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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Prenatal Participation In Wic : Impact On Breastfeeding Initiation And Duration And On Infant Weight Gain, Lynn S. Edmunds Jan 2012

Prenatal Participation In Wic : Impact On Breastfeeding Initiation And Duration And On Infant Weight Gain, Lynn S. Edmunds

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is one of the most studied federal food assistance programs. However, few studies have examined the association between maternal WIC participation and breastfeeding or weight gain during infancy. Prenatal WIC participation provides an important widow of influence on birth outcomes but also on early life risk factors for chronic disease. This study utilizes a cohort of WIC enrolled infants to assess the added effect of prenatal exposure to WIC on two specific outcomes - breastfeeding initiation and duration and rate of infant weight gain.


Teacher Reflective Function And Its Connection To Observed Teacher-Child Interactions In Head Start Classrooms, Katharine Emerson-Hoss Jan 2012

Teacher Reflective Function And Its Connection To Observed Teacher-Child Interactions In Head Start Classrooms, Katharine Emerson-Hoss

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The primary purpose of this study was to identify reflective function in Head Start teachers. Reflective function (RF) is a measure of a cognitive-emotional capacity that has been measured through interviews with parents and is linked to the parent's ability to create physical and psychological safety for his/her child (Slade, 2005). This study is the first to apply this measure to teacher interviews. Secondly, this study investigated whether a teacher's RF was related to their interactions with children as measured by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS, Pianta, La Paro, & Hamre, 2008). This qualitative multiple case study investigated archival …


Detection And Epidemiological Patterns Of Drug Resistance Mutations In Nys Plasmodium Falciparum Clinical Malaria Specimens, Jennifer L. Conaway Jan 2012

Detection And Epidemiological Patterns Of Drug Resistance Mutations In Nys Plasmodium Falciparum Clinical Malaria Specimens, Jennifer L. Conaway

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Plasmodium falciparum is a human-infective parasite that causes the most severe form of malaria. Resistance to a wide spectrum of antimalarials has been documented in this species, and single strains may be resistant to several drugs. A new technology, pyrosequencing, has been shown to be useful for the rapid detection of SNPs involved in drug resistance. It can be used in a clinical setting and readily detects new mutants, which frequently appear in this species due to strong selection for antimalarial resistance. In this study, a pyrosequencing protocol was developed to identify mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum genes Pfcrt, Pfdhps, …


The Association Of Summer Temperatures With Hospital Admissions For Renal Diseases In New York State : A Case-Crossover Study, Barbara A. Fletcher Jan 2012

The Association Of Summer Temperatures With Hospital Admissions For Renal Diseases In New York State : A Case-Crossover Study, Barbara A. Fletcher

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study assessed the association between high temperatures and increased odds of hospitalization for renal diseases which, to date, has been examined in only a small number of studies. A case-crossover design was used to study 147,885 hospital admissions with renal diagnoses during July and August, 1991-2004 in New York State. Regional temperature, humidity and barometric pressure data from automated monitors were used as exposure indicators. Using time-stratified referent selection and conditional logistic regression analysis, an overall 9% increase in odds of hospitalization for acute renal failure per 5°F (2.78°C) was found for mean temperature at a one day lag …


The Relationship Between Hiv/Aids Knowledge And Condom Use Among Reproductive Age Women In Georgia, Lia Gvinjilia Jan 2012

The Relationship Between Hiv/Aids Knowledge And Condom Use Among Reproductive Age Women In Georgia, Lia Gvinjilia

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Objective: To assess changes in HIV/AIDS knowledge over a decade with substantial educational efforts and reported condom use.


Ecological Literacy, Nutrition Knowledge, And Dietary Practices Among Students At University At Albany, Elaine Hills Jan 2012

Ecological Literacy, Nutrition Knowledge, And Dietary Practices Among Students At University At Albany, Elaine Hills

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

University students (N=1,924) at a large public university were surveyed to measure their nutrition knowledge, dietary practices, and ecological literacy. A quantitative measure of ecological literacy was developed for this purpose, reflecting familiarity with nature, awareness of one's personal impact on local and global ecologies, and personal lifestyle choices that demonstrate civic responsibility for the natural environment. The association between nutrition knowledge and dietary practices was compared to the association between ecological literacy and dietary practices. The results showed that: (1) many students were not familiar with public health eating recommendations and did not eat recommended amounts of foods, particularly …


Influenza In The 21st Century : Assessment Of The 2009 H1n1 Pandemic Severity, Enhanced Surveillance Methods, And Pediatric Influenza-Associated Deaths, Dina M. Hoefer Jan 2012

Influenza In The 21st Century : Assessment Of The 2009 H1n1 Pandemic Severity, Enhanced Surveillance Methods, And Pediatric Influenza-Associated Deaths, Dina M. Hoefer

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Influenza is among the most important of the endemic, epidemic, and pandemic diseases infecting humans. In June 2009, the World Health Organization raised the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6 in response to the ongoing global spread of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus (pH1N1).1 The 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic presented a unique opportunity and provided resources to monitor and study influenza in a way that would and could not be supported during a `typical' influenza season. Research objectives included: 1) characterizing the severity of illness among hospitalized patients infected with pH1N1; 2) assessing the utility of hospital discharge …


Life Course Socio-Economic Measures As Predictors Of Bmi Trajectories And Prevalence Of Diabetes In Adult Life, Tabassum Zarina Insaf Jan 2012

Life Course Socio-Economic Measures As Predictors Of Bmi Trajectories And Prevalence Of Diabetes In Adult Life, Tabassum Zarina Insaf

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Few studies have analyzed the effect of lifecourse socioeconomic position (LSEP) on racial disparities in body mass index (BMI) trajectories and Diabetes. Four waves of the Americans' Changing Lives study (1986-2002) were used to compute BMI trajectories and diabetes prevalence for 3497 Black and White participants. Multivariate associations of LSEP variables (father's education, perceived childhood SEP, education, income, wealth and financial stress) with baseline BMI and BMI change were assessed using mixed models. We also evaluated whether disparate LSEP predictors are influential in Blacks as compared to Whites. Finally we evaluated the presence of latent, pathway and cumulative models of …


Gender And Empowerment In Supported Housing : A Consumer-Oriented Empowerment Model For Adults With Psychiatric Disabilities And Histories Of Homelessness, Eleanor M. Jaffee Jan 2012

Gender And Empowerment In Supported Housing : A Consumer-Oriented Empowerment Model For Adults With Psychiatric Disabilities And Histories Of Homelessness, Eleanor M. Jaffee

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Using data from an evaluation of a supported housing program for adults with psychiatric disabilities and histories of homelessness (n = 59), the relationships of gender and the presence of children with subjective measures of mental health, personal mastery, personal empowerment, social support, and quality of life were explored, and the results informed the development of a revised consumer-oriented empowerment model. Key findings include a significant relationship between gender and personal mastery and empowerment with women scoring significantly lower than men on measures of this construct, and the role of personal mastery and empowerment as a mediator between psychiatric symptoms …


Association Between Chemical Constituents Of Particulate Matter And Cardiovascular And Respiratory Morbidities In Nys, Rena Jones Jan 2012

Association Between Chemical Constituents Of Particulate Matter And Cardiovascular And Respiratory Morbidities In Nys, Rena Jones

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Improved understanding of health risks from short- and long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) constituents may explain seasonal and geographic heterogeneity in PM2.5-health associations and inform control efforts targeting PM sources. Few studies have examined PM species health effects; most have been limited by their exposure assessments and modeling approaches. The goals of this project were to improve the PM exposure assessment and explore relationships between PM2.5 species and health in acute and chronic contexts.


Seafood Consumption And Use Of Asian Herbal Preparation As A Source Of Exposure To Multiple Trace Elements In The Study Of Metals And Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Smart), Dongsul Kim Jan 2012

Seafood Consumption And Use Of Asian Herbal Preparation As A Source Of Exposure To Multiple Trace Elements In The Study Of Metals And Assisted Reproductive Technologies (Smart), Dongsul Kim

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

As, Cd, Cs, Hg, Pb, and Zn may be associated with in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Seafood and Asian herbal preparations are identified as sources of exposure to these essential and non-essential trace elements in humans. The goal of the study is to assess associations between seafood consumption and the use of Asian herbal preparations and levels of essential and non-essential trace elements in biologic specimens collected from couples undergoing IVF. Fifty-nine couples completing a first IVF cycle at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Center for Reproductive Health were recruited to participate in the Study of Metals and …


Evaluating The Impact Of Prior Hospital Mortality Versus Surgical Volume On Length Of Stay Following Pediatric Congenital Cardiac Surgery In New York State, Ming Liu Jan 2012

Evaluating The Impact Of Prior Hospital Mortality Versus Surgical Volume On Length Of Stay Following Pediatric Congenital Cardiac Surgery In New York State, Ming Liu

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Objective: To examine the relationship of prior hospital surgical volume and risk-adjusted mortality rate with future length of stay for children undergoing congenital cardiac surgery in New York State.


The Contribution Of Genotype Cluster Investigations To Understanding Tuberculosis Transmission In New York City With A Focus On The Foreign-Born Population, 2001-2009, Michelle Merced Macaraig Jan 2012

The Contribution Of Genotype Cluster Investigations To Understanding Tuberculosis Transmission In New York City With A Focus On The Foreign-Born Population, 2001-2009, Michelle Merced Macaraig

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background


Short-Term Associations Between Pm2.5, Black Carbon, Delta-C, And Cardiovascular Diseases In A Large Developing Megacity, Daniel Malashock Jan 2012

Short-Term Associations Between Pm2.5, Black Carbon, Delta-C, And Cardiovascular Diseases In A Large Developing Megacity, Daniel Malashock

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Introduction: Association between ambient air pollution and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been demonstrated by many epidemiological studies in developed countries, however few studies have been performed in developing countries of Asia.


The Burden Of Hepatitis C Virus In New York State, Rachel Hart Malloy Jan 2012

The Burden Of Hepatitis C Virus In New York State, Rachel Hart Malloy

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is estimated to be the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States (US). Annual incidence of HCV in the US peaked in the late 1980's, declined steadily through the 1990's and has plateaued since 2003 with approximately 18,000 new cases in 2008. The morbidity and mortality associated with HCV is expected to rise until at least 2015. Due to the high rate of asymptomatic cases, inherent limitations with target screening recommendations, limitations with screening technologies and scarce resources for surveillance nationwide, quantification of the burden is difficult. US estimates of disease burden have …


Trace Element Analysis Of Environmental And Clinical Materials Using Novel Instrumentation Based On X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry : New Capabilities For Public Health Laboratories, Kathryn G. Mcintosh Jan 2012

Trace Element Analysis Of Environmental And Clinical Materials Using Novel Instrumentation Based On X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry : New Capabilities For Public Health Laboratories, Kathryn G. Mcintosh

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry is a well-established analytical technique for determining the elemental content of many different materials. XRF has long been used for public health applications, particularly for identifying lead-based paint hazards. The primary advantage of XRF over other atomic spectrometric techniques is that it is nondestructive. In addition, little sample preparation is required, so results are obtained rapidly and at low cost. The principal aim of this study was to characterize the utility and reliability of current XRF instrumentation for use in the environmental health sciences. Interest in the use of XRF for detecting lead in children's toys …


The Effects Of The Built Environment On Physical Activity In Rural Upstate New York, Kimberly Moore Jan 2012

The Effects Of The Built Environment On Physical Activity In Rural Upstate New York, Kimberly Moore

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: Physical activity across the lifespan is associated with numerous health benefits. That the built environment can influence physical activity is a widely accepted hypothesis which has been examined extensively in urban/suburban and across urban-rural environments. Numerous census variables, such as housing density, percent renter, and others related to urbanity, are related to physical activity and built environment measures. However, the rural built environment's influence on adult physical activity is relatively unexplored.


Health Care Priorities And The Effects Of Double Rationing, Christine Marie Muller Jan 2012

Health Care Priorities And The Effects Of Double Rationing, Christine Marie Muller

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The purpose of my research is to investigate "double rationing" which entails rationing at two levels of the health care system. At one level, policy makers prioritize treatments that will be covered under a publicly financed health care system. At a lower level, doctors or other health care professionals prioritize patients in need of scarce medical treatments. Traditionally, research focusing on health care rationing has treated these two activities as if they were separate and unrelated events. This research considers the effects of lower level prioritization activities on the ability of policy-makers to achieve their own (and arguably, societal) health …


