Matching Items (307)
Description
In this study we characterized the relationship between temperature and mortality in central Arizona desert cities that have an extremely hot climate. Relationships between daily maximum apparent temperature (ATmax) and mortality for eight condition-specific causes and all-cause deaths were modeled for all residents and separately for males and females ages <65 and ≥65 during the months May-October for years 2000-2008. The most robust relationship was between ATmax on day of death and mortality from direct exposure to high environmental heat. For this condition-specific cause of death, the heat thresholds in all gender and age groups (ATmax = 90–97 °F; 32.2‒36.1 °C) were below local median seasonal temperatures in the study period (ATmax = 99.5 °F; 37.5 °C). Heat threshold was defined as ATmax at which the mortality ratio begins an exponential upward trend. Thresholds were identified in younger and older females for cardiac disease/stroke mortality (ATmax = 106 and 108 °F; 41.1 and 42.2 °C) with a one-day lag. Thresholds were also identified for mortality from respiratory diseases in older people (ATmax = 109 °F; 42.8 °C) and for all-cause mortality in females (ATmax = 107 °F; 41.7 °C) and males <65 years (ATmax = 102 °F; 38.9 °C). Heat-related mortality in a region that has already made some adaptations to predictable periods of extremely high temperatures suggests that more extensive and targeted heat-adaptation plans for climate change are needed in cities worldwide.
ContributorsHarlan, Sharon (Author) / Chowell-Puente, Gerardo (Author) / Yang, Shuo (Author) / Petitti, Diana (Author) / Morales Butler, Emmanuel (Author) / Ruddell, Benjamin (Author) / Ruddell, Darren M. (Author) / College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Contributor)
Created2014-03-20
Description
Currently, treatment for multiple myeloma (MM), a hematological cancer, is limited to post-symptomatic chemotherapy combined with other pharmaceuticals and steroids. Even so, the immuno-depressing cancer can continue to proliferate, leading to a median survival period of two to five years. B cells in the bone marrow are responsible for generating antigen-specific antibodies, but in MM the B cells express mutated, non-specific monoclonal antibodies. Therefore, it is hypothesized that antibody-based assay and therapy may be feasible for detecting and treating the disease. In this project, 330k peptide microarrays were used to ascertain the binding affinity of sera antibodies for MM patients with random sequence peptides; these results were then contrasted with normal donor assays to determine the "immunosignatures" for MM. From this data, high-binding peptides with target-specificity (high fluorescent intensity for one patient, low in all other patients and normal donors) were selected for two MM patients. These peptides were narrowed down to two lists of five (10 total peptides) to analyze in a synthetic antibody study. The rationale behind this originates from the idea that antibodies present specific binding sites on either of their branches, thus relating high binding peptides from the arrays to potential binding targets of the monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, these peptides may be synthesized on a synthetic antibody scaffold with the potential to induce targeted delivery of radioactive or chemotherapeutic molecular tags to only myelomic B cells. If successful, this would provide a novel alternative to current treatments that is less invasive, has fewer side effects, more specifically targets the cause of MM, and reliably diagnoses the cancer in the presymptomatic stage.
ContributorsBerry, Jameson (Co-author) / Buelt, Allison (Co-author) / Johnston, Stephen (Thesis director) / Diehnelt, Chris (Committee member) / School of Molecular Sciences (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Division of Teacher Preparation (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
Breastfeeding has been shown to dramatically improve health outcomes for both infants and mothers. Despite recommendations by almost all world and national health organizations to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months and to continue breastfeeding for one year, this goal is not met by the majority of women in the United States for multiple reasons. Health professionals, including physicians and nurses, can play a major role in educating and influencing mothers about breastfeeding, especially for women with comorbidities, taking medications, or undergoing medical procedures. An online survey was created to evaluate healthcare professionals' breastfeeding knowledge and opinions at a large hospital in Phoenix, Arizona using QuestionPro software. This survey was distributed for three weeks to the nursing and physician departments at the hospital in primarily the obstetric and post partum units. Of the seventy-nine individuals who completed the survey, the respondents were primarily female obstetric nurses. Respondents recognized the benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and infant, believed health professionals can influence the decision to breastfeed, and found a lack of support was the number one reason women discontinue breastfeeding. Despite this information, it is apparent from this survey, and similar studies in the past, that there are significant gaps in knowledge especially when it comes to contraindications to breastfeeding, medications used while breastfeeding, fluid intake during breastfeeding, and foods that can be consumed while breastfeeding. Additionally, the majority of the nurses who completed this survey did not believe their schooling adequately trained them in breastfeeding education and hands-on practice. This information could be used in future studies to guide breastfeeding education for nurses, physicians, and other health care professionals at the stated hospital and other facilities across the nation.
ContributorsConstenius, Lindsey Bowes (Author) / Bever, Jennie (Thesis director) / Kelly, Lesly (Committee member) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
DescriptionThe goal of this study is to explore the relationship between breastfeeding, postpartum depression and postpartum weight at 1 and 6 months.
ContributorsFlowers, Jenna (Author) / Reifsnider, Elizabeth (Thesis director) / Bever, Jennie (Committee member) / Moramarco, Michael (Committee member) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2015-12
Description
The purpose of the study was to determine the level and type of public policy involvement among registered nurses (RN) who are members of the Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA). Furthermore, the aim of the study was to identify the knowledge base and motivation of nurses and their involvement in public policy as well as the barriers and benefits. A 20- item survey was sent to all of the members of AzNA. There were 39 responses used in the analysis. The highest reported public policy activities in which the nurses had participated were: voted (90%), contacted a public official (51%), and gave money to a campaign or for a public policy concern (46%). Lack of time was the most frequently reported barrier to involvement and improving the health of the public was the most frequently reported benefit to involvement. The number of public policy education/information sources and the highest level of education positively correlate to the nurses' total number of public policy activities (r = .627 p <0.05; r = .504, p <0.05). Based on the results of stepwise linear regression analysis, the participants' age, number of education/information sources, and efficacy expectation predict 68.8% of involvement in public policy activities. The greater the number of education/information sources, the greater the number of public policy activities nurses report having participated in.
ContributