Digital Commons Network^™

A Modified Vegetation Photosynthesis And Respiration Model (Vprm) For The Eastern Usa And Canada, Evaluated With Comparison To Atmospheric Observations And Other Biospheric Models, Sharon M. Gourdji, Anna Karion, Israel Lopez-Coto, Subhomoy Ghosh, Kimberly L. Mueller, Yu Zhou, Christopher A. Williams, Ian T. Baker, Katharine D. Haynes, James R. Whetstone

Geography

Atmospheric CO2 measurements from a dense surface network can help to evaluate terrestrial biosphere model (TBM) simulations of Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) with two key benefits. First, gridded CO2 flux estimates can be evaluated over regional scales, not possible using flux tower observations at discrete locations for model evaluation. Second, TBM ability to explain atmospheric CO2 fluctuations due to the biosphere can be directly tested, an important objective for anthropogenic emissions monitoring using atmospheric observations. Here, we customize the Vegetation Photosynthesis and Respiration Model (VPRM) for an eastern North American domain with strong biological activity upwind of urban areas. Parameters …

Typical 2-Cys Peroxiredoxins As A Defense Mechanism Against Metal-Induced Oxidative Stress In The Solitary Ascidian Ciona Robusta, Laura Drago, Diana Ferro, Rigers Bakiu, Loriano Ballarin, Gianfranco Santovito

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Typical 2-Cys peroxiredoxins (2-Cys Prdxs) are proteins with antioxidant properties belonging to the thioredoxin peroxidase family. With their peroxidase activity, they contribute to the homeostatic control of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and, therefore, participate in various physiological functions, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Although Prdxs have been shown to be potential biomarkers for monitoring aquatic environments, minimal scientific attention has been devoted to describing their molecular architecture and function in marine invertebrates. Our study aims to clarify the protective role against stress induced by exposure to metals (Cu, Zn, and Cd) of three Prdxs (Prdx2, Prdx3, and Prdx4) …

Uveitis-Mediated Immune Cell Invasion Through The Extracellular Matrix Of The Lens Capsule., Jodirae Dedreu, Sonali Pal-Ghosh, Mary J Mattapallil, Rachel R Caspi, Mary Ann Stepp, A Sue Menko

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

While the eye is considered an immune privileged site, its privilege is abrogated when immune cells are recruited from the surrounding vasculature in response to trauma, infection, aging, and autoimmune diseases like uveitis. Here, we investigate whether in uveitis immune cells become associated with the lens capsule and compromise its privilege in studies of C57BL/6J mice with experimental autoimmune uveitis. These studies show that at D14, the peak of uveitis in these mice, T cells, macrophages, and Ly6G/Ly6C+ immune cells associate with the lens basement membrane capsule, burrow into the capsule matrix, and remain integrated with the capsule as immune …

Pace Oci Short-Wave Infrared Detection Assembly Optical System Design, Alignment, And Environmental Test, James Champagne, Roy Esplin, Trent Newswander, James Peterson, Kenneth Squire, Jacob Hedelius, Joe Thomes, Eric Gorman, Ulrik Gliese, D. Brent Mott, Emily Kan, Luis Ramos-Izquierdo

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), which will be integrated with the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite, will collect science data that will be used to monitor the health of Earth’s oceans and atmosphere. The Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) Detection Assembly (SDA), built and characterized by Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), is a subsystem of OCI consisting of 32 channels covering seven discrete optical bands of interest. A total of 16 SWIR Detection Subassemblies (SDSs) compose the SDA and house the cold optical system. The science data optical input for each SDS is supplied by a 0.22 NA …

Uveitis-Mediated Immune Cell Invasion Through The Extracellular Matrix Of The Lens Capsule, Jodirae Dedreu, Sonali Pal-Ghosh, Mary J Mattapallil, Rachel R Caspi, Mary Ann Stepp, A Sue Menko

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

While the eye is considered an immune privileged site, its privilege is abrogated when immune cells are recruited from the surrounding vasculature in response to trauma, infection, aging, and autoimmune diseases like uveitis. Here, we investigate whether in uveitis immune cells become associated with the lens capsule and compromise its privilege in studies of C57BL/6J mice with experimental autoimmune uveitis. These studies show that at D14, the peak of uveitis in these mice, T cells, macrophages, and Ly6G/Ly6C+ immune cells associate with the lens basement membrane capsule, burrow into the capsule matrix, and remain integrated with the capsule as immune …

Using Community-Based Screening To Quantify The Relationship Between Hiv And Hypertension In A Rural South African Community, Jessica Ainooson

Public Health Theses

Background: Over the past three decades, the prevalence of hypertension has increased in sub-Saharan Africa, paralleling the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between HIV status and elevated blood pressure in a rural South African community. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted from a community-based screening program providing TB/HIV/blood pressure/glucose screening in the rural sub-district of Msinga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from 2011 - 2017. Descriptive analyses were used to characterize the frequency of measured and self-reported hypertension, HIV status, and sociodemographic variables. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to estimate the relationship between HIV status …

Association Between Rheumatoid Arthritis Severity And Mental Health In A Prevalent Cohort Of American Adults, 2013-2022, Nicole-Anne Ballesteros

Public Health Theses

Objective/Purpose: The severity of rheumatoid arthritis and its association with depression and anxiety among a prevalent cohort of American adults has been neither well-researched nor backed by real-world data. This investigation seeks to test the hypothesis that there is an association between disease severity and the aforementioned psychological conditions, both of which are commonly observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: Real-world data from OM1 Inc.’s rheumatoid arthritis registry (2013-2022) was used for this analysis. Disease severity (low, medium, and high), categorized using disease activity scores, was the main exposure, while depression and anxiety were the study’s two primary outcomes. …

Women's Beliefs In Gender Equality And Its Association With Gender Based Violence In Conflict Afflicted Regions Of Uganda, Aishwarya Bhattacharya

Public Health Theses

Gender Based Violence such as Intimate Partner Violence and exposure to armed conflict are exacerbated in Conflict settings and can negatively impact health outcomes among women. Although a significant amount of research has looked at how men’s beliefs in gender equity and male stereotypes can impact engagement in violence against women, there is a dearth of research analyzing how women’s beliefs can impact their exposure to armed violence or IPV. We use the adapted version of the Gender-Equitable Men survey in a population of 606 women and adolescent girls in conflict afflicted regions of Northern Uganda to a) look at …

Circadian Factors And Cancer Survivorship: A Mini Review, Jiaqi Cui

Public Health Theses

Circadian clocks are molecular clocks that govern the temporal control of physiology to preserve homeostasis. The disruption of the circadian rhythm is important in carcinogenesis and aids the development of cancer hallmarks. On the other hand, carcinogenic activities disrupt circadian rhythms directly. In cancer treatment, pharmacological regulation of core clock genes is a novel approach. The use of circadian biology in cancer research opens up new avenues for improving cancer treatment effectiveness. This mini-review provides an overview of relationship between circadian factors including circadian gene expression, circadian genotype, circadian disruption and circadian gene methylation and the cancer survivorship. The review …

“She Trusts Us To Love Her, You Know?”: Using A Love Ethic Framework To Explore Faith Navigation And Acceptance Processes Among Mormon Mothers Of Lgbtq+ Individuals, Nandini Milind Deo

Public Health Theses

Parental acceptance is a key factor in bolstering the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals across their lifespan (Needham & Austin, 2010; Ryan, 2010; Jin, 2020; Clark et al., 2021). One factor known to influence parental acceptance is family religiosity, which has typically been associated with conflict and/or rejection (Ryan, 2010; Johns & Hanna, 2012; Roe, 2017). The purpose of this study was to better understand faith navigation and acceptance processes among active Mormon mothers of LGBTQ+ individuals in an effort to inform public health engagement with highly religious parents of sexual and gender minority children. In-depth qualitative interviews were …

Environmental And Health Impacts Of Biobased Polymers, Liora Fiksel

Public Health Theses

The use of biopolymers is predicted to grow in the coming years as the world searches for solutions to its sustainability problems. Pursuing biobased materials is widely thought of as the sustainable response to moving away from petroleum-based materials and the plastic-waste issue; however, its potential environmental and human health impacts are being questioned. Notably, the controversies related to biopolymers' renewable feedstocks include adding pressure to the food economy, land use, occupational hazards, and environmental pollution with potential human exposure and adverse health effects. Other resource burdens include energy and water. Many biopolymers are designed to biodegrade, compost, or be …

Challenges And Prospects: Reducing U.S. Methane Emissions Via Red Macroalgae (Asparagopsis Taxiformis) Feed Additives To Inhibit Enteric Methane Production From Ruminant Livestock, Rebecca Gillman

