Public Health Commons^™

A Novel Abi-Domain Protein Controls Virulence Determinant Production In Staphylococcus Aureus, Stephanie Michelle Marroquin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A major factor in the success of Staphylococcus aureus as a pathogen is its vast arsenal of virulence determinants and, more importantly, the tight and precisely- timed regulation of these factors. Here we investigate the product of the S. aureus gene, SAUSA300_1984, encoding a putative transmembrane protein. This as yet uncharacterized protein belongs to the Abi (abortive infection) family, which are commonly annotated as CAAX-proteases, and are significantly understudied in prokaryotes. In S. aureus the disruption of SAUSA300_1984 results in a drastic reduction of proteolytic and hemolytic activity, as well as diminished pigmentation. This phenotype appears to be mediated through …

The Zika Virus Threat: How Concerns About Scientists May Undermine Efforts To Combat The Pandemic, Thomas G. Safford, Lawrence C. Hamilton, Emily Whitmore

Carsey Publications

Using data from the University of New Hampshire’s October 2016 Granite State Poll, authors Thomas Safford, Lawrence Hamilton, and Emily Whitmore investigate how New Hampshire residents view the Zika crisis. They report that most New Hampshire residents believe Zika is only a minor threat to public health in the United States, and they generally trust the CDC as a source of information about the virus. The data also show that, while there is doubt about the government’s ability to control the spread of the virus, the public feels that emergency federal funding to combat Zika should be a priority. They …

An Exposure Assessment Of Paper Dust In A Coupon Manufacturing Facility, Danny C. Fink

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purpose. Exposures to paper dust, classified as Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (PNOR), in an industrial setting can cause irritation to the eyes, skin, throat and upper respiratory tract. An exposure assessment was conducted to evaluate the paper dust exposures in the coupon manufacturing facility during a normal production working period. Methods. Total and respirable personal dust sampling was performed according to NIOSH 0500 and 0600 methods. Six total dust samples and seven respirable dust samples were taken within the sampling areas where airborne paper dust was produced to evaluate the Time Weighted Average (TWA) of the exposed employees. Results. Results …

(Not) Everything Is Good And Easy: Language-Related Healthcare Experiences Of Two Groups Of Low-Income Latina Mothers, Aria Anna Walsh-Felz

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This cross-sectional, comparative, qualitative study explored language-related issues experienced by low-income Spanish-speaking mothers navigating pediatric care for their children in Hillsborough County, Florida. Hospitals, pediatric clinics, specialists, and dental care have differing degrees of linguistic accessibility and accommodations for limited English proficient families. Two groups of mothers were interviewed: bilingual (n=9) and Spanish-speaking limited-English proficient (SSLEP) mothers (n=21). These groups perceived the effect of language on navigating pediatric healthcare differently, creating tension in perceptions and experience between them. Such tensions included SSLEP mothers expressing satisfaction with pediatric care simultaneously with shortcomings in communication. SSLEP mothers said that everything was easy, …

Clinical & Translational Research In Pneumonia: Defining A Research Agenda For Today And Tomorrow, Julio A. Ramirez

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

From the Editor in Chief

The reason for this special supplement of the Journal is to inform readers of a scientific research conference supported by the National Institutes of Health (NHI). The NIH Research Conference Grant (R13) supports high quality scientific conferences in areas that are important to the NIH's mission and to the public health. We just received notification that the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has approved the application for an international research conference entitled: DzClinical & Translational Research in Pneumonia: Defining a Research Agenda for Today and Tomorrowdz. The conference will be held on Wednesday, …

Development And Validation Of Measures To Evaluate Adolescents' Knowledge About Human Papillomavirus (Hpv), Involvement In Hpv Vaccine Decision-Making, Self-Efficacy To Receive The Vaccine And Fear And Anxiety, A. S. Forster, K. A. Mcbride, C. Davies, T. Stoney, H. Marshall, K. Mcgeechan, Spring C. Cooper, S. R. Skinner

Publications and Research

Objectives: We describe the development and validation of measures of human papillomavirus (HPV)/HPV vaccination knowledge, fear/anxiety about vaccination, involvement in HPV vaccine decision-making, and self-efficacy with regard to getting the vaccine, designed to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention to affect these domains (collectively termed the HAVIQ: HPV Adolescent Vaccine Intervention Questionnaire). Study design: Literature search, cognitive interviews and cross-sectional survey.

Methods: A literature search identified existing items that were modified for the present measures. Experts reviewed draft measures for face and content validity. Cognitive interviews with adolescents were also used to assess content validity. Adolescents completed the measures and …

Lactational Stage Of Pasteurized Human Donor Milk Contributes To Nutrient Limitations For Infants., Christina J Valentine, Georgia Morrow, Amanda Reisinger, Kelly A Dingess, Ardythe L Morrow, Lynette K Rogers

Women’s Health Articles

BACKGROUND: Mother's own milk is the first choice for feeding preterm infants, but when not available, pasteurized human donor milk (PDM) is often used. Infants fed PDM have difficulties maintaining appropriate growth velocities. To assess the most basic elements of nutrition, we tested the hypotheses that fatty acid and amino acid composition of PDM is highly variable and standard pooling practices attenuate variability; however, total nutrients may be limiting without supplementation due to late lactational stage of the milk.

METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional sampling of milk was obtained from five donor milk banks located in Ohio, Michigan, Colorado, Texas-Ft Worth, …

Grandparenting In Selected West African Countries: Implications For Health And Hygiene Behaviours In The Household, Joshua Oyeniyi Aransiola Dr, Akanni Ibukun Akinyemi Dr, Ambrose Akinlo Dr, Funmi Togonu-Bickesteeth Prof.

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

This is a descriptive study of the health and hygiene behaviors of grandparents who are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren in four West African countries, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. The article utilizes data from each country’s most recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). The study identified 20,841 households where grandparents were primary caregivers. As expected, most of these households are in Nigeria given their population exceeds the collective population of the other three West African countries. However, the number of grandfamilies in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia is still worrisome for their population size. In each country, …

Caregiving Among Community-Dwelling Grandparents In Jamaica, Julian Gm Mckoy Davis, Douladel Willie-Tyndale, Kathryn Mitchell-Fearon, Desmalee Holder-Nevins, Kenneth James, Denise Eldemire-Shearer

GrandFamilies: The Contemporary Journal of Research, Practice and Policy

Grandparents play invaluable caregiving roles in the general upbringing of grandchildren. The objective of the present study is to provide a profile of grandparents providing care to co-resident grandchildren younger than 18 years old in Jamaica. A subsample of 451 grandparents providing care to co-resident grandchildren under than 18 years old was derived from a larger nationally-representative community-based study of 2943 older adults residing in Jamaica. Data pertaining to caregiving, demography, health, socioeconomic status, and social participation were analysed using bivariate and multivariate analyses. Seventy one percent of grandparents were involve in regular care of their grandchildren. Hypertension (65.9%), arthritis …

Medicaid Managed Care And The Health Care Utilization Of Foster Children, Makayla Palmer, James Marton, Aaron Yelowitz, Jeffery Talbert

Molasky Family Department of Economics and Real Estate Faculty Research

A recent trend in state Medicaid programs is the transition of vulnerable populations into Medicaid managed care (MMC) who were initially carved out of such coverage, such as foster children or those with disabilities. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the impact of the transition of foster children from fee-for-service Medicaid coverage to MMC coverage on outpatient health care utilization. There is very little empirical evidence on the impact of managed care on the health care utilization of foster children because of the recent timing of these transitions as well as challenges associated with finding data sets large …

Understanding The Perspectives Of Potential Minority Participants On Clinical Trial Enrollment, Saliha Akhtar

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Research has shown that there continues to be insufficient recruitment of minorities in clinical trials. By eliminating this group from research, not only does it impact the success of clinical trials by making it more difficult to achieve recruitment targets, but it also leads to an inability to identify appropriate treatments and interventions for all individuals, especially as racial/ethnic factors can play a role in the efficacy and safety of a treatment and intervention. The purpose of the study was to understand the perspectives of minority healthcare students/professionals on clinical trial enrollment. Focusing on this population would shed light on …

