Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Global Change Upon United States Air Quality, Rodrigo Gonzalez-Abraham, Serena H. Chung, Jeremy C. Avise, Brian Lamb, Eric P. Salathé Jr., Christopher G. Nolte, Dan Loughlin, Alex Guenther, Christine Wiedinmyer, Tiffany Duhl, Yang Zhang, David G. Streets

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

To understand more fully the effects of global changes on ambient concentrations of ozone and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter smaller than 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) in the United States (US), we conducted a comprehensive modeling effort to evaluate explicitly the effects of changes in climate, biogenic emissions, land use and global/regional anthropogenic emissions on ozone and PM_2.5 concentrations and composition. Results from the ECHAM5 global climate model driven with the A1B emission scenario from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were downscaled using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to provide regional meteorological fields. We …

Hiv Infrastructure Study Jackson, Mississippi, Susan S. Reif, Elena Wilson, Carolyn Mcallaster, Miriam Berger

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Spring 2015

Metro Denver Dental Society Articulator Magazine

The MDDS Articulator magazine has been serving as the voice for Denver's dental community for over 100 years.

Distributed to approximately 2,000 dental professionals quarterly, the Articulator features local news, industry trends, practice management guidance, data-driven research and more. The award-winning publication is available to member dentists in both print and digital forms.

Issues include cover and feature articles alongside regular columns with regional news impacting the Metro Denver membership including editorial and perspectives columns, legal, association activities, component news, continuing education opportunities, and classifieds.

National Agri-Marketing Association Annual Conference Professional Growth Opportunities For Unl Students, Caleb Nuehring, Rosalee A. Swartz

Cornhusker Economics

The National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) annual conference in April of each year is a highlight for Nebraska NAMA students. The students look forward to opportunities to network with professionals and attend sessions and workshops presented by internationally known speakers and experts.

NAMA is comprised of 23 professional chapters in six regions nationwide and has more than 3,500 professional and student members. NAMA members include professionals in agribusinesses, commodity associations, advertising and public relations agencies, as well as faculty, staff, and students from universities across the u.s. and Canada. At the state level, Nebraska's professional Cornhusker Chapter has nearly 70 members. …

Good Cop -- Bad Cop: Police Violence And The Child’S Mind, Andrea L. Dennis

Scholarly Works

Police violence against citizens lately has gripped the nation’s attention because of recent cases in Ferguson, Missouri; Staten Island, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Baltimore, Maryland; and elsewhere. Children in those communities and nationwide have been directly and indirectly exposed to these well-publicized incidences of police killings and the aftermath of those killings.

Exposure to police violence may cause children physical, cognitive, emotional, and social trauma. Moreover, the exposure may negatively influence children’s mindsets regarding the criminal justice system and police.

Undoubtedly, these events of late are not the first and only instances in which children have been exposed to physically …

A Conceptual Framework For Estimating The Impact Of Climatic Uncertainty And Shocks On Land Use, Food Production, And Poverty In The Philippines, Caesar Cororaton, Arlene Inocencio, Anna Bella Siriban-Manalang, Marites Tiongco

DLSU Business & Economics Review

Wide variations in climatic conditions from prolonged dry season to frequent occurrence of super typhoons have significant impact on the Philippines, especially on rural poor households which depend heavily on agriculture and food production for subsistence and income. This paper provides a research framework that can be used to understand the dynamics between climate change and agriculture. The framework incorporates the effects of climate change on agricultural productivity, as well as the effects of agricultural activities and land use on climate change through the emission of greenhouse gasses. The framework uses three simulation models to analyse the impact of climate …

Biophysical Vulnerability Impact Assessment Of Climate Change On Aquaculture Sector Development In Sarawak, Malaysia, Rosita Hamdan, Fatimah Kari, Azmah Othman

