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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Development Of A Semi-Quantitative Methodology For Evaluation Of Whole-Body Chemical, Biological, Radiological, And Nuclear Decontamination Using An Ultraviolet Fluorescent Aerosol, Emily M. Titus Sep 2020

Development Of A Semi-Quantitative Methodology For Evaluation Of Whole-Body Chemical, Biological, Radiological, And Nuclear Decontamination Using An Ultraviolet Fluorescent Aerosol, Emily M. Titus

Theses and Dissertations

This work describes a literature review which was conducted on publicly available literature on chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) decontamination to understand the body of knowledge and gaps in this body of knowledge, including the assumption that disrobing after a CBRN incident will remove 90% of contamination. Also included is a description of the design and characterization of an aerosol test chamber which was constructed for use in this research. Finally, the bulk of this work describes the development of a semi-quantitative methodology for visualizing contamination. This method uses an ultraviolet fluorescent aerosol (to simulate contamination by a chemical …


Survey Of Airflow Around A Heated Manikin As A Simulated Aeromedical Evacuation Patient On A Litter With Computational Fluid Dynamics Models, George P. Lemmer Sep 2020

Survey Of Airflow Around A Heated Manikin As A Simulated Aeromedical Evacuation Patient On A Litter With Computational Fluid Dynamics Models, George P. Lemmer

Theses and Dissertations

Aeromedical Evacuations remain the predominant method used to transport patients from forward deployed areas of operations to secure locations with more robust medical infrastructure. Transportation of chemical warfare casualties and infectious patients require additional attention to prevent cross contamination. Specific airflow characteristics paired with environmental control system settings are a gap in scholarly literature. Based on the available literature computational fluid dynamics models were created to simulate the airflow around a patient represented by human geometry using commercially available software. In order to compare simulated and experimental results a heated manikin was placed in the MURPHEE aerosol exposure chamber and …


Detection And Quantification Of Bacterial Species Important To Mental And Physical Health, David G. Leonard Mar 2020

Detection And Quantification Of Bacterial Species Important To Mental And Physical Health, David G. Leonard

Theses and Dissertations

The human gut microbiome contains an abundance of microorganisms which could influence mental health as well as physical health. These microorganisms produce chemicals which affect the brain and the body in various ways. Probiotic bacteria and yeasts have been studied to determine effects they have on mice, rats, and humans to illustrate the importance these microorganisms on health. Studies have shown that adding beneficial microorganisms to the human diet can have positive effects on mental and physical health, to include lessening symptoms of depression and anxiety, lessen gastrointestinal inflammation, displacing pathogens, and improving immunomodulatory response. A quantitative way to identify …


Examining Healthy Community Design Characteristics And Its Influence On Physical Health, Alvin T. Yip Mar 2020

Examining Healthy Community Design Characteristics And Its Influence On Physical Health, Alvin T. Yip

Theses and Dissertations

Current trends in obesity rates associated with the community layout constitutes research towards understanding the interaction between the two in order to improve the public's physical health. Successes in healthy community planning studies for the public can be harnessed and implemented within the microcosm of military bases to yield similar results. Four factors were recognized through an in-depth academic literature review that showed positive influence on physical health and physical activity. They are access to green space, highly connected pedestrian and bicycle networks, access to public transportation, and integrated mixed land use. The four healthy planning strategies formed the necessary …


The Influence Of Light In The Built Environment To Improve Mental Health Outcomes, Nathanael T. Kohl Mar 2020

The Influence Of Light In The Built Environment To Improve Mental Health Outcomes, Nathanael T. Kohl

Theses and Dissertations

Current mental health statistics for US active duty and Veteran members justify research into the causes and remedies for those plagued with negative mental health outcomes. Recent research has suggested that the built environment is connected to our mental health. This study investigated this connection with active duty and Veteran populations across the US. A literature review was completed on what factors of light in the built environment affects mental health outcomes. An analysis of active duty and Veteran mental health symptoms and the natural light rating in their residence was completed to understand the design changes that can be …


