Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Maternal Immune Activation (Mia) In Mice: A Study To Phenotype Asd-Related Communication Behaviors And Analyze Maternal Health Outcomes In The Us, Komalpreet Gulati

Honors Scholar Theses

Core symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) include deficits in social/communicative behaviors, and repetitive/stereotyped behaviors. Mouse models are a highly established paradigm used to study the phenotypic deficits that result from various inducible genotypic or environmental risk factors for ASD. Previous studies have demonstrated a link between maternal immune activation (MIA) and ASD-like behaviors in mouse models. In this model, the maternal immune system is activated during pregnancy by injecting the viral mimic poly(I:C). The resulting offspring are phenotyped and analyzed with regards to their communicative behaviors.

Previous studies have demonstrated that male pups born to dams with immune activation …

Spatial Distribution Of Partner-Seeking Men Who Have Sex With Men Using Geosocial Networking Apps: Epidemiologic Study, Angel B. Algarin, Patrick J. Ward, W. Jay Christian, Abby E. Rudolph, Ian W. Holloway, April M. Young

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Geosocial networking apps have made sexual partner-seeking easier for men who have sex with men, raising both challenges and opportunities for human immunodeficiency virus and sexually transmitted infection prevention and research. Most studies on men who have sex with men geosocial networking app use have been conducted in large urban areas, despite research indicating similar patterns of online- and app-based sex-seeking among men who have sex with men in rural and midsize cities.

Objective: The goal of our research was to examine the spatial distribution of geosocial networking app usage and characterize areas with increasing numbers of partner-seeking men …

Baby's Best Start: Wic's Role In The Alleviation Of Childhood Obesity, Ashton Hutcheson

Public Health: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

In the past 50 years, obesity prevalence has risen to epidemic-like levels in the United States with an average of 25% of American children being classified as overweight or obese. Prevalence of obesity is significantly increased in socioeconomically disadvantaged income categories. This paper aims to discuss public health preventions/interventions that address childhood obesity such WIC, a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children. It additionally aims to provide broad obesity-related research and begin to suggest preliminary answers to the question of why obesity is so prevalent as well as a brief overview of current treatment options for obesity-related diseases …

The Contributing Factors To Adolescent Depression, Josie H. Lee

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Objective: This paper reviews individual, familial, peer, and societal factors influencing adolescent depression in developed countries. Background: Depression usually onsets at adolescence and contributes to high DALYs. Since depression is treatable, efforts should be made to reduce its prevalence and effect. Methods: The research consisted of looking at literature relevant to the topic and age group and conducting interviews with experts who know about and have worked with adolescent depression. Discussion: Adolescents begins at the onset of puberty, allowing different biological factors such as genetics, stress of puberty, and cognitive changes to increase vulnerability to depression. Adolescents who had substance …

Partidarios De La Vida: Resiliencia En Los Afectados Directos De La Dictadura En Arica, Chile / Supporters Of Life: Resilience In The Direct Victims Of The Dictatorship In Arica, Chile, Danielle Levinson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The present study is a qualitative analysis of resilience mechanisms in inhabitants of the city of Arica, Chile who participated actively in the resistance against the Pinochet dictatorship. Through one-on-one interviews with members of this population and the coordinator/social assistant of the Arican branch of the Chilean government’s reparation program (PRAIS), this project was able to corroborate the existence of the following four categories of resilience mechanisms, which are identified in a technical standard published by the Chilean Under-Secretariat of Health: individual, family, social network, and values and ideology. However, it was revealed that this model should be adapted to …

Perceptions As A Barrier To Emergency Medical Services Utilization Among Syrian Refugees In Jordan, Elizabeth Shan Wang

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The purpose of this study is to evaluate perceptions of emergency medical services (EMS) among Syrian refugees living in urban host communities in Jordan. The research questions are as follows: To what extent do public perceptions of emergency medical services affect the utilization of ambulances? How does awareness about available emergency medical services shape refugees’ attitudes towards it? Because this topic is qualitative and exploratory in the case of Jordan, there was no clear hypothesis. The assumption, however, is that positive perceptions and awareness about EMS can encourage refugees to call an ambulance for transportation to the hospital during a …

Identifying Windows Of Opportunity For Active Living And Healthy Eating Policies In Connecticut, 2016, Anna E. Greer, Ann-Uriel Knausenberger

Public Health Faculty Publications

We examined the relative importance of 23 community issues among elected officials and health directors in Connecticut in 2016. For this cross-sectional study, 74 elected officials (40.7% response rate) and 47 health directors (62.7% response rate), who were purposively sampled, completed a questionnaire to rate their perceived importance of 23 community issues. Eight of these issues were related to active living, healthy eating, or obesity. We used χ2 tests to evaluate differences in responses. Compared with elected officials, health directors significantly more often perceived obesity, access to healthy groceries, poor nutrition, lack of pedestrian walkways, and pedestrian safety as important. …

The Morality Of Compulsory Licensing As An Access To Medicines Tool, Margo A. Bagley

Faculty Articles

This Article contemplates the validity of theft rhetoric in relation to the right of countries to grant compulsory licenses from an unconventional perspective; that of biblical teachings on what it means to steal.

Part I describes the use of theft rhetoric in relation to IP infringement broadly and drug-patent compulsory licenses in particular.

Part II challenges the contention, suggested by theft rhetoric, that compulsory licenses are morally wrong as a form of stealing, by considering the meaning of theft in the context of its Judeo-Christian origins.

Part III considers the cogency of the accusation that the issuance of compulsory licenses …

Tackling Stunting And Anemia In Egypt, Abeer Alanwar, Hend Ahmed, Sabreen Mahmoud, Wessam Adly

Papers, Posters, and Presentations

Stunting and anemia rates in children between the age of 0-24 months (0-2 years) have been two of the most persistent public health problems facing the Egyptian society and government. Based on the researchers' analysis of the problem, current policies, and on the opportunities Egypt has, this policy paper targets the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population and recommends reformulating a specific nutrition policy to tackle stunting and anemia as well providing awareness and education about the appropriate IYCF and to give high priority to strengthening the health provision of the required micronutrients in family care units (FCU), as well …

معالجة التقزم وفقر الدم في مصر, Abeer Alanwar, Hend Ahmed, Sabreen Mahmoud, Wessam Adly

Papers, Posters, and Presentations

Stunting and anemia rates in children between the age of 0-24 months (0-2 years) have been two of the most persistent public health problems facing the Egyptian society and government. Based on the researchers' analysis of the problem, current policies, and on the opportunities Egypt has, this policy paper targets the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population and recommends reformulating a specific nutrition policy to tackle stunting and anemia as well providing awareness and education about the appropriate IYCF and to give high priority to strengthening the health provision of the required micronutrients in family care units (FCU), as well …

Tonga: Chronic Diseases, Muhammad Taimoor

Global Public Health

Tonga is an Archipelago in the south Pacific Ocean, south of Samoa. The public health brief project is on chronic diseases in Tonga. The total population of Tonga was 107,122 in 2010. The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga is the established religion in Tonga. Tongan’s make up the majority of the population but there are other ethnicities such as Euromericans and Europeans too. The major challenges faced by Tonga are decaying infrastructure, low economy, and political corruption. The widespread of non-communicable diseases such as cancer is a major health issue in Tonga. 74% of all adults in Tonga are the …

South Africa: Hiv/Aids, Ninna Therese P. Mendoza

Global Public Health

South Africa is found in the southernmost part of the African continent. Over half of its 54.8 million people live in urban areas such as Johannesburg and Cape Town, which are the largest urban centers in the country. Some major challenges this country currently faces include the growing drug trade, border disputes, and racial tensions attributed to their history with the apartheid. When it comes to public health, one of their biggest challenges is the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which is currently the largest in the world. Although no cure exists yet, antiretroviral treatments (ARTs) have been highly successful for reducing transmission. …

Palau: Obesity, Tavia Weis

Global Public Health

Located in the heart of the Western Pacific Ocean is a large group of small islands that make up the country of Palau. Known for its growing tourism, beautiful landscapes, and cultural beliefs. Although the country is developing, the current health issue of obesity is a growing concern. With almost half of the population obese and the other half in jeopardy, the rising concerns of the obesity epidemic have taken global news and brought the attention of major countries to try and fix these rising issues. This public health brief will discuss the problems of obesity in Palau and the …

Gun Violence: Chicago, Illinois, Kayla Dillon

Global Issues in Public Health

Gun violence has been, and continues to be, a significant problem in Chicago, Illinois. There have been several programs in place that have worked towards improving the level of gun violence. One of the most noticeable being Project Safe Neighborhood, which began in 2001. Part of what makes these programs, and programs similar to it, necessary is that it targets the populations most at-risk of gun violence. By targeting these specific regions of the city, these programs can provide the resources necessary to improve the condition of the city in the long-term, as well as prevent the condition from spreading …

Water Scarcity: Sudan, Catherine Priebe

Global Issues in Public Health

Water scarcity is an environmental global problem that will only become more pressing as time goes on. It is a public health issue that affects every continent, although certain areas of the world are facing more serious water scarcity than others such as Sudan. Populations that are more vulnerable to the effects of water scarcity are the poor, women, children, and those living in areas of political unrest. For example, South Sudan’s urban water systems have been damaged during recent warfare. Water scarcity is also an issue that disproportionately affects women who are forced from a young age to travel …