Digital Commons Network^™

Microbial Biofilms: From Ecology To Molecular Genetics, Mary Ellen Davey, George A. O'Toole

Dartmouth Scholarship

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms attached to surfaces or associated with interfaces. Despite the focus of modern microbiology research on pure culture, planktonic (free-swimming) bacteria, it is now widely recognized that most bacteria found in natural, clinical, and industrial settings persist in association with surfaces. Furthermore, these microbial communities are often composed of multiple species that interact with each other and their environment. The determination of biofilm architecture, particularly the spatial arrangement of microcolonies (clusters of cells) relative to one another, has profound implications for the function of these complex communities. Numerous new experimental approaches and methodologies have been …

Cancer Surveillance Series: Non-Hodgkin’S Lymphoma Incidence By Histologic Subtype In The United States From 1978 Through 1995, Frank D. Groves, Martha S. Linet, Lois B. Travis, Susan S. Devesa

Public Health Resources

Background: Clinical investigations have shown prognostic heterogeneity within the non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHLs) according to histology, but few descriptive studies have considered NHLs by subgroup. Our purpose is to assess the demographic patterns and any notable increases in population- based rates of different histologic subgroups of NHL.
Methods: Using data collected by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute, we calculated incidence rates for the major clinicopathologic categories of NHL by age, race, sex, geographic area, and time period.
Results: Among the 60 057 NHL cases diagnosed during the period from 1978 through 1995, total incidence …

Chronic Arsenic Exposure And Risk Of Infant Mortality In Two Areas Of Chile, Claudia Hopenhayn-Rich, Steven R. Browning, Irva Hertz-Picciotto, Catterina Ferreccio, Cecilia Peralta, Herman Gibb

Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Chronic arsenic exposure has been associated with a range of neurologic, vascular, dermatologic, and carcinogenic effects. However, limited research has been directed at the association of arsenic exposure and human reproductive health outcomes. The principal aim of this study was to investigate the trends in infant mortality between two geographic locations in Chile: Antofagasta, which has a well-documented history of arsenic exposure from naturally contaminated water, and Valparaíso, a comparable low-exposure city. The arsenic concentration in Antofagasta's public drinking water supply rose substantially in 1958 with the introduction of a new water source, and remained elevated until 1970. We used …

Noneconomic Barriers To Health Care Utilization By African-Americans, Johnie M. Tarver Phd, Msn, Rn

Dissertations

Many efforts have been made to maximize the utilization of health cue system. As a result the utilization of health care system by African Americans has increased, improving the health status (Blendon, Aiken, Freeman, & Corey, 1989). While some improvements have been made, recent reports show disparities between African Americans and Caucasians in the utilization of health care systems and in their health status. Barriers have been identified among those in the lower social economic status (SES). These barriers impede health care utilization and negatively affect health status. However, studies show that among some African Americans when health care is …

Molecular Evolution Of Insecticidal Spore-Forming Bacteria, John Pool

Honors Theses

Molecular methods are increasingly being used to determine the phylogeny of microorganisms. This research was intended to determine phylogenetic relationships for bacteria of the species Bacillus thuringiensis and other members of the Bacillus cereus group. Each strain was analyzed by its sasp-B gene sequence to determine its species classification and relation to other strains studied. Results of this study indicated that according to the sasp-B gene tree, the species Bacillus thuringiensis is a paraphyletic with respect to both Bacillus cereus and Bacillus anthracis. Some unexpected results and implications for species designations are also discussed.

Male Circumcision And Hiv Prevention: Directions For Future Research, Johannes Van Dam, Marie Christine Anastasi

HIV and AIDS

A growing body of scientific publications suggests that male circumcision is associated with reduced risk of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, male circumcision is being considered as a potential intervention in the prevention of sexually transmitted HIV infection, even though this procedure has profound cultural implications and carries the risk of complications, and its benefits are realized only many years later. This report presents the findings of a meeting of international researchers, organized by the Horizons Project to explore the programmatic and research implications of the association between male circumcision and HIV prevention. Most studies on male circumcision and …

An International Comparison Of Cancer Survival: Metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, And Honolulu, Hawaii, Kevin M. Gorey

Social Work Publications

OBJECTIVES: Comparisons of cancer survival in Canadian and US metropolitan areas have shown consistent Canadian advantages. This study tests a health insurance hypothesis by comparing cancer survival in Toronto, Ontario, and Honolulu, Hawaii.

METHODS: Ontario and Hawaii registries provided a total of 9190 and 2895 cancer cases (breast and prostate, 1986-1990, followed until 1996). Socioeconomic data for each person's residence at the time of diagnosis were taken from population censuses.

RESULTS: Socioeconomic status and cancer survival were directly associated in the US cohort, but not in the Canadian cohort. Compared with similar patients in Honolulu, residents of low-income areas in …