cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Association of Social Support and the Well-being of Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Analysis of the Georgians Organized Against Lupus  (GOAL) Cohort Study
Creators: name: Gooden, Reginald
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disabling, chronic, multisystem autoimmune disease that occurs in women of childbearing years (15-40) and spans a lifetime. Little is known about the relevance that social support has in the context of mental health wellbeing for patients with SLE.  Physicians may be an adequate source of support when it comes to SLE. Since there are arrays of triggers for depression, there is a need to understand the SLE experience to help with disease management.
Objective: To examine the association of social support from a physician and the mental health wellbeing of SLE patients.
Methods: We examined 652 SLE patients from the Georgians Organized Against Lupus (GOAL) cohort. Descriptive analysis was performed. Univariate analysis was performed to examine the associations of the main dependent variables (Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)) and each independent variable. Both, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine associations between selected characteristics and main independent variables (emotional or social support and social support from a physician) with the categorized mental component score and PHQ9 depression score, individually and together. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals were used to determine statistical significance.
Results: SLE patients who perceived having enough emotional/social support were found to have an overall better mental health status than the average American, and 64% less likely to be depressed compared to patients who did not have enough emotional/social support. Patients who were categorized as having social support from a physician were found to be in poorer mental health statuses, as measured by the MCS SF-12 and PHQ9 depression score.
Conclusion: The findings of this study show that emotional or social support is associated with a better mental health well-being for SLE patients.  SLE patients who have enough emotional or social support were found to have above normal general mental health and less depression. This study did not show any direct associations between physician social support and mental health wellbeing.
Exploratory Assessment of Manufactured E-Liquids and Do It Yourself (DIY) E-Liquids
Creators: name: Pathak, Sarita
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Introduction: Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) debuted in 2006 within the U.S market as novel tobacco products and have been gaining popularity since. Without enforced regulations, prevalence of awareness and use has significantly increased. The purpose of this study is to explore the evolving landscape of ENDS using the Host, Agent, Vector, Environment (HAVE) model with a focus on manufactured e-liquids and do it yourself (DIY) e-liquids as the Agent.
Methods: Content analysis of e-cigarette web forums was conducted to identify popular brick and mortar point of sales (POS) for the purchase of ENDS products. POS were mapped out within a 1-, 2-, and 3- mile radius from three college campuses using Google Maps. An environmental scan was then conducted on randomly selected POS sites (N=17) where observations on e-liquid flavors and characteristics were identified. In addition, a content analysis of web forums was used to qualitatively characterize DIY e-liquids in depth.
Results: A total of 602 flavors were profiled in the POS environmental scans and five main flavor categories of e-liquids were identified: 1) Tobacco and Menthol (16.6%); 2) Desserts and Candies (16.6%); 3) Fruits (20.6%); 4) Drinks (10.1%); 5) Other (36.0%). Most flavored e-liquids were sold in stand-alone vials (91.0%). When sold with manufactured products, flavored e-liquids were sold in E-Hookahs (10.6%) compared to E-Cigarettes (4.7%). Most (96.8%) flavored e-liquids were available with and without nicotine. Based on content analysis of e-cigarette web forums, the words with the highest frequency in the DIY transcripts were: “flavor”, “mixing”, “liquid”, “calculators”, and “nicotine”.
Conclusions: Our findings indicate that for both manufactured and DIY e-liquids, flavors are a distinguishing and primary characteristic. Given these findings, increased surveillance efforts to monitor ENDS and e-liquids are necessary to inform regulatory science.
An Analysis of Risk Factors for Incomplete Immunization for Children in Côte d’Ivoire: Examination of 1998-1999 and 2011-2012 Demographic and Health Survey Data
Creators: name: Douba, Alfred
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: 
Background: Immunization is said to be the most effective public health intervention to prevent morbidity, complications, and mortality due to infectious disease among children. Due to the importance of vaccination in terms of infectious disease prevention, in terms of high cost-effectiveness ratio, international organizations, governments, and donors have intensified efforts to increase immunization coverage globally. Despite the efforts, thousands of children remain unimmunized or not fully vaccinated worldwide. 
Objective: To identify factors associated with incomplete immunization among children in Côte d’Ivoire. 
Method:The 1998-1999 and 2011-2012 Côte d’Ivoire Demography and Health Survey (DHS) data were used in this study. The included 3878 children aged 12 to 59 months with 1326 children from 1998-1999 DHS, and 2552 children from 2011-2012 DHS. Descriptive analysis was performed. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was computed to examine the relationship between variables. Univariate analysis was performed to examine the association between the dependent variable (incomplete immunization) and each independent variable using logistic regression. Variables with a p-value less than .05 in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine predictors of immunization status using logistic regression (stepwise method). 
