Current Search: Health risk assessment (x)
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(1 - 9 of 9)
- Title
- The Occurrence of Vibrio vulnificus, V. parahaemolyticus and V. cholerae in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, with Implications for Human Health.
- Creator
- Barbarite, Gabrielle M., McCarthy, Peter J., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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Vibrio bacteria are emerging pathogens responsible for 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths in the United States each year. Infections are directly linked to the marine environment and are acquired by consuming contaminated seafood or exposing wounds during aquatic activities. Florida has the highest national incidence of vibriosis, with 20% of its cases reported from the Indian River Lagoon region, a popular recreation destination. This study utilized a combination of cultivation and molecular...
Show moreVibrio bacteria are emerging pathogens responsible for 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths in the United States each year. Infections are directly linked to the marine environment and are acquired by consuming contaminated seafood or exposing wounds during aquatic activities. Florida has the highest national incidence of vibriosis, with 20% of its cases reported from the Indian River Lagoon region, a popular recreation destination. This study utilized a combination of cultivation and molecular techniques to investigate the local distribution of V. vulnificus, V. parahaemolyticus and V. cholerae in this local waterway. The targeted species were found in an array of samples which may facilitate their transmission to humans. Overall, these bacteria were abundant in estuarine sediments (Vp: 2,439 CFU/g, Vv: 303 CFU/g, Vc: 176 CFU/g), on the sharp edges of oyster shells (Vp: 82 CFU/cm, Vv: 102 CFU/cm, Vc: 41 CFU/cm), and in the water column (Vp: 3.78 CFU/ml, Vv: 5.51 CFU/ml, Vc: 2.46 CFU/ml). Vibrio also pose a hazard to recreational anglers as they were recovered from fish (Vp: 61%, Vv: 55%, Vc: 30%), live bait shrimp (Vp: 80%, Vv: 37%, Vc: 0%) and hooks (Vp: 32%, Vv: 18%, Vc: 0%). Additionally, a molecular analysis of the V. vulnificus virulence revealed that the local population was dominated by disease-causing (vcgC) strains, which may explain why wound-related infections are common in this region. Vibrio occurrence varied both spatially and temporally due to their relationship with salinity and temperature. These bacteria exhibited a strong negative correlation with salinity, being particularly abundant near freshwater discharge locations. Due to Florida’s year-round warm climate, these species were found to be permanent members of the local microbial community. Seasonal peaks in abundance occurred between August and October, a period which corresponds with the warmest water temperatures as well as frequent rainfall. Predictive models were constructed based on these parameters to provide a better understanding of how, when and where Vibrio spp. may be encountered by humans. This information is important for both water management and healthcare initiatives, with an overall goal of improving local recreational safety.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004705
- Subject Headings
- Health risk assessment, Marine microbiology, Pathogenic microorganisms, Vibrio infections, Vibrionaceae
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- EVALUATION OF THE CONTRIBUTION METAGENOMIC SHOTGUN SEQUENCING HAS IN ASSESSING POLLUTION SOURCE AND DEFINING PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS.
- Creator
- Mercer, Brian, Esiobu, Nawdiuto, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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State-approved membrane filtration (MF) techniques for water quality assessments were contrasted with metagenomic shotgun sequencing (MSS) protocols to evaluate their efficacy in providing precise health-risk indices for surface waters. Using MSS, the relative numerical abundance of pathogenic bacteria, virulence and antibiotic resistance genes revealed the status and potential pollution sources in samples studied. Traditional culture methods (TCM) showed possible fecal contamination, while...
Show moreState-approved membrane filtration (MF) techniques for water quality assessments were contrasted with metagenomic shotgun sequencing (MSS) protocols to evaluate their efficacy in providing precise health-risk indices for surface waters. Using MSS, the relative numerical abundance of pathogenic bacteria, virulence and antibiotic resistance genes revealed the status and potential pollution sources in samples studied. Traditional culture methods (TCM) showed possible fecal contamination, while MSS clearly distinguished between fecal and environmental bacteria contamination sources, and pinpointed actual risks from pathogens. RNA MSS to detect all viable microorganisms and qPCR of fecal biomarkers were used to assess the possible environmental risk between runoff drainage canals and a swamp area with no anthropogenic impact. Results revealed higher levels of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and virulence and antibiotic resistance genes in the canal samples. The data underscore the potential utility of MSS in precision risk assessment for public and biodiversity health and tracking of environmental microbiome shifts by field managers and policy makers.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013573
- Subject Headings
- Metagenomics, Public health--Risk assessment, Environmental risks, Water quality--Evaluation, Metagenomics--methods
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- An educational tobacco intervention: impact of the Health Belief Model on college students.
- Creator
- Rhoads, Kelley E., College of Education, Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion
- Abstract/Description
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The purpose of this study was to determine whether an educational tobacco intervention impacted college students' perceptions relative to tobacco, self-efficacy, and perceived stress levels. The Health Belief Model (HBM) provided a theoretical framework to distinguish differences relative to tobacco between groups. Both the control (N=155) and intervention (N=184) group consisted of a convenience sample of students from a 2000-level health course. A pre- and post-test questionnaire was...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to determine whether an educational tobacco intervention impacted college students' perceptions relative to tobacco, self-efficacy, and perceived stress levels. The Health Belief Model (HBM) provided a theoretical framework to distinguish differences relative to tobacco between groups. Both the control (N=155) and intervention (N=184) group consisted of a convenience sample of students from a 2000-level health course. A pre- and post-test questionnaire was administered to both groups which included questions regarding demographics, tobacco use, HBM, self-efficacy, and perceived stress. Data analysis included frequency counts, confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, and two-way ANOVA. Two-way ANOVA results indicated statistically significant differences for the Health Belief Model questions (p=0.002) and self-efficacy items (p=0.03). No statistical significance was found regarding perceived stress. These findings provide evidence an educational tobacco intervention administered at the college level can have a significant impact on students.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3352824
- Subject Headings
- Nicotine addiction, Smoking cessation, Tobacco use, Prevention, Health promotion, CIgarette smokers, Health risk assessment
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Relationships Between Diet and Physical Activity Lifestyle Factors and Body Composition, Waist Circumference, and Body Mass Index in Postmenopausal Women.
- Creator
- Jansen, Mary, Zoeller, Robert F., Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion
- Abstract/Description
-
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare relationships between dietary and physical activity (PA) behaviors and body composition and body fat distribution, as measured by percent body fat (BF%), waist-to-height ratio (WHt), waistto- hip ratio (WHp) and body mass index (BMI) in post-menopausal women (Post), with the same relationships in pre-menopausal women (Pre). METHODS: Ninety-two subjects (n = 48 Post; n = 44 Pre) were measured for height, weight, waist and hip circumferences and...
Show morePURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare relationships between dietary and physical activity (PA) behaviors and body composition and body fat distribution, as measured by percent body fat (BF%), waist-to-height ratio (WHt), waistto- hip ratio (WHp) and body mass index (BMI) in post-menopausal women (Post), with the same relationships in pre-menopausal women (Pre). METHODS: Ninety-two subjects (n = 48 Post; n = 44 Pre) were measured for height, weight, waist and hip circumferences and skinfold thicknesses. Dietary content was obtained from a Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ II); PA was estimated from responses to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). RESULTS: Multiple regression identified no modifiable predictor variables for Pre. Models for Post identified saturated fat grams (SFGs), PA, years postmenopause (YrsPost), and Alcohol (Alc) as predictors of WHt, WHp, BMI and BF%. CONCLUSIONS: PA, SFG and Alc are modifiable variables related to postmenopausal body composition and fat distribution.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004820, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004820
- Subject Headings
- Physical fitness for women., Exercise for women--Physiological aspects., Menopause., Health risk assessment.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Predictive modeling for wellness.
- Creator
- Pulumati, Pranitha, Agarwal, Ankur, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
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Wellness and healthy life are the most common concerns for an individual to lead a happy life. A web-based approach known as Wellness Scoring is being developed taking into people’s concerns for their health issues. In this approach, four different classifiers are being investigated to predict the wellness. In this thesis, we investigated four different classifiers (a probabilistic graphical model, simple probabilistic classifier, probabilistic statistical classification and an artificial...
Show moreWellness and healthy life are the most common concerns for an individual to lead a happy life. A web-based approach known as Wellness Scoring is being developed taking into people’s concerns for their health issues. In this approach, four different classifiers are being investigated to predict the wellness. In this thesis, we investigated four different classifiers (a probabilistic graphical model, simple probabilistic classifier, probabilistic statistical classification and an artificial neural network) to predict the wellness outcome. An approach to calculate wellness score is also addressed. All these classifiers are trained on real data, hence giving more accurate results. With this solution, there is a better way of keeping track of an individuals’ health. In this thesis, we present the design and development of such a system and evaluate the performance of the classifiers and design considerations to maximize the end user experience with the application. A user experience model capable of predicting the wellness score for a given set of risk factors is developed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004321, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004321
- Subject Headings
- Bayesian statistical decision theory, Expert systems (Computer science), Health risk assessment, Medicine, Preventive, Patient self monitoring, Self care, Health, Well being
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Risk of injection using reclaimed water for aquifer recharge using rotavirus as surrogate contaminant.
- Creator
- Phonpornwithoon, Pollop, Bloetscher, Frederick, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
- Abstract/Description
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Groundwater aquifers are precious resources that has been serving human consumption for many centuries. This resource is pristine in comparison with surface waters such as lakes and canals, however, as population grows exponentially so does the demand for groundwater and the need to study the potential of groundwater replenishment programs. The injection of treated water or wastewater into an aquifer is a method to protect this resource for current and future generations. Health concerns...
Show moreGroundwater aquifers are precious resources that has been serving human consumption for many centuries. This resource is pristine in comparison with surface waters such as lakes and canals, however, as population grows exponentially so does the demand for groundwater and the need to study the potential of groundwater replenishment programs. The injection of treated water or wastewater into an aquifer is a method to protect this resource for current and future generations. Health concerns would be expected since migration of water of “impaired quality” can affect the drinking water by contamination. Regulatory barriers resulting from the perceived risks of adverse health effects from pathogens such as viruses have limited the concept of this impaired water resources from being used for groundwater replenishment programs. The objective of this study is to examine the risk assessment using computational modeling with MODFLOW and MT3D groundwater transport simulation. The results from the simulation showed that after two years, the risk of contamination based on concentration contours from the injection well to the production wellfields for the City of Hollywood stabilized below 10- 6. The risk assessment provided important aspect to demonstrate the concept of using injection of treated water as an option for groundwater replenishment.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004317, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004317
- Subject Headings
- Aquifer storage recovery, Artificial grounddwater recharge, Drinking water -- Contamination, Environmental health -- Mathematical models, Groundwater -- Pollution -- Mathematical models, Health risk assessment, Viral pollution of water
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Assessing influences of dietary supplement use in south Florida adolescent athletes.
- Creator
- Godo, Jennah R., Florida Atlantic University, Graves, B. Sue
- Abstract/Description
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Dietary supplement use influences and effects of gender and grade by 184 adolescent athletes in ten Broward County high schools, grades nine through twelve, were examined in this study. A survey (Survey to Predict Adolescent Athletes Dietary Supplement Use) based on the Theory of Reasoned Action was used to predict how the supplement group users/non-users demonstrated a relationship with the theory components. Results yielded supplement group differences with regard to gender and grade....
