Public Health Commons^™

Staphylococcus Aureus And The Ecology Of The Nasal Microbiome, Cindy M. Liu, Lance B. Price, Bruce A. Hungate, Alison G. Abraham, Lisbeth A. Larsen, Kaare Christensen, Marc Stegger, Robert Skov, Paal Skytt Andersen

Environmental and Occupational Health Faculty Publications

The human microbiome can play a key role in host susceptibility to pathogens, including in the nasal cavity, a site favored by Staphylococcus aureus. However, what determines our resident nasal microbiota—the host or the environment—and can interactions among nasal bacteria determine S. aureus colonization? Our study of 46 monozygotic and 43 dizygotic twin pairs revealed that nasal microbiota is an environmentally derived trait, but the host’s sex and genetics significantly influence nasal bacterial density. Although specific taxa, including lactic acid bacteria, can determine S. aureus colonization, their negative interactions depend on thresholds of absolute abundance. These findings demonstrate that …

Characterization Of Contaminants On Firefighter"S Protective Equipment A Firefighter's Potential Exposure To Heavy Metals During A Structure Fire, Donald F. Gagas

Online Theses and Dissertations

This research measured heavy metals, specifically cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead, on the surface of the firefighters bunker gear. Despite the fact that many studies have been conducted regarding the presence of organics in smoke emissions from structure fires, very few studies have investigated the extent of heavy metal emissions found during a structure fire. Using a wipe test procedure samples were collected from firefighters following a structure fire and analyzed for metals. Three locations on the bunker gear were used, the knee, elbow, and chest areas. The results showed that varying amounts of cadmium, chromium, copper and lead adhere …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Firefighter Participation In Wellness Programs Within A Career Fire Department In Northern Ohio, Conner O'Halloran

Online Theses and Dissertations

Firefighters respond to dangerous emergencies every day. The physical and mental wellness of firefighters is very important to their overall job performance. To support this, fire departments must have established, comprehensive wellness programs (International Association of Firefighters, 2008). Even with national standard recommendation of wellness programs, one does not exist in a fire department located in Northern Ohio.

The focus of this research is to explore reasons why these highly recommended wellness programs are not established. Successful establishment of a wellness program requires understanding why this fire department is hesitant or unsuccessful in implementing and maintaining a wellness program.

This …

Effectiveness Of Visual-Based Safety Training Compared With Non-Visual Based Safety Training In The Meat Processing Industry For Non-English Speaking, Hispanic Employees, Erika K. Rinehart

Online Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to identify whether visual-based safety training for non-English, Spanish speaking employees in the meat industry is more effective than non-visual training. The literature review included in this thesis studies the known barriers to training Hispanic workers, the existing training methods out there for safety training, and the best forms of safety training for non-English, Spanish speaking workers.

The methodology in this research evaluated the effectiveness of visual-based training versus a non-visual training for non-English, Spanish speaking employees in the meat industry. Two training sessions with a total of 30 volunteers was organized in order …

The Current Status Of Safety In High School Chemical Laboratories In Kentucky, Ahmed Rashed Alyammahi

Online Theses and Dissertations

This project is construed as a follow-up of the study conducted by Dr. Jack Gerlovich and his team to assess the status of science safety in Kentucky high schools in 2003-2004. The current study gathered online responses to an expanded survey from 57 high school chemistry teachers in Kentucky. The survey was developed to find answers to four main questions: What is the current status of safety in high school chemical laboratory in Kentucky? To what extent has this status improved or deteriorated since the creation and publication of the Total Science Safety-The Kentucky Edition CD in 2003? What are …

Behavior Based Safety And The Multi-Generational Workforce, Edward Paul Grzybowski

Online Theses and Dissertations

Generational differences of Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials regarding their acceptance of feedback and observations were studied in order to determine if different approaches to each were needed in order to effectively implement a Behavior Based Safety program within a specific company. The study found that there was a greater difference between generations regarding observations than on other domains. The results suggest that additional research should be undertaken in order to extrapolate the findings to a larger population.

Portrait De L’Accueil Et De La Formation À L’Embauche Des Étudiants Occupant Un Emploi Pendant L’Année Scolaire, Élise Ledoux, Luc Laberge, Chloé Thuilier

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Le cumul études-travail a crû de manière significative au cours des 30 dernières années au Québec. Plusieurs entreprises, notamment dans le secteur des services, comptent sur les étudiants pour pourvoir une partie de leurs besoins en main-d’œuvre. Ces emplois permettent aux étudiants de développer une première expérience professionnelle, mais ils les exposent également, tôt dans leur parcours professionnel, à certains risques professionnels qui peuvent avoir des impacts sur leur santé et leur sécurité. Les conditions d’accueil et d’intégration des nouveaux travailleurs sont de plus en plus reconnues comme une cible de prévention pertinente.

