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Examining Alcohol Consumption, Psychological Distress, And Current Smoking Status: Results From The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2013, Guangxing Zhan

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

Introduction: Approximately 443,000 people die from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, and another 8.6 million people have a serious smoking-related illness, which costs nearly $96 billion in health-care expenditures and $97 billion in productivity losses annually in the United States. This study examined the association between alcohol consumption and smoking status, and how psychological distress can affect this association. Methods: Data come from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). We used binary logistic regression models to compute adjusted odds ratios between alcohol consumption and smoking status, controlling for age, gender, race, education, and income. We used chi-square …

Acclimation, Adaptation, Traits And Trade-Offs In Plankton Functional Type Models: Reconciling Terminology For Biology And Modelling, Kevin J. Flynn, Michael St. John, John A. Raven, David O. F. Skibinski, J. Icarus Allen, Aditee Mitra, Eileen E. Hofmann

CCPO Publications

We propose definitions in terminology to enhance ongoing collaborations between biologists and modellers on plankton ecology. Organism "functional type" should refer to commonality in ecology not biogeochemistry; the latter is largely an emergent property of the former, while alignment with ecology is also consistent with usage in terrestrial science. Adaptation should be confined, as in genetics, to consideration of species inter-generational change; most so-called "adaptive" plankton models are thus acclimative, modifying vital rates in response to stimuli. Trait trade-off approaches should ideally only be considered for describing intra-generational interactions; in applications between generations, and certainly between unrelated species, such concepts …

Concealed Weapon Proliferation And The Impact On Firearm-Related Fatalities And Injuries Due To Assault In Kentucky, 2005-2013, Travis Young

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

Objectives: The objective of our research was to look broadly at firearms and health in the state of Kentucky, where annual gun purchases are rising and laws eliminating restrictions on concealed carry have empowered more than 300,000 citizens to carry firearms in virtually any public setting. As guns become more prevalent, and more readily accessible, will violent crime decrease as some have predicted, or will the potential for conflict escalation cause the opposite effect?

Methods: Utilizing death records for firearm-related homicides and hospitalization and emergency department visit data for injuries occurring due to firearm-related assault, we correlated the rate of …

Historical Trends In Size And Endemic Species For Serpentine Barrens In Pennsylvania, Kathleen Rengert

Geography & Planning Student Work

The serpentine barrens are unique ecological niches in North America, many of which are located on the Maryland/Pennsylvania border along the Mason Dixon Line. These areas contain grasslands and savanna ecosystems with rare and endangered flora and fauna that have interested botanists, biogeographers, geologists, plant physiologists, and nature enthusiasts since John Bartram, Benjamin Franklin, and John Fothergill, M.D. (Alexander 2009; Dann 1988; Pennell 1930). Since the European settlement of the North American continent in the 1750’s, the barrens have remained relatively stable. However in the past 50 years natural fires have been suppressed, grazing and logging have ceased, and the …

Settlement History And Interaction In The Manialtepec Basin Of Oaxaca's Central Coast, Victoria Menchaca

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the focus of over 70 years* of archaeological research, Oaxaca, Mexico, is one of Mesoamerica*s best understood regions. Yet, despite the volume of work in Oaxaca, information about one of its key resource areas, the central Pacific coast, remains limited. Specifically, the ambiguous role of Oaxaca*s Central Coast in interregional relationships during pre-Hispanic times to the sites of Monte Alban and Tututepec has been a chronic problem and major source of debate for decades. The purpose of this thesis is to begin clarifying the role of Oaxaca*s Central Coast in interregional networks and its pre-Hispanic history. Analysis utilized surface …

Quantifying The Effects Of Boat Wakes On Intertidal Oyster Reefs In A Shallow Estuary, Donna Campbell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There have long been concerns about the negative impacts of recreational boating activity in the Indian River Lagoon system (IRL), especially in Mosquito Lagoon (ML), the northernmost part of the IRL. My research is focused on the impacts of boat wakes on intertidal reefs formed by the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica. There has been a 24% loss of oyster habitat in ML since 1943, where natural oyster reefs have been replaced by dead oyster reefs which do not serve the same ecological function. While there is anecdotal and correlative evidence that this loss is a result of boat wakes, no …

Influenza And Asthma Hospitalizations In Nyc From 2002-2012, Pauline Trinh

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: The literature has focused primarily on rhinoviruses as the major determinant of asthma exacerbations. The association between other respiratory viruses such as influenza and asthma exacerbations is not well characterized and further understanding can better inform prevention strategies to reduce influenza-related asthma.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study is to determine whether asthma hospitalizations of children and adults in the five boroughs of New York City is correlated with influenza hospitalizations temporally and spatially and whether these correlations differ by county or age.

METHODS: A times series regression analysis was performed using influenza hospitalizations as the explanatory series …

Friendship And Autism: A Multiple Case Study Ecological Exploration Of Student, Teacher, And Peer Factors Relating To The Social Network And Feelings Of Loneliness Of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder In General Education Elementary Classrooms, Jessica Birdwhistell

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

The number of children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are being served in the public school system has increased dramatically in recent years. During an increased focus on inclusion within education, research shows that students with ASD educated in the general education classroom generally do not have as many friends as their peers without ASD. However, some students with ASD are found to have more friends than other students with ASD. Therefore, additional research must explore potential factors that may be influencing the success with which students with ASD form friendships within the general education classroom. Using …

Maximum Entropy Modeling Of Indiana Bat (Myotis Sodalis) Maternity Roost Habitat, Joseph Robert Lemen

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Since 1967, the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) has been on the U.S. Endangered Species list due to disruption of hibernating bats in caves, summer habitat degradation, and more recently, the onset of White-nose Syndrome. The purpose of this study is to evaluate landscape variables associated with Indiana bat maternity roost trees in an attempt to better understand what factors play a role in their distribution in north central Missouri. I tracked reproductive female Indiana bats to 20 different primary and secondary roost trees; these are roosts that had multiple bats visit them on multiple occasions. GPS location data for these …

The Argument For Moving Away From Residential Placement For Most Juvenile Offenders, Marika Dawkins-Cavazos

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

This paper examines the theoretical and empirical argument or moving away from residential placement for juvenile offenders. To that end, the use ofres1dential placement for Juvenile offenders and incarceration for adult offenders are compared to shed light on the inconsistencies between rhetoric and actual practices as related to the deterrence theory. While residential placement and incarceration are generally regarded as two separate mechanisms, the literature suggests that residential placement is counterproductive and the U.S. must continue to reassess its approach to juvenile offending.

Alcohol Sale Status And Violent Deaths In Kentucky, Usa: 2005-2012, Hanan Abdulghafoor Khaleel

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

Alcohol is one of the major public health problems worldwide because of its association with many health and psychological problems. This study adds to the extant literature by examining the association between being a resident in a wet county and having an alcohol related violent death, an alcohol related suicide, or an alcohol related homicide victimization.

The first aim of this study is to determine whether residents of wet counties have a higher odds of alcohol related violent deaths than residents of dry/moist counties after adjusting for other confounding factors. The second aim is to determine whether residents of wet …

Recovery Potential Of The Mussel Communities In The Lower Section Of Big Walnut Creek, Jared B. Ellenbogen

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Since the enactment of the 1977 Clean Water Act, biologists have created numerous multimetric assessment tools to evaluate the biological integrity of water resources, using biological criteria. The integrity of Big Walnut Creek, Ohio, has been in flux since the 1955 construction of Hoover Dam, and while current water quality is high, mussel communities in the creek have yet to recover to historical levels. This study sought to determine the cause of the decline in the mussels in the lower section of the creek below the dam. Historical creek data, including a fish-based index of biotic integrity (f-IBI), invertebrate community …

The Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide Applied To Male Prisoners, Jon T. Mandracchia, Phillip N. Smith

Faculty Publications

The interpersonal theory of suicide proposes that severe suicide ideation is caused by the combination of thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB), yet few studies have actually examined their interaction. Further, no studies have examined this proposal in male prisoners, a particularly at-risk group. To address this gap, the current study surveyed 399 male prisoners. TB and PB interacted to predict suicide ideation while controlling for depression and hopelessness. High levels of both TB and PB were associated with more severe suicide ideation. The interpersonal theory may aid in the detection, prevention, and treatment of suicide risk in prisoners.

First Record And A New Species Description Of Dudgeodes (Ephemeroptera: Teloganodidae) From South India, Sankarappan Anbalagan, Chellapandian Balachandran, Mani Kannan, Sundaram Dinakaran, Muthukalingan Krishnan

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Dudgeodes bharathidasani sp. nov. is described from the Western Ghats of South India. The nymphs of this species were found in the seepage areas of a stream, and they were associated with the nets constructed by trichopteran larvae (Hydropsychidae: Hydropsyche).

The Not So "Sweet Surprise": Lawsuits Blaming Big Sugar For Obesity-Related Health Conditions Face An Uphill Battle, Catherine Srithong Wicker

Journal of Law and Health

Because obesity and its associated health problems have been largely attributed to poor self-control, laziness, and various other personal failings, society has been unwilling to assign blame to food manufacturers for their role in contributing to this problem. But, as consumers are becoming more aware of the significantly harmful effect that poor diets can have on a person’s heath, the scales may be tipping in favor of bringing “Big Food” to court. Food manufacturers, however, are not exactly vulnerable. Armed with precedent disputing the causal link between consumption of fast food and adverse health effects, judicially-created barriers to admitting epidemiologic …

Landscape Pattern And Change Through Integration Of Remote Sensing And Stone Wall Feature Identification, Rebecca J. Trueman

Open Access Master's Theses

Stone walls are relics of an agricultural civilization that once flourished in New England. By identifying the locations of both historical and present day stone walls, compositions of post-agricultural landscapes common across the New England region can be assessed with inclusion of historic human-land use interactions. I selected the town of New Shoreham, known as Block Island, as the study site for this thesis. Block Island is located approximately 14.5 km south of the Rhode Island mainland. The Island has rich land use history which resulted in an extensive network of stone walls still present across the landscape. Through visual …

Vertebrate Natural History Notes From Arkansas, 2015, C. Renn Tumlison, M. B. Connior, H. W. Robison, C. T. Mcallister, L. A. Durden, D. Blake Sasse, D. A. Saugey

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Many important details of vertebrate biology are unknown to the scientific community because the observations are not part of a larger theoretical study. Yet, knowledge of such details not only fills gaps in understanding but also creates a framework for hypothesis building. We have collected observations of importance that can add to the growth of knowledge. Compiled here are important recent observations representing all vertebrate classes in Arkansas.

Studies Of Breeding Habitats And Seasonal Occurrence Of Mosquitoes In Putrajaya And Kuala Selangor, With Laboratory Experiments Of Guppies And Dragonfly Nymphs As Potential Biocontrol Predators Against Mosquito Larvae / Siti Nurhafizah Saleeza Ramlee, Siti Nurhafizah Saleeza Ramlee

Student Works (2010-2019)

Mosquito control is essential for the control of vector borne diseases. Many synthetic insecticides are widely used for controlling adult and larval mosquito populations. However, there are multirole effects: e.g. the harmful effects of chemicals on non-target organisms, the development of resistance to these chemicals in mosquitoes and the recent resurgence of different mosquito-borne diseases. The objectives of this study are to determine the potential breeding habitats of the mosquitoes, mosquito indices, mosquito species, density of mosquito larvae, perceptions of respondents on bio control and to conduct captivity studies on predator–prey relationships. Entomological surveillance was carried out in six localities …

Antibody Response Of Cattle To Vaccination With Commercial Modified Live Rabies Vaccines In Guatemala, Amy T. Gilbert, Lauren Greenberg, David Moran, Marlon Alvarado, Daniel L. Garcia, Leonard Peruski

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Vampire bat rabies is a public and animal health concern throughout Latin America. As part of an ecological study of vampire bat depredation on cattle in southern Guatemala,we conducted a vaccine seroconversion study among three dairy farms. The main objectives of this cross sectional and cohort study were to understand factors associated withbat bites among cattle, to determine whether unvaccinated cattle had evidence of rabies virus exposure and evaluate whether exposure was related to bat bite prevalence, and to assess whether cattle demonstrate adequate seroconversion to two commercial vaccines used in Guatemala. In 2012, baseline blood samples were collected immediately …