Development And Characterization Of A Filter-Based Bioaerosol Sampler Capable Of Integration Into Small Unmanned Aerial Systems, Stephanie A. Ohms Mar 2020

Development And Characterization Of A Filter-Based Bioaerosol Sampler Capable Of Integration Into Small Unmanned Aerial Systems, Stephanie A. Ohms

Theses and Dissertations

In developing functional SUAS, performance characteristics that indicate system capability should be developed prior to initiating initial system design. Key performance parameters should be developed involving all system elements (including vehicle body, operator, ground station, sensor, and algorithm or processing module). A bioaerosol sampler designed specifically for the use in SUAS was characterized based on designated performance measures to determine overall effectiveness compared to traditional bioaerosol samplers. For a system with a goal of accurately identifying and quantifying areas of airborne biological contamination or surveying background levels for longitudinal studies, performance parameters such as weight of the vehicle with payload …


Retrospective Cohort Study Of Pure Tone Audiometry Threshold Shifts From Ototoxic Substance, Continuous Noise, And Impulse Noise Exposures At Tinker Air Force Base From 2005 To 2019, Marc J. Blair Mar 2020

Retrospective Cohort Study Of Pure Tone Audiometry Threshold Shifts From Ototoxic Substance, Continuous Noise, And Impulse Noise Exposures At Tinker Air Force Base From 2005 To 2019, Marc J. Blair

Theses and Dissertations

This retrospective cohort epidemiology study sought to establish the comparative risks and potential indicators of hearing loss associated with combinations of ototoxic substances, impulse noise, and continuous noise exposure. Currently, there is not an existing model or methodology in the Department of Defense (DoD) that joins occupational exposure data and pure tone audiometric data. After developing an integrated database model for Tinker Air Force Base, the largest of three depot installations within Air Force Material Command, 2,372 individuals were grouped into eight combinations of exposure groups with a minimum three years exposure duration to hazards. The incidence rates and relative …


Assessing Challenges Associated With Sampling Hexavalent Chromium Under New Consensus Guidelilnes, Megan L. Steele Mar 2020

Assessing Challenges Associated With Sampling Hexavalent Chromium Under New Consensus Guidelilnes, Megan L. Steele

Theses and Dissertations

Hexavalent chromium is a corrosion inhibitor found in the primer of most aircraft platforms across the Department of Defense (DoD), from fighter jets to transports. It is also known to cause cancer in humans. Currently, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) legal exposure limit is 5 μg/m3 for workers exposed to hexavalent chromium. A non-regulatory scientific body has recently recommended lowering this exposure level over a factor of ten and sampling with a different sampler that collects particles with the same efficiency as the nose during inhalation. This inhalable sampler collects more particles than the one currently used …


Preferred Treatment Methods For Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, James L. Deitschel Mar 2020

Preferred Treatment Methods For Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, James L. Deitschel

Theses and Dissertations

Shared decision making is the concept of physicians involving patients in the treatment planning process. The University of Maryland Medical Center is interested in applying shared decision making to the treatment of patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The two treatment methods analyzed in this study were medical management and surgery. To explore patient preferences between these two alternatives, a discrete choice experiment (DCE) was employed. The responses for the DCE were binary, so logistic regression models were explored. The conditional logistic regression model was determined to be the most appropriate for this analysis. After step-wise regression was performed, a …


Electronic Image Detectability Under Varying Illumination Conditions, Jeremy J. Miller Mar 2020

Electronic Image Detectability Under Varying Illumination Conditions, Jeremy J. Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Light in the built environment plays an essential role in the vision and the health of humans through non-visual receptors in the eyes. Unfortunately, image analysts and other Air Force personnel who engage in the detection of objects on softcopy displays are often required to work in very dimly-lit or dark environments as higher illumination reduces the contrast of displayed information. Literature has shown that increases in light exposure improves circadian rhythm entrainment and reduces the negative health consequences of insufficient lighting. This research examines the effects of indoor lighting to determine if increases in ambient illumination or changes to …