Evaluation Of The Short- And Long- Term Drinking Water Sustainability Programs For Point Water Sources And Public Water Supplies (Pws) In Developing Countries : Case Study Of Uganda, Shedrack R. Nayebare Jan 2012

Evaluation Of The Short- And Long- Term Drinking Water Sustainability Programs For Point Water Sources And Public Water Supplies (Pws) In Developing Countries : Case Study Of Uganda, Shedrack R. Nayebare

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Providing quantity and quality potable water in Uganda and other developing countries is still significantly problematic. This project aimed at identifying and prioritizing possible actions on how sustainable and high quality potable water in Uganda's water supply systems could be improved. A review of both the current water supply systems and Ugandan government programs was completed in an effort to describe the existing state of Uganda's water supply. Aspects of quantity, quality, treatment methods, infrastructure, storage and distribution of water for the different water systems were assessed. These characteristics were compared to water supply systems and regulations in the U.S., …


Self-Modeling As An Intervention For Stuttering In Elementary Students, Jason Northrup Jan 2012

Self-Modeling As An Intervention For Stuttering In Elementary Students, Jason Northrup

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Stuttering is a disorder involving disruptions and disfluencies in speech that impacts overall communication and affects approximately 1% of the population. In addition to speech disfluency, stuttering is often related to physical tension, embarrassment, fear, anxiety, and other negative social-emotional problems, especially for children and adolescents. Fortunately, research indicates that stuttering can be alleviated before becoming more advanced and complex as individuals enter adolescence and adulthood. Self-modeling, an intervention that involves individuals watching themselves engage in exemplary behavior, appears to be particularly effective for individuals who stutter and can be implemented in a school setting. The purpose of this study …


Health Behind And Beyond Bars : Understanding The Link Between Incarceration And Health, Lauren C. Porter Jan 2012

Health Behind And Beyond Bars : Understanding The Link Between Incarceration And Health, Lauren C. Porter

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The primary aim of this dissertation is to better understand the link between incarceration and health. Drawing on a sample of young adults from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), the effect of incarceration on self-rated health, serious injury, STD infection, cold/flu symptoms, and blood pressure is assessed. The effect of incarceration on health behavior is also examined, including diet, smoking, binge drinking, and physical activity. In order to rule out selection bias, current and former inmates are compared to respondents who have been arrested (or arrested and convicted of a crime), but not incarcerated. Findings suggest …


Occupational Exposure And Risk Of Skin Cancer In A Multinational European Study, Simona Surdu Jan 2012

Occupational Exposure And Risk Of Skin Cancer In A Multinational European Study, Simona Surdu

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) comprise more than one third of all cancers, and are increasing worldwide. The most common NMSC are Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). Studies on humans and animals suggest that sunlight and arsenic play important roles in the pathogenesis of these skin malignancies. However, the number of epidemiological studies focusing on NMSC in workers exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation or airborne arsenic is limited, and the findings are contradictory.


Geographic And Community Factors Associated With Adolescent Pregnancy In New York State, Elizabeth Villamil Jan 2012

Geographic And Community Factors Associated With Adolescent Pregnancy In New York State, Elizabeth Villamil

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background


Prognostic Implications Of Oral Health Status In Hiv-Positive Women In St. Petersburg, Russia, Anna Vinogradova Jan 2012

Prognostic Implications Of Oral Health Status In Hiv-Positive Women In St. Petersburg, Russia, Anna Vinogradova

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Objective: To assess state of oral health in HIV-positive women in St. Petersburg, Russia and to study the association of oral health with pregnancy status and other factors in this sample.


Risk Factors Associated With Not Well Controlled And Very Poorly Controlled Asthma In U.S. Northeast Region, Brfss Asthma Callback Survey, 2006-2008, Can Yang Jan 2012

Risk Factors Associated With Not Well Controlled And Very Poorly Controlled Asthma In U.S. Northeast Region, Brfss Asthma Callback Survey, 2006-2008, Can Yang

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Abstract


Migrant Workers In Kazakhstan : Gender Differences In Hiv Knowledge And Sexual Risk Behaviors, Baurzhan Zhussupov Jan 2012

Migrant Workers In Kazakhstan : Gender Differences In Hiv Knowledge And Sexual Risk Behaviors, Baurzhan Zhussupov

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Background: