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1
Heiss, Sarah N. "Sugar-Coating Risks: An Analysis of Sweetener Trade Associations‘ Discursive Contributions to Public Negotiations of Risk." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1304621679.
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Mitchell, Austin L. "Analysis of health and environmental risks associated with Marcellus Shale development." Research Showcase @ CMU, 2013. http://repository.cmu.edu/dissertations/267.
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The rapid growth of the shale gas industry has inspired questions concerning attendant apparent and potential short- and long-term health and environmental risks. My research examined three potential environmental and health risks.
(1) For the last half-century the Northeast natural gas market was supplied from major producing areas in Texas, the Gulf Coast, and Canada. Because radon has a short half-life of 3.8 days, the time required to transport the natural gas from these areas to the Northeast resulted in a low-radon product being delivered to homes. As the Northeast gas market transitions to locally-produced natural gas the potential for radioactive decay will diminish and the natural gas being delivered to homes will contain radon at higher levels. I assess the lung cancer risk for people living in homes with unvented gas cooking (approximately half of the homes in the Northeast) and heating appliances, which are in fewer homes. Data on the locally-produced natural gas radon concentration are limited, but for the modeling assumptions considered the radon exposure is predicted to be small compared to typical residential exposures, and additional annual population-level risk will likely be much less than the error in the estimate of annual radon-induced lung cancers. An excess lifetime lung cancer risk >10-4 is possible for high gas usage in poorly ventilated settings.
(2) High volume and locally-concentrated surface water withdrawals for Marcellus Shale development may pose a risk to water quality, aquatic and riparian ecosystems, and other uses of water resources. State environmental and interstate water authorities take different approaches to managing these water withdrawals. In the Upper Ohio River Basin, which covers the western third of Pennsylvania, the Department of Environmental Protection requires that all water used for shale gas development be covered by a water management plan. These plans stipulate the amount and timing of surface water withdrawals from each source as a function of annual stream flow statistics. Neighboring regulatory authorities and some environmental groups favor the use of monthly flow statistics instead, but implementation of these statistics in western Pennsylvania would require more data than are currently available. Because hydrologic data in the Upper Ohio River Basin are sparse, the use of the annual flow statistics is more likely than use of monthly flow statistics to prevent water withdrawals when aquatic ecosystems are under the greatest stress. The annual flow statistic might also result in fewer and smaller occurrences of computed ecodeficits under scenarios of development-related water demands in the future.
(3) Improperly abandoned and orphan gas wells threaten human health and safety as well as pollute the air and water. Pennsylvania currently requires production companies to post a bond to ensure environmental reclamation of non-productive well sites, but the cost of plugging horizontally drilled wells and reclaiming well pads is estimated to be at least a factor of 10 greater than the current well bonds. The economics of shale gas development favor transfer of assets from large entities to smaller ones. With the assets go the liabilities, and without a mechanism to prevent the new owners from assuming reclamation liabilities beyond their means, the economics favor default on well-plugging and site restoration obligations. In addition to increasing the bond amounts, individual well trust accounts are proposed based on a model from the coal industry. Pre- and delayed-funding options (a fee and severance tax, respectively) to pay for future reclamation are examined from the perspective of the taxpayer. The exposure of the taxpayer to these financial liabilities and to a future orphan well problem can be minimized with minimal impacts to the profitability of gas production regardless of which funding option is used.
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Gilbert, Angela. "Air Toxics and Equity: A Geographic Analysis of Environmental Health Risks in Florida." [Tampa, Fla] : University of South Florida, 2009. http://purl.fcla.edu/usf/dc/et/SFE0003033.
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King, Carrie R. "The Relationship between Health Risk Behaviors and Sexual Assault: A Prospective Analysis." Ohio : Ohio University, 2003. http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?ohiou1080940044.
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Odame, Emmanuel A., Ying Li, Shimin Zheng, Ambarish Vaidyanathan, and Ken Silver. "Assessing Heat-Related Mortality Risks among Rural Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Evidence." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2018. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/6301.
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Most epidemiological studies of high temperature effects on mortality have focused on urban settings, while heat-related health risks in rural areas remain underexplored. To date there has been no meta-analysis of epidemiologic literature concerning heat-related mortality in rural settings. This study aims to systematically review the current literature for assessing heat-related mortality risk among rural populations. We conducted a comprehensive literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify articles published up to April 2018. Key selection criteria included study location, health endpoints, and study design. Fourteen studies conducted in rural areas in seven countries on four continents met the selection criteria, and eleven were included in the meta-analysis. Using the random effects model, the pooled estimates of relative risks (RRs) for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were 1.030 (95% CI: 1.013, 1.048) and 1.111 (95% CI: 1.045, 1.181) per 1 °C increase in daily mean temperature, respectively. We found excess risks in rural settings not to be smaller than risks in urban settings. Our results suggest that rural populations, like urban populations, are also vulnerable to heat-related mortality. Further evaluation of heat-related mortality among rural populations is warranted to develop public health interventions in rural communities.
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Schuch, Laura M. "Geospatial Approaches to Identify Neighborhood Risks to a Pediatric Population." Kent State University / OhioLINK, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1531694688693131.
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Eschweiler, Zachary Taylor. "Superparamagnetic Nanoparticle TechnologyAn Analysis of Water, Water-treatment, Health-risks of Contaminated Water, and a Proposed Solution." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1497012927923017.
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Murphy, Tanya J. "The risks and benefits of genetic-model based linkage analysis in the detection of asthma susceptibility regions on chromosome 12 /." Thesis, McGill University, 2004. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=80337.
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Background. In genetic epidemiology, there is some debate over whether linkage analysis should be performed with highly parametric Genetic-Model Based (GMB) methods or relatively genetic-model-free Allele-Sharing Based (ASB) methods in complex diseases. Asthma is one such complex disease with multiple determinants including putative genetic factors on regions of chromosome 12. This thesis compares the evidence from a range of GMB models to an ASB analysis for linkage between asthma and chromosome 12.Methods. Data from an asthma cohort of Saguenay Lac St-Jean families was reanalysed using both GMB and ASB models. The range of GMB models was constrained by epidemiologic estimates of asthma prevalence. The results from the GMB analyses were compared with the results of an ASB method. The specific GMB and ASB methods used were LOD-score with liability classes and 'Non parametric linkage' (NPL), respectively. The analyses were performed using multipoint techniques in Genehunter software.
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Wonnah, Samson. "Myths, Risks, and Ignorance: Western Media and Health Experts’ Representations of Cultures in Ebola-Affected West African Communities." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2018. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3389.
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The 2014 Ebola outbreak, mostly affecting Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, is the largest ever recorded. The Ebola response encountered resistance in some affected communities, where some residents accused relief agencies from the Global North of denigrating local cultures. This thesis examines mainstream Western media and health experts’ representation of culture in the Ebola-affected region and employed Foucauldian analysis of discursive power to discuss the impact of such a representation on the concerned communities. Through a content analysis of selected journal and news articles by Western scholars and media and official reports by some relief agencies involved with the Ebola response, the study discovers evidence of culture bias. There was a use of significantly negative words in describing aspects of culture in the Ebola-affected region. Western media and health experts also largely associated the epidemic with African “backwardness.”
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Rösemann, G. M. "Analysis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Crotalaria species by HPLC-MS/MS in order to evaluate related food health risks." Electronic thesis, 2006. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08032007-170633/.