Public Health Theses

Approximately 27% of U.S. methane emissions are emitted by the agriculture sector annually, primarily by ruminant livestock as a GHG enteric fermentation bi-product (EPA, 2022). This proposed intervention explores the feasibility of scaling up use of anti-methanogenic ruminant feed additives, to directly reduce U.S. agricultural methane emissions at the source. A careful review of in vitro, in vivo and small-scale pilot studies revealed that the potent, anti-methanogenic bioactive compounds in red macroalgae (Asparagopsis Taxiformis) can both safely and effectively inhibit methanogenesis during enteric fermentation, resulting in up to 90% reduction in methane emissions without adverse risk or consequence to animal …

The Gap Between Attitude And Action: A Mixed Methods Study Of Sexual Self-Stigma As A Predictor Of Consent Behavior, Hannah Carolyn Gorman

Public Health Theses

Introduction: More than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men will experience some type of sexual violence in their lifetimes (NISVS | CDC, 2021). While a significant body of research exists on predictors of reporting behavior after sexual assault victimization, far less research has attended to factors that may contribute to perpetration, such as sexual self-concept. The current study investigates sexual self-concept and its relationship to health behavior and notions of sexual consent in a college student sample. Methods: Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 160 Yale undergraduates 18 years or older with approval from the Yale …

The Role Of Childhood Trauma In Intergenerational Trauma (Igt), Audrey Huang

Public Health Theses

Emerging research has focused on the intersection of personal and parental trauma within intergenerational trauma (IGT) transmission, specifically offspring adverse childhood experiences due to trauma-related parenting behaviors. However, the role that offspring childhood trauma and its various subtypes may play in moderating or mediating IGT transmission, as well as the impact of caregiver sex, are still remains largely understudied. We examined how the transmission of PTSD between survivors of the 1994 genocide to their offspring might be either (a) mediated by overall and subtypes of offspring childhood trauma, or (b) moderated by overall and subtypes of offspring childhood trauma, and …

Stigma, Cisgenderism, And The Pathologization Of Transness, Baqar Husain

Public Health Theses

Cisgenderism is the culture and system, constituted by both ideology and practice, that denies, denigrates, or pathologizes self-identified gender identities that do not align with assigned sex at birth. Medicine and law are jointly deterministic of the wellbeing of transgender people. This analysis seeks to explore how stigma, operationalized by cisgenderism, manifests in legal and medical structures to negatively impact the wellbeing of transgender people. Thus, this analysis begins with the definition of key terms necessary to understanding concepts related to sex, gender, and gender variance. After delineating how stigma operates, the recent history of transness is outlined and is …

Comparing Dog And Owner Pfas Exposures Using Fresh Air Samplers, Emily Elizabeth Johnson

Public Health Theses

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have gained attention given their prevalence and persistence in the environment and in our bodies. PFAS have been detected in water, food products, and consumer products. Furthermore, companion animals may be exposed to elevated PFAS levels due to sources from pet products as well as household items. A growing number of studies have been conducted to better understand the toxicological and public health impacts of legacy PFAS resulting from ingestion and dermal exposure pathways in both humans and domesticated animals. As alternative replacement PFAS emerge in the market, these compounds are shorter chain which allows …

Understanding The Effects Of Endocrine Disruptors On The Glucocorticoid Signaling Pathway, Dana Norbert Joseph

Public Health Theses

Endocrine disruptors are exogenous chemicals that interfere with the functions of the endocrine system and can cause adverse developmental, reproductive, and neurological effects. Unlike toxic effects that may be evident immediately, disruption to the endocrine system may impact complex signaling pathways that take years or generations to discover. Current toxicology testing does not routinely incorporate endpoints that would identify potential endocrine disruptors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the endocrine disrupting potential of a broad range of industrial chemicals, specifically focusing on four chemicals with predicted activity on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR): 4-nonylphenol, bisphenol A (BPA), butylated hydroxytoluene …

The Politics Of Sexuality Education Policy In Texas, Caroline Alexandra Magee

Public Health Theses

This thesis applies social science research, historical and cultural analysis, and legislative review to understand the relationship between Texas’s school-based sexuality education policies and public health and, in so doing, lay the groundwork for policy change that will better promote sexual and reproductive health, health equity, and health justice in Texas. The thesis first situates Texas state-level sexuality education policy within a larger US political, historical, and legal context, highlighting the key roles of race, class, gender, and sexuality stereotypes and of “morality politics.” It then examines the political history of Texas sexuality education debates within this national context, revealing …