Show moreDietary supplement use influences and effects of gender and grade by 184 adolescent athletes in ten Broward County high schools, grades nine through twelve, were examined in this study. A survey (Survey to Predict Adolescent Athletes Dietary Supplement Use) based on the Theory of Reasoned Action was used to predict how the supplement group users/non-users demonstrated a relationship with the theory components. Results yielded supplement group differences with regard to gender and grade. Regarding behavioral intention, supplement group users (current, past, or experimental) had a stronger intention to use supplements in the future than did non-users. Main effects emerged with male athletes having a stronger intention to use supplements than did females. The health risks that accompany supplement products show evidence of the need for health educators to understand more about the issue in order to establish intervention strategies.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2004
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13174
- Subject Headings
- Dietary supplements, Athletes--Drug use--Florida, Sports--Physiological aspects, Health risk assessment--Florida, Athletes--Nutrition, Health behavior, Maturation (Psychology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Public Perception of Health Risks Related to Climate Change in Broward County, Florida.
- Creator
- Buck, Jeanmarie A. Steckler, Cameron, Mary, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
- Abstract/Description
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Scholars agree that global climate change is a major threat to the physical environment, affecting all aspects of life on the planet. However, the general public do not feel that climate change is a major risk or threat, especially to humans. It is important to understand the public’s perception and opinions of climate change as it affects and influences the creation and passing of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies. Specifically, little is known about public perceptions in...
Show moreScholars agree that global climate change is a major threat to the physical environment, affecting all aspects of life on the planet. However, the general public do not feel that climate change is a major risk or threat, especially to humans. It is important to understand the public’s perception and opinions of climate change as it affects and influences the creation and passing of climate change adaptation and mitigation policies. Specifically, little is known about public perceptions in regards to the greater health risk imposed by global climate change. This study examines the public's perception of health risks related to climate change in Broward County, Florida by using mixed methods. An online survey was conducted along with in-person interviews with the general public and a physician. The study found majority of respondents to believe climate change affects health, but lacked an understanding of how it is harmful to their health. It also found that gender affects their perceptions and political ideology appears to have an effect, but the effect of socioeconomic status on their perceptions were unable to be determined at this time. Broward is just developing policies to adapt and mitigate the health effects of climate change.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004813, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004813
- Subject Headings
- Environmental health--Florida--Broward County., Health risk assessment--Florida--Broward County., Human beings--Effect of climate on., Climatic changes--Health aspects., Social change--Health aspects., Global warming--Health aspects., Public health surveillance--Florida--Broward County.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Smoking in the age of clean air.
- Creator
- Stader, Alice Claire., Florida Atlantic University, Harris, Michael S.
- Abstract/Description
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The behavior of smoking is one of the most important social and public health issues today. This thesis focuses on the smoker in a south Florida bar district. Through the analysis of forty interviews and one hundred surveys, I uncovered why individuals smoke and how they rationalize the behavior in spite of known health risks. The four emerging themes as to why individuals smoke were for the creation of self-image, pleasure and relaxation, reinforce social relations and mood maintenance. The...
Show moreThe behavior of smoking is one of the most important social and public health issues today. This thesis focuses on the smoker in a south Florida bar district. Through the analysis of forty interviews and one hundred surveys, I uncovered why individuals smoke and how they rationalize the behavior in spite of known health risks. The four emerging themes as to why individuals smoke were for the creation of self-image, pleasure and relaxation, reinforce social relations and mood maintenance. The two themes regarding the rationalization behind the behavior were "it's better than other vices" argument and the "life is dangerous" argument. Individuals know that smoking is a health risk; however, the way in which individuals rationalize the behavior allows them to continue the behavior.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13195
- Subject Headings
- Smoking--Environmental aspects--United States, Smoking--Government policy, Antismoking movement--United States, Smoking--Prevention--Government policy, Tobacco industry--Government policy--United States, Tobacco smoke pollution--United States, Smoking--Health aspects, Cigarette smokers--Health risk assessment
- Format
- Document (PDF)
