsletter, and Fine Arts Gala events over the years. This is not an exhaustive list, but the attached inventory will give a broad overview of what is contained in each of the boxes
West Virginia Activist Archive Poster - Jim Hatfield
Full text linkA poster showcasing clean and safe water activist Jim Hatfield.https://mds.marshall.edu/wvactivists_socialchange/1002/thumbnail.jp
Persistence is not key: a study on the relationship between the persistence of going concern opinion Type I errors and investor confidence
Full text linkThis study examines how persistent Type I errors in going concern opinions impact investors’ decisions and confidence in the warning signal embedded in the opinion. Despite regulatory changes intended to improve audit accuracy and restore investors’ confidence in the audit profession, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Accounting Standard Update 14-15, along with the StoneRidge Investment Partners vs. Scientific Atlanta Court Case verdict, persistent going concern opinions (Type I errors) weaken the perceived informativeness of audit warnings. Signaling theory provides the framework to explore the question: “Do persistent Type I errors in going concern opinions influence investors’ perceptions of the going concern opinion, ultimately having a diminishing impact with each additional persistent receipt?”. Archival data from 2000 to 2021 for U.S. publicly traded companies is analyzed, measuring persistent Type I errors and cumulative abnormal returns. Findings suggest investors initially react to the going concern opinion, evidenced by negative abnormal returns, but lose confidence in the opinion with each additional receipt. Results raise concerns about audit quality and why auditors continue to issue going concern opinions despite the high Type I error rates. This study responds to Christensen et al.’s (2016) call for research to help enhance understanding on how audit opinion errors, particularly Type I errors, influence investor perceptions. Insight gained contributes to the understanding of how persistent Type I errors in going concern opinions influence investment allocations and provides valuable information to auditors, investors, and regulators, which can help improve auditing processes
Blended Learning Course in Medical Affairs to Improve Exposure and Interest in Pharmaceutical Industry Careers
No full textObjective: This study aimed to evaluate students’ knowledge and perceptions of career options and their knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry based on pre-post module quizzes, reflections, and team presentations in a hybrid medical affairs elective certification course.
Methods: A qualitative research design was used to analyze the reflections of 19 students enrolled in the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs Pharmaceutical Industry Training Certificate elective at Marshall University during spring 2023. The course used 7 modules from the Medical Affairs Competency Certificate offered by the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs. Students completed premodule and postmodule quizzes, engaged in discussions with industry professionals, and submitted written reflections on the 5 most significant concepts they learned. Reflections were qualitatively analyzed, whereas a paired sample t test was used to analyze quantitative data from pre-post scores on the module quizzes. A postcourse survey was administered to evaluate the changes in the students’ career preferences in the pharmacy field.
Results: The qualitative analysis identified 17 key concepts, including the breadth of career opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, role of medical science liaisons, ethical communication practices, and the importance of diversity in clinical trials. A significant improvement in knowledge was observed across all modules in medical affairs, with the highest increase observed in the compliance module. A total of 20% of respondents (n = 3/15) reported changing their career choices to pursue a path in the pharmaceutical industry.
Conclusion: The course broadened the students’ knowledge of industrial practices and career opportunities. The structured approach and professional engagement offered valuable insights, enabling student exploration, and influencing career choices
“That’s where I learned to be a good mommy” understanding how adults learn in a home visitation, community-based partnership
Full text linkIn higher education, a growing interest exists in fostering partnerships between institutions and community-based programs to enhance the lives of individuals. These initiatives have encompassed a variety of programs, including life skills development and civic engagement opportunities facilitated by academic experts. Despite the plethora of educational prospects surrounding health, community engagement, and civic improvement, assessing the efficacy of adult learning in community settings remains challenging. Previous research has indicated inadequacies of conventional prenatal education programs in addressing the complex needs of expecting mothers.
This study centered on the adult learning experiences in the Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker (MIHOW) program, designed to educate economically disadvantaged women in rural and medically underserved communities in West Virginia about healthy pregnancy practices and child-rearing. By examining the evolving landscape of the MIHOW program, particularly during the COVID-19 global pandemic, this research aimed to inform the development of effective community-based educational initiatives.
Understanding adult learning in community contexts holds profound implications for higher education institutions seeking to expand their outreach efforts. By adopting best practices informed by adult learning theories, universities can foster more effective partnerships with discernible educational outcomes. The MIHOW program’s use of peer education underscores the significance of informal learning environments in facilitating knowledge exchange among mothers. The purpose of this study was twofold: to explore mothers’ perceptions of the MIHOW program and their learning experiences and assess how the program has evolved since its inception, including the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Research questions focused on exploring mothers’ learning experiences, identifying barriers and facilitators to learning in the MIHOW program, examining programmatic changes over time, and assessing the COVID-19 global pandemic’s influence on program delivery. Through semistructured interviews and data analysis, this research aimed to enrich the understanding of adult learning in community-based education and contribute to the ongoing refinement of programs like MIHOW, thereby enhancing maternal and child health outcomes in underserved communities