Results: About 42.7% and 50.1% of Côte d’Ivoire were not fully immunized in 1998-1999 and 2011-2012, respectively. Child birth place, mothers’ access to media, mothers’ literacy, place of residence, and religion were the best predictors of incomplete immunization. 
Conclusion:Health authorities in Côte d’Ivoire should take into account these immunization status predictors in order to address the issue of incomplete immunization.
The Association of Advanced Maternal Age and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Creators: name: Aboneaaj, Mais
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Introduction: The past decade has seen a significant shift in the demographics of childbearing in the United States. The average age of women at first birth has steadily increased over the last four decades, with the birth rate for women aged 40-44 more than doubling from 1990 to 2012. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes with increasing maternal age and paternal age using national health statistics data.
Methods: The study population included 3 495 710 live births among women 15-54+ years of age from the 2012 Natality dataset. Outcomes were modeled for both maternal and paternal 5-year age groups using logistic regression analysis to calculate adjusted and unadjusted odds ratios (AORs, ORs) with 95% confidence intervals. Analysis was performed to examine the association between maternal and paternal age across seven different adverse outcomes, including low birthweight, low Apgar score, early term pregnancies, abnormal newborn conditions and presence of congenital anomalies.
Results: The risks for most outcomes paralleled with advanced maternal age and paternal age. Logistic regression models demonstrated that maternal age groups 40-44, 45-49 and 50-54+ were at highest risk for an adverse pregnancy outcome compared to the 30-34 year old reference group. Abnormal newborn conditions including assisted ventilation, NICU admission and use of antibiotics were significant for all age groups 40 and older. Low Apgar score, low birthweight and early term pregnancies were significantly higher among mothers as well as fathers with advanced age.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that advanced maternal age is a risk factor for a variety of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Women aged 35-39 have a similar risk of an adverse outcome as their younger counterparts. This suggests that perhaps we should begin assessing high-risk pregnancies as starting at an older age versus the de facto standard of 35.
Role of Influenza among Adult Respiratory Hospitalizations: a Systemic Review
Creators: name: Whaley, Melissa
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: With the threat of avian influenza, influenza laboratory testing and surveillance capacity has increased globally. Data from global surveillance activities have been used to identify circulating influenza strains for vaccine policy decisions, and have provided evidence of influenza disease among various populations. A recent meta-analysis, which includes findings from these surveillance efforts, has shown that influenza contributes to 10% of pediatric respiratory hospitalizations. Although statistical models indicate a high burden of influenza-associated morbidity among older adults and pandemic studies reveal an increase in hospitalizations among young adults, the global burden of seasonal influenza among adults remains unknown. In order to estimate the global burden of seasonal influenza among adult respiratory hospitalizations, we conducted a systematic review of the published literature, and identified 48 eligible articles published between January 1996 and June 2012 that met our inclusion criteria. We combined these published datasets with 29 eligible, unique datasets from year-round, influenza hospital-based surveillance. These combined data covered 50 countries with varying income and vaccine policies. Extracting numbers tested and positive for influenza, we calculated crude median positive proportions and evaluated potential differences in crude proportions among variables using Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric tests. We observed differences by data source and country development status when we included the 2009 pandemic year. With the exclusion of the 2009 pandemic year, we then generated adjusted pooled estimates using the log binomial model. We found 11% of cases from adult respiratory hospitalizations worldwide were laboratory-confirmed for influenza. This pooled estimate was independent of age but increased as country development or income level decreased. Our findings suggest that influenza is an important contributor to severe acute respiratory illness among both young and older adult populations. For countries without reliable influenza data, we provide an estimate that they may use in planning and allocating resources for the control and prevention of influenza.
HIV Care Continuum among Subpopulations of MSM, Georgia, 2012
Creators: name: Gleske, Hilary
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Background: As of 2012, Georgia ranked fifth in the United States in the number of people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Given the high burden of disease among men who have sex with men (MSM), the HIV Care Continuum has become an important measure for keeping persons living with HIV in care and eventually reaching an undetectable viral load.
Methods: Data were extracted from the Enhance HIV/AIDS Reporting System (eHARS) using SAS version 9.3.A univariate analysis was then performed by cross tabulating variables such as linked to care, any care in 2012, retained in care and viral suppression (VS) for men who have sex with men only (MSMO) and men who have sex with men and women (MSMW), stratified by race/ethnicity and age.
Results: Among 20,676 males categorized as MSM, 14,316 (69%) were MSMO and 6,360 (31%) were MSMW. Among MSMO, 77% (N=772) were linked to care and 45% were virally suppressed and among MSMW, 75% (N=219) were linked to care and 40% were virally suppressed. Black men have the lowest percentages along the HIV Care Continuum when compared to other race/ethnicities of MSMO and Hispanic/Latino MSMW have the lowest linkage to care of any race/ethnicity for both subpopulations. In both MSMO and MSMW, linkage, any care, retention, and VS increase with increasing age.
Conclusion: MSM suffer are terribly affected by HIV and a substantial proportion of MSM also engage in sexual contact with women, who may not be aware of their partner’s HIV risk status. Much speculation can be drawn about what keeps both MSMO and MSMW from being linked to care or reaching an undetectable viral load. Possibilities may include greater perception of stigma, ambivalence about HIV care and increased denial affecting ART adherence for MSMW as compared to MSMO.  In order to see a drop in HIV rates within this group, the outside factors that negatively influence a person’s progress along the HIV Care Continuum toward an undetectable viral load must be understood and addressed.
The Revitalization of the Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition Program in Haiti
Creators: name: Desormeaux, Johanne
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) threatens the lives of millions of children globally. In developing countries, 15% of the population is undernourished; and half of the mortality for children younger than 5 years old is associated to undernutrition (UNICEF, 2008), the most vulnerable population to malnutrition. Overall, Haiti reports 19.2% of children are undernourished, 11.4% are underweight, and 10.3% are wasted (Lutter et al., 2011; DHS, 2005, CWW-proposal, 2007). The treatment for the management of SAM has evolved over the decades (Lancet, 2006). The Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) is an evidence-based intervention with proven effectiveness for treating children with SAM (Collins, 2007). The CMAM intervention reduces infant mortality related to SAM (Lancet, 2006, Collins, 2007; WHO, 2001; UNICEF, 2009).
The CMAM intervention was validated in 2007 through the United Nations agencies for the management of SAM. Nevertheless, it has had limited reach and poor public health impact in some of the developing countries (e.g.; Haiti) where it was implemented. Concern Worldwide is a non-profit humanitarian organization, which pioneered in the creation of the CMAM intervention. Concern introduced the CMAM interventions in Haiti in October 2007 as a pilot program. The program was implemented in close to 20 health institutions in the metropolitan Port-au-Prince. As is the case with any other public health program, there were many challenges to the CMAM intervention implementation in Haiti. Concern’s CMAM intervention was not sustainable after it retracted the technical support in 2012 (UNICEF-Haiti country report, 2014).
The purpose of this paper is to first review the Concern Worldwide CMAM program implementation in five communes of Port-au-Prince. Then, a suggested plan is outlined for the revitalization of the intervention’s activities and long-term sustainability once revitalized.
Analysis of Predictors of Unmet HIV-related Support Services and Barriers to Needs among HIV-infected Individuals in Georgia
Creators: name: Guffey, Taylor
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Introduction: Behavioral and medical interventions such as syringe exchange and anti-retroviral therapy have been successful in reducing the incidence and transmission of HIV and improving the longevity and quality of life of people with HIV/AIDS. However, there are an estimated 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States and only about 37% are retained in some form of HIV care. People living with HIV often have multiple comorbidities and other challenges that often require specialty care.
Methods: We used data from the Medical Monitoring Project to assess HIV-related supportive service needs among people living with HIV in Georgia to understand whether there is an unmet need in this sample (n = 417). Descriptive tables and Chi-square tests were used to assess differences in types of HIV-related services needed and actually utilized by Blacks and Non-blacks. Bivariate and Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess correlates of having at least one unmet need.
Results: The cross-section was a probability-based sample of people living with HIV/AIDS in Georgia. Blacks were more likely to need Preventative Education and Mental Health counseling than Non-blacks. Despite no significant difference in the need of ART Adherence Support between Blacks and Non-blacks, Blacks significantly had more unmet ART Adherence Support needs when compared to Non-blacks (p = 0.0097). Bivariate analysis showed those with a high school education and those who have experience homelessness were more likely to have unmet service needs (OR = 1.75 95% CI = 1.06 – 1.89) and (OR = 2.97 95% CI = 1.22 – 7.23) respectively. A multivariable logistic model correcting for potential confounding showed those who have experienced homelessness were more likely to have unmet service needs (OR = 2.49 95% CI = 1.02 – 6.11). The most cited reasons for not receiving a service need were Financial Barriers and Lack of Information.
Discussion: Marginalized groups exhibit greater need for supportive services and within these groups, a disparate proportion exhibit unmet needs compared to others. This analysis provides a programmatic framework to initiate better-focused efforts for sub-groups who exhibit more unmet needs.
Supplementary document for Denoising multiplexed microscopy images in n-dimensional spectral space - 5950924.pdf
Creators: name: Harman, Rebecca
name: Lang, Ryan
name: Kercher, Eric
name: Leven, Paige
name: Spring, Bryan
Publisher: name: Optica Publishing Group
Year: 2025
Subjects: Uncategorized

description: all supplemental methods and figures
Contributing Factors in a Successful Foodborne Outbreak Investigation: an Analysis of Data Collected by the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), 2003-2010.
Creators: name: Mecher, Taryn
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Background. Foodborne disease is estimated to cause 48 million illnesses annually in the US resulting in 3000 deaths [1]. Although most infections occur as sporadic cases, outbreak surveillance offers valuable insight about the foods and pathogens responsible for illnesses [2]. A total of 1632 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported during 2011-2012 [3] and recent data indicates an overall decrease in the number of outbreaks reported each year [4]. Understanding which factors contribute to the successful identification of a food vehicle in a foodborne outbreak investigation is crucial for improving outbreak response [5-10]. The purpose of this study was to describe outbreak characteristics and to determine which may be associated with the success of a foodborne outbreak investigation (i.e. one in which a food vehicle has been reported).
Methods. A foodborne disease outbreak was defined as the event in which two or more people acquired similar illnesses from consuming the same food or beverage. Outbreaks occurring in FoodNet sites during 2003 through 2010 were included in the analysis.
Results. Data were available for 1441 (87%) of the 1655 foodborne disease outbreaks documented in FoodNet Outbreak Supplement forms from 2003 through 2010. A food vehicle was identified in 692 of the 1441 (48%) outbreaks. Six outbreak characteristics remained statistically significant in both univariate and multivariate analyses: environmental and/or food culture collection, FDA or state agriculture involvement, outbreak size, case-control studies, and number of fecal specimens tested for norovirus.
Conclusions. Less than half of foodborne outbreaks examined here resulted in a food vehicle being identified. Having more robust resources available for outbreak detection and investigation may improve likelihood of a food vehicle being identified.
An Examination Of The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences And Alcohol Consumption Patterns Among High Risk Youth In Kampala, Uganda
Creators: name: Babihuga, Nina
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Objective: To examine the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and associations with early alcohol use initiation and alcohol use patterns among high-risk urban youth in Kampala, Uganda.
Methodology: Data from the Kampala Youth Survey (N=457) conducted in May through June 2011 in Kampala, Uganda was used for analysis. Indicators of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) included: hunger, having parents, talking to parents, ever having lived on the street, parents hitting each other, parents hitting children and parental use of alcohol. These were dichotomized as either possessing the characteristic or not. Alcohol outcomes assessed were; age at alcohol initiation (age 13 was the cutoff point), frequent drinking and heavy drinking. Bivariate and multinomial logistic regression analyses were computed to determine statistical association between ACEs and alcohol use.
Results: Findings in this study showed that parents hitting the youth, parental alcohol use, hunger, having ever lived on the street, and having been raped were significantly associated with the youth’s age of alcohol initiation by age 13, frequent drinking and heavy drinking in bivariate analyses. Results also showed gender differences for: parental alcohol use, parents hitting each other, being hungry, ever having lived on the street and having been raped. Girls reported higher values for most measures. Parental use of alcohol, having ever lived on the street and having been raped were particularly significant included in a multivariate model.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that adverse childhood experiences are strongly associated with early alcohol use initiation as well as frequent and heavy drinking.
Characteristics of African American Adolescent Females Who Use Emergency Contraception
Creators: name: Little, Erin
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Unintended pregnancy remains to be a public health priority for adolescents as there are a myriad of negative social and developmental consequences for both young mothers and their children. The goal of this study was to examine associations of individual-level determinants of health with sexual risk behaviors and protective factors among a sample of African American female adolescents. African American adolescent females were recruited from sexual health clinics to participate in a cross-sectional survey at 18 months post-participation in a STD/HIV prevention trial. Surveys were administered using Audio Computer Assisted Self Interview (ACASI). Statistical analyses were run to determine associations of protective and sexual risk behaviors with age, education, household income status, sexual history, other contraception use and knowledge of emergency contraception (EC). A total of 410 surveys were included in the analyses. (N=410; mean age=19.06) Almost sixteen percent (n=65) of participants reported ever using emergency contraception. Bivariate analyses indicated that EC use among African American female adolescents was significantly associated with age, education level, job status, receipt of government assistance, age at first sex, knowledge of EC availability and number of average condom errors. The findings in this study are consistent with previous studies exploring social determinants and their relationship to sexual health practices among high risk populations.  The findings of this study could be used to design effective pregnancy prevention initiatives including EC education and promotion targeting specific segments of the African American adolescent female population that may be at a greater risk for unintended pregnancies.
An Assessment of the Relationship between the Quality of Parenting Behaviors and the Potential for Child Maltreatment
Creators: name: Nwamuo, Chinyere
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Child maltreatment is a critical public health problem with risk factors that directly hinder the quality of interactions between parent and child. These interactions, guided by the quality of parenting behaviors, form the foundation through which a child develops physically, psychologically, and emotionally. This study examined the quality of 12 parenting behaviors during interactive play between parent and child and their association to the potential of child maltreatment with the interactive effect of demographic variables. It was hypothesized that poor interactive parenting behaviors between parent and child would be associated with higher maltreatment potential. Participants were 99 high-risk families drawn from the first cohort of an ongoing cluster randomized research trial. The 12 parenting behaviors and their interaction with family demographic characteristics were not predictive of the potential for child maltreatment among participant families. Although, the proposed hypothesis was not supported, the findings suggest the need for further investigation of other familial factors influencing maltreatment potential among participant families.
The Association of Major Depression and Selected Health Behaviors among HIV-positive Adults Receiving Medical Care in Georgia: Findings from the Georgia Medical Monitoring Project, 2009-2012
Creators: name: Culbreth, Rachel
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Introduction: Currently there are approximately 1.2 million people in the United States living with HIV and it is estimated that 25.6% of HIV-positive adults suffer from depression. The purpose of this study is to examine the contribution of depression on substance use and medication adherence specifically among HIV-positive adult Georgians receiving medical care for HIV.
Methods: Secondary data with a probability sample of 608 HIV-positive adults who took part in the 2009-2012 Georgia Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) were analyzed. Descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression models were conducted to assess relationships between depression with current cigarette smoking, injection drug use, other non-injection drug use, and medication adherence, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates (age, gender, race, and education). All analyses accounted for non-response and complex sampling design and were performed using SAS 9.2 (Cary, NC).
Results: Among HIV-positive adults in Georgia, approximately 9.2% met the criteria for major depression; 15.2% of women and 6.9% of men had major depression. Heterosexual adults also had a higher percentage of major depression (11.9%) compared to adults who identified as bisexual (8.3%) or homosexual (6.1%). Major depression was also highest among young adults (17.1%) and adults with high school diploma or GED (13.0%). Major depression was associated with a greater odds of current cigarette smoking (3.04; 95% CI: 1.48, 6.23); injection drug use (5.62; 95% CI: 0.96, 32.81), and other non-injection drug use (2.17; 95% CI: 1.10, 4.25), after adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Major depression was also associated with a greater odds of ART medication non-adherence, 2.52 (95% CI: 1.20, 5.28), after adjusting for gender.
Conclusion: As previously found in the general population, we found significant associations between depression and smoking and other non-injection drug use among HIV-positive adults. Major depression was also associated with a greater odds of ART medication non-adherence, which is also consistent with the literature. Because HIV-positive adults have ongoing encounters with healthcare providers, screening and treatment for depression and other co-morbid substance use is needed to reduce an additional health burden in this population.
An Analysis of Access to Improved Drinking Water and Sanitation and Distance to the Water Source in a Newly Independent Country, Timor-Leste: Assessing Geographical and Socioeconomic Disparities
Creators: name: Ribeiro Sarmento, Decio
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Background: Lack of access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is of great concern globally as an estimated 748 million people worldwide are without an improved source of drinking water and 2.5 billion people are without adequate access to improved sanitation. Serious disparities exist and the unequal distribution has been recognized globally. However, it is important to further examine the distributions on a national and sub-national scale to understand disparities in access. In Timor-Leste, the determinants of disparities in access to improved drinking water and sanitation systems are poorly understood. Therefore, this present study sought to examine geographical and socioeconomic disparities in access to improved drinking water, distance to water and sanitation in the country.
Methods: This study analyzed 11,463 households and 13,137 women observations from the Timor-Leste Demographic and Health Survey (TLDHS) 2009-2010. Analyses were performed separately for household and individual level. Sampling weights were used to account for complex sampling of the population of interest. Weighted descriptive statistics were computed to display the frequency distribution of outcome variables. Weighted bivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess associations between each independent variable (type of residence, municipalities, region, wealth index, education level and literacy) and each outcome variable (improved drinking water source, improved sanitation facility and travel times of 30 minutes or less to the water source). Weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the associations between independent variables and the outcome variable. This study also utilized spatial data to map out the distribution of drinking water source, sanitation type and distance to the water source in 13 municipalities of Timor-Leste.
Results: Significant predictors in weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis included urban/rural status, region and wealth index for disparities in access to improved drinking water and only wealth index for disparities in access to improved sanitation. Overall, disparities seem to be starker for sanitation than they are for water due to larger values of odds ratio for sanitation outcome, especially when looking across wealth index predictor at both the household and individual level of analysis.