DLSU Business & Economics Review

This study is an assessment of the impact of climate change on the biophysical vulnerability of aquaculture production in Sarawak. The relationship between change in risk factors with the total aquaculture production and farmer’s income is identified. It utilizes data from the survey done on 249 aquaculture farmers in Sarawak, as well as secondary data gathered from various government reports. The multiple linear regressions results verify that the mean minimum temperature has a positive significant effect on freshwater ponds, while relative humidity has a negative significant effect on brackish water ponds. The total aquaculture area has a positive significant effect …

Evaluating Banking Agents: A Case Of Brazilian Banking Correspondents, Tania Pereira Christopoulos, Lauro Emilio Gonzales Frias, Tomás Costa De Azevedo Marques

DLSU Business & Economics Review

Financial institutions play an important role in the development of any country’s economy, but there is still an enormous gap between supply and demand of financial services that meet the needs of the poor. Hence, it is important to analyze the role of the traditional financial system in the expansion of proper financial services, and their accessibility to the poor. Within inclusive finance, the most promising topic seems to be branchless banking. One major example of branchless banking is the case of banking correspondents (BC) in Brazil. In order to deepen the comprehension of the subject, this article will present …

Breastfeeding In The Philippine Workplace: What’S Wrong With The Right?, Emily Sanchez Salcedo

DLSU Business & Economics Review

There are four main differences between the Philippine and American statutes that promote breastfeeding. First, the Philippine law provides that lactation breaks should be compensated while the American law explicitly stated that employers are under no such obligation. Second, the Philippine law provides for “culturally appropriate lactation care and services” whereas majority of American states exempt breastfeeding from public indecency laws. Third, the Philippine law makes a conclusive statement that breastfeeding “enhances mother-infant relationship”. The American law wisely left such matter to individual realization. Fourth, the Philippine law puts the right of a mother to breastfeed on equal footing with …

Dine In Or Out: Understanding The Budgeting And Eating Out Behavior Of De La Salle University Students, Ma. Luisa C. Delayco, Hazel T. Biana

DLSU Business & Economics Review

The preparation and consumption of one’s food is governed by choices, attitudes, behavior, and beliefs. In De La Salle University, a school surrounded by a variety of restaurants, students make these food choices every day. Understanding how these food decisions are made is noteworthy, as this paper seeks to comprehend the students’ budgeting and eating out behavior through the use of Fishbein and Ajzen’s Theory of Reasoned Action. The underlying variables of the budgeting and eating out behavior of students are used to explain the pattern of correlations within a set of observed variables. Through an administered survey and data …

Taylor Series Approximation To Solve Neutrosophic Multiobjective Programming Problem, Ibrahim M. Hezam, Mohamed Abdel-Baset, Florentin Smarandache

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Impact Of Preventative Health Services On Improving General Well-Being, Mallory Lucille Madden

Public Health Theses

Individuals in the United States suffer from an unnecessarily high rate of preventable chronic disease. One reason for this may be the nation's focus on tertiary care rather than preventive care. Health is multi-dimensional and should therefore be approached in an integrative manner. The current study proposes an integrative and preventative approach to health care services that utilizes Rath and Harter's (2010) five dimensions of well-being. We measured the impact of preventative health services in addition to tertiary care services on the general well-being of individuals over a two-month period of time. We found that those receiving preventative care in …

Protein Intake And Hookworm Infection Susceptibility In Rural Ghanaian School- Age Children: A Mixed-Methods Study, Luis Enrique Maldonado-Vásquez

Public Health Theses

Background: Because human and animal cross-sectional studies cannot assess temporality, a longitudinal study is needed to assess the association between protein intake and hookworm infection susceptibility. Cultural preferences and belief systems have been noted to affect the intake of food in some African societies but extensive research has not been conducted to characterize them.

Methods: Children (n=274) 7-13 years of age who attended school in the Kintampo North Municipality of Ghana were screened for participation in a longitudinal study assessing the relationship between protein intake and hookworm infection susceptibility. Protein intake was calculated by 24-hour recalls. A qualitative sub-study recruited …

Factors Associated With Interest In Receiving Methadone Treatment Among Opioid Dependent Prisoners In Malaysia, Trena Mukherjee

Public Health Theses

Background: Criminalization of drug use in Malaysia has led to a concentrated epidemic of HIV and substance use disorders within prisons. In response, Malaysia introduced prison-based methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) programs to treat opioid dependence and reduce risky behaviors. Despite the introduction of this program, MMT uptake has been suboptimal in prison settings. Therefore identifying individual-level factors associated with MMT initiation is key to improving uptake.

Methods: 200 incarcerated individuals with a history of opioid use in the 12 months prior to incarceration were enrolled in a study to determine factors associated with interest in receiving MMT. All participants were …

Unanticipated: Healthcare Experiences Of Gender Nonbinary Patients And Suggestions For Inclusive Care, Hannah Mogul-Adlin

Public Health Theses

Transgender populations face substantial barriers to healthcare access, exacerbated by a lack of inclusive research. The health needs of those who are gender nonbinary or genderqueer, identifying outside the binary of man and woman, are especially poorly understood. Using a primarily qualitative online survey, data on gender identity, health access, and healthcare experiences were collected from 81 gender nonbinary participants, and analyzed using a mixture of quantitative and qualitative methodologies. A number of interesting findings emerged, including that 90% of participants across age groups began identifying as gender nonbinary within the last 6 years, 77% reported interest in some aspect …

Impact Of Maternal Demographics On Infant Feeding Habits In American Samoa, Renu Nadkarni

Public Health Theses

Obesity and overweight prevalence in American Samoan adults are among the highest in the world, and levels are also high and increasing in children and infants. Obesity levels are believed to be due ultimately to the dramatic changes in lifestyle and diet over the past half century. A shift away from breastfeeding and to early introduction of formula and solid foods feeding is a dietary habit effected in this change, and can potentially influence a child's future body size and other health outcomes. As decisions about infant feeding are associated with certain maternal demographics in other populations, this study specifically …

The Effect Of Masculine Ideology On Sexual Communication And Sexual Self-Efficacy Among Expectant Adolescent Couples, Melanie K. Norton

Public Health Theses

This study examined the relationship between traditional masculine role norms (status, toughness, anti-femininity) and psychosocial mechanisms of sexual risk (sexual communication, sexual self-efficacy) among young, low-income, and minority parenting couples. Between 2007-2011, 296 pregnant adolescent females and their male partners were recruited from urban obstetrics clinics in Connecticut. Data regarding participants’ beliefs in traditional masculine role norms, frequency of general sex communication and sexual risk communication, and sexual self-efficacy were collected via computer-assisted self-interviews. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to test for actor effects (whether a person’s predictor influences the person’s own outcome) and partner effects (whether a …

Training Housestaff To Begin Interviews With Patient-Centered Strategies: Housestaff Evaluation And Effects On Patient Experience, Oladoyin Oladeru

Public Health Theses

Background: Physician communication skills during a medical visit may be a central factor in achieving optimal patient experience because it improves the exchange of important clinical and psychosocial information. While many medical schools emphasize communication skills training for students, formal training in patient-centered communication for housestaff has received less attention. Few studies have examined communication skills training for housestaff with regards to its impact on actual patient experience survey results.

Aim: To assess whether an education initiative that teaches patient-centered strategies for starting medical interview improves housestaff perception and patient experiences in the resident clinics and inpatient wards.

Method: We …

Association Between Pediatric Vaccination Rates And Patterns Of Pneumococcal Disease In Adults In The Pcv7 And Pcv13 Eras, Sundia Cassandra Pingali

Public Health Theses

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) is now recommended for use in adults in the United States. Because vaccination of children with PCVs protects adults from the targeted serotypes, local variations in PCV uptake among children could influence the effectiveness of direct immunization of adults. The effect of variations in PCV7 and PCV13 uptake in children will be compared to assess the possible effectiveness of PCV vaccination in adults.

METHODS: We obtained ZIP Code-level invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) data from an active population-based surveillance system in Connecticut (1998-2013) and ZIP Code-level data on immunization with 3+ or 4+ doses of PCV …

Determinants Of Early Feeding Practices Among Hiv+ Mothers In Sub- Saharan Africa: A Realist Review, Camille Adrianne Pottinger

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: Exclusive breastfeeding has been shown to provide many benefits that can be life saving for the infant and mother in low resource settings7. Although the potential effects of breastfeeding appear large, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low in this area of the world, and are even lower among the HIV population8-10. It is important to understand what influences HIV + mothers to exclusively breastfeed, as well as formula feed and adhere to ARV (antiretroviral) medication while breast feeding in order to make comprehensive policy recommendations that are as culturally sensitive and practical as possible. The objective of this review is …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Smoking Cessation Intervention Program In Low Income Emergency Department Adult Populations Using Moderation And Meditational Analysis, Harish Prabhala

Public Health Theses

Cigarette and tobacco use is common among ED patients from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Our goal in this study was to conduct moderation and mediation analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of an enhanced smoking cessation intervention involving enhanced care as compared to standard care for adult smokers in the ED. Our study is a secondary analysis of a two-arm randomized clinical trial conducted by Dr. Bernstein, which involved two intervention arms; one with enhanced care where the subjects received a motivational interview by a trained research assistant, 6 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) initiated in the ED, a faxed referral …

Identification Of Environmental Health Gaps In State-Recognized American Indian Tribes In Connecticut, Meera Ravichandran

Public Health Theses

This study assessed the sanitary infrastructure and policies affecting the environmental health aspects of three state-recognized American Indian Tribes in Connecticut. A historical search was conducted to gather records pertaining to the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot, Golden Hill Paugussett, and Schaghticoke Tribes at the state and town levels to determine what, if any, data were available on drinking water and wastewater quality and disposition on Tribal lands. This investigation was supplemented by questionnaires and an on-site survey of sanitation conducted in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The survey included the collection of drinking water samples for analyses along …

Contribution Of Income To Self-Management And Health Outcomes In Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes, Kaitlyn Rechenberg

Public Health Theses

Low income has been established as a risk factor for poorer outcomes in

youth with type 1 diabetes; however, the effect of moderate income has not

been studied. The purpose of this secondary analysis of baseline data from a multi-site study was to compare glycemic control, self-management, and

psychosocial outcomes [depression, stress, and quality of life (QOL)] at

different income levels in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Youth (n=320,

mean age=12.3+1.1, 55% female, 64% white, mean A1C=8.3±1.4)

completed established self-management and psychosocial measures. A1C

levels were collected from medical records. Caregivers reported annual family income, categorized as high (>$80K), …

Assessment Of Foodnet Population Survey Respondents As A Control Group To Determine Stec Risk Factors, Maria Andrea Rincon

Public Health Theses

Introduction: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are important foodborne pathogens, causing approximately 30 deaths a year in the US. Case-control studies to monitor risk factors are challenging; finding representative controls can be labor-intensive. The FoodNet Population Survey (FNPS) is conducted periodically and asks about foodborne disease risk factors.

Objectives: To determine leading risk factors for STEC in Connecticut using the 2006 FNPS participant responses as controls.

Methods: Cases were reported STEC cases in Connecticut 2000-2009 who were interviewed for risk factors following onset. Controls were respondents to the Connecticut portion of the 2006 FNPS. Comparable questions for exposure to dietary, …

Factors Associated With Type 2 Diabetes Management In Santa Elena, Ecuador, Suhana Sarkar

Public Health Theses

Background: There has been a growing prevalence of diabetes in rural populations in low and middle income countries. Over a third of Ecuador’s population lives in rural areas, which tend to experience poorer health outcomes than urban areas. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine potential risk factors associated with diabetes management in this region.

Methods: A sample of 150 diabetes patients from the Futuro Valdivia clinic in Santa Elena, Ecuador were surveyed and tested for HbA1c. The interview collected data on a variety of risk factors including diet, exercise, eating habits, food insecurity, medication usage, medication adherence, …

Leptospira In The Environmental Reservoir: Quantification And Persistence Of The Pathogen In An Urban Slum Setting Of Endemic Transmission, Andrew Gustav Schneider

Public Health Theses

Introduction

The ecology of Leptospira, the spirochete agent for leptospirosis, in its environmental reservoir is poorly understood. We quantified the presence of pathogenic leptospires in soil and sewage from a high-risk slum community for leptospirosis, and characterized its persistence in this environment.

Methods

We collected soil and sewage samples from three sites within a slum community in the city of Salvador, Brazil, and measured the concentration of leptospires using real-time quantitative PCR targeting lipL32, a gene exclusively present in pathogenic Leptospira. Additionally, we investigated the persistence of L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni, the agent for urban leptospirosis, in soil and sewage …

Nurse-Led Intervention To Reduce Intimate Partner Violence And Associated Health Risks: Qualitative Program Evaluation And Nurse Reflections, Kelsey Kae Schuder

Public Health Theses

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a highly prevalent issue worldwide. A large randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating a nurse delivered intervention to reduce IPV and associated health risks took place between 2012 and 2014 in Mexico City. This study will focus on qualitative interviews performed with a sample of the nurses who were the interventionists in the large RCT. Minimal work has explored implementation issues around large RCTs in resource poor settings or characteristics of the interventionists that may influence the implementation of the intervention and their health care delivery after completion of the intervention.

Methods: Semi-structured, qualitative interviews …

Critical Review And Stratified Meta-Analysis Of Lung Cancer Risk In Petroleum Refinery Workers, Sherman Selix

Public Health Theses

Several publications have proposed a workplace risk of lung cancer in petroleum refineries, with asbestos as the potential agent. To examine the associations between petroleum refinery work and lung cancer related to occupational asbestos exposure, in addition to smoking and other concurrent occupational exposures, a systematic review and stratified meta-analysis was employed. Cochrane-Mantel-Haenszel statistics were used to combine SMR/SIR data separately for all male and female refinery workers, as well as SMR/SIR and RR/OR measurements for the subset of male maintenance workers, who were exposed to higher levels. Of 219 studies identified in the literature search, 78 studies were selected …

The Impact Of Structured Treatment Preparation On Depression, Anxiety, And Stress Symptoms Of Hiv + Patients Initiating Art, Geoffrey Hannon Soybel

Public Health Theses

Nigeria has one of the largest global HIV burdens of disease. Structured Treatment Preparation (STP) is required of all newly diagnosed HIV+ individuals initiating Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) at AIDSReleif Local Partner Treatment Facilities (LPTFs), yet no information exists on whether STP has any effect on a patient's mental health. We believe that STP may be related to improvement in depression, anxiety, and stress scores of these individuals. A depression, anxiety, and stress measurement tool, (DASS) 21, was administered to patients from 6 randomly selected AIDSRelief LPTFs before and after the mandated 3-week STP preceding ART. Paired t-tests were used to …

The Epidemiology Of Drug Use And Hiv-Related Risk Behaviors In Mwanza, Tanzania, Xulin Tan

Public Health Theses

Heroin trafficking and consumption has increased steadily over the past decade in Tanzania, but limited information regarding HIV and drug abuse exists for the city of Mwanza. Our study investigates the epidemiology of drug use, and HIV risk behaviors among drug users in the northwestern city of Mwanza. Using a combination of targeted sampling and participant referral, we recruited 480 participants in Mwanza between June and August 2014. The sample was 92% male. Seventy-nine (16.4%) of participants reported injecting heroin, while 434 (90.4%) reported smoking heroin. Housing and cohabitation status were the only socioeconomic characteristics significantly associated with heroin injection. …