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Rosemann, G. M. (Gertruida Magdalena). "Analysis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Crotalaria species by HPLC-MS/MS in order to evaluate related food health risks." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/26960.
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Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are one of the most significant groups of plant toxins in the world and are an important cause of poisoning in livestock, resulting in significant financial and production losses each year (Kellerman et al. 1996). Pyrrolizidine alkaloids may also enter the human food chain as contaminants of grains, via animal products such as milk, eggs and honey or may be consumed as constituents of herbal medicines (ANZFA 2001). Not all PAs are toxic. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids affecting human health are the esters of 1,2-unsaturated hydroxymethyl dehydropyrrolizidines (DHP). Before it can be converted to DHP, PAs need to have certain essential features, which include an unsaturated 3-pyrrole ring, one or two hydroxyl groups attached to the ring, one or two ester groups and a branched acid moiety (Mattocks 1986). These compounds can be metabolized in the liver to nucleophillic pyrroles which cause damage to hepatocytes (Winter and Segall 1989). Although the involvement of PAs in the development of hepatic veno-occlusive disease is well established (Bras et al. 1961), there is still uncertainty concerning the consequences of long-term, low-dose exposure in humans. Exposure to PAs through the use of herbal remedies may also be a contributing factor to the high rates of liver cancer and cirrhosis seen in Africa (Steenkamp et al. 2000). Crotalaria spp. are known to contain toxic PAs and various incidences of human poisoning through contaminated grains have been recorded in the scientific literature (IPCS 1989). Legislation controlling the allowable levels of toxic seeds in grains in South Africa is generally much stricter than in many other grain producing countries. The Soybean and Sunflower Forum recently commissioned a study (Eloff et al. 2003) to review published and unpublished information on toxic seed that could affect human health in South Africa and to make recommendations accordingly. Crotalaria sphaerocarpa is one of the problem plants discussed in the review and is apparently the only species which regularly contaminate grain in certain areas in South Africa. There is uncertainty at present about the number of these seeds that should be allowed in grains and the threat that this may pose to human health. Based on the review a provisional recommended level of 10 seeds of C. sphaerocarpa per 10 kg of grain was proposed as an approximated safe level in the report. As emphasized by the authors (Eloff et al. 2003), this absolute level is based on assumptions that must still be tested. As a follow-up on the report, a sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the determination of toxic PAs in plants was developed in this study. The characteristic fragments produced by 1,2-unsaturated necine bases under specific MS/MS conditions were used to discriminate between the toxic and non-toxic PAs. The concentration of these PAs were then determined using multi-reaction-mode experiments. Quantitative results were calculated against a retrorsine calibration curve and expressed as µg retrorsine equivalents per gram plant material. Various extraction methods described in the literature were investigated. A final liquid-liquid extraction method was used to extract unsaturated PAs from small amounts (about one gram) of milled plant samples. Recoveries from spiked lucerne samples were 98% for retrorsine and 105% for monocrotaline. To determine the applicability of the LC-MS/MS method the unsaturated PA content of C. laburnifolia and C. dura were investigated. Crotalaria laburnifolia, which is regarded as non-toxic, contained low concentrations (< 20 µg.g-1) of unsaturated PAs. Crotalaria dura, on the other hand, is known to be toxic to livestock and the concentration of unsaturated PAs was significantly higher (585 µg.g-1). The toxic PA content of Senecio inaequidens was also determined after an incident of livestock poisoning. The plant material contained very high concentrations of retrorsine (11.5 mg.g-1) and senecionine (0.5 mg.g-1) which were also present in the rumen content collected post-motally. These results confirmed the suspected toxicity of S. inaequidens. The LC-MS/MS method was also used to follow variations in unsaturated PA content in C. sphaerocarpa plants during the growing season. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids were present in the roots of the growing plants as N-oxides and also found in the mature aerial parts, where it was present mainly as the basic alkaloids. The method was used to determine the concentration of unsaturated PAs, in various C. sphaerocarpa seeds from different locations, in order to calculate the allowable level of C sphaerocarpa seed in maize. Of all the seed samples analyzed, the highest unsaturated PA concentration found was 150 µg.g-1. The allowable level of seed was calculated using this result and was found to be 656 seeds per 10 kg maize, based on the Australian and New Zealand Food Authority level of 0.1 µg.kg-1.day-1. If these results are confirmed with systematic statistical samples of C. sphaerocarpa seed from different grain production areas, the allowable level could be increased substantially. This may have an economic benefit to grain producers.Thesis (PhD (Paraclinical Science))--University of Pretoria, 2006.
Paraclinical Sciences
PhD
unrestricted
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Farabegoli, Federica <1986>. "Analysis of Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Glycine Betaine: Contribution to the Assessment of Health Risks and Benefits of Seafood Consumption." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2016. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/7573/1/Farabegoli_Federica_tesi.pdf.
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Seafood is known for its valuable and healthy nutrients; however scientific studies demonstrated the unavoidable presence of contaminants in fish and shellfish. Authorities strongly recommend fish consumption, especially to sensible groups of population (pregnant or nursing women, infants and children), and ask the scientific community for novel and coherent data to establish clear guidelines for consumers. There is also a serious need to extend the monitoring to emerging chemical pollutants, other than methylmercury, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls, to better understand the level of seafood contamination.
An innovative UHPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of glycine betaine (GB) in Tapes philippinarum was developed and validated, taking the 2002/657 European Decision as guideline; GB is an endogenous osmolyte abundant in molluscs, and represent a vital methylating agent in humans.
Moreover, a previously developed and validated UHPLC-MS/MS method was used to conduct a preliminary monitoring of the presence of the two main perfluorinated contaminants, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in six fish species from Italian markets (Dicentrarchus labrax, Merluccius merluccius, Mugil cephalus, Pleuronectes platessa, Scomber scombrus and Sparus aurata). The daily contribution of seafood to PFOS and PFOA dietary intake in Italian population was calculated and data were compared to the corresponding Tolerable Daily Intakes established by EFSA in 2008.
Results revealed that the risk of contamination related to fish consumption is unlikely, but suggested the need to conduct further surveys focused on certain species from different sampling site. Subsequently, a mono-specie monitoring was carried out in 140 farmed and wild subjects of Dicentrarchus labrax, from 14 different locations in the Mediterranean area. The obtained results showed that wild subjects are sensibly more contaminated than farmed ones, and that levels of fish contamination are strongly influenced by their geographical origin and the proximity to polluted areas.
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Farabegoli, Federica <1986>. "Analysis of Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Glycine Betaine: Contribution to the Assessment of Health Risks and Benefits of Seafood Consumption." Doctoral thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2016. http://amsdottorato.unibo.it/7573/.
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Seafood is known for its valuable and healthy nutrients; however scientific studies demonstrated the unavoidable presence of contaminants in fish and shellfish. Authorities strongly recommend fish consumption, especially to sensible groups of population (pregnant or nursing women, infants and children), and ask the scientific community for novel and coherent data to establish clear guidelines for consumers. There is also a serious need to extend the monitoring to emerging chemical pollutants, other than methylmercury, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls, to better understand the level of seafood contamination.
An innovative UHPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of glycine betaine (GB) in Tapes philippinarum was developed and validated, taking the 2002/657 European Decision as guideline; GB is an endogenous osmolyte abundant in molluscs, and represent a vital methylating agent in humans.
Moreover, a previously developed and validated UHPLC-MS/MS method was used to conduct a preliminary monitoring of the presence of the two main perfluorinated contaminants, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in six fish species from Italian markets (Dicentrarchus labrax, Merluccius merluccius, Mugil cephalus, Pleuronectes platessa, Scomber scombrus and Sparus aurata). The daily contribution of seafood to PFOS and PFOA dietary intake in Italian population was calculated and data were compared to the corresponding Tolerable Daily Intakes established by EFSA in 2008.
Results revealed that the risk of contamination related to fish consumption is unlikely, but suggested the need to conduct further surveys focused on certain species from different sampling site. Subsequently, a mono-specie monitoring was carried out in 140 farmed and wild subjects of Dicentrarchus labrax, from 14 different locations in the Mediterranean area. The obtained results showed that wild subjects are sensibly more contaminated than farmed ones, and that levels of fish contamination are strongly influenced by their geographical origin and the proximity to polluted areas.
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Adeyanju, Charles Temitope Satzewich Vic. "Discourse of health risks and anti-racial diversity: an analysis of media coverage of the non-Ebola panic in Hamilton /." *McMaster only, 2005.
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Cachada, Anabela Ferreira de Oliveira. "Organic contaminants in urban soils: major inputs and potential risks." Doctoral thesis, Universidade de Aveiro, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10773/14130.
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Doutoramento em QuímicaUrban soil quality may be severely affected by hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs), impairing environmental quality and human health. A comprehensive study was conducted in two contrasting Portuguese urban areas (Lisbon and Viseu) in order to assess the levels and potential risks of these contaminants, to identify sources and study their behaviour in soils. The concentrations of HOCs were related to the size of the city, with much higher contamination levels observed in Lisbon urban area. Source apportionment was performed by studying the HOCs profiles, their relationship with potentially toxic elements and general characteristics of soil using multivariate statistical methods. Lisbon seems to be affected by nearby sources (traffic, industry and incineration processes) whereas in Viseu the atmospheric transport may be playing an important role. In a first tier of risk assessment (RA) it was possible to identify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Lisbon soils as a potential hazard. The levels of PAHs in street dusts were further studied and allowed to clarify that traffic, tire and pavement debris can be an important source of PAHs to urban soils. Street dusts were also identified as being a potential concern regarding human and environmental health, especially if reaching the nearby aquatic bodies. Geostatistical tools were also used and their usefulness in a RA analysis and urban planning was discussed. In order to obtain a more realistic assessment of risks of HOCs to environment and human health it is important to evaluate their available fraction, which is also the most accessible for organisms. Therefore, a review of the processes involved on the availability of PAHs was performed and the outputs produced by the different chemical methods were evaluated. The suitability of chemical methods to predict bioavailability of PAHs in dissimilar naturally contaminated soils has not been demonstrated, being especially difficult for high molecular weight compounds. No clear relationship between chemical and biological availability was found in this work. Yet, in spite of the very high total concentrations found in some Lisbon soils, both the water soluble fraction and the body residues resulting from bioaccumulation assays were generally very low, which may be due to aging phenomena. It was observed that the percentage of soluble fraction of PAHs in soils was found to be different among compounds and mostly regulated by soil properties. Regarding bioaccumulation assays, although no significant relationship was found between soil properties and bioavailability, it was verified that biota-to-soil bioaccumulation factors were sample dependent rather than compound dependent. In conclusion, once the compounds of potential concern are targeted, then performing a chemical screening as a first tier can be a simple and effective approach to start a RA. However, reliable data is still required to improve the existing models for risk characterization.
A qualidade dos solos urbanos pode ser afetada por contaminantes orgânicos hidrofóbicos (HOCs), prejudicando a saúde ambiental e humana. Este trabalho consistiu em estudar duas áreas urbanas contrastantes (Lisboa e Viseu), com o objetivo de avaliar os níveis de HOCs nos solos e os seus potenciais riscos para a saúde humana e para o ambiente. Pretendia-se ainda identificar as fontes e estudar o comportamento destes contaminantes no solo. Foi possível relacionar as concentrações de HOCs com o tamanho da cidade, sendo os níveis de contaminação muito mais elevados em Lisboa. A identificação das fontes destes contaminantes foi feita através do estudo dos respetivos perfis e da relação com elementos potencialmente tóxicos, utilizando métodos estatísticos multivariados. Lisboa parece ser afetada por fontes próximas (tráfego, indústria e incineração) enquanto em Viseu o transporte atmosférico aparenta ter um papel mais importante. Num primeiro nível da avaliação de risco (RA), foi possível identificar os hidrocarbonetos aromáticos policíclicos (PAHs) nos solos de Lisboa como um perigo potencial. Os níveis de PAHs em poeiras das ruas de Lisboa foram também estudados e permitiram clarificar que o tráfego e os detritos de pneus e de pavimento podem também ser uma importante fonte destes compostos. Utilizaram-se e discutiram-se ferramentas de geoestatística assim como a respetiva utilidade em RA e em planeamento urbano. De modo a obter uma avaliação mais realista dos riscos de HOCs é importante avaliar a fração disponível, que é também a mais acessível para os organismos. Deste modo, foi feita uma avaliação dos processos envolvidos na disponibilidade de PAHs e também dos resultados obtidos pelos diferentes métodos químicos. A adequação dos métodos químicos para prever a biodisponibilidade de PAHs em solos naturalmente contaminados ainda não foi demonstrada, sendo especialmente difícil para os compostos de elevado peso molecular. No presente trabalho também não foi possível estabelecer uma relação significativa entre a disponibilidade química e a biodisponibilidade. No entanto, apesar das elevadas concentrações totais encontradas em alguns solos de Lisboa, tanto a fração solúvel em água como os resíduos acumulados nos ensaios de bioacumulação foram, em geral, muito baixos, o que estará relacionado com os fenómenos de envelhecimento destes contaminantes nos solos. Observou-se que a fração solúvel de PAHs depende do composto em causa e é regulada pelas propriedades do solo. Apesar de não se terem observado correlações entre as propriedades do solo e a biodisponibilidade, observou-se que os fatores de bioacumulação dependem mais da amostra do que do composto. Em conclusão: após a identificação dos contaminantes de interesse uma avaliação química baseada nos teores totais pode ser uma abordagem eficaz no primeiro nível da RA, mas no entanto é necessário melhorar os modelos existentes para a caracterização do risco.
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Lam, Phuongthao Tuyen. "Examining Sexually Transmitted Disease Transmission Dynamics in Chlamydia Positive and Negative Adolescent Population using Social Network Analysis." Digital Archive @ GSU, 2009. http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/iph_theses/78.
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Adolescents are disproportionately affected by a wide range of STDs due to high level of personal risk behaviors and poor access to STD prevention services. As documented in numerous previous studies, STDs could lead to many serious consequences to adolescents’ health and the overall well being of society. One prominent concern is that STDs increase adolescent’s risk in acquiring HIV infection. Among all STDs, Chlamydia is the most prevalent in adolescents as well as in the general population. No previous studies have attempted to examine the social interaction of adolescent population heavily affected by Chlamydia. In this study, we would like to take a step forward to identify the difference in behavioral risk level between Chlamydia positive and negative adolescent social network and to describe any impacts of these groups on the transmission of other STDs using social network analysis of data collected from adolescent population in Dekalb County, Georgia. The results indicated highest behavioral risk in the negative girl index respondents’ contacts followed by those of positive boys, positive girls and finally negative boys. However STD prevalence in the contacts among these different groups did not follow the same pattern. Prevalence of STD is highest in the negative girls’ contact group followed by that of positive boys, negative boys; and interestingly positive boys’ contacts exhibit the lowest STD rate. As informed by the results, the presence of infection is not a sufficient indicator of risks; thus, network characteristic was also examined to accurately determine transmission dynamics in this population. Social and sexual network structures among these four different index groups and their contacts suggested low level of STD transmission.
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Gwilliam, Julie. "Analysis of the potential impact of climatic change on risks to health and comfort for housing occupants in Neath Port Talbot, south Wales." Thesis, Cardiff University, 2007. http://orca.cf.ac.uk/55683/.
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The inter-relationship between the internal environment of buildings and the external environment is likely to alter in the presence of climate change. The potential implications of this changing relationship for the health and comfort of housing occupants in Neath Port Talbot (NPT), south Wales, are considered in this thesis through an analysis of health and comfort risk systems. A literature review of climate change, occupant thermal comfort, health and housing and architecture has been undertaken to establish the risk systems for risks to occupant health and comfort through the application of the source-pathway-receptor model of risk. This review has been summansed through the production of risk matrices including an evaluation of the potential for increase or decrease in the risk to occupant heath and comfort in the domestic environment due to climate change. Questionnaire surveys were undertaken to establish the current distribution of occupant hearth and comfort risks in households in NPT dunng hot summers and average winters, considered as temporal proxy for future average conditions. Further to this these surveys considered the influence of occupant behaviour and housing, neighbourhood and socio-economic factors. Detailed monitoring of a case study home, built in the year 2000, was also undertaken, using temperature and relative humidity loggers. An air leakage test and thermography survey were also undertaken. This enabled a quantitative analysis of conditions in relation to comfort thresholds dunng the hot summer of 2003. It has been found that homes in NPT present health and comfort risks to their occupants under current extreme climate during both the winter and summer. These risks include inadequate and excess heating, damp and mould and inadequate ventilation levels. Future work should focus on quantitative impact research and risk distribution in housing, as well as on passive methods to alleviate summer overheating, in order to avoid an increase in energy usage for cooling and its potential impact on climate change mitigation.
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VINTI, GIOVANNI. "Municipal Solid Waste Management and Health Risks: is it time for a Solid Waste Safety Plan? Analysis of case studies from Serbia and Ghana." Doctoral thesis, Università degli studi di Brescia, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/11379/554952.
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Municipal Solid Waste Management and Health Risks: is it time for a Solid Waste Safety Plan? Analysis of case studies from Serbia and GhanaMunicipal Solid Waste Management and Health Risks: is it time for a Solid Waste Safety Plan? Analysis of case studies from Serbia and Ghana
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Kovárník, František. "Hodnocení ekonomické situace podniku a návrhy na její zlepšení." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta podnikatelská, 2010. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-222712.
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This master’s thesis’ objective is to analyze the economical situation of the specific company LIPAN A EURO, a.s. There are used methods of financial and economical analysis to examination of a proposal in this thesis. The first part of the thesis comprises theoretical fundamentals of the financial and economical analysis. The next part represents application of financial and economical analysis methods to assess the economical situation of the specific company. Summary gathers the general economical situation of the specific company and proposals to its improvement.
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Podaný, Tomáš. "Řízení rizik v oblasti BOZP ve výrobním procesu." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Ústav soudního inženýrství, 2019. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-402653.
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The diploma thesis focuses on the issues of risks in manufacture company from the prospective occupational health and safety at work (OHS). The first part of the diploma thesis contains theoretical background of the OHS process then proceeds with analysis and corresponding risks identification. There are suggested solutions on the concrete examples in the model company which completely eliminate discovered risks or at least reduce them. The final part of the diploma thesis summarizes conclusions and presents recommendations.
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Denieul, Myriam. "Procéduralisation de la décision publique face aux risques sanitaires et environnementaux posés par les produits." Thesis, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 2019. http://www.theses.fr/2019USPCB033.
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Au cours des dernières décennies, de nombreuses procédures ont progressivement encadré la prise de décision publique en matière de risques sanitaires et environnementaux posés par les produits. Un tel phénomène a d'abord été observable aux États-Unis avant de se propager en droit de l'Union européenne et en droit français. Face à la multiplication désordonnée de telles procédures se pose la question de l'existence d'un cadre procédural commun de la décision publique en matière de risques et de ses conséquences. À ce titre, deux catégories principales de procédures peuvent être distinguées. La première concerne l'encadrement de l'évaluation scientifique des risques et son articulation avec la décision finale. Ces procédures ont été dictées par la contrainte, que ce soit en réponse à des crises sanitaires et environnementales, en raison de la nécessité d'encadrer la décision dans un contexte d'incertitude scientifique, ou encore sous influence supranationale. La seconde catégorie comprend les procédures visant à mettre en évidence les impacts des mesures envisagées ainsi qu'à encourager une meilleure participation du public. Si le développement de ces dernières résulte cette fois plus d'un choix que d'une contrainte, leur poids dans le processus de décision s'avère également moindre. La procéduralisation facilite enfin le contrôle juridictionnel des décisions relatives aux risques et doit s'accompagner d'une approche pragmatique des vices de procédure. Cette recherche tend ainsi à dégager des principes généraux à destination du décideur public lorsque celui-ci est confronté à un risque identifié ou suspectéIn the past few years, procedures have multiplied for structuring and framing the decision-making process of public entities when they are confronted with environmental and health-related risks caused by products. This trend first emerged in the US, and then spread over in the EU and in France. The patchy and disorganised development of such procedures yet begs the question of a common procedural framework for public decision-making when dealing with risks, and of its associated consequences. In this view, two main categories of procedures can be distinguished. The first one applies to the scientific assessment of risks, and its consequences for the final decision. Those procedures have been stirred by external drivers, namely successive health and environmental crisis, the ever-growing necessity to cope with situations characterised by scientific uncertainty, or by influences at the supranational level. The second category covers procedures aiming at assessing the impacts of the contemplated decision, and at ensuring participation from the public. The development of this second category results more of a deliberate choice than a constraint, and the respective weight of such procedures within the decision-making process is also more limited. This so-called 'proceduralisation' facilitates the judicial review of risks-related decisions, and requires a more pragmatic approach when examining procedural irregularities. This research aims to highlight key general principles that public decision-makers may use when confronted to identified or suspected risks
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Šenk, Kamil. "Finanční a ekonomická strategie společnosti." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta podnikatelská, 2009. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-401455.
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The aim of this thesis is to analyze the economical and financial strategy od EISBERG company and to create an ecologically oriented investment project based on acquired findings. Output of this work consists of future economical strategy suggestion and evaluation of benefits and risks of planned investment.
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Guo, Lin. "Analysis of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in UK health services." Thesis, Bucks New University, 2015. http://bucks.collections.crest.ac.uk/9402/.
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 17·3 million people died from cardiovascular disease worldwide in 2008 and more than 23 million people will die annually from cardiovascular disease by 2030. In the UK, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease is high — over 3 million people currently suffer from this disorder. There are a number of cardiovascular researchers in the UK population who access the National Health Services, but little evidence has been gathered from those who access the private medical insurance. According to figures from the Association of British Insurers, the number of people covered by private medical insurance rose to 6 million in 2008—about 10% of the UK’s population. Due to an increasing large number of this population, there is an urgent need to investigate their health, especially cardiovascular health in this affluent group. This PhD study used a retrospective cross-sectional design, and aimed to examine the modifiable cardiovascular risk factors—BMI, waist circumference, WHR, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol—in a population who attended Nuffield Health, a private medical insurance company. The dataset provided by Nuffield Health is one of the largest UK datasets specifically in a commercial setting. When examining the association of socioeconomic status and cardiovascular risk factors in this affluent population, the findings show that the likelihood of having high blood pressure was lower in the most deprived area than in the least deprived area. The likelihood of having low HDL cholesterol was not significantly different between groups, but the likelihood of having high total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol was statistically significantly lower in more deprived groups. In the study assessing the effect of geographical variations on cardiovascular risk factors, no North-South effect was detected in this relatively affluent population. This finding might be generalisable to affluent populations in other European countries. In order to see the difference between this affluent population and another population from an affluent region in England, data provided by Hampshire Health Record were analysed. Although the two datasets are comparable, people living in the south England region were more likely to develop obesity and hypertension, but less likely to have elevated cholesterol and LDL, as well as low HDL, compared with those from Nuffield Health on the basis of socioeconomic status. Evidence-based population-wide policy interventions exist, and these interventions should now be urgently implemented to tackle persistent inequalities of cardiovascular health in the UK effectively.
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McCrary, Elizabeth C. "Attachment as Affirmation to Inhibit Health Risk Information Avoidance." TopSCHOLAR®, 2017. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/1955.
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Previous research on information avoidance has revealed that people choose to avoid negative health information, but that this effect is interrupted by self-affirmation (Howell & Shepperd, 2013). The current study aimed to contribute to the field’s understanding of the conditions under which self-affirmation reduces information avoidance by using a unique affirmation: secure attachment figures. I hypothesized that activating a secure attachment would serve as the affirmation necessary for participants to choose to view their risk information for a fictitious enzyme deficiency. However, when given a choice, participants in both the experimental and control conditions chose to view this information. At best, these results demonstrate that psychological resources of a social nature were effective in protecting people from undesirable health risk information. At worst, they present a failure to replicate previous research. Explanations for why the results were unexpected and future modifications to the paradigm are discussed.
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Sallee, David Norval. "Youth at Risk: An Analysis of the Health Behaviors of Roanoke County Students." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/28307.
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The identification of key health risks among the adolescent population allows Roanoke County to develop and implement a youth risk behavior prevention program that is tailored to the needs of the students. This study provides Roanoke County Schools with a large sample of student survey data regarding youth risk behavior. The final sample includes 6504 student surveys.
The research tool that was used for the study is titled the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The instrument is designed to gather data in six categories: behaviors that contribute to unintentional and intentional injuries; tobacco use; alcohol and other drugs; sexual behavior; dietary behavior; and physical activity.
Roanoke County students reported participating in at risk behavior more than their national counterparts in all six categories. Injuries, violence, drugs, and behaviors related to dieting, had the highest number of responses above percents reported in national YRBS data. Additional research is needed to determine the impact of prevention programs designed to deal with these problem behaviors.Ph. D.
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Sweatman, William Mark Ph D. "HOV to the MD? A Multilevel Analysis of Urban Sprawl and the Risk for Negative Health Outcomes." Digital Archive @ GSU, 2011. http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/sociology_diss/61.
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Urban sprawl often has a negative connotation, used as a derogatory label for certain forms and consequences of land development that are seen as environmentally and socially unpleasant. Although sprawl may be seen as offensive, there may be other, far greater and more harmful consequences of sprawl. The literature indicates that rates of negative health outcomes, such as obesity, tend to be higher in more developed areas. However, aside from a few studies, little empirical research looks specifically at the influence of sprawl when it comes to individual health. This research project focuses on sprawl and examines the relationships it has with health behaviors and health outcomes. By analyzing data from the CDC’s 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), an annual telephone survey of adults that include more than two-hundred self-
reported and calculated variables, I investigate the associations between sprawl, physical activity, body weight, and health outcomes using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). By employing SEM, my research differs from previous research in this field by adding not only additional layers to the evaluation of sprawl and health outcomes, but also allows for the evaluation of associations through various “paths” instead of looking at variables within simpler hierarchical regression models. In addition to direct effects, it also allows for the determination of indirect, or mediated, effects between variables within a path model. Even though no direct relationship between sprawl and health outcomes was revealed, sprawl did show to have a statistically significant indirect effect on health outcomes mediated by physical activity and body weight. Physical activity is also shown to mediate the relationship between sprawl and body weight. Additionally, physical activity reveals both a direct and indirect effect on health outcomes, with its indirect effect being mediated by body weight. Finally, physical activity and body weight are both shown to have statistically significant direct effects on health outcomes. In the concluding chapter I propose a new path model in light of the results of the analyses of data in order to represent the associations between sprawl, physical activity, body weight, and health outcomes more accurately.
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Sharpe, Colin R. "Risk factors for Wilms' tumour : analysis of a case-control study." Thesis, McGill University, 1993. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=26136.
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The Brazilian Wilms' Tumor Study Group carried out a case-control study of Wilms' tumour (WT) to identify risk factors for the development of WT. Two controls per case, matched for sex, age (${ pm12}$ months), hospital and interviewer, were chosen. Controls were children admitted to hospital for conditions other than neoplasms. Pediatricians interviewed parents of 109 cases and 218 controls.Increasing levels of parental education and family income were associated with the diagnosis of WT, probably the result of selecting a hospitalized control group. The positive association between high family income and WT was strongest among the cases diagnosed early, and absent among the cases diagnosed late.
Parental occupational exposure to pesticides or herbicides before the pregnancies of the subjects was identified as a risk factor, with a significant trend for increasing risk with increasing cumulative frequency of use.
Also identified as risk factors were maternal consumption during the pregnancy of coffee in excess of 2 cups/day and of dipyrone, an analgesic (both among the lowest income group), and of alcoholic beverages (among the most educated).
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Lin, Yu-Kai, Hsinchun Chen, Randall A. Brown, Shu-Hsing Li, and Hung-Jen Yang. "HEALTHCARE PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS FOR RISK PROFILING IN CHRONIC CARE: A BAYESIAN MULTITASK LEARNING APPROACH." SOC INFORM MANAGE-MIS RES CENT, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/625248.
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Clinical intelligence about a patient's risk of future adverse health events can support clinical decision making in personalized and preventive care. Healthcare predictive analytics using electronic health records offers a promising direction to address the challenging tasks of risk profiling. Patients with chronic diseases often face risks of not just one, but an array of adverse health events. However, existing risk models typically focus on one specific event and do not predict multiple outcomes. To attain enhanced risk profiling, we adopt the design science paradigm and propose a principled approach called Bayesian multitask learning (BMTL). Considering the model development for an event as a single task, our BMTL approach is to coordinate a set of baseline models-one for each event-and communicate training information across the models. The BMTL approach allows healthcare providers to achieve multifaceted risk profiling and model an arbitrary number of events simultaneously. Our experimental evaluations demonstrate that the BMTL approach attains an improved predictive performance when compared with the alternatives that model multiple events separately. We also find that, in most cases, the BMTL approach significantly outperforms existing multitask learning techniques. More importantly, our analysis shows that the BMTL approach can create significant potential impacts on clinical practice in reducing the failures and delays in preventive interventions. We discuss several implications of this study for health IT, big data and predictive analytics, and design science research.
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Steyl, Tania. "An analysis of health promoting and risky behaviours of health science students of the University of the Western Cape." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2007. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_4626_1242611394.
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Assessing and understanding the health needs and abilities of university and college students is vital in creating healthy campus communities. Student learning is a central part of the higher education academic mission, and health promotion serves this mission by supporting students and creating healthy learning environments. Findings from various studies suggest that students entering the university setting put themselves at risk through unhealthy behaviours. Health science students are the future health professionals who will teach health promotion and disease prevention. The aim of this study was to determine and analyse health risk behaviours and health promoting behaviours among health science students at the University of the Western Cape. The study further aimed to identify the factors influencing these students' engagement in these risk behaviours.
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Quickfall, Melanie. "Single mothers, income, and health, an analysis of risk and protective factors." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape10/PQDD_0002/MQ44824.pdf.
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Sajeev, Gautam. "Mediation Analysis in Understanding Mechanism of Alzheimer’s Disease Risk." Thesis, Harvard University, 2015. http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:16121154.
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Although studies often show reduced risk of dementia with late-life cognitive activity, concerns about residual confounding and reverse causation cast doubt on these findings. In Chapter 1 of this dissertation, we review epidemiologic studies of cognitive activity and incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and all-cause dementia, and conduct a bias analysis that indicates the observed inverse associations are likely robust to unmeasured confounding, and probably only partially explained by reverse causation. While pursuing enjoyable cognitive activities may reduce dementia risk, better characterization of the type, duration, and timing of activity associated with late-life cognitive benefit is needed to develop recommendations applicable over the lifecourse.
The apolipoprotein episilon4 allele (APOE e4) is the most well established genetic risk factor for AD, and is also a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease (CVD). In Chapter 2, we use the counterfactual approach to mediation analysis to investigate the degree to which the negative effect on cognition of the e4 allele is attributable to its effects on CVD. Using neuroimaging and neuropsychological data from approximately 4,000 participants of the population-based Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility–Reykjavik Study, we found that 9% of the e4 effect on cognition was jointly mediated by white matter lesion volume and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs). While our finding that the e4 effect largely operates through non-vascular pathways aligns with previous research and present understanding of the action of apoE in AD and CVD pathogenesis, our study is the first to show a small effect specifically via markers of CVD pathology.
In Chapter 3, we investigate the role of CMBs further using the newly developed four-way decomposition approach. We found that when comparing e4 heterozygotes to e4 non-carriers, the e4 effect on memory was independent of CMBs. By contrast, when comparing e4 homozygotes to e4 heterozygotes, the e4 effect on memory was attributable to interaction between the effects of e4 alleles and CMBs, perhaps suggesting a greater vascular contribution for these individuals. Similar analyses in other population-based studies will be needed to confirm these findings and further elucidate the contributions of CMBs and CVD to the e4 effect on cognition.Epidemiology
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Sherriffs, Natalie J. "Risk factors for coronary heart disease and mediation by socio-economic status : An analysis of the 1995 National Health Survey." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2002. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/748.
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As the leading cause of death and disease in Australia, Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) places a significant burden on society. There are many lifestyle factors that are known to increase the risk of CHD. This study looks at both risk factors and protective factors of CHD. Research also shows CHD prevalence to be predicted by socio-economic status (SES) variables. This study aims to identify the extent to which risk and protective factors predict CHD prevalence in an Australian National survey and whether the association between risk factors and CHD is confounded by SES variables. This study used data from the 1995 National Health Survey (NHS/1995) to evaluate known risk factors as well as the mediating effect of SES factors. Risk factors included regular cigarette smoking, physical activity and alcohol consumption. SES variables are education, income, occupation, and an index of socio-economic disadvantage based on residence. Two dependent variables for CHO used in the analysis are the first health condition reported in medical consultation and the reported use of Heart Disease I Blood Pressure (HD/BP) medications. The results indicated that ex-smokers were more likely to report CHD than those who had never smoked and those who were current smokers. Those who engaged in regular exercise were less likely to report CHD. There were no conclusive results for alcohol consumption. While income and SEIFA index, a measure of SES of residential areas, are associated with CHD prevalence, these associations are independent of the risk and protective factor associations. There is no evidence from this study that SES variables confound the effects of known risk and protective factors. The implications of these results are discussed.
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Beavis, Anne-Marie, Lynette Mackenzie, Lindy Clemson, and Amy Tan. "Systematic review (and meta-analysis) of interventions studies with GP involvement in falls prevention for community dwelling older people." Thesis, Discipline of Occupational Therapy, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/18337.
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Falls are a significant health problem for the ageing population as health outcomes decline as 30% of people over the age of 65 experience at least one fall annually. Prevention interventions are well established in the literature but falls continue in high numbers in Australia, in line with global trends. General practitioners are well situated to reduce falls for community dwelling older people but research is unclear which interventions are effective in the general practice context. Using a systematic review methodology with meta-analysis this review has addressed the question of which interventions are applicable in the general practice context. This study has identified falls risk screening, medication screening and management, and general practitioner training and education to be effective interventions to reduce falls in older people.
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Trojanowski, Edward. "A risk analysis of Giardia and Cryptosporidium and the environmental implications /." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 1998. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envt845.pdf.
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Li, Zijian. "Analysis of Worldwide Pesticide Regulatory Models and Standards for Controlling Human Health Risk." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1470137430.
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Ahmed, Ikhlaaq. "Meta-analysis of risk prediction studies." Thesis, University of Birmingham, 2015. http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/6376/.
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This thesis identifies and demonstrates the methodological challenges of meta-analysing risk prediction models using either aggregate data or individual patient data (IPD). Firstly, a systematic review of published breast cancer models is performed, to summarise their content and performance using aggregate data. It is found that models were not available for comparison. To address this issue, a systematic review is performed to examine articles that develop and/or validate a risk prediction model using IPD from multiple studies. This identifies that most articles only use the IPD for model development, and thus ignore external validation, and also ignore clustering of patients within studies. In response to these issues, IPD is obtained from an article which uses parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay (a continuous variable) to predict postoperative hypocalcaemia after thyroidectomy. It is shown that ignoring clustering is inappropriate, as it ignores potential between-study heterogeneity in discrimination and calibration performance. This dataset was also used to evaluate an imputation method for dealing with missing thresholds when IPD are unavailable, and the simulation results indicate the approach performs well, though further research is required. This thesis therefore makes a positive contribution towards meta-analysis of risk prediction models to improve clinical practice.
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Patterson, Andrew C. "Loneliness as a risk factor for mortality and morbidity." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/1557.
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Studies over the past couple of decades have depicted loneliness as a significant concern to physical health, although its meaning for overall health outcomes is still unclear. The precise impact of loneliness on life expectancy and on specific disease processes remains unknown. With regression modeling techniques, this thesis uses data from the Alameda County Health and Ways of Living Study to characterize the impact of loneliness on self-rated health, mortality, and fatalities from specific diseases. A key hypothesis is that loneliness as a health problem hinges on its persistence over time. This hypothesis is also tested by examining the reliability of the loneliness measure across the full 34 years of the survey. A second test is to examine its interplay with marital status as a mutable social circumstance. Results show that loneliness is a risk factor for poor self-rated health, non-ischemic cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, infections, and overall mortality. Results also show that loneliness need not be a stable problem across the life span in order to pose health risks. The reliability of the loneliness measure fades across time and levels of loneliness also vary with changes in marital status. Loneliness did not clearly mediate the impact of marital status on self-rated health, mortality, or specific causes of death.
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Esperon, Miguez Manuel. "Financial and risk assessment and selection of health monitoring system design options for legacy aircraft." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2013. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/8062.
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Aircraft operators demand an ever increasing availability of their fleets with
constant reduction of their operational costs. With the age of many fleets
measured in decades, the options to face these challenges are limited.
Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) uses data gathered through
sensors in the aircraft to assess the condition of components to detect and
isolate faults or even estimate their Remaining Useful Life (RUL). This
information can then be used to improve the planning of maintenance
operations and even logistics and operational planning, resulting in shorter
maintenance stops and lower cost. Retrofitting health monitoring technology
onto legacy aircraft has the capability to deliver what operators and maintainers
demand, but working on aging platforms presents numerous challenges. This
thesis presents a novel methodology to select the combination of diagnostic and
prognostic tools for legacy aircraft that best suits the stakeholders’ needs based
on economic return and financial risk. The methodology is comprised of
different steps in which a series of quantitative analyses are carried out to reach
an objective solution. Beginning with the identification of which components
could bring higher reduction of maintenance cost and time if monitored, the
methodology also provides a method to define the requirements for diagnostic
and prognostic tools capable of monitoring these components. It then continues
to analyse how combining these tools affects the economic return and financial
risk. Each possible combination is analysed to identify which of them should be
retrofitted. Whilst computer models of maintenance operations can be used to
analyse the effect of retrofitting IVHM technology on a legacy fleet, the number
of possible combinations of diagnostic and prognostic tools is too big for this
approach to be practicable. Nevertheless, computer models can go beyond the
economic analysis performed thus far and simulations are used as part of the
methodology to get an insight of other effects or retrofitting the chosen toolset.
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Wilson, Deborah Jane. "Information, incentives and insurer behaviour : an analysis of selection in the health insurance market." Thesis, University of Bristol, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.340320.
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Mills, William Douglas. "The association of aviator's health conditions, age, gender, and flight hours with aircraft accidents and incidents." Oklahoma City : [s.n.], 2005.
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Stephens, Fiona Nancy. "Statistical modelling in health." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2000. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/37058/1/37058_Stephens_2000.pdf.
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This thesis discusses the theory and application of a variety of statistical methods for addressing specific problems, which arise in medical research. The thesis
focuses on three data sets that are used as case studies. These data sets contain information on heart disease surgical outcomes and aortic valve allograft survival.
An overview of statistical methods for risk stratification and survival analysis is provided. A new method of outcome specific pruning of classification trees for risk stratification of rare events is discussed, applied and interpreted for one of the
case studies. Applications for survival analysis are illustrated with Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses and interpreted for the remaining two case studies.
The outputs for this research include technology transfer of statistical skills and methods to a medical research community. Development of a new method for better stratifying rare events, statistical analysis and interpretation of data are directly applicable to cardiac surgery practices at The Prince Charles Hospital.
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Terris, Darcey Dickinson. "MAXIMIZING EFFICIENCY IN RISK ADJUSTMENT UNDER CONDITIONS OF UNCERTAINTY AND RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1174432210.
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Westwood, Sally. "" ... it depends on the risk." : constructing 'antipsychotic' medication 'refusal' in community 'mental health' services." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2299/5334.
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Aim: Antipsychotic medication is the predominant intervention used for psychosis in the UK. However, there are risks associated, it is not always effective and service-users express ambivalence towards taking it. The research aims to explore community mental health professionals’ perspectives on working with people with psychosis who express antipsychotic ‘medication refusal’. Method: A mixed-methodology was utilised. A survey of community mental health professionals was undertaken (N=74) to enquire about frequency of medication refusal and actions taken by professionals. Four uni-professional focus-groups were held to discuss the topic. The resulting data was subjected to a discursive analysis. Findings: Antipsychotic medication refusal was presented as a common experience by participants, with service-users often stopping against advice. A substantial proportion of survey participants reported experience of supporting service-users without using antipsychotics or to come off, with good rates of success. ‘Risk talk’ was a prevalent feature of the focus-groups: a range of ‘risk’ repertoires were drawn on by participants to warrant particular actions. Implications: Government initiatives relating to service-user choice, empowerment and recovery in mental health are in opposition to more pervasive ‘risk’ discourses. The notion of ‘risk’ in relation to antipsychotics needs further consideration, with professionals made more aware of its social construction and alternative conceptualisations of psychosis and antipsychotics.
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Cheema, Mahmood A. (Mahmood Ahmad). "Environmental health, risk analysis and safety aspects of nuclear magnetic resonance and spectroscopy systems." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1991. https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/129503.
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Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 1991.Title as it appears in the June, 1991 M.I.T. Graduate List: Geochemistry and petrogenesis of basalts from Broken Ridge and Naturaliste Plateau, S.E. Indian Ocean.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-48).
by Mahmood A. Cheema.
Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 1991.
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Wall, Tamara. "A content analysis : health and environmental risk factors of children in methamphetamine living environments /." Available to subscribers only, 2008. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1559858731&sid=1&Fmt=2&clientId=1509&RQT=309&VName=PQD.
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Bodemer, Nicolai. "Transparency in information about health." Doctoral thesis, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät II, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.18452/16647.
