Digital Commons Network^™

Analysis Of Schizophrenia Data Using A Nonlinear Threshold Index Logistic Model., Zhenyu Jiang, Chengan Du, Assen Jablensky, Hua Liang, Zudi Lu, Yang Ma, Kok Lay Teo

GW Biostatistics Center

Genetic information, such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data, has been widely recognized as useful in prediction of disease risk. However, how to model the genetic data that is often categorical in disease class prediction is complex and challenging. In this paper, we propose a novel class of nonlinear threshold index logistic models to deal with the complex, nonlinear effects of categorical/discrete SNP covariates for Schizophrenia class prediction. A maximum likelihood methodology is suggested to estimate the unknown parameters in the models. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed methodology works viably well for moderate-size samples. The suggested approach is therefore …

Engagement With Care, Substance Use, And Adherence To Therapy In Hiv/Aids, Patrice K. Nicholas, Suzanne Willard, Clinton J. Thompson, Carol Dawson-Rose, Inge B. Corless, +20 Additional Authors

GW Biostatistics Center

Engagement with care for those living with HIV is aimed at establishing a strong relationship between patients and their health care provider and is often associated with greater adherence to therapy and treatment (Flickinger, Saha, Moore, and Beach, 2013). Substance use behaviors are linked with lower rates of engagement with care and medication adherence (Horvath, Carrico, Simoni, Boyer, Amico, and Petroli, 2013). This study is a secondary data analysis using a cross-sectional design from a larger randomized controlled trial (n = 775) that investigated the efficacy of a self-care symptom management manual for participants living with HIV. Participants were …

Cardiometabolic Risk Assessments By Body Mass Index Z-Score Or Waist-To-Height Ratio In A Multiethnic Sample Of Sixth-Graders, Henry S. Kahn, Laure El Ghormli, Russell Jago, Gary D. Foster, Robert G. Mcmurray, John B. Buse, Diane D. Stadler, Roberto P. Trevino, Tom Baranowski, Healthy Study Group

GW Biostatistics Center

Convention defines pediatric adiposity by the body mass index -score (BMIz) referenced to normative growth charts. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) does not depend on sex-and-age references. In the HEALTHY Study enrollment sample, we compared BMIz with WHtR for ability to identify adverse cardiometabolic risk. Among 5,482 sixth-grade students from 42 middle schools, we estimated explanatory variations (R²) and standardized beta coefficients of BMIz or WHtR for cardiometabolic risk factors: insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), lipids, blood pressures, and glucose. For each risk outcome variable, we prepared adjusted regression models for four subpopulations stratified by sex and high versus lower fatness. …

Community Colleges And Public Health: An Integral Part Of The Continuum Of Education For Public Health, Richard Riegelman, Cynthia Wilson

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Review Of Hyperuricemia As New Marker For Metabolic Syndrome, Laura Billiet, Sarah Doaty, James D. Katz, Manuel T. Velasquez

Global Health Faculty Publications

Hyperuricemia has long been established as the major etiologic factor in gout. In recent years, a large body of evidence has accumulated that suggests that hyperuricemia may play a role in the development and pathogenesis of a number of metabolic, hemodynamic, and systemic pathologic diseases, including metabolic syndrome, hypertension, stroke, and atherosclerosis. A number of epidemiologic studies have linked hyperuricemia with each of these disorders. In some studies, therapies that lower uric acid may prevent or improve certain components of the metabolic syndrome. There is an association between uric acid and the development of systemic lupus erythematosus; the connection between …

Using A Theory Of Change Approach To Analyze Global Health Diplomacy Practice In Myanmar, Sangeeta Mookherji, Holly Greb, Rebecca Katz

Global Health Faculty Publications

The current picture of global health diplomacy (GHD) is one of increasing complexity, with multiple actors striving for multiple objectives, using a multitude of strategies and activities. Analysis and documentation of GHD practice is urgently needed to help identify the opportunities GHD provides for jointly improving global health and international relations, as well as possible unintended consequences. Systematic analysis of GHD practice is challenging without a conceptual framework. We identified a Theory of Change approach as one way to conceptualize GHD practice and potential impacts that could also depict its complexity and identify relationships and pathways for measuring success. We …

Geographical Variation In Plasmodium Vivax Relapse, Katherine E. Battle, Markku S. Karhunen, Samir Bhatt, Peter W. Gething, Rosalind E. Howes, Nick Golding, Thomas P. Van Boeckel, Jane P. Messina, G. Dennis Shanks, David L. Smith, J. Kevin Baird, Simon I. Hay

United States Public Health Resources

Background: Plasmodium vivax has the widest geographic distribution of the human malaria parasites and nearly 2.5 billion people live at risk of infection. The control of P. vivax in individuals and populations is complicated by its ability to relapse weeks to months after initial infection. Strains of P. vivax from different geographical areas are thought to exhibit varied relapse timings. In tropical regions strains relapse quickly (three to six weeks), whereas those in temperate regions do so more slowly (six to twelve months), but no comprehensive assessment of evidence has been conducted. Here observed patterns of relapse periodicity …

Impaired Hcv Clearance In Hiv/Hcv Coinfected Subjects Treated With Pegifn And Rbv Due To Interference Of Ifn Signaling By Ifnαr2a, Yu Jin Lee, Xiaozhen Zhang, Estefania Vazquez, Gayathri Shivasabesan, Howard A. Young, Alison Murphy, Honghui Wang, Anthony F. Suffredini, Ulrich Siebenlist, Shyam Kottilil

United States Public Health Resources

Enhanced endogenous interferon (IFN) stimulated gene (ISG) signature has been associated with nonresponsiveness to hepatitis C treatment using pegylated-IFNα (pegIFNα) and ribavirin (RBV) in human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus (HIV/HCV) coinfected patients. Using a proteomic approach, we identified high levels of IFNα receptor 2a (IFNαR2a) in the serum of null responders to pegIFNα/RBV. IFNαR2a inhibited antiviral activity of all formulations of IFNα in JFH/Huh7.5 cells. Furthermore, serum from null responders, but not from those who achieved sustained virologic response, suppressed IFN-signaling and ISG expression in IFNα-stimulated PBMCs of healthy donors in an IFNαR2a specific fashion. An IFNαR2a transgenic mice model …

Synthesizing Data And Models For The Spread Of Mers-Cov, 2013: Key Role Of Index Cases And Hospital Transmission, Gerardo Chowell, Seth Blumberg, Lone Simonsen, Mark A. Miller, Cecile Viboud

Global Health Faculty Publications

The outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has caused 209 deaths and 699 laboratory-confirmed cases in the Arabian Peninsula as of June 11, 2014. Preparedness efforts are hampered by considerable uncertainty about the nature and intensity of human-to-human transmission, with previous reproduction number estimates ranging from 0.4 to 1.5. Here we synthesize epidemiological data and transmission models for the MERS-CoV outbreak during April–October 2013 to resolve uncertainties in epidemic risk, while considering the impact of observation bias. We match the progression of MERS-CoV cases in 2013 to a dynamic transmission model that incorporates community and hospital compartments, and …

Hiv/Aids Vulnerabilities, Discrimination, And Service Accessibility Among Africa's Youth: Insights From A Multi-Country Study, Babatunde A.O. Ahonsi, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab, Scott Geibel, Sam Kalibala, Jerry Okal, Babacar Mane, Nathi Sohaba, Julialynne Walker, Eric P. Green

HIV and AIDS

This report contains information from a study implemented between August 2011 and July 2012 that sought to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based picture of the HIV-related issues facing young people across Africa, and the prevailing legal, policy, and programmatic responses. The study was designed to establish a basis for a sharper focus on youth within the response to HIV on the continent. Researchers conducted country-specific analytical reviews of the relevant literature on factors associated with HIV risk-taking and health-seeking behaviors among young people aged 15–24 in six countries across Africa—Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda. In addition, qualitative and …

An Overview Of The Hiv Prevention Landscape In Zimbabwe: Implications For Tenofovir Gel, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

Zimbabwe has seen a tremendous shift in the HIV landscape in the last decade, particularly regarding prevalence. Yet many people, especially women, are still at high risk and efforts to identify and implement additional HIV-prevention options remain critical. Topical microbicides are a promising new technology that women can control or initiate, with a number of products tested in clinical trials over the past two decades. As research moves forward, decision-makers and other stakeholders need key background information to inform strategic decision-making regarding introduction of tenofovir gel and other new HIV-prevention products. The Population Council has designed a toolkit to assist …

Hiv/Aids Vulnerabilities, Discrimination, And Service Accessibility Among Nigeria's Youth, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

This report documents the findings of a study implemented between August 2011 and July 2012 that sought to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based picture of the HIV-related issues facing Nigerian youth and the prevailing legal, policy, and programmatic responses. The study was designed to establish a basis for a sharper focus on youth within the national response to HIV. Researchers conducted an analytical review of the relevant literature on factors associated with HIV risk-taking and health-seeking behaviors among young people aged 15–24 in Nigeria. In addition, qualitative and quantitative analyses enabled an evaluation of the factors associated with young people’s sexual …

Hiv/Aids Vulnerabilities, Discrimination, And Service Accessibility Of Nigeria's Youth: Summary Of Study Findings, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

Nigerian youth, especially females, are disproportionately affected by HIV yet remain a neglected subpopulation in the response to HIV. Current HIV-prevention interventions are often not youth-friendly in design and implementation. Youth, therefore, fail to access these services which further worsens their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. This study, implemented between August 2011 and July 2012, sought to provide a comprehensive evidence-based picture of the HIV-related issues facing Nigerian youth and the prevailing legal, policy, and programmatic responses. Researchers conducted an analytical review of the relevant literature on factors associated with HIV risk-taking and health-seeking behaviors among young people aged 15–24 in Nigeria. …

Policy And Programme Considerations For Arv-Based Prevention For Women: Insights From Key Opinion Leaders In Zimbabwe About Tenofovir Gel, Samukeliso Dube, Barbara Friedland, Saiqa Mullick, Martha Brady, C. Elizabeth Mcgrory

HIV and AIDS

Zimbabwe has seen a tremendous shift in the HIV landscape in the last decade, particularly regarding prevalence. Yet many people, especially women, are still at high risk and efforts to identify and implement additional HIV-prevention options remain critical. After nearly 20 years of microbicides research, 1 percent tenofovir gel is the first vaginal microbicide to show promise. Since 2011, Zimbabwe has been scaling up use of tenofovir-based regimens as first-line therapy for adults infected with HIV. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial demonstrated that women assigned to use 1 percent tenofovir gel had a 39 percent lower risk of HIV infection …

Statistical Applications For The Prediction Of White Hispanic Breast Cancer Survival, Hafiz Mohammad Rafiqullah Khan, Anshul Saxena, Kemesha Gabbidon, Elizabeth Ross, Alice Shrestha

USF St. Petersburg Campus Faculty Publications

Background: The ability to predict the survival time of breast cancer patients is important because of the potential high morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. To develop a predictive inference for determining the survival of breast cancer patients, we applied a novel Bayesian method. In this paper, we propose the development of a databased statistical probability model and application of the Bayesian method to predict future survival times for White Hispanic female breast cancer patients, diagnosed in the US during 1973-2009. Materials and Methods: A stratified random sample of White Hispanic female patient survival data was selected from the …

Physical Environment And Women's Physical Activity Behaviors, Beth Ann Brisky

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This study was developed using the Ecological Model (Stokols, 1992). The purpose of this study was to determine women's perceptions of the physical environment and the relationship between perceptions and physical activity behaviors. The study also analyzed women's non-motorized transportation behaviors, including walking and cycling to get from place to place. An email was sent to 526 female Minnesota State University, Mankato employees to ask them to participate in an electronic survey. The survey was developed using two of Sallis's (2013a, 2013b) instruments, Neighborhood Quality of Life Study survey and Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale-Confirmatory Factor Analysis survey. The survey consisted …

The Effectiveness Of Sexual Education Programs On Teen Births Among Females With And Without A Family History Of Teen Births, Holly Poynter

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Adolescents (ages 10 to 19) and young adults (ages 20 to 24) make up 21% of the population of the United States. Therefore, the topic of adolescent health is an important focus in Healthy People 2020.5 The HP 2020 initiative describes adolescent health as a fairly broad topical area that encompasses smaller subjects such as teen smoking, pregnancy, and suicide. Due to its recent decline, teen pregnancy is often overlooked as an epidemic problem in the United States. According to the CDC, “…the sexual and reproductive health of America’s young persons remains an important public health concern: a substantial number …

Adolescent And Community Adult Perceptions Of Adolescent Tobacco Use, Susan M. Franko

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 1964, the Surgeon General issued the first report that linked smoking cigarettes as a direct cause of emphysema, heart disease, and lung cancer. Despite this landmark publication, the primary cause of preventable deaths each year in the United States continues to be related to the use of tobacco. Regardless of decades of health education and resources available to inform society that the use of tobacco products can have deleterious effects on health, adolescents continue to experiment with them. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the influences of adolescent tobacco use. Based on the …

A Predictive Model For Dementia Risk In Elderly Adults With Prediabetes, Susan Elizabeth Alford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Dementia is a serious public health concern in the United States, with a prevalence of 5.2 million. There is currently no effective way to prevent or cure dementia, and the precise etiology is unknown, but it appears there are multiple risk factors. Prediabetes (PD) has been identified as a risk factor although the scientific evidence is conflicting. This study is important to those at high risk for dementia and to healthcare professionals who lack substantiated dementia prevention strategies. The purpose of this case control study was to determine whether PD is associated with dementia in adults aged 65-95 years and …

The Effects That Liquid And Solid Cattle Manure Have On The Water Quality Of Drainage Ditches In Putnam County, Ohio, Janelle Horstman

Honors Projects

Lake Erie has experienced harmful algal blooms with increased frequency since the mid-1990s due to excess nutrients from Rivers, such as the Maumee River, and largely agricultural watersheds. Nonpoint source pollution from agriculture contributes to eutrophication, algal blooms, and the degradation of water quality. This creates stress on aquatic fauna, reduced aesthetic quality, odor, and limits of the water for usage of drinking, recreation, and industry. This research paper asks what the contributions of having access to manure application records, soil records, and information about antibiotics have on what is known about manure management and antibiotic resistance, which has been …

A Feasibility Study Of Motivational Interviewing For Health Risk Behaviors Among Thai Youth Living With Hiv, Chokechai Rongkavilit, Sylvie Naar-King, Juline Koken, Torsak Bunupuradah, Xinguang Chen, Pichai Saengcharnchai, Apirudee Panthong, Jeffrey T. Parsons

Publications and Research

Thailand is among the few less-developed countries with successful HIV prevention among segments of the population (National AIDS Prevention and Alleviation Committee, 2010). However, the success of HIV prevention among Thai adolescents and young adults has been questionable. The highest percentage of Thai persons with AIDS remain in the age group of 25–34 years, indicating that the time of greatest HIV acquisition has occurred in adolescence and young adulthood (Thai Working Group on HIV/AIDS, 2010). Most Thai youth living with HIV (TYLH) acquire HIV through sexual contact (National AIDS Prevention and Alleviation Committee, 2010). In a study of TYLH, only …

Self-Efficacy, Self-Determination, And Self-Regulation: The Role Of The Fitness Professional In Social Change Agency, Joshua M. Garrin

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Current epidemiological data reported by governing health authorities reveal the biopsychosocial complexity of health maintenance in the 21st century. As statistics reflect the insidious, worldwide impact of chronic disease and psychosocial stress, the medical domain continues to endorse multidisciplinary approaches to support the myriad systems that underpin health and well-being. With their scope of practice continually expanding to accommodate such needs, fitness professionals (FPs) have become a mainstay on the front lines of health behavior management in recent years. Beyond their role in facilitating physical health gains, contemporary FPs undertake the challenge of instilling health self-efficacy beliefs, reinforcing autonomy and …

Effect Of Brassica Vegetable Intake On The 2:16Α Estrogen Metabolite Ratio In Postmenopausal European American And African American Women, Kendrea Knight

Theses and Dissertations

Background: It is well-established that many risk factors for breast cancer are related to estrogen or reproductive factors. Two estrogen metabolites of particular interest are 2-hydroxyestrone (2-OHE) and 16α-hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE) which are often reported together as a ratio of 2:16α-hydroxyestrone (2:16α –OHE). It has been demonstrated in several studies that postmenopausal women who are at a higher risk of breast cancer tend to have increased levels of 16α-OHE or decreased levels of 2-OHE levels in the body. Recent studies have shown that the phytochemical indole-3-carbinol (I3C), found in Brassica vegetables, impacts the conversion of 2-OHE, known as “good estrogen”, by …

A Life Span Approach To The Relationship Between Cholesterol, Late Onset Alzheimer’S Disease, And Cognitive Functioning Among Older Adults, Brian Downer

Theses and Dissertations--Gerontology

There is evidence that cholesterol presents an important risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the direction of this relationship is modified by age. High cholesterol during midlife and low cholesterol during late life are both associated with an increased risk for AD. This dissertation research engaged a life span approach to study the relationship between cholesterol, AD and cognitive functioning among older adults. The purpose of this research was to determine if trajectories of cholesterol from midlife through late life differ according to AD status and if these trajectories are associated with cognitive functioning during old age.

This research …

Case Study: Sick On A South American Sugarcane Plantation, Kevin M. Bonney

Publications and Research

A case study is presented that was designed to be used in high school and college level courses to familiarize students with chagas disease, its transmission, and effects in Central and South America. Noted objectives of the lesson include evaluating disease symptoms, examining socioeconomic factors related to the epidemiology, and creating visual aids with public health information. Questions are provided for discussing the a case of chagas disease at a Brazilian sugarcane plantation.

Zinc Sulfide: Manganese Doped Quantum Rods For Detection Of Metal Ions And A Business Model For Future Sales, Andrew Teblum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hexavalent chromium is an extremely carcinogenic chemical that has been widely produced in the United States. This has led to major waste contamination and pollution throughout the country. According to the Environmental Working Group Hexavalent chromium has been found in 89% of city tap water. Most people believe they are safe using regular home filter systems however that is not true. A more expensive ion exchange water treatment unit is required. Therefore to protect yourselves from this carcinogenic metal a reliable test is required. In this study we have developed a Zinc Sulfide Manganese doped Quantum Rod technology to detect …

Setting The Stage For Arv-Based Prevention For Women: A Snapshot Of The Zimbabwean Context, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

Zimbabwe, with an estimated population of 12.7 million people, is among the countries in sub-Saharan Africa most affected by the HIV epidemic. Given the urgent need for HIV-prevention options for women, a number of projects are underway to prepare for introduction of tenofovir gel should it be shown to be effective. One of these is a toolkit developed by the Population Council to assist policymakers and program managers in identifying the most strategic opportunities for introducing tenofovir gel. The toolkit includes three related components: a landscape analysis, a discussion guide for key opinion leader interviews, and a program planning tool. …

Statistical Modeling Of Interfractional Tissue Deformation And Its Application In Radiation Therapy Planning, Douglas J. Vile

Theses and Dissertations

In radiation therapy, interfraction organ motion introduces a level of geometric uncertainty into the planning process. Plans, which are typically based upon a single instance of anatomy, must be robust against daily anatomical variations. For this problem, a model of the magnitude, direction, and likelihood of deformation is useful. In this thesis, principal component analysis (PCA) is used to statistically model the 3D organ motion for 19 prostate cancer patients, each with 8-13 fractional computed tomography (CT) images. Deformable image registration and the resultant displacement vector fields (DVFs) are used to quantify the interfraction systematic and random motion. By applying …

Saudi Arabian Students In Detroit Use Natural Health Products More So Than Other University Students In Detroit, Samiah Naji Alqahtani

Wayne State University Theses

Natural Health Products (NHP), are defined as products that derive from organisms and may include supplements and herbal/traditional remedies. Prior research indicates that females use NHP more than males. We have unpublished data to show that students use NHP for health maintenance with significantly different use of NHP by Native/Aboriginal students vs. other students. Less is known about Saudi students. We hypothesize that: (1) There are gender differences in NHP used; and (2) There are geo-ethnic differences in NHP used. We also determine the predictor variables that influence NHP use by students. Students from Wayne State University (n=560; 193 …

Investigating The Interactions Between Cyanobacteria And Vibrio Parahaemolyticus, Caroline E. Ward

Honors Theses and Capstones

One well-known pathogen that has been the topic of many recent studies is Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which causes thousands of foodborne illnesses a year, mostly from the ingestion of raw or undercooked oysters. It has been shown cyanobacteria can act as a long-term reservoir of Vibrio cholerae, another pathogenic Vibrio, by encasing the cells within mucilaginous sheaths during which Vibrios enter a viable but non-culturable state. In this study we investigated the interaction of V. parahaemolyticus with cyanobacteria to determine whether cyanobacteria aid in the longevity and survival of V. parahaemolyticus. We found that non-pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus …