Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of Cancer From Exposure To Cyanotoxins In Drinking Water At Grand Lake Saint Marys, Timothy Edward Soward

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Background: The Celina Water Department treats and supplies surface water contaminated by cyanotoxins from Grand Lake Saint Marys (GLSM) to approximately 12,000 customers in Celina, Ohio. Cyanotoxins are a biochemically and bioactively diverse group of extremely potent natural toxins in water. A common cyanotoxin called microcystin-LR found in GLSM has been associated with acute liver damage and potentially liver and colorectal cancer.

Methods: In this observational study, the city of Celina (Mercer County) Ohio that had a contaminated surface water supply, the cancer incidence was compared with two control cities, St. Marys, and Wapakoneta (Auglaize County) in Ohio, both served …

Large-Scale Use Of Mosquito Larval Source Management For Malaria Control In Africa: A Cost Analysis, Eve Worrall, Ulrike Fillinger

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: At present, large-scale use of two malaria vector control methods, long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) is being scaled up in Africa with substantial funding from donors. A third vector control method, larval source management (LSM), has been historically very successful and is today widely used for mosquito control globally, except in Africa. With increasing risk of insecticide resistance and a shift to more exophilic vectors, LSM is now under re-evaluation for use against afro-tropical vector species. Here the costs of this intervention were evaluated. Methods. The 'ingredients approach' was used to estimate the economic and …

Are Student Nurses Ready For Disasters? An Analysis Of Emergency Preparedness Content In Nursing School Textbooks Used In The Miami Valley, Kimberly Caudill

Master of Public Health Program Student Publications

Results of an analysis of nursing textbooks used in the Miami Valley, indicate that there is minimal emergency preparedness content included. The research was based on the textbooks used in the Introduction to Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, and Community Health Nursing classes at four local nursing schools: Sinclair Community College, Kettering College of Medical Arts, Cedarville University, and Wright State University. The Community Health Nursing classes have the most prepared content, and include extra content in the form of tables and pictures .The analysis indicates that Wright State University does the best job at preparing student nurses to be ready to …

The Association Between Parity, Infant Gender, Higher Level Of Paternal Education And Preterm Birth In Pakistan: A Cohort Study, Kiran Shaikh, Shahirose Sadrudin Premji, Marianne S. Rose, Ambreen Kazi, Shaneela Khowaja, Suzanne Tough

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Background:

High rates of antenatal depression and preterm birth have been reported in Pakistan. Self reported maternal stress and depression have been associated with preterm birth, however findings are inconsistent. Cortisol is a biological marker of stress and depression, and its measurement may assist in understanding the influence of self reported maternal stress and depression on preterm birth.

Methods:

In a prospective cohort study pregnant women between 28 to 30 weeks of gestation from the Aga Khan Hospital for Women and Children completed the A-Z Stress Scale and the Centre for Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale to assess stress and depression …

A Bayesian Model For Gene Family Evolution, Liang Liu, Lili Yu, Venugopal Kalavacharla, Zhanji Liu

Biostatistics: Faculty Publications

Background

A birth and death process is frequently used for modeling the size of a gene family that may vary along the branches of a phylogenetic tree. Under the birth and death model, maximum likelihood methods have been developed to estimate the birth and death rate and the sizes of ancient gene families (numbers of gene copies at the internodes of the phylogenetic tree). This paper aims to provide a Bayesian approach for estimating parameters in the birth and death model.

Results

We develop a Bayesian approach for estimating the birth and death rate and other parameters in the birth …

Characterization Of Street Food Consumption In Palermo: Possible Effects On Health, Silvio Buscemi, Annamaria Barile, Vincenza Maniaci, John A. Batsis

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Street Food (SF) consists of out-of-home food consumption and has old, historical roots with complex social-economic and cultural implications. Despite the emergence of modern fast food, traditional SF persists worldwide, but the relationship of SF consumption with overall health, well-being, and obesity is unknown.

Methods: This is an observational, cross-sectional study. The study was performed in Palermo, the largest town of Sicily, Italy. Two groups were identified: consumers of SF (n = 687) and conventional restaurant food (RES) consumers (n = 315). Study subjects answered a questionnaire concerning their health conditions, nutritional preferences, frequency of consumption of SF and …

Dengue Fever In Tegucigalpa, Honduras: Use Of The Explanatory Model In A Sample Of Urban Neighborhoods To Contextualize And Define Dengue Fever Among Community Participants, Jose Enrique Hasemann

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This project elucidated the explanatory model of dengue fever held by members of urban communities in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The study was conducted over a four-month period from May-August of 2011, and it was divided into two stages. The first stage of the project consisted of volunteer participation with dengue fever surveillance brigades in the three communities with the highest incidence of dengue fever during the beginning of 2011. This initial stage employed participant observation as its research method. The second stage was conducted in a different community within Tegucigalpa. The primary research methods employed during the second stage of the …

The Role Of Male Partners In Childbirth Decision Making: A Qualitative Exploration With First-Time Parenting Couples, Sharon Dejoy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fathers' attendance at childbirth is almost universal in the United States, but few researchers have addressed the role that males play in childbirth decision making. The number of technological interventions available to birthing women is increasing, as is the utilization of those interventions. The degree to which women choose or agree to these interventions plays a major role in individual and societal health outcomes. Therefore, health care policy makers and educators must find ways to help childbearing couples navigate the complex maze of decisions related to childbirth. However, policies and programs to increase shared decision making may not function as …

Neonatal Vitamin A Supplementation For The Prevention Of Mortality And Morbidity In Term Neonates In Developing Countries, Batool A. Haider, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Woman and Child Health

Background:Vitamin A deficiency is a major public health problem in developing countries. Vitamin A supplementation in children greater than six months of age has been found to be beneficial, with no effect of supplementation between one to five months. Supplementation in the neonatal period has been suggested to have an impact by increasing body stores in early infancy.
Objectives: To evaluate the role of vitamin A supplementation in term neonates in developing countries with respect to the prevention of mortality and morbidity.
Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library, May …

Knowledge, Perceptions And Myths Regarding Infertility Among Selected Adult Population In Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sumera Ali, Raafay Sophie, Ayesha M. Imam, Faisal I. Khan, Syed F. Ali, Annum Shaikh, Syed Farid-Ul-Hasnain

Community Health Sciences

Background: The reported prevalence of infertility in Pakistan is approximately 22% with 4% primary and 18% secondary infertility. Infertility is not only a medical but also a social problem in our society as cultural customs and perceived religious dictums may equate infertility with failure on a personal, interpersonal, or social level. It is imperative that people have adequate knowledge about infertility so couples can seek timely medical care and misconceptions can be rectified.We aim to assess the knowledge, perception and myths regarding infertility and suggest ways to improve it.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out by interviewing a sample …

Economic Empowerment And Hiv Prevention Among Young Women And Girls In Kenya: Lessons From The Study Of Economic Empowerment Programs, Samantha Van Putten

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

One of the major issues facing Kenya is HIV/AIDS. With recognition by the global community that providing women with economic opportunities can help both those who are HIV positive, as well as in prevention for those who are not infected, programs combining microfinance and HIV education have started to emerge. While women in these programs 3 3 have shown preliminary signs of success, young girls did not respond as well in part due to lack of interest in the particular programs themselves. As such, this study examines two economic empowerment programs for girls and young mothers at the non-governmental organization …

Improving The Population’S Health: The Affordable Care Act And The Importance Of Integration, Lorian E. Hardcastle, Katherine L. Record, Peter D. Jacobson, Lawrence O. Gostin

O'Neill Institute Papers

Heath care and public health are typically conceptualized as separate, albeit overlapping, systems. Health care’s goal is the improvement of individual patient outcomes through the provision of medical services. In contrast, public health is devoted to improving health outcomes in the population as a whole through health promotion and disease prevention. Health care services receive the bulk of funding and political support, while public health is chronically starved of resources. In order to reduce morbidity and mortality, policymakers must shift their attention to public health services and to the improved integration of health care and public health. In other words, …

Infectious Disease As A Security Threat, With Particular Application To The Migration Context, Marielena Faria

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This paper analyzes the threat infectious diseases impose on global security, specifically in the migration context. Infectious diseases can threaten security through a variety of areas, and this paper aims to identify the global spread of infectious diseases through migration, international crises, humanitarian emergencies, HIV/AIDS, and emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. This paper explores global health, security, and migration in an attempt to determine if combining these three areas can be meaningful. Generally, studies approach only two of the three areas to examine a topic, but this paper will assess and point out when combining all three fields is relevant. …

The Perfect Storm: How Pro-Abortion Activists In The Netherlands Incite Social Change From International Waters, Julia Ellis‐Kahana

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This project is a sociological ethnography of the Women on Waves foundation, founded in 1999 by Dr. Rebecca Gomperts. As an international non-profit organization, they employ a direct action method: sailing to countries where abortion is illegal and providing safe abortion access. Local women board the ship that then travels 12 miles to international waters, where Dutch law applies, and the abortion pill can be administered legally. Using a feminist perspective, I interviewed five of the women at the organization in addition to the ship’s captain in order to understand the ideological beliefs about the reproductive rights that have inspired …

Differentiating The Vulnerability Of Kothis And Hijras To Hiv/Aids: A Case Study Of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, Poonam Daryani

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The present study aims to begin the process of differentiation between the various subpopulations that fall under the agenda of interventions targeted at Males who have Sex with Males (MSM). This separation is accomplished though an investigation of the sociocultural factors and behavioral patterns impacting the vulnerability of MSM and transgender (TG) 5 communities to HIV/AIDS. Specifically, the situation of kothi and hijra populations are compared in order to understand how the differences in their cultural practices and lifestyles create unique sexual health needs. The study was completed in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh under the guidance of Bharosa Trust and MAAN …

Reproductive Health Education In The Kibera Slum: Developing A Slum-Specific Curriculum, Susanna Schneider Banks

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The principal objective of this Independent Study Project is to make recommendations for a slum-specific reproductive health curriculum to be used in primary schools that serve the Kibera Slum in Nairobi, Kenya. In order to obtain data and form a credible basis for the recommendations, interviews were conducted with teachers, focus groups were facilitated with students, and questionnaires were distributed to parents. Additionally, observations were made about the current state of reproductive health education at each school. Data was collected at Kibera School for Girls, a private school in Kibera, and Olympic Primary School, a public school at the edge …

Effect Of School Racial Composition On Trajectories Of Depressive Symptoms From Adolescence Through Early Adulthood, Katrina M. Walsemann, Bethany A. Bell, Bridget J. Goosby

Faculty Publications

Introduction: We investigate the effect of high school racial composition, measured as percent of non-Hispanic White students, on trajectories of depressive symptoms from adolescence to early adulthood. We also explore whether the effect of school racial composition varies by respondent race/ethnicity and if adult socio-economic status mediates this relationship.

Methods: We analyzed four waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health using 3-level linear growth models. We restricted our sample to respondents enrolled in grades 9-12 in 1994/5 who were interviewed at a minimum in Waves I and IV. This resulted in 10,350 respondents enrolled in 80 …

When Mountain Bellies Grow Round: Localized Knowledge And Behaviors Facilitating Pregnancy And Childbirth In Phaphlu, Nepal, Cailin Marsden

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In attempts to gain a level of understanding of a community’s localized experiences, beliefs, practices, and roles around pregnancy and childbirth, ethnographic fieldwork was conducted with the mothers and fathers of Phaphlu in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal. Aimed at the validation of diverse and localized ways of knowing revealed during the fieldwork period, this paper applies anthropologist Bridgette Jordan’s theoretical framework of authoritative knowledge to the emergent themes of subjectively understood childbirth (knowledge acquisition and flow, role of the husband, and protective behavior.)

Heterogeneity And Data Analysis, Peter J. Taylor

Working Papers on Science in a Changing World

This working paper is a discussion paper for a September 2011 meeting of the research group of Prof. Di Cook on data visualization and exploratory data analysis at Iowa State University. A taxonomy of eleven kinds of heterogeneity is presented, followed by a set of vignettes that illustrate some of the meanings and sketch some implications, then a series of images that illustrate the heterogeneities. Several of the vignettes speak to a broad contention about heterogeneity and control: In relation to modern understandings of heredity and development over the life course, research and application of resulting knowledge are untroubled by …

Florida Public Health Association 2009 Survey Of Academic Public Health Programs In Florida, Leslie Sue Lieberman, Nancy Rudner Lugo, Mary Peoples-Sheps, Melissa J. Vilaro, Claude Earl Fox

Florida Public Health Review

Preparing the public health workforce is essential to the protection ofthe health and wellbeing ofthe state and the nation. Yet, a workforce shortage is looming. It is anticipated that by 2020, the nation will be facing a shortfall ofmore than a quarter of a million public health workers. To address this impeding shortage, the Association ofSchools ofPublic Health (ASPH) has stressed the need to build public health education capacity, with emphasis on competencies and curriculum in emerging diseases, with joint degrees, and with diverse approaches to education, including certificates and distance learning. To assess Florida’s available public health professional preparation …

Highly Variable Recessive Lthal Or Nearly Lethal Mutation Rates During Germ-Line Development Of Male Drosophila Melanogaster, Jian-Jun Gao, Xue-Rong Pan, Jing Hu, Li Ma, Jian-Min Wu, Ye-Lin Shao, Sara A Barton, Ronny C Woodruff, Ya-Ping Zhang, Yun-Xin Fu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Each cell of higher organism adults is derived from a fertilized egg through a series of divisions, during which mutations can occur. Both the rate and timing of mutations can have profound impacts on both the individual and the population, because mutations that occur at early cell divisions will affect more tissues and are more likely to be transferred to the next generation. Using large-scale multigeneration screening experiments for recessive lethal or nearly lethal mutations of Drosophila melanogaster and recently developed statistical analysis, we show for male D. melanogaster that (i) mutation rates (for recessive lethal or nearly lethal) are …

Stimulant Reduction Intervention Using Dosed Exercise (Stride) - Ctn 0037: Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Madhukar H. Trivedi, Tracy L. Greer, Bruce D. Grannemann, Timothy S. Church, Eugene Somoza, Steven N. Blair, Jose Szapocznik, Mark Stoutenberg, Chad Rethorst, Diane Warden, Kolette M. Ring, Robrina Walker, David W. Morris, Andrzej S. Kosinski, Tiffany Kyle, Bess H. Marcus, Becca Crowell, Neal Oden, Edward Nunes

Faculty Publications

Background: There is a need for novel approaches to the treatment of stimulant abuse and dependence. Clinical data examining the use of exercise as a treatment for the abuse of nicotine, alcohol, and other substances suggest that exercise may be a beneficial treatment for stimulant abuse, with direct effects on decreased use and craving. In addition, exercise has the potential to improve other health domains that may be adversely affected by stimulant use or its treatment, such as sleep disturbance, cognitive function, mood, weight gain, quality of life, and anhedonia, since it has been shown to improve many of these …

Relationships Between Self-Reported Smoking, Household Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure And Depressive Symptoms In A Pregnant Minority Population, Sylvia Tan, Lauren P. Courtney, Ayman El-Mohandes, Susan M. Blake, Marie G. Gantz, Jutta Thornberry, M. Nabil El-Khorazaty, David Perry, Michele Kiely

Publications and Research

This study sought to examine relationships between depressive symptoms and prenatal smoking and/or household environmental tobacco smoke exposure (HHETSE) among urban minority women. We analyzed private, audio computer-assisted self interview data from a clinic-based sample of 929 minority pregnant women in Washington, DC. Depressive symptoms were assessed via the Beck Depression Inventory Fast Screen. HH-ETSE, current smoking, and former smoking were assessed via self-report. Depression levels and demographic characteristics were compared: (1) among nonsmokers, for those reporting HH-ETSE versus no HH-ETSE; and (2) among smokers, for those reporting current smoking (in last 7 days) versus former smokers. Measures associated with …

Supplier-Induced Demand For Psychiatric Admissions In Northern New England, Bradley V. Watts, Brian Shiner, Gunnar Klauss, William B. Weeks

Dartmouth Scholarship

The development of hospital service areas (HSAs) using small area analysis has been useful in examining variation in medical and surgical care; however, the techniques of small area analysis are underdeveloped in understanding psychiatric admission rates. We sought to develop these techniques in order to understand the relationship between psychiatric bed supply and admission rates in Northern New England. Our primary hypotheses were that there would be substantial variation in psychiatric admission across geographic settings and that bed availability would be positively correlated with admission rates, reflecting a supplier-induced demand phenomenon. Our secondary hypothesis was that the construction of psychiatric …

Hiv And Concurrent Sexual Partnerships: Modelling The Role Of Coital Dilution, Larry Sawers, Alan G. Isaac, Eileen Stillwaggon

Economics Faculty Publications

Background: The concurrency hypothesis asserts that high prevalence of overlapping sexual partnerships explains extraordinarily high HIV levels in sub-Saharan Africa. Earlier simulation models show that the network effect of concurrency can increase HIV incidence, but those models do not account for the coital dilution effect (nonprimary partnerships have lower coital frequency than primary partnerships).

Methods: We modify the model of Eaton et al (AIDS and Behavior, September 2010) to incorporate coital dilution by assigning lower coital frequencies to non-primary partnerships. We parameterize coital dilution based on the empirical work of Morris et al (PLoS ONE, December …

Civic Attitude And Activity Of Loma Linda University Dental Graduates, Gregory W. Olson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Introduction: Dentistry is regarded as a profession and granted certain privileges, such as self-regulation. Associated with this status are stated and implied responsibilities which are widely debated. In recent years, dental professionalism seems to be on the decline. Evidence cited includes access-to-care issues and decreased public trust in dentists. In response, academia and professional organizations have developed curricula and statements intended to bolster professionalism. Meanwhile little is known about practicing dentists’ attitudes or participation in health-related civic matters. Objectives: This study seeks to examine the importance Loma Linda University (LLU) dental graduates place on public roles, their reported participation in …

An Occupational-Based Experimental Study Of Collective Vs. Personal Efficacy To Encourage Sun Protective Behaviors In Head Start Preschool Teachers, Elizabeth A. Holzhauser

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancers in the United States. An analysis of literature shows that skin cancer can be partially mitigated through personal behavior changes (Glanz, Buller, & Saraiya; 2007, Canadian Centre of Occupational Health and Safety [CCOHS], 2010). Currently national sun-safety educational campaigns promote sun-protective behaviors to individuals who receive exposure due to their work environment (Task Force on Community Preventive Services, 2004). Preschool teachers employed with San Bernardino County Head Start are inadvertently exposed to sunlight during mandatory recess periods posing risks to their health.

Purpose. This study evaluated two instructional …

Thirdhand Tobacco Smoke: Emerging Evidence And Arguments For A Multidisciplinary Research Agenda, Georg E. Matt, Penelope J. Quintana, Hugo Destaillats, Lara A. Gundel, Mohamad Sleiman, Brett C. Singer, Peyton Jacob, Jonathan P. Winickoff, Prue Talbot, Suzaynn Schick, Yinsheng Wang, Bo Hang, Manuela Martins-Green, James F. Pankow, Melbourne F. Hovell, Neal L. Benowitz, Virender K. Rehan, Jonathan M. Samet

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

There is broad consensus regarding the health impact of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure, yet considerable ambiguity exists about the nature and consequences of thirdhand smoke (THS). We introduce definitions of THS and THS exposure and review recent findings about constituents, indoor sorption-desorption dynamics, and transformations of THS; distribution and persistence of THS in residential settings; implications for pathways of exposure; potential clinical significance and health effects; and behavioral and policy issues that affect and are affected by THS. Physical and chemical transformations of tobacco smoke pollutants take place over time scales ranging from seconds to months and include …

Use Of Optimal Control Models To Predict Treatment Time For Managing Tick-Borne Disease, Holly D. Gaff, Elsa Schaefer, Suzanne Lenhart

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Tick-borne diseases have been on the rise recently, and correspondingly, there is an increased interest in implementing control measures to decrease the risk. Optimal control provides an ideal tool to identify the best method for reducing risk while accounting for the associated costs. Using a previously published model, a variety of frameworks are assessed to identify the key factors influencing mitigation strategies. The level and duration of tick-reducing efforts are key metrics for understanding the successful reduction in tick-borne disease incidence. The results show that the punctuated nature of the tick's life history plays a critical role in reducing risk …

Hubungan Kadar Timbel Dalam Darah Dengan Kadar Hemoglobin Dan Hematokrit Pada Petugas Pintu Tol Jagorawi, Tan Malaka, Meiri Iryani

Kesmas

Penelitian tentang hubungan antara kadar timbel dalam darah dengan anemia yang tercermin dalam kadar hemoglobin dan hematokrit pada petugas pintu tol Jagorawi Jakarta. Landasan teori penelitian ini adalah hasil pemantauan kualitas udara Daerah Khusus Ibu Kota (DKI) Jakarta dimana kadar timbel di udara ambien melebihi Baku Mutu Lingkungan (BML) dan adanya petunjuk literatur bahwa timbel memiliki pengaruh negatif terhadap sistem hemopoitik pada manusia. Seratus orang pekerja terpilih untuk penelitian ini. Sebanyak 12% dari pekerja yang merupakan subjek pada penelitian ini tergolong anemia berdasarkan kadar hemoglobin darah dan 10% anemia berdasarkan nilai hematokrit. Kadar timbel darah yang didapatkan pada penelitian ini …