Browsing by Subject "Physical Sciences and Mathematics"
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Item Associations Between Socioeconomic Statuses and Behavioral Risk Factors and Self-Reported Health Status(2005-05-01) Wu, Gang; Daisha Cipher; Shande Chen; Sejong BaeWu, Gang, Association Between Socioeconomic Statuses and Behavioral Risk Factors and Self-Reported Health Status. Master of Public Health (Biostatistics), May 2005, 70pp., 5 figures, 4 tables, references, 58 titles. Socioeconomic statuses (SES) and behavioral risk factors determine more than 70% of overall health outcome of American population. The effects of SES and behavioral risk factors on self-reported health status (SRHS) were studied using binary logistic regression models. Age group, education level, ethnicity, physical activities, cholesterol intake, smoking status, and drinking status were identified as significant predictors (p [less than] 0.05) to SRHS based on overall model. Significant predictors for each ethnic group varied based on the same model separated by ethnicity: White (insurance coverage, physical activities, smoking status, and drinking status), Black (gender, vegetable intake, and Hispanic (cholesterol intake). Ethnic disparities in SES and behavioral risk factors were discussed. The findings may have potential importance in public health intervention.Item Fecal Coliforms in the Rio Grande: A Risk to Human Health(2004-12-01) Tompkins, Erin L.; Thomas Vaughan; Claudia S. CogginTompkins, Erin L., Fecal Coliforms in the Rio Grande: A Risk to Human Health. Master of Public Health (Environmental Health), December 2004, 45 pages, bibliography, 33 titles. The Rio Grande around Laredo, Texas/Nuevo Laredo, Mexico was designated for primary contact reaction by the EPA. However, monthly sampling over a ten-year period in this section of the river may show otherwise. Fecal contamination of the Rio Grande in this area may be a source of illness to the population. Four sites in Laredo area were tested for fecal coliform density and rate of flow. Rainfall data from the USGS was used for comparisons. The rate of flow of the Rio Grande had an impact on fecal coliform density at one site measured. Rainfall in Laredo had an impact on fecal coliform density at two measured sites, and was a significant predictor of density at these sites as well. A review of the designation for this river segment is recommended. More research is needed to determine the exposed population, and effects of high coliform densities on downstream communities.Item Genetic Engineering and the Food Supply(2000-12-01) Kennedy, W. Russ; Samuel F. AtkinsonAs food sources high in the trees became inadequate, our predecessors climbed to the ground and through centuries of adaptation learned to stand upright and cultivate plants. Plant cultivation has been practiced for more than ten thousand years with continuous improvements made to crop plants to meet the growing food needs of human domesticated animal populations. Biotechnology has been practiced for thousands of years with fermentations of fruits and grains to make wine and beer and the use of yeast in baking. More recently, advances in molecular biology allow the analysis and manipulation of genetic material to achieve desired changes in the organism. Transgenics or genetic engineering is the process of identifying specific genetic defects or desirable traits and altering an organism’s DNA by addition or deletion of specific DNA sequences. Nearly 100 million acres (40 million hectares) were planted in transgenic crops in 1999. The largest acreages of more than 40 different transgenic crops grown were in cotton, corn, soybean and rapeseed. Fifty-five percent of all cotton, 50% of soybeans, and 33% of corn grown in the U.S. in 1999 were transgenic varieties. The large plantings stem from fairly straightforward manipulations of single genes, such as the transferring to corn and cotton genetic material from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) which produces an insecticidal toxin or transferring to the soybean, corn, cotton, sugar beets, and canola a gene with resistance to herbicides, such as glyphosate. The American farmer is perceived to be the beneficiary of lowered production costs primarily through better weed and pest control and a reduction in pesticide use with accompanying environmental improvement. Agro-chemical companies, who for the most part have spearheaded research and development of these crops, became involved because they foresaw a declining market for pesticides. Another area of promise widely discussed in the scientific and popular press is the improvement of food quality and composition resulting from genetic engineering. Because plants and plant products provide much of the world’s food supply, it is only fitting that early applications of this technology be in this area. Recent estimates suggest that the market for transgenic seed has already reached several hundred million dollars per year and that more than 15 million hectares (37 million acres) were grown in the U.S. in 1998. Concerns of food risk to the food supply and environment that using transgenic methods present, although not always science based, have some merit and require careful scientific scrutiny.Item The Historical Analysis of the Ion Content of Water in the Washita Zone of Lake Texoma, Oklahoma, USA(2004-11-01) Rich-Sawka, Alisa; Trieff, Norman; Galvan, Bob; Singh, KaranRich-Sawka, Alisa. The Historical Analysis of the Ion Content of Water in the Washita Zone of Lake Texoma, Oklahoma, USA. Master of Public Health (Environmental and Occupational Science), November, 2004, pages, 7 tables, 6 figures, 30 references. The primary objective of this study was to analyze the conductivity and ionic content of water in the Washita River Zone of Lake Texoma, for the study period of 1996-1997. The ionic concentrations of calcium, sodium, chloride, sulfate and bromide were determined and then compared with conductivity with analysis of ratio of CI/Br, Na/CI, Na+C1)/TDS to validate the presence of anthropogenic source contamination from oil field brine after review of recommended values in the literature. A geologic review of the watershed was performed to confirm the underlying geologic formation was not a contributing factor. Due to a lack of consistent reliable data during the study period, a historical database was built and statistical analysis was performed confirming through bromide ratios a preexisting anthropogenic source contamination of the Washita River watershed.