Epidemiology Of Covid-19 Hospitalizations In New Haven And Middlesex Counties, Connecticut, July - September 2021, Caroline Mary Mcwilliams

Public Health Theses

Abstract:Background. This thesis explores the epidemiology of COVID-19 hospitalization among residents of New Haven County and Middlesex County, Connecticut from July - September 2021 with an emphasis on quantifying racial/ethnic and SES disparities. Two previous studies, the first conducted from March - May 2020 and the second conducted from July - December 2020, used COVID-NET Surveillance data from New Haven and Middlesex counties to explore the same questions. This thesis will compare findings with these previous studies to better understand how the epidemiology of COVID-19 hospitalization and racial/ethnic and SES disparities have changed in New Haven and Middlesex counties. Methods. …

Prognostic Effects Of Different Tp53 Mutations In Lung And Pancreatic Adenocarcinomas, Carlos Mauricio Mejia-Arbelaez

Public Health Theses

Cancer patients with similar clinical and pathologic characteristics may have different response to treatments and survival, which may be attributable to distinct molecular properties of their tumor. The most common forms of lung and pancreatic tumors, the adenocarcinomas, often have mutations in the TP53 gene. It is not clear, however, how mutations in this gene may provide prognostic information and/or inform the clinical management of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Despite previous studies suggesting that all mutations in TP53 are associated with worse prognosis, it is now known that not all TP53 mutations lead to …

Potential Impact Of Covid-19-Related Disruptions To Cervical Cancer Screening On Future Disease Burden: A Modeling Study, Guinevere Oliver

Public Health Theses

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable through a combination of vaccination, timely screening, and treatment. There is strong evidence that cervical cancer screening services were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic; these disruptions may lead to preventable increases in cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix (HSIL cases), cervical cancer cases, and cervical cancer deaths. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this analysis was to offer insight into possible future trends in HSIL cases, cervical cancer cases, and cervical cancer deaths. METHODS: A model was built to simulate cervical cancer progression and was fit to data on HSIL cases, cervical …

Demographics Of Those In Clinical Trials To Treat S. Aureus, William Pelletiers

Public Health Theses

This study aims to identify potential discrepancies between the racial/ethnic demographics of participants enrolled in randomized controlled trials of antibacterials used to treat Staphylococcus aureus and the demographics for those who contract the disease. 115 clinical trials were analyzed for gender, racial, and ethnicity of clinical trial participants. Of the included studies, 95.7% included data on gender, 71.3% included racial data, and 27.0% included ethnicity data. Black/African American individuals were substantially underrepresented in trials when compared to the burden of disease that they share. Black/African American representation in S. aureus clinical trials needs to be ensured in order to properly …

The Behavioral Immune System: A Public Health Perspective: How Our Partisan Perceptions Of Sickness Influenced Population Health During The Pandemic, Senyte Pierce

Public Health Theses

Researchers propose that people have a disease-avoidance mechanism called thebehavioral immune system, which is intended to identify and prevent possible interactions with harmful infections. This thesis is intended to explain this phenomenon, one well researched in the fields of behavioral and evolutionary psychology, to public health professionals, who can use its hypothesized components to understand better how to support population health and wellbeing. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic will serve as a case study to understand the limitations of the BIS as it relates to socio-cultural events and personal political identification. The behavioral immune system keeps individuals healthy by monitoring …

Xylazine In The Drug Supply: Emerging Threat In Connecticut And Lessons Learned From Philadelphia, Thomas A.G. Quijano

Public Health Theses

Background: Xylazine, a sedative analgesic drug approved as an animal tranquilizer but not for human use, has become an adulterant in the supply of heroin/fentanyl.(Greene & Thurmon, 1988) Between 2019 and 2020, prevalence of xylazine in overdose death reports increased by 44.8% nationally.(Friedman et al., 2021) The three jurisdictions in 2020 with the highest prevalence of xylazine were Philadelphia (25.8%), Maryland (19.3%), and Connecticut (10.2%).(Friedman et al., 2021) Not much is known about how xylazine’s impacts on service provider’s practices and the people they serve.

Objectives: Use a multiple methods approach to understand xylazine’s presence and impact in Connecticut, and …

Evaluating Associations Between Pesticide Use And Kidney Function In The Biomarkers Of Exposure And Effect In Agriculture (Beea) Study: Using Cluster Models To Group Farmers With Similar Pesticide Use, Thomas Shao

Public Health Theses

Pesticides are commonly used in agrarian areas to control for certain forms of undesirable plant or animal life. The widespread use of pesticides and the variety of chemicals that make up this class pose adverse health effects to those exposed to pesticides. Farmers often use multiple pesticides, and their use is often correlated with other pesticides. However, analyses typically examine each pesticide individually and mixture analysis is not as heavily considered. To further evaluate the exposure of pesticide usage, hierarchical clustering methods were used to identify similar questionnaire response patterns. This technique has been used to quantify homogenous exposure estimates …

Using A Dynamic Model To Assess Maintenance Of Deer Tick Virus Via Horizontal Transmission In Ixodes Scapularis Populations, Hannah Jane Sproch

Public Health Theses

IntroductionDeer Tick Virus—a lineage of Powassan Virus—is an emerging tick-borne flavivirus associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Although DTV infection is rare, there has been an observed increase in the number of human cases in recent decades, necessitating more public health attention. Ixodes scapularis ticks are known to be the primary vector of DTV. However, the enzootic cycle has yet to be fully characterized and there is evidence that horizontal transmission alone may be insufficient for DTV maintenance; it is hypothesized that vertical and co-feeding transmission are also necessary for sustained transmission.

MethodsA dynamic model was developed to …

Nutrition And Hookworm Infection: A Causal Analysis Of The Literature, Mengting Su

Public Health Theses

Hookworm infection is one of the neglected tropical diseases, particularly in low and middle-income countries, but we know relatively little about causal evidence related to malnutrition. This is mainly due to the relatively small research community compared to those investigating the impact of hookworm infection on host nutritional status and disease complications. Causal inference is critical in epidemiology and biomedical research because it can be a powerful tool in enlightening prevention efforts and developing etiology models. The application of causal criteria to address complex epidemiological research questions is indeed helpful in proposing more interventions to improve the health and well-being …

“Being Teased Is Almost A Guarantee”: Development And Validation Of The Stress And Weight Stigma Scale (Straws), Julia Michelle Winschel

Public Health Theses

Objective: To validate The Stress and Weight Stigma Scale (STRAWS), a measure developed to assess prolonged activation and anticipatory stress related to experiences of weight stigma among individuals with overweight and obesity. Methods: Based on an existing instrument for prolonged activation and anticipatory race-related stress, the 17-item STRAWS was developed to capture perseverative cognition, secondary appraisal, and anticipatory stress in response to a specific experience of weight stigma. Participants with a range of body mass indices (BMI; kg/m2) and who believed they had experienced weight stigma were recruited using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (n = 301). We used confirmatory factor analysis …

Musculoskeletal Outcomes Among Older Adults Following Hospitalization For Covid-19: A Pilot Study, Clara Ming Hei Wong

Public Health Theses

Background Older individuals are at high risk for musculoskeletal impairment following hospitalization due to decreased neuromuscular function and bone mineral density (BMD) arising from illness itself, and external factors such as immobilization and changes in nutritional status. To address the knowledge gap regarding the longitudinal impact of COVID-19 on musculoskeletal outcomes, this thesis aimed to study the relationship between COVID-19 severity and physical functional, incidence of falls and fractures in older adults. Secondarily, in a subset of patients we examined the relationship between COVID-19 severity and osteoporosis- and sarcopenia-related measures. Methods This study analyzed data from the VALIANT study and …

Operationalizing The Unesco Universal Declaration On Bioethics And Human Rights Through A Trans-Cultural Lens: A Qualitative Study With Students In South Korea And The United States, Francis Yang

Public Health Theses

The UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (UDBHR) was a well-intentioned but controversial document. Some scholars appreciated UNESCO’s attempts at providing an internationally recognized set of ethical guidelines. Other critics maintained the UDBHR, in particular Article 12, was yet another representation of Western ideological hegemony and an ill-informed attempt at embracing universality at the expense of diversity. This paper acknowledged this debate but approaches the UDBHR in trans-cultural manner, framing the UDBHR not as an imposing guideline, but as a seed around which dialogue can coalesce. Such dialogue might engage similarities, differences, and nuances between different ethical perspectives, …