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Predictors Of Patterns In Pediatric Pneumococcal Vaccine Uptake In Connecticut, 2000-2009, Aimee Marie Mead

Public Health Theses

Introduction:

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important human pathogen with more than 92 identified serotypes of varying invasiveness. Asymptomatic colonization of the nasopharynx can later cause diseases such as sinusitis, AOM, or IPD. Children under age five are the major reservoirs of infection. Pediatric conjugate vaccines effectively reduce vaccine-type carriage and disease. Vaccinating children can have indirect effects on adults.

Materials and Methods:

This paper used CIRTS to describe patterns of three- and four-dose PCV uptake throughout Connecticut in 2000 to 2009 birth cohorts. Spatial cluster analysis was used to detect any clusters with higher than expected proportions of unvaccinated children. …

Playforward: Elm City Stories Interactive Group-Based Curriculum: An Intervention On Hiv Risk Behaviors In Urban Racial And Ethnic Minority Youth, Anna North

Public Health Theses

There is a growing epidemic of HIV in young, racial and ethnic minority populations (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). PlayForward: Elm City Stories is an evidence-based, theory-driven videogame intervention developed by the Yale School of Medicine research group, play2PREVENT to impact HIV risk behaviors in urban racial and ethnic minority youth, ages 11-14 (play2PREVENT). The PlayForward: Elm City Stories intervention manual seeks to build on the videogame by adding an in-person group dimension to the individualized intervention. The manual provides a group-based interactive, in-person curriculum addressing decision-making and risk behaviors for HIV exposure among 11-14 year olds, and …

Household Food Insecurity And Obesity Risk In An Urban Slum In Brazil, Krysta Peterson

Public Health Theses

Background: The prevalence of obesity is growing among the poor. Household food insecurity (HFI) may partly explain this trend as individuals experiencing it may cope by consuming low-cost high calorie meals with little nutritive value. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of HFI, identify its risk factors, and assess the relationship with obesity among adults in an urban slum community in Salvador, Brazil.

Design: This cross-sectional study interviewed participants at home to assess socioeconomic status, demographics, HFI (measured by the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA)), and health. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference) of each respondent were taken to …

Predictors Of Babesia Microti Infection In Ixodes Scapularis Ticks In New England, Usa, Matthew David Phelps

Public Health Theses

Babesia microti is the primary etiological agent of human babesiosis (Vannier & Krause). Although it shares the same tick vector and mammal reservoirs as B. burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, the geographic extent of B. microti is limited to a subset of the range of B. burgdorferi (Diuk-Wasser et al.). Despite the slower spread of B. microti, it is equally prevalent in ticks in certain areas where both B. burgdorferi and B. microti have been endemic for long periods. The slower rate of B. microti expansion as compared to B. burgdorferi has been attributed to a lower efficiency …

The Association Between Perceived Stress And Worse Adherence To Medical Discharge Instructions After Acute Myocardial Infarction, Qiaochu Qi

Public Health Theses

Objectives: This study prospectively followed a cohort of 349 individuals recovering from an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) to investigate the relationship between their perceived stress and their adherence to medical discharge instructions.

Background: Experiencing a heart attack is stressful, and stress post-MI leads to poor outcomes. Worse adherence to discharge instructions can be a pathway, but no prior research has investigated the impact of perceived stress on AMI patients' ability to comply with discharge instructions.

Methods: We assessed adherence to hospital discharge instructions over 12 months among 349 individuals who were hospitalized with AMIs. Linear mixed-effects regression model was used …

Exploring Social Networking Technologies As Tools For Hiv Prevention For Men Who Have Sex With Men In Connecticut, Jorge Augusto Ramallo

Public Health Theses

This study examined the use of social networking technologies (SNTs) and their potential utilization in HIV prevention interventions among HIV positive and HIV negative men who have sex with men (MSM). We conducted 5 focus groups and 1 individual interview of HIV positive and HIV negative individuals (total 34). All participants were recruited with the help of a local non–profit organization and through a Facebook event advertised in neighboring LGBT establishments.

MSM tend to compartmentalize and separate their gay social networks. SNTs are the main way in which MSM meet new sexual partners. Young MSM are high users and early …

Soil-Transmitted Nematode Infections Among School-Age Children In Rakai District, Uganda, Jensen Dalton Reckhow

Public Health Theses

One billion people are currently infected with at least one soil-transmitted nematode (STN), and over 161,600 school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa live in areas where the prevalence exceeds 20%. STN infections cause malnutrition and cognitive deficits that limit productivity and may contribute to endemic poverty. Despite this significant and recognized disease burden, research on these diseases remains piecemeal; the majority of scientific understanding of these conditions is derived from a handful of small studies. Data regarding prevalence, intensity, and effectiveness of treatment of STN infections in Rakai District, Uganda is particularly limited, and the Ministry of Health has discontinued surveillance …

Estimating The Incidence Of Japanese Encephalitis In Divisions Of Bangladesh, Craig Michael Rothenberg

Public Health Theses

Japanese Encephalitis (JE) is a mosquito-borne viral disease responsible for 30,000 to 50,000 reported cases and up to 15,000 reported deaths every year. The disease is a significant public health concern in Bangladesh, but there is no regular surveillance or immunization for JE in the country. The objective of this study is to determine whether a practical model to estimate the incidence of JE in Bangladesh can be developed using data on population, environmental characteristics, and/or vector distribution for JE-endemic countries in Asia and the Western Pacific. Information on JE incidence, area, land cover, climate, population characteristics, land elevation, and …

Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Novel Ethnic-Specific Associations With Body Mass Index, Yasmmyn D. Salinas

Public Health Theses

Background. Obesity affects over one-third of the US population, and is a risk factor for various chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The disease results from a combination of behavioral and environmental risk factors and genetic predisposition. To date, over 50 genetic polymorphisms have been associated with increased body mass index (BMI), but these associations explain only a small percentage of the heritable risk of obesity. Moreover, the majority of these associations have been identified in populations of European ancestry. We sought to identify novel associations with BMI and to evaluate their generalizability across ethnic groups, …

Prenatal Depressive Symptoms And Sexual Risk Among Young Urban Pregnant Women Of Color, Abigail Taylor

Public Health Theses

Objective: To determine whether prenatal depressive symptoms are related to sexual risk outcomes 12 months postpartum.

Methods: Participants included 757 pregnant women aged 14-21 years, mainly Latina (54.4%) and Black, non-Latina (37.0%). Women completed structured interviews during the second and third trimester of pregnancy and one-year postpartum. Depressive symptoms were measured using the affect-only items of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Outcomes included sexual risk behavior (percent condom use, number of partners) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) measured via laboratory testing.

Results: Prenatal depressive symptoms significantly predict a decrease in condom use one-year postpartum, even when controlling for …

Leptospirosis Pulmonary Hemorrhage Syndrome In Salvador, Brazil From 2003 - 2012, Annie J. Tsay

Public Health Theses

ABSTRACT

Objective: Leptospirosis pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome (LPHS) is a severe form of leptospirosis, with a case fatality rate exceeding 50%. Recently, LPHS has become the principal cause of mortality in leptospirosis patients in Salvador, Brazil. This study aims to describe the epidemiology of LPHS since 2003, characterize its clinical presentation, and identify risk factors.

Methods:

Patients admitted between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2012 in the active hospital-based surveillance who met the clinical case definition for leptospirosis were included in the study. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data from patient charts and in-person interviews. Unadjusted logistic regression …

The Impact Of Architecture And Natural Ventilation On The Risk Of Tuberculosis Transmission In Brazilian Prisons, Juliana Urrego

Public Health Theses

Tuberculosis (TB) incidence in Brazilian penitentiaries is extremely high as prisons provide ideal conditions for airborne contagion by congregating infectious and susceptible individuals for extended periods of time. We aimed to determine the effects of architectural, environmental, and ventilation factors that impact TB transmission probabilities across prison cells in three penitentiaries of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. We collected descriptive data on cell architectural characteristics and estimated ventilation rates using steady-state exhaled carbon dioxide levels. A hierarchical linear, multivariable model was used to examine cell level architectural and environmental factors affecting absolute ventilation. We then estimated the probability of TB …

Executive Function In Survivors Of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Adrienne Suzanne Viola

Public Health Theses

BACKGROUND Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivors are at risk for impaired executive function, but it is unclear how to best screen for such impairment. We sought to determine 1) the reliability of neurocognitive assessment by performance-based testing versus parent report, and 2) how the measures relate to everyday function.

METHODS 256 survivors of standard risk childhood B-ALL (mean age 13.9 years at evaluation) were evaluated for executive function with three performance-based measures (Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children-IV (WISC-IV), Controlled Oral Word Association Test, and Conners' Continuous Performance Test-II) and one parent-report measure (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)). …

Foodnet Population Survey 2006-2007: Differences In Prevalence Of Health Care Seeking Behaviors And Exposures To Risk Factors For Foodborne Illness By Socioeconomic Status, Jessica Anne Wagner

Public Health Theses

Background: Previous studies in Connecticut (CT) have shown an association between higher incidence of bacterial foodborne pathogens, including Salmonella, Campylobacter, and shiga-toxin producing E. coli. Two hypotheses have been proposed to explain this association: 1) individuals of higher SES are more likely to seek medical care and be diagnosed following an episode of diarrhea or 2) the prevalence of risk factors for bacterial foodborne pathogens is higher among those of higher SES. CT is positioned to examine these two hypotheses because the FoodNet population survey, a source of data on SES, prevalence of healthcare-seeking behavior specific to diarrhea and prevalence …

Modeling The Zoonotic Transmission Dynamics Of Nipah Virus: Implications For Outbreak Control And Model-Guided Fieldwork, Natasha Wenzel

Public Health Theses

Introduction: Nipah virus is considered a biosafety level-4 pathogen that is endemic to bats of the genus Pteropus. Infection in humans presents clinically as febrile encephalitis with an extremely high case-fatality rate (78.2%). Outbreaks of Nipah virus infection have occurred in Bangladesh and India almost annually since 2001, most recently in January 2013.

Methods: To elucidate Nipah virus persistence at the endemic host and human population level we developed a Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered dynamic model and parameterized it from published epidemiological case data and serological bats surveys on the Nipah Virus-Bangladesh variant. We conducted a Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation to estimate …

Factors Influencing Hiv Testing In A Small Public Hospital In Manglaralto Ecuador, Magdalena Marie Wilson

Public Health Theses

Increasing rates of HIV testing is critical to reducing the spread of the HIV epidemic in Ecuador. HIV testing serves a number of purposes; it can be a gateway for people to enter the HIV care continuum, it may reduce risk behaviors among those tested, and it can influence social norms around HIV. This study investigated individual, interpersonal, institutional, and community level factors influencing HIV testing. A cross sectional survey was administered to a convenience sample of patients at a small, rural, public hospital in coastal Ecuador. Educational attainment, HIV knowledge, and perception of confidentiality of test results were significantly …

Alcohol And Early-Onset Basal Cell Carcinoma In A Case-Control Study, Yanchang Zhang

Public Health Theses

Background: Previous epidemiologic studies of overall alcohol intake and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are inconsistent, with some evidence for differences by type of alcoholic beverage. While alcohol may enhance the carcinogenicity of ultraviolet (UV) light, this has not been evaluated in existing epidemiologic studies.

Objective: To evaluate alcohol intake in relation to early-onset BCC, and explore potential interactions with UV exposure.

Methods BCC cases (n=380) and controls with benign skin conditions (n=390) under age 40 were identified through Yale Dermatopathology. Participants provided information on lifetime alcohol intake, including type of beverage during an in-person interview. Self-report data on indoor tanning …

Editor's Note, Colorado Technology Law Journal

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents, Colorado Technology Law Journal

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Long History And Increasing Importance Of Public-Service Principles For 21st-Century Public Digital Communications Networks, Mark Cooper

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Harm Claim Thresholds: Facilitating More Intensive Spectrum Use Through More Explicit Interference Protection Rights, J. Pierre De Vries

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

An Appropriate Interconnection Backstop, James B. Speta

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Increasing Wireless Value: Technology, Spectrum, And Incentives, Gregory L. Rosston

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Measuring Broadband Internet Prices, Gabor Molnar, Scott J. Savage, Douglas C. Sicker

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Limiting Sro Immunity To Mitigate Risky Behavior, Jaclyn Freeman

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Would Utility Models Improve American Innovation? Evidence From Brazil, Germany, And The United States, Tyler J. Boschert

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

High-Speed Rail In California May Be Inevitable: Where Does That Leave Opponents?, Andy Evans

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

How To Prevent Future Flash Crashes And Restore The Ordinary Investors' Confidence In The Financial Market: The Implementation Of Circuit Breakers And Speed Limits To Help Enforce The Market Access Rule, Stephanie Ryder

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Eagle-Net's Never-Ending Odyssey: Addressing Colorado's Unique Broadband Infrastructure Challenges, Kellen O'Brien

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Dragnet Nation: A Quest For Privacy, Security, And Freedom In A World Of Relentless Surveillance Chapter 1: Hacked, Julia Angwin

Colorado Technology Law Journal

No abstract provided.