Harvest Demographics Of Temperate-Breeding Canada Geese In South Dakota, 1967–1995, Jeffrey S. Gleason, Jonathan A. Jenks, David E. Naugle, Paul W. Mammenga, Spencer J. Vaa, Jennifer M. Pritchett

Human–Wildlife Interactions

In South Dakota, breeding giant Canada geese (Branta canadensis maxima) have increased substantially, and harvest management strategies have been implemented to maximize hunting opportunity (e.g., special early-September seasons) on local, as well as molt-migrant giant Canada geese (B. c. interior) while still protecting lesser abundant Arctic breeding Canada geese and cackling geese (e.g., B. hutchinsii, B. minima). Information on important parameters, such as survival and recovery rates, are generally lacking for giant Canada geese in the northern Great Plains. Patterns in Canada goose band recoveries can provide insight into the distribution, chronology, and harvest pressures …

Short-Horned Grasshopper Subfamilies Feed At Different Rates On Big Bluestem And Switchgrass Cultivars, Muhammad Ullah, Fatima Mustafa, William W. Hoback, Mathew L. Brust, Kerri M. Farnsworth-Hoback, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Grasshopper species belonging to subfamilies Melanoplinae, Gomphocerinae and Oedipodinae were tested for their feeding rate on three types of grass. All grasshopper species were offered Shawnee and Kanlow cultivars of switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L. and big bluestem, Andropogon gerardii Vitman. The grasshoppers, Melanoplus femurrubrum and Melanoplus differentialis were also tested for their feeding on turgid or wilted leaves of the Shawnee cultivar of switchgrass. We found that M. differentialis consumed more switchgrass compared to big bluestem while M. femurrubrum and Arphia xanthoptera consumed the most Shawnee switchgrass. The M. differentialis consumed more turgid grass compared to wilted switchgrass. The feeding …

Stable Isotopes In Seabirds, Kimberly Gosciak

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Seabirds are a highly endangered group of vertebrates; they are more threatened than any other group of bird. However, the Common Murre is one species that is showing an increasing population trend; I found that Common Murres have shown a significant increase in δ¹⁵N since 1994, in contrast to the threatened Marbled Murrelet, which has a similar biology but has shown decreasing δ¹⁵ N values that typically correlate with declining population size. This is potentially due to sexual dimorphism that allows for the Common Murre to fill a larger niche. While I found no statistical difference between …

Establishing A Definition Of Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus) Health: A Guide To Research And Management Activities, Kelly A. Park, Colleen Duncan, Pauline Noi, Christian Sonne, Kristin Laidre, Martyn Obbard, Oystein Wiig, Jon Aars, Eric Regehr, Lori L. Gustafson, Todd Atwood

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The meaning of health for wildlife and perspectives on how to assess and measure health, are not well characterized. For wildlife at risk, such as some polar bear (Ursus maritimus) subpopulations, establishing comprehensive monitoring programs that include health status is an emerging need. Environmental changes, especially loss of sea ice habitat, have raised concern about polar bear health. Effective and consistent monitoring of polar bear health requires an unambiguous definition of health. We used the Delphi method of soliciting and interpreting expert knowledge to propose a working definition of polar bear health and to identify current concerns regarding …

Antibody Response Of Cattle To Vaccination With Commercialmodified Live Rabies Vaccines In Guatemala, Amy T. Gilbert, Lauren Greenberg, David Moran, Danilo Alvarez, Marlon Alvarado, Daniel L. Garcia, Leonard Peruski

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Vampire bat rabies is a public and animal health concern throughout Latin America. Aspart of an ecological study of vampire bat depredation on cattle in southern Guatemala,we conducted a vaccine seroconversion study among three dairy farms. The main objec-tives of this cross sectional and cohort study were to understand factors associated withbat bites among cattle, to determine whether unvaccinated cattle had evidence of rabiesvirus exposure and evaluate whether exposure was related to bat bite prevalence, and toassess whether cattle demonstrate adequate seroconversion to two commercial vaccinesused in Guatemala. In 2012, baseline blood samples were collected immediately prior tointramuscular inoculation of …

Spatio-Temporal Patterns Of Water Table And Vegetation Status Of A Deserted Area, Limin Duan, Tingxi Liu, Xixi Wang, Yanyun Luo

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Understanding groundwater-vegetation interactions is crucial for sustaining fragile environments of desert areas such as the Horqin Sandy Land (HSL) in northern China. This study examined spatio-temporal variations in the water table and the associated vegetation status of a 9.71 km² area that contains meadowland, sandy dunes, and intermediate transitional zones. The depth of the water table and hydrometeorologic parameters were monitored and Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data were utilized to assess the vegetation cover. Spatio-temporal variations over the six-year study period were examined and descriptive groundwater-vegetation associations developed by overlaying a water table …

Describing The Health Care Needs Of School-Age Children In Sub-Saharan Africa In Order To Develop A Model Of A Nurse-Run School-Based Health Clinic, Bonnie Tong

Yale School of Nursing Digital Theses

Objective: Rural Kenya is affected by health disparities and poor health outcomes among school-age children. This paper identifies gaps in health care among school-aged children in rural Kenya, in order to identify a health care model to meet those gaps.

Design: The results of a systematic review on the health care needs were triangulated with field notes from interviews of stakeholders in a rural Kenyan village. Needs were then compared with currently available health care resources to identify gaps.

Sample: Multiple databases were searched to identify relevant articles published between the years 2000- 2014. Interviews were conducted with health workers, …

Population Differentiation And Habitat Selection Of A Montane Red Fox Population In The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Patrick Cross

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Montane red fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations across the western United States are genetically and morphologically distinct from foxes at lower elevations. These montane populations also share a preference for subalpine forest habitats. One hypothesis is that they stem from boreal forest-associated ancestors that expanded during the Pleistocene when boreal forests extended farther south than they do today. Forest habitat selection may therefore aid the persistence of native populations surrounded by non-native conspecifics. Alternatively, this behavior may be an avoidance mechanism in response to competition with larger coyotes (Canis latrans), or a product of the fox's natural adaptability. The red fox …

Longitudinal Variation In Environmental Impact At Rock Climbing Areas In The Red River Gorge Limits Of Acceptable Change Study Area, Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky, Nicholas Walendziak

Online Theses and Dissertations

Recreation ecology began in the 1960s to measure the impacts of recreation on ecosystems. Area of environmental impact is an important objective to assess recreational impact. However, few researchers have examined the trends of these impacts over time. This study measures the environmental area of impact at eight climbing areas, in Red River Gorge, Kentucky, over a six year period, to determine impact trends. The results of this research will help recreation ecologists and land managers understand environmental impacts over time, and possibly predict future impact scenarios. The hypothesis of this research is the total mean area of impact at …

The Vascular Flora Of Boyle County, Ky, Heidi M. Braunreiter

Online Theses and Dissertations

The vascular flora of Boyle County, Kentucky, was conducted from March 2013 to March 2015. Boyle County is located in central Kentucky and is part of the Bluegrass Physiographic Section. A total of 127 families, 392 genera, and 722 species, varieties, and subspecies were documented from Boyle County. Twelve plant communities were described: acidic mesophytic forest, acidic sub-xeric forest, acidic xeric forest, Bluegrass woodland, bottomland ridge/terrace forest, calcareous mesophytic forest, calcareous sub-xeric forest, depression pond/mudflat, dry limestone cliff/outcrops, riparian forest, wet prairie/meadow, and one rare state-listed plant community, the shale/siltstone glade. Five rare species with state rankings were discussed: American …

Utah Shrubland Management, Thomas A. Monaco, Kari E. Veblen, Justin Williams

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The Spring 2015 Newsletter highlights our study site in Park Valley, UT. The ranch where we work is owned and operated by Lance Westmoreland and family; greasewood is the targeted shrub.