Conclusion: Policies and programming aiming to address disparities should encompass WASH interventions with emphasis on a poverty reduction approach by targeting the poorest population. Future longitudinal model and/or randomized trials are needed to examine the trends and to enable causal inferences.
title: HAND ME DOWN
Creators: name: Whelan, Meg
Publisher: name: University of Kentucky Libraries
Year: 2025
Subjects: classificationCode: 6
subject: FOS: Humanities

description: Hand Me Down is a collection of poetry and visual art by Meg Whelan. This thesis examines how trauma is an act of fracture and how poesis is an act of holding the pieces. This work thematically explores grief, challenges religion, documents sexual violence, reckons with intergenerational abuse, witnesses queer discovery, and upholds a healing love. Hand Me Down is an effort to understand what has been handed down to the poet, how she has been handed down, what her hands might do with what they hold, and what she might hand down in her lifetime.
description: © 2025 Meg Whelan
Urban-rural disparities in HIV related knowledge, behavior and attitude in Burkina Faso: Evidence from Burkina Faso Demographic and Health Survey 2010
Creators: name: Yehadji, Degninou
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Introduction: HIV infection is a global health concern and the epidemic is particularly serious in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding HIV-related knowledge, attitude and behavior is a key element for prevention programs. Because of rural-urban variations in social and economic factors, this study was conducted to assess urban-rural disparities in HIV-related knowledge, attitude and behavior in Burkina Faso.
Methods
This study is based on a nationally representative data from the 2010 Burkina Faso Demographic and Health Survey. Odds ratios from the logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between HIV-related knowledge, attitude and behaviors with residence (urban /rural).
Results
More rural residents were uneducated (82.13%), illiterates (80.13%), and poor (94.54%) compared to urban residents with values of 17.87%, 19.87% and 5.45%, respectively. The prevalence of HIV residents was significantly lower among rural residents (0.65%) as compared with urban residents (1.88%). Rural residents compared to urban residents were more likely to have incomplete knowledge or inappropriate HIV-related attitude and behavior: incomplete knowledge about HIV (OR = 3.38, 95% CI 3.15 – 3.63), incomplete knowledge of MTCT prevention methods (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.88 – 2.16), non-accepting attitude toward people living with HIV (OR = 3.01, 95% CI 2.78 – 3.26), unfavorable for youth education on condom use (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.41 – 1.65), first sex before 15 years old (OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.96 – 1.21), multiple sex partnership among men (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.33 – 1.75), don’t know any source of condoms (OR = 3.02, 95% CI 2.67 – 3.42) and don’t know any source of female condoms (OR = 3.27 95% CI 3.04 – 3.51).
Conclusion
Compared to urban residents, Burkina Faso rural residents tend to have limited HIV knowledge, limited access to condom. Also, compared to urban residents, more Burkina Faso rural residents had inappropriate HIV attitude and behavior. However, the HIV prevalence was lower among rural residents. The disparities between urban and rural residents of Burkina Faso with respect to HIV knowledge, attitude and behaviors calls for appropriate public health measures to increase HIV awareness in rural areas.
Supplementary document for Denoising multiplexed microscopy images in n-dimensional spectral space - 5950924.pdf
Creators: name: Harman, Rebecca
name: Lang, Ryan
name: Kercher, Eric
name: Leven, Paige
name: Spring, Bryan
Publisher: name: Optica Publishing Group
Year: 2022
Subjects: Uncategorized

description: all supplemental methods and figures
Early Sexual Debut and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Central Africa
Creators: name: Kibangou, Emerencienne
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Background: A variety of studies identified early sexual debut as a significant risk factor for HIV infection, particularly among young African women. However, little is known about this relationship in Central Africa.
Methods: This study was based on a cross-sectional analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys data drawn from four central African countries, Cameroon and Gabon with high HIV prevalence levels, Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo with low HIV prevalence levels. Relationship between sexual activity initiated before age 15 and HIV sero-status was examined in men and women aged 15-24 years, to determine potential differences in this relationship across countries. Logistic regression was used to build a standard multivariate analysis model allowing for comparison between countries while controlling for sociodemographic, economic, behavioral, most recent partner characteristics, and HIV prevention knowledge.
Results: HIV prevalences were significantly higher among women from high HIV prevalence countries compared to women living in lower HIV prevalence countries (p
Conclusion: Decline in heterosexual transmission of HIV in Central Africa will necessitate that behavioral interventions targeting young African women encourage delaying sexual debut and not engaging in other risky sexual behaviors.
The Association of Antecedent Conditions on Disease Duration and Diagnosis Age of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients
Creators: name: Hollinger, Sabrina
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Background: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Previous research has shown that antecedent conditions are less prevalent in ALS patients than the general population. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between antecedent conditions and ALS, using age of diagnosis and disease duration.
Methods: Patient data was obtained through the Emory ALS Clinic in Atlanta, Georgia. Patients’ histories were analyzed to see if they had any antecedent conditions (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, asthma, arthritis, COPD, kidney disease, liver disease, non-ALS neurological disease, and thyroid disease) at their time of diagnosis. Patients with antecedent conditions compared with the control population (ALS patients without any antecedent diseases) are analyzed through chi square for age of diagnosis and disease duration. Ordinal logistical regression modelling was also completed
Results: All antecedent conditions had an older age at ALS diagnosis than the control population except obesity, kidney disease, and liver disease (pppp<0.05).
Conclusions: Antecedent conditions high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and COPD can be seen as protective against ALS due to their delayed age of diagnosis. A possible explanation is that these antecedent diseases could be biochemically neuroprotective against ALS in a currently unknown pathway. Antecedent disease association, with reduced disease duration, is likely due to the advanced age of the patient.
Stable and radiogenic isotopes as tracers for the origin, mixing and subsurface history of fluids in submarine shallow-water hydrothermal systems
Creators: name: Pichler, Thomas
Publisher: name: Elsevier Science
Year: 2005
Subjects: subject: stable isotopes
subject: Radiogenic isotopes
subject: shallow-water
subject: hydrothermal system
subject: venting
subject: 550

description: The shallow-water hydrothermal system in Tutum Bay on the west side of Ambitle Island, Papua New Guinea provides us with an exceptional opportunity to study isotope systematics in a near shore setting. Compared to seawater, the hydrothermal fluids in Tutum Bay have lower values for δD, δ18O, δ13C, and 87Sr and higher values for 3H, δ34S(SO4) and δ18O(SO4). The δ18O and δD records for vents 1 and 4 indicate that fluid compositions remained stable over an extended period. Interpretation of isotope data clearly demonstrates the predominantly meteoric origin of Tutum Bay hydrothermal fluids, despite their location in a marine environment. δ18O and δD values are identical to mean average annual precipitation in eastern Papua New Guinea. The hypothesis that these fluids are a simple product of mixing between seawater and onshore hydrothermal fluids from the Waramung (W-1) and Kapkai (W-2) thermal areas has been rejected, because the observed δ37Cl, 3H, δ34S(SO4) and δ18O(SO4) values cannot be explained by a simple mixing model. The application of δ18O(SO4) and δ13C thermometers in combination with 3H values corroborates the three-step model of Pichler et al. [Pichler, T., Veizer, J., Hall, G.E.M., 1999. The chemical composition of shallow-water hydrothermal fluids in Tutum Bay, Ambitle Island, Papua New Guinea and their effect on ambient seawater. Marine Chemistry 64 (3) 229–252], where (1) phase separation in the deep reservoir beneath Ambitle Island produces a high temperature vapor that rises upward and subsequently reacts with cooler ground water to form a low pH, CO2-rich water of approximately 150–160 °C, (2) caused by the steep topography, this CO2-rich fluid moves laterally towards the margin of the hydrothermal system where it mixes with the marginal upflow of the deep reservoir fluid. This produces a dilute chloride water of approximately 165 °C, and (3) possibly the entrainment of minor amounts of ground or seawater during its final ascent.
Low-temperature alteration of dredged volcanics from the Southern Chile Ridge: additional information about early stages of seafloor weathering
Creators: name: Pichler, Thomas
name: Ridley, W. Ian
name: Nelson, Eric
Publisher: name: Elsevier Science
Year: 1999
Subjects: subject: Alteration
subject: seafloor
subject: weathering
subject: low temperature
subject: basalt
subject: 550

description: A suite of submarine volcanic rocks from the Southern Chile Ridge has been examined in order to investigate the early stages of low temperature alteration. Alteration in these samples proceeded as follows: (1) Fe-staining on sample surface and along fractures, (2) filling of vesicles with secondary material, (3) breakdown of glassy matrix, (4) breakdown of microcrystalline matrix, and (5) breakdown and replacement of olivine. Plagioclase and pyroxene were sometimes found to be slightly altered along internal fissures. Secondary or alteration phases generally showed high K (3–5 wt.%), Fe (30–70 wt.%) and low Al (<2 wt.%) contents. The most common secondary minerals were Fe-oxyhydroxides, celadonite/Fe-oxyhydroxide (a mixture between celadonite and Fe-oxyhydroxide) and saponite. The formation of secondary minerals is controlled by the oxidation state which is a direct result of seawater to rock ratio. Fe-oxyhydroxides and celadonite/Fe-oxyhydroxide form during oxidative diagenesis, whereas saponite forms during non-oxidative diagenesis. The final alteration products, however, are controlled by external factors, e.g., sedimentation rate or formation of a manganese crust. Ca has been consistently removed, Mg has been added to some rocks and lost from others, and Si has either been removed or remained unaffected. Fe and H2O increases are accompanied by an increase in Fe3+/Fe2+. Wherever increases in K, Rb and Cs were documented, the enrichments are consistently in the order Cs>Rb>K. During initial stages of alteration the behavior of some trace elements such as rare-earth elements (REE), Ba, Zr, Hf, Ta, Nb, and Mo are solely controlled by the precipitation of Mn-rich Fe-oxyhydroxides. The preferred incorporation of Ce into Mn-rich Fe-oxyhydroxides may be a principal factor explaining the Ce depletion in seawater. We conclude that the earliest stages of submarine weathering are controlled by Eh and pH gradients between the rock and seawater. In the absence of a buffer, oxidation of ferrous iron causes a decrease in solution pH.
Susceptibility for Hepatitis B Infection within the United States Population with Special Focus on African American Females.
Creators: name: Phillip, Dajuana
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: In 2010, the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected 1.2 million people in the United States, many of whom were unaware of their infection (CDC, 2010). The available research on HBV infection is predominately among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander. HBV infection and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection share similar modes of transmission. Very little HBV research has been dedicated to the African American females; who accounted for 29% of the new HIV cases among young adolescents in 2010 (CDC, 2010). Due to the common mode of transmission of HIV and Hepatitis B many persons at risk for HIV are also at risk for contracting Hepatitis B. One’s risk for acquisition of HBV can be mitigated or eliminated by vaccination or naturally acquired immunity. In the absence of both, an individual is susceptible to acquisition of HBV. The aims of this study are to define susceptibility of non-Hispanic, blacks to Hepatitis B infection compared to other races as well as defining possible risk factors that may increase or decrease their susceptibility.
Factors Related to Access to Nutritious Foods and the Association with Cancer Mortality in the Southeast United States
Creators: name: Freeman, Krystal
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in the United States. However, nutrient rich diets are known protective factors against this disease. Unfortunately, many areas in the United States do not have adequate access to nutritious foods. This study aims to examine cancer mortality rates in these counties in relationship to access to food.  The main hypothesis is that greater accessibility to nutritious food sources in counties is associated with lower county cancer mortality rates.
Methods: Exploratory spatial cluster analysis was used to determine whether patterns of observed cancer mortality were spatially random or not. Finding spatial structure, spatial regression was used to determine the association between several factors related to nutritional access in relation to cancer mortality rates in counties in the Southeastern US.
Results: Results from this study indicated that cancer mortality rates are clustered in the southeast into areas with higher than average and areas with lower than average risk. The patterns are statistically significantly different than would have been observed by chance, using a 5% level of significance. Spatial regression indicated a positive statistically significant relationship between the number of households that live more than one mile away from a grocery store with no vehicle access and increased cancer mortality (p=.00002).
Conclusion: Further research should be conducted to determine which factors in counties are contributing to cancer mortality. Results showed that although individuals have access to healthy foods, they may also have equal access to unhealthy food selections. Behaviors should be assessed to find out what factors influence food choices.
"The Argonauts Of The Western Pacific" Review
Creators: name: Aulia, Ahmadina
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025

description: "The Argonauts of the Western Pacific" oleh Bronislaw Malinowski adalah karya penting dalam antropologi yang menggambarkan kehidupan masyarakat Trobriand. Melalui metode etnografi dan pengamatan partisipatif, Malinowski menganalisis sistem pertukaran "kula," yang mengungkapkan hubungan sosial dan budaya yang kompleks. Buku ini menekankan fungsi budaya dalam memenuhi kebutuhan sosial dan individu, serta menjadi contoh pionir dalam penelitian lapangan. Karya ini tetap relevan dalam studi antropologi dan budaya.
The Efficacy of Utilizing Chitosan as an Antiviral Agent in Water Treatment
Creators: name: Wilson, Jessica
Publisher: name: Georgia State University
Year: 2015

description: Chitosan is naturally occurring polysaccharide that is related to the molecule chitin and has been shown to act as an antifungal and antibacterial agent, as well as a coagulant for microbial removal from water. However, little research has explored the antiviral properties of chitosan, particularly as an as an antimicrobial agent to treat drinking water. In this study we investigated the efficacy of utilizing chitosan as an antiviral agent for the purposes of water treatment by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of seven chitosan samples- chitosan lactate, chitosan acetate, chitosan HCl, 70DD, 85DD, 95DD, and 100K. An antimicrobial assay was conducted utilizing seven chitosan samples with varying degrees of deacetylation, different molecular weights, and different added functional groups. We determined that amongst all chitosan samples only three samples- 85DD, 95DD, and 100K Da had the lowest MIC, or the concentration at which there were no detectable viral components at a concentration of 5,000 µg/ml. The results attained in this experiment add to the body of knowledge about the potential benefits of utilizing chitosan as an antimicrobial agent in areas with limited water and sanitation infrastructure.