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Diese Dissertation umfasst vier Manuskripte zum Thema Risikokommunikation und medizinischen Entscheidungen. Das erste Manuskript diskutiert Unterschiede, Gemeinsamkeiten und die Anwendbarkeit von drei zentralen Ansätzen, die helfen sollen, bessere Entscheidungen zu treffen (Nudging, Social Marketing, Empowerment). Das zweite Manuskript präsentiert Ergebnisse einer Medienanalyse zur Evaluation von Zeitungs- und Internetberichten in Deutschland und Spanien über die HPV-Impfung. Basierend auf vordefinierten Standards für transparente, vollständige und korrekte Risikokommunikation, deckt die Medienanalyse Schwächen in der Berichterstattung auf. Das dritte Manuskript untersucht wie Laien relative Risikoreduktionen bzw. –erhöhungen, ein Standardformt in der Medizin, verstehen. Beide Formate führen Laien und Experten in die Irre und führen zur Überschätzung der tatsächlichen Effekte. Ein diskutierter Ausweg ist die zusätzliche Kommunikation der Basisrate. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass das Verständnis von relativen Risikoreduktionen (-erhöhungen) mit Basisrate von dem Präsentationsformat (Prozent- vs. Häufigkeitsformat) und der individuellen Fähigkeit im Zahlenverständnis abhängt. Teilnehmer mit geringem Zahlenverständnis profitierten von der Darstellung in Häufigkeiten; Teilnehmer mit hohem Zahlenverständnis zeigen ein besseres Verständnis unabhängig des Formats. Dennoch—selbst mit Basisrate—missverstehen viele Teilnehmer die Risikoinformation. Das vierte Manuskript untersucht wie Teilnehmer Behandlungen unter Unsicherheit auswählen. Ein Einwand gegen die Kommunikation von Unsicherheit ist die Behauptung, dass Menschen Unsicherheit in Gewinnsituationen vermeiden, in Verlustsituationen dagegen suchen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie in Bezug auf die Auswahl von medizinischen Behandlungen konnten diese Annahmen nicht bestätigen. Darüber hinaus wählte die Mehrheit der Teilnehmer die gleiche Behandlung, wenngleich sich die zugrundeliegende Auswahlstrategie unterschied.This dissertation comprises four manuscripts focusing on health risk communication and medical decision making. The first manuscript discusses differences, commonalities, and the applicability of three major approaches to help patients make better decisions: nudging, social marketing, and empowerment. The second manuscript presents results of an evaluation of media coverage about the HPV vaccine of newspaper and Internet reports in Germany and Spain. Based on predefined standards for transparent, complete, and correct risk communication, the analysis revealed substantial shortcomings in how the media informed the public. The third manuscript centers on a standard format to communicate treatment benefits and harms: relative risk reductions and increases. Such formats have been found to misinform and mislead patients and health professionals. One suggestion is to always include information about baseline risk to reduce misunderstandings. Results show that even when baseline risk was communicated, it depended on the presentation format (percentage vs. frequency) and people’s numeracy skills whether they correctly interpreted the risk reduction (or increase). Low numerates benefited from a frequency format, whereas high numerates performed better independent of the format. Yet, a substantial proportion of participants still misunderstood the meaning of a relative risk reduction (or increase). The fourth manuscript investigated how laypeople choose between medical treatments when ambiguity is present. One objection against communicating ambiguity is the claim that laypeople are ambiguity averse in the domain of gains and ambiguity seeking in the domain of losses. Results did not find supporting evidence for this claim in medical treatment choice. Moreover, most participants selected the same treatment option, independent of numeracy. However, the underlying choice strategies varied between individuals.
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Hancock, Mary Dalton. "Forms of religiosity and levels of risky/health-endangering behaviors among adolescents a meta-analysis /." [Bloomington, Ind.] : Indiana University, 2005. http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/fullcit/3183474.
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Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Counseling and Educational Psychology, 2005.Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 66-08, Section: A, page: 2841. Adviser: Gary M. Ingersoll. Title from dissertation home page (viewed Oct. 5, 2006).
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Walczak, Katarzyna I. "Prototype decision support framework using geospatial technologies for analysing human health risk." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2017. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/103630/1/Katarzyna%20Izabella_Walczak_Thesis.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis concentrates on the development of a prototype Decision Support Framework based on the landscape epidemiology concept and using GIS to determine human health risk in Semarang (Indonesia). This site was selected as representative of a rapidly urbanizing area in a developing country. The decision support framework examines climatic, landscape and socio-economic factors identified as having significant impacts on water quality and subsequent causation of waterborne and water-related diseases. The research outcomes potentially may be applied worldwide to identify and isolate areas most vulnerable to the effects of the mentioned diseases thus improving quality of life in developing countries.
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Lo, Owen. "Heart data analysis, modelling and application in risk assessment." Thesis, Edinburgh Napier University, 2015. http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/8833.
Full textAbstract:
The heart is a fundamental aspect of the human body. Significant work has been undertaken to better understand the characteristics and mechanisms of this organ in past research. Greater understanding of the heart not only provides advances in medicine but also enables practitioners to better assess the health risk of patients. This thesis approaches the study of the heart from a health informatics perspective. The questions posed in this thesis is whether research is capable of describing and modelling heart data from a statistical perspective, along with exploring techniques to improve the accuracy of clinical risk assessment algorithms that rely on this data. The contributions of this thesis may be grouped into two main areas: statistical analysis, modelling and simulation of heart data; and improved risk assessment accuracy of the Early Warning Score (EWS) algorithm using a quartile-based technique. Statistical analysis of heart data, namely RR intervals, contributes to more informed understanding of the underlying characteristics of the heart and is achieved using null-hypothesis testing through the Anderson-Darling (AD) test statistic. The modelling process of heart data demonstrates methodologies for simulation of this data type, namely individual distribution modelling and normal mixture modelling, and contributes to assessing techniques that are most capable of modelling this type of data. For improved accuracy on the EWS algorithms, a quartiles technique, inspired by anomaly-based intrusion detection systems, is presented which enables customisation of risk score thresholds for each patient defined during a training phase. Simulated heart data is used to evaluate the standard EWS algorithm against the quartile-based approach. The defined metric of accuracy ratio provides quantitative evidence on the accuracy of the standard EWS algorithm in comparison with the proposed quartile based technique. Statistical analysis in this thesis demonstrates that samples of heart data can be described using normal, Weibull, logistic and gamma distribution within the scope of two minute data samples. When there is strong evidence to suggest that RR intervals analysed fits a particular distribution, individual modelling technique is the ideal candidate whilst normal mixture modelling is better suited for long-term modelling, i.e. greater than two minutes of heart data. In comparative evaluation of the standard EWS algorithm and the quartile-based technique using modelled heart data, greater accuracy is demonstrated in the quartiles-based technique for patients whose heart rate is healthy, but outside the normal ranges of the general population.
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Hartley, Matthew. "The use of qualitative risk analysis methods to facilitate decision making in the management of health and welfare in wildlife." Thesis, University of Chester, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10034/621541.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis is composed of a series of papers, all of which have been published in peer reviewed publications. The papers use the recognised process of qualitative risk assessment in a range of scenarios in the field of wildlife health and welfare in both in situ and ex situ environments. Chapter 1 discusses the challenges faced regarding availability of empirical data in field of wildlife and zoological health and welfare and justifies the exploration of techniques to assist with decision making. The development of risk analysis and its integration with risk management and risk communication to become risk assessment is described before being put into the specific context of wildlife and zoological disease. Chapters 2 and 3 consider two scenarios where disease risk assessment is well established as a tool, importation across national borders and in conservation interventions. Chapter 2 develops the standard import risk assessment approach to include multiple species and multiple diseases. Chapter 3 reviews developments made over the last 25 years and proposes best practice approaches to implement. Chapter 4 describes how the risk assessments formulated as described in Chapter 3 are used for licensing purposes emphasising the importance of risk management and communication. This theme is continued in Chapter 6 where the integration of risk assessment and evidence based decision making is considered in the broad context of a strategic approach to wildlife health bringing together the outcomes and processes described in Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5. The papers in Chapters 2,5 and 8 are focused on how risk analysis aids in development of disease control approaches and policy. The evidence base is composed primarily of peer-reviewed literature supported by expert review of the finalised assessment. Chapter 7 uses risk assessment in an applied scenario, taking the recognised process and modifying it to structure an active disease investigation demonstrating the versatility of the technique. Chapter 9 takes this a step further by again adapting the methodology which, has historically been used primarily for infectious diseases, to consider reproduction and assess risks to welfare rather than purely health. The paper in Chapter 9 builds on the methodology by combining existing peer-reviewed literature with data collected specifically for the purpose of feeding into the assessment and utilising a stakeholder and expert opinion elicitation workshop to obtain data too. These process are proposed and described in Chapter 3. The final chapter critically reviews risk assessment, highlighting three key areas of potential weakness and proposing approaches to address these criticisms. The value of the approach in wildlife and zoological health and welfare as demonstrated by this series of papers is described.