À partir d’entrevues menées auprès de 70 …

Determination Of Triglycidyl Isocyanurate From Air Samples By Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled With Coordination Ion Spray Mass Spectrometry, Sébastien Gagné, Marielle Carrier, Simon Aubin

Études primaires

Rationale

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with coordination ion spray tandem mass spectrometry was used for the analysis of air samples containing triglycidyl isocyanurate. The method is not affected by any chromatographic interference and the filter extract is compatible with the UPLC system, as opposed to approaches using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detection and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.

Methods

Accu-cap^™ filters that had sampled triglycidyl isocyanurate were extracted using a mixture of acetonitrile/acetone (95/5) diluted with 3 volumes of water and were then analyzed. The mass spectrometry method uses sodium as the alkali adduct complexing …

Particle Loading Time And Humidity Effects On The Efficiency Of An N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirator Model Under Constant And Inhalation Cyclic Flows, Alireza Mahdavi, Fariborz Haghighat, Ali Bahloul, Clothilde Brochot, Claude Ostiguy

Études primaires

It is necessary to investigate the efficiencies of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) exposed to ultrafine particles (UFPs) for long periods of time, since the particle loading time may potentially affect the efficiency of FFRs. This article aims to investigate the filtration efficiency for a model of electrostatic N95 FFRs with constant and ‘inhalation-only’ cyclic flows, in terms of particle loading time effect, using different humidity conditions. Filters were exposed to generated polydisperse NaCl particles. Experiments were performed mimicking an ‘inhalation-only’ scenario with a cyclic flow of 85 l min ^–1 as the minute volume [or 170 l min ^–1 as …

Détection Moléculaire Des Bactéries Du Genre Légionella Dans L’Eau Des Tours De Refroidissement Et L’Eau De Consommation, Geneviève Marchand, Nancy Lacombe

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Les bactéries du genre Legionella sont répandues dans plusieurs environnements tant naturels qu’artificiels. Les concentrations rencontrées dans les environnements naturels sont très faibles. Les phénomènes de contamination se rencontrent principalement dans les réservoirs artificiels où les températures de l’eau sont maintenues entre 25 et 42 °C, et où existe une certaine stagnation ainsi que la présence de dépôts, de biofilms et d’amibes. Les bains à remous, les piscines, les condensateurs d’évaporation, les brumisateurs et les tours de refroidissement sont reconnus comme étant des sources responsables de l’éclosion de légionellose en raison de la croissance importante des bactéries du genre Legionella …

Étude Exploratoire Sur La Caractérisation De La Masse Apparente D’Un Système Couplé Corps Assis – Siège Élastique Soumis À Des Vibrations Dans L’Axe Vertical, Subhash Rakheja, Krishna Dewangan, Pierre Marcotte, Arman Shahmir, Suresh Patra

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Cette étude explore un système de mesure à pellicule mince de la pression à l’interface corps-siège (Tekscan Inc.) pour caractériser les réponses biodynamiques de sujets humains assis sur des sièges élastiques et exposés à des vibrations dans l’axe vertical. L’étude porte sur un siège rigide et trois sièges élastiques : un siège constitué d’un bloc de mousse de polyuréthane (MPU) plat d’une épaisseur de 8 cm (siège A), un siège de véhicule automobile flexible et moulant (siège B) et un coussin gonflable à bulles d’air (siège C). La validité du système …

An Exploratory Study For Characterizing Seated Body Apparent Mass Coupled With Elastic Seats Under Vertical Vibration, Subhash Rakheja, Krishna Dewangan, Pierre Marcotte, Arman Shahmir, Suresh Patra

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Cette étude explore un système de mesure à pellicule mince de la pression à l’interface corps-siège (Tekscan Inc.) pour caractériser les réponses biodynamiques de sujets humains assis sur des sièges élastiques et exposés à des vibrations dans l’axe vertical. L’étude porte sur un siège rigide et trois sièges élastiques : un siège constitué d’un bloc de mousse de polyuréthane (MPU) plat d’une épaisseur de 8 cm (siège A), un siège de véhicule automobile flexible et moulant (siège B) et un coussin gonflable à bulles d’air (siège C). La validité du système …

Étude En Soufflerie De L’Effet Des Bâtiments Adjacents Sur La Dispersion En Champ Proche Des Émissions Polluantes De Cheminées De Toit, Ted Stathopoulos, Bodhisatta Hajra, Mauricio Chavez, Ali Bahloul

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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La dispersion des polluants des émissions de cheminées de toit dans la couche limite est fortement influencée par la présence de bâtiments avoisinants et la topographie locale. Il est donc très difficile d’évaluer précisément les concentrations dans le panache sur différentes surfaces de bâtiments. Les polluants émis par une cheminée de toit peuvent présenter des risques pour la santé des occupants des bâtiments s’ils se réintroduisent dans le bâtiment duquel ils émanent ou s’ils pénètrent dans un bâtiment voisin par des ouvertures se trouvant sur différentes surfaces de bâtiments. La plupart …

L’Effet De Bâtiments En Amont Et En Aval Sur La Dispersion Des Effluents : Une Approche Axée Sur La Mécanique Des Fluides Numérique (Cfd), Ali Bahloul, Ted Stathopoulos, Bodhisatta Hajra, Mauricio Chavez

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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La prédiction de la dispersion des émissions polluantes de cheminées de toit en milieu urbain est extrêmement complexe, tout particulièrement en présence de bâtiments voisins. Le comportement du panache dépend des caractéristiques du vent, mais il est aussi lourdement influencé par l’environnement. Il se peut ainsi que les effluents émis par une cheminée de toit se réintroduisent dans le bâtiment émetteur ou dans un bâtiment adjacent, exposant du coup les occupants à d’éventuels problèmes de santé. La conception et l’implantation optimales de cheminées d’évacuation pour limiter une telle réingestion au niveau …

Risk Factors For Slip Accidents Among Police Officers And School Crossing Guards: An Exploratory Study, Chantal Gauvin, David Pearsall, Mohsen Damavandi, Yannick Michaud-Paquette, Bruno Farbos, Daniel Imbeau

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Entre 2005 et 2007, les accidents de type glissades, trébuchements et chutes de même niveau ont représenté 12,6 % de l’ensemble des lésions indemnisées par la Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail du Québec (CSST) et ont entraîné des débours de 90 millions de dollars. Deux secteurs professionnels, soit les policiers et les brigadiers scolaires, ont sollicité l’appui de l’Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) pour les aider à réduire et/ou prévenir les glissades qui, globalement, représentent près de la moitié de ces accidents. Afin de mieux cibler les interventions …

Emergency Medical Service Worker Knowledge Of And Compliance With Occupational Exposures To Infectious Diseases, Debra Ann Wrentz-Hudson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Firefighter Emergency Medical Service (EMS) responder personnel are at a high risk for occupational exposures to bloodborne and airborne infectious pathogens due to their unpredictable work duties in the pre-hospital environment. Not much is known about the compliance with Universal Precautions (UP) among firefighter EMS responders' personnel with regards to occupational exposures to infectious diseases. The purpose of this cross-sectional research study was to determine the relationship between compliance with UP, knowledge of UP, attitudes towards UP, occupational practices, and occupational exposures to bloodborne and airborne pathogens to prevent transmission of infectious disease among firefighter EMS responder personnel in the …

Racial Differences In The Impact Of A Worksite Wellness Program On Cardiovascular Biomarkers, Ceabert Joseph Griffith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for approximately 600,000 deaths in the United States each year, with African Americans (AAs) disproportionately affected. Individual-level approaches to reducing CVD remain ineffective, mobilizing a movement that advocates for population-based solutions. Workplace wellness programs (WWPs) have gained considerable traction as a viable strategy for ameliorating CVD burden among workers in general. However, no studies have looked at the efficacy of WWPs in ameliorating CVD specifically among AA employees--a knowledge gap that this investigation aimed to close. Based on the health belief model and the social cognitive theory, this retrospective cohort study used de-identified secondary data …

Self Esteem, Locus Of Control, And The Relationship With Registered Nurses' Experience With Workplace Incivility, Elizabeth Anne Berry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The study's purpose is evaluating the relationship between locus of control and selfesteem

in relation to the registered nurse's experience and perception with lateral and

vertical incivility. There is a lack of research concerning nurse-to-nurse incivility within

the nursing profession. The hypothesis examined whether dynamics of locus of control

and self-esteem could provide insight into the personality dynamics influencing incivility

in the workplace. This non-experimental quantitative study used 2 self-evaluation tools

and 1 demographic survey tool to collect data via Survey Monkey, a commercial data

collection company. Participants were 65 randomly selected faculty (n = 36) and

graduate students (n …

Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Response Impact On Graduate Students, Sean Eric Kil Patrick Gay

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The roles that universities played in the response to the Fukushima nuclear disaster were significant and varied; however, there was limited study on participating graduate students. The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of disaster response on graduate students' personal and academic development. This study examined research questions about the perceived impact on academic and personal identity development. Empowerment, cognitive content engagement, general systems theory, and utilitarianism formed the theoretical foundation. This study used a transcendental phenomenological approach to examine the subjects' experiences in the context of involvement in disaster response. The primary source of data was …

Investigating The Effect Of Arsenic On Chromium(Vi)-Induced Genotoxicity In Human Lung Fibroblasts, Jason Stewart Ms

All Student Scholarship

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) compounds are well-established human lung carcinogens. Arsenic (As) is a well documented human carcinogen with long term exposure to AS in drinking water being linked to lung, kidney and liver cancer, among others. Co-exposure studies are now becoming more common as humans are not exposed to just one toxicant at a time. This is the first study to investigate the effects of co-exposure with arsenic and soluble or particulate Cr(Vi) compounds in human lung fibroblasts.

Cip10 Optimization For 4,4-Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate Aerosol Sampling And Field Comparison With Impinger Method, Silvia Puscasu, Simon Aubin, Yves Cloutier, Philippe Sarazin, Huu Van Tra, Sébastien Gagné

Études primaires

4,4-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) aerosol exposure evaluation in spray foam insulation application is known as being a challenge because the spray foam application actually involves a fast-curing process. Available techniques are either not user-friendly or are inaccurate or not validated for this application. To address these issues, a new approach using a CIP10M was developed to appropriately collect MDI aerosol in spray foam insulation while being suitable for personal sampling. The CIP10M is a commercially available personal aerosol sampler that has been validated for the collection of microbial spores into a liquid medium. Tributylphosphate with 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine (MOPIP) was introduced into …

Comparison Between The Asset Ez4 Nco And Impinger Sampling Devices For Aerosol Sampling Of 4,4′-Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate In Spray Foam Application, Silvia Puscasu, Simon Aubin, Yves Cloutier, Philippe Sarazin, Huu Van Tra, Sébastien Gagné

Études primaires

4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) aerosol exposure evaluation in spray foam insulation application is known to be a challenge. Current available techniques are either not user-friendly or are inaccurate or are not validated for this application. A new sampler has recently been developed to address the user-friendliness issues with other samplers: the ASSET EZ4-NCO, but the use of this sampler in spray foam insulation applications has not been demonstrated or validated. Because of this, the current work was undertaken to provide a comparison of the ASSET sampler with an impinger method, considered to be the best available method in the context …

Trunk Postural Control In Unstable Sitting: Effect Of Sex And Low Back Pain Status, Christian Larivière, Dany H. Gagnon, Hakim Mecheri

Études primaires

Background

Adequate neuromuscular control of the lumbar spine is required to prevent lumbar injuries. A trunk postural control test protocol, controlling for the influence of body size on performance, was implemented to carry out between-subject comparisons. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of sex and low back pain status with the use of two measures of trunk postural control, the first based on chair motion, and the second based on trunk motion.

Methods

Thirty-six subjects (with and without low back pain) performed three 60-s trunk postural control trials with their eyes closed while seated on an …

Nanoparticle Measurement, Control And Characterization: Procedure Applied To Machining Processes And Mechanical Friction, Victor Songmene, Riad Khettabi, Martin Viens, Jules Kouam, Stéphane Hallé, François Morency, Jacques Masounave, Abdelhakim Djebara

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Alors que les nanotechnologies émergentes ouvrent des voies prometteuses dans plusieurs secteurs d’activité, des études suggèrent que les nanoparticules (NP) qu’elles génèrent pourraient avoir des effets négatifs, notamment sur la santé et sur l’environnement. Celles-ci peuvent être générées lors de la fabrication, de la manutention et de l’assemblage de pièces métalliques ordinaires et de celles à base de nanomatériaux. D’autres activités quotidiennes, telles que le freinage des automobiles, peuvent aussi produire des NP. Il est donc urgent de trouver des moyens de contrôler ces risques. Cependant, les techniques et méthodes usuelles …

Obesity And Workplace Injury In Hazardous Occupations Among The Hispanic/Latino Population, Barbara Klyde

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the past 20 years, adult obesity has increased in the United States, especially among the Hispanic/Latino population. In 2010, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Environmental and Safety News, reported that younger workers, ages 18 to19 years of age, worked in the most high-risk occupations such as agriculture, construction, fishing, and manufacturing. The reported fatality rates for these occupations were 5.6 times greater for Hispanic workers compared to other race/ethnicity groups reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2013. This study determined whether obesity contributed to workplace injury or mortality in hazardous occupations, using federal, state, and independent …

An Axisymmetric Finite Element Model To Study The Earplug Contribution To The Bone Conduction Occlusion Effect, Martin K. Brummund, Franck Sgard, Yvan Petit, Frédéric Laville, Hugues Nélisse

Études primaires

An axisymmetric linear elasto-acoustic finite element (FE) model of an occluded human external ear is proposed to simulate the bone conduction occlusion effect (OE). The model consists of a cylindrical ear canal cavity surrounded by layers of biological tissues (skin, cartilage and bone) in which an earplug is inserted. Geometrical and material properties are taken from the literature. OEs are predicted for foam and silicone earplug FE-models using COMSOL Multiphysics (COMSOL®, Sweden). The FE-model is shown to predict the experimental OE measured in two healthy human reference groups wearing foam or silicone earplugs, satisfactorily. Deviations between model and experiment are …

Identification Of Intrinsic And Reflexive Contributions To Low-Back Stiffness: Medium-Term Reliability And Construct Validity, Christian Lariviere, Daniel Ludvig, Robert Kearney, Hakim Mecheri, Jean-Maxime Caron, Richard Preuss

Études primaires

This study aimed at testing the reliability and construct validity of a trunk perturbation protocol (TPP) that estimates the intrinsic and reflexive contributions to low-back stiffness. The TPP consists of a series of pseudorandom position-controlled trunk perturbations in an apparatus measuring forces and displacements at the harness surrounding the thorax. Intrinsic and reflexive contributions to low-back stiffness were estimated using a system identification procedure, leading to 12 parameters. Study 1 methods (reliability): 30 subjects performed five 75- s trials, on each of two separate days (eight weeks apart). Reliability was assessed using the generalizability theory, which allowed computing indexes of …

Minority Stress, Depression, Relationship Quality, And Alcohol Use: Associations With Overweight And Obesity Among Partnered Young Adult Lesbians, Tyler B. Mason, Robin J. Lewis

Psychology Faculty Publications

Purpose: Although lesbian women are more likely to be obese compared to heterosexual women, relatively little research has examined correlates of overweight and obesity among lesbians. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of minority stress and depression, relationship quality, and alcohol-use variables to overweight and obesity among lesbians in relationships.

Method: Self-identified lesbians (n = 737) in current relationships completed measures of demographics, minority stress, depressive symptoms, relationship variables, and alcohol use.

Results: Overweight and obesity were associated with more public identification as a lesbian, more depressive symptoms, increased heavy drinking, longer relationship length, and lower …

Knowledge, Attitude And Practices Regarding Respiratory Symptoms Among Textile Workers Of Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Survey, Aneeta Khoso, Asaad Ahmed Nafees

Community Health Sciences

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and predictors of good knowledge, appropriate attitude and appropriate protective practices regarding respiratory symptoms among textile workers, and to determine the association of knowledge, attitude and practices with respiratory symptoms.
Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009 and comprised male workers from 15 textile mills in and around Karachi. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used which included questions to explore the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding respiratory symptoms. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis.
Results: The study had a sample size of 372 and found prevalence of good knowledge to be in …

Sound Attenuation Performance Of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Circumaural Hearing Protection Devices, Steven Christopher Augustine

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Personnel who work on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier are exposed to extreme levels of jet engine noise often in excess of 140 decibels (dB). The current circumaural hearing protective devices (CAHPD) employed by flight deck crewmen are inadequate for the level of protection required for these extreme levels of noise. Fiber-reinforced thermoset polymer composite (FRPC) materials such as aramid fibers used in body armor, have high theoretical values of acoustic impedance due to a fundamentally high modulus of elasticity and may offer a superior level of hearing protection over original equipment (OE) thermoplastic CAHPDs. The objective of …