Identifying Inequities In Maternal And Child Health Through Risk Stratification To Inform Health Systems Strengthening In Northern Togo, Katharine J. Mccarthy, Sandra Braganza, Kevin Fiori, Christophe Gbeleou, Vivien Kpakpo, Andrew Lopez, Jennifer Schechter, Alicia Singham Goodwin, Heidi E. Jones

Publications and Research

Objective
In Togo, substantial progress in maternal and child health is needed to reach global development goals. To better inform clinic and community-based health services, this study identifies factors associated with maternal and child health care utilization in the Kara region of Northern Togo.

Methods
We conducted a population-representative household survey of four health clinic catchment areas of 1,075 women of reproductive age in 2015. Multivariable logistic regression was used to model individual and structural factors associated with utilization of four maternal and child health services. Key outcomes were: facility-based delivery, maternal postnatal health check by a health professional within …

Longitudinal Associations Between Body Mass Index, Physical Activity, And Healthy Dietary Behaviors In Adults: A Parallel Latent Growth Curve Modeling Approach, Youngdeok Kim, Jung-Min Lee, Jungyoon Kim, Emily Dhurandhar, Ghada Soliman, Nizar K. Wehbi, James Canedy

Publications and Research

Background Physical activity (PA) and healthy dietary behaviors (HDB) are two well-documented lifestyle factors influencing body mass index (BMI). This study examined 7-year longitudinal associations between changes in PA, HDB, and BMI among adults using a parallel latent growth curve modeling (LGCM).

Methods We used prospective cohort data collected by a private company (SimplyWell LLC, Omaha, NE, USA) implementing a workplace health screening program. Data from a total of 2,579 adults who provided valid BMI, PA, and HDB information for at least 5 out of 7 follow-up years from the time they entered the program were analyzed. PA and HDB …

Using The Roc Curve To Measure Association And Evaluate Prediction Accuracy For A Binary Outcome, Jingjing Yin, Robert L. Vogel

Biostatistics: Faculty Publications

This review article addresses the ROC curve and its advantage over the odds ratio to measure the association between a continuous variable and a binary outcome. A simple parametric model under the normality assumption and the method of Box-Cox transformation for non-normal data are discussed. Applications of the binormal model and the Box-Cox transformation under both univariate and multivariate inference are illustrated by a comprehensive data analysis tutorial. Finally, a summary and recommendations are given as to the usage of the binormal ROC curve.

A Statistical Method For The Conservative Adjustment Of False Discovery Rate (Q-Value)., Yinglei Lai

Epidemiology Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: q-value is a widely used statistical method for estimating false discovery rate (FDR), which is a conventional significance measure in the analysis of genome-wide expression data. q-value is a random variable and it may underestimate FDR in practice. An underestimated FDR can lead to unexpected false discoveries in the follow-up validation experiments. This issue has not been well addressed in literature, especially in the situation when the permutation procedure is necessary for p-value calculation.

RESULTS: We proposed a statistical method for the conservative adjustment of q-value. In practice, it is usually necessary to calculate p-value by a permutation procedure. …

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• Georgia Southern study shows number of obese adults trying to lose weight is decreasing

Lactose Intolerance: An Overview Of The Facts And Their Implications, Noelle M. Yeo

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Lactose intolerance is often blamed for the symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, gas, abdominal pain, and nausea, that ail many people. Patients often do not seek proper diagnosis from a physician and create their own treatment plans, severely restricting lactose intake, without professional guidance. Even those who do seek the care of a physician find that diagnosis is complicated by less-than ideal testing and confusion due to the symptoms common to many other conditions. The misconceptions and inability to confirm a diagnosis of lactose intolerance can cause nutrient deficiencies in these patients, as well as begin a pattern of unnecessary …

College Of Public Health News, Georgia Southern University

College of Public Health: News & Publications

• Understanding Obesity and Self-Esteem:What your weight in middle School says about you now.
• Georgia Southern study shows number of obese adults trying to lose weight is decreasing

Community Health News, Georgia Southern University

Health Policy & Community Health: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• Understanding Obesity and Self-Esteem: What Your Weight in Middle School Says about You Now
• Georgia Southern study shows number of obese adults trying to lose weight is decreasing

Reducing Caregiver Burden: Fostering Healthy Aging And Social Support, Maria A. Rodriguez

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over 43.5 million Americans provide informal care to a fast-growing elderly population in the United States. Informal care allows care-recipients to remain functional members of society. However, research suggests that the demands of informal care can negatively impact the health of caregivers. For example, caregiver burden increases the risk for poor health in caregivers compared to non-caregivers. Caregiving research is on the rise, but the dynamics of informal care in active retirement communities remains widely unexplored. To provide adequate services to lessen caregiver burden and improve the Quality of Life (QoL) of informal caregivers, the various settings in which informal …

Screening, Brief Intervention And Referral To Treatment Implementation In The Emergency Department, Arvind Venkat Md, Gary Shank Phd, Sherry Rickard-Aasen, Janice Pringle Phd, William Johnjulio Md

The Qualitative Report

We sought to qualitatively evaluate impediments in implementing a novel Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) protocol into normal emergency department (ED) workflow for patients with at-risk drug/alcohol behavior. From 2010, administrative and nursing champions trained nurses at a single ED (census: 50,000 visits/yr) in SBIRT and incorporated SBIRT into normal ED nursing workflow in 2012. To qualitatively analyze impediments in SBIRT implementation, we created a semi-structured questionnaire for protocol champions with subsequent follow-up. Investigators analyzed responses using qualitative methodology based on a modified grounded theory framework. In 2012, 47693 visits by 31525 patients met SBIRT protocol initiation …

Social Supports, Stress And Birth Outcomes Among Latina Mothers In Pinellas County, Florida, Maridelys Detres

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Social supports are linked in public health research to improved birth outcomes. This study explored the relationship of social supports, stress and birth outcomes among pregnant Latinas in Pinellas County, Florida. A sample of 411 Healthy Start women at risk of poor birth outcomes participated in this study (99 Latinas, 142 Black, and 158 White). Study methods included ANOVA, Principal Component Analysis, multivariable regression, logistic regression, and structural equation modeling to identify significant associations between social support scores, stress scores, demographics and health risk factors with infant birth weight, preterm and small for gestational age by ethnic group. Study findings …

Sex-Dependent Effects Of Ho-1 Deletion From Adipocytes In Mice, Peter A. Hosick, Mary Frances Weeks, Michael W. Hankins, Kyle H. Moore, David E. Stec

Department of Exercise Science and Physical Education Scholarship and Creative Works

Induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been demonstrated to decrease body weight and improve insulin sensitivity in several models of obesity in rodents. To further study the role of HO-1 in adipose tissue, we created an adipose-specific HO-1 knockout mouse model. Male and female mice were fed either a control or a high-fat diet for 30 weeks. Body weights were measured weekly and body composition, fasting blood glucose and insulin levels were determined every six weeks. Adipocyte-specific knockout of HO-1 had no significant effect on body weight in mice fed a high-fat diet but increased body weight in female mice …

P01. Examining The Community Food Environments For Elementary School-Aged Children In The City Of London And Middlesex County, Ontario, Catherine Dubreck

Western Research Forum

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing public health issue. In Canada, one in four children/youth are overweight or obese. Research suggests diet plays a crucial role in childhood obesity, and that prevalence rates of overweight or obesity among children in a neighborhood may relate to area socioeconomic characteristics and other environmental factors. The community nutrition environment (e.g., the type, location, and accessibility of food outlets) can influence dietary habits.

Methods: Using ArcGIS, public and private elementary school addresses were geocoded, food outlets were mapped, and both junk food outlet density and the modified retail food environment index were …

P34. The Effects Of Standing Desks On Classroom Performance Of University Students, Siobhan Smith

Western Research Forum

Background:

It is well established that there are many health risks associated with prolonged sedentary time.¹ Unfortunately, research conducted on university students is limited but yet they experience excessive periods of sitting time during class and while studying.

Methods:

Recently, we investigated the effect of sitting, dynamic sitting, and standing desks on classroom performance of university students.² Participants performed three 3-minute classroom simulations, one for each of the three desks. The order of the desks and simulations were randomized. Each of the simulations included a different typing and memory task.

Results:

Results showed no significant difference in the …

The Effectiveness Of Combined Appointments And Influenza Immunization Rates In A Rural Wic Population, Lisa L. Sitler

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive retrospective study was to examine predictors and barriers to influenza immunizations receipt in a low-income WIC population.

Method: A quality improvement project was conducted in October 2010 in which 129 caregivers of children having WIC appointments were randomly assigned to receive (a) influenza immunizations at the time of the WIC visit or (b) educational materials and a later immunization. Caregivers completed a survey about their perceptions of influenza immunizations. Tanahashi’s access to care model (1978) was used to identify predictors (acceptability, accessibility, availability, and effectiveness) of influenza immunizations.

Analysis: In analysis …

Utilizing Three Years Of Epidemiological Data From Medical Missions In Cambodia To Shape The Mobile Medical Clinic Formulary, Jeany Kim Jun, Junia S. Koo, Amy Y. Kang, Deborah B. Chien, Albert Shim, Dale Knutson, Eda M. Kim

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Objective: The purpose of this project was to gather epidemiological data on common diseases and medications dispensed during medical mission teams to Cambodia to shape the mobile medical clinic formulary.

Methods: Data for patients seen during week-long, mobile, medical clinics was collected in Cambodia during Septembers 2012 to 2014. Patient’s gender, age, weight, blood pressure, glucose, pertinent laboratory values, diagnoses, and medications dispensed were collected. Blood pressure and glucose were measured in patients 18 years and above. Data collected onto paper intake forms were transferred onto spreadsheets without patient identifying information and analyzed for aggregate means, common diseases, and most …

Neighborhood Deprivation, Food Insecurity And Gestational Weight Gain, Sabrina Luke

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Gestational weight gain outside the recommended ranges puts women at risk for pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes. Food insecurity and environmental factors including neighborhood deprivation may influence gestational weight gain. This research 1) examines the impact of neighborhood deprivation on gestational weight gain, 2) identifies if the association varies by selected maternal characteristics, 3) examines the relationship between food insecurity and gestational weight gain, 4) determines if stress mediates the relationship between food insecurity and gestational weight gain, and 5) examines whether selected maternal characteristics mediate this relationship. The research was conducted through the analysis of the Pregnancy Risk …

I Am More Than My Label, Taylor L. Teichman, Enid Melendez

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

This workshop will offer experiential activities for youth allies to explore the foundational intersections between LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness and sexual violence. Introducing a framework of concrete tools, participants will identify at least three core resiliency factors of LGBTQ youth and be able to identify at least three concrete components for fostering community-wide support for these youth.

Évaluation De Méthodes De Prélèvement Et De Caractérisation De Nanomatériaux Manufacturés Dans L'Air Et Sur Des Surfaces Des Milieux De Travail, Maximilien Debia, Gilles L’Espérance, Cyril Catto, Philippe Plamondon, André Dufresne, Claude Ostiguy

Rapports de recherche scientifique

La surveillance des niveaux de contamination de l’air par des nanomatériaux manufacturés (NMM) est une démarche complexe qui présente plusieurs incertitudes et limites notamment : la présence simultanée de particules de dimensions nanométriques qui ne sont pas des NMM, l’absence d’instruments validés permettant une mesure en zone respiratoire et la multiplicité des indicateurs à apprécier. Certains organismes, dont l’Institut national de recherche et de sécurité (INRS) en France et l’Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST) au Québec soulignent aussi la nécessité de réaliser des prélèvements surfaciques afin d’attester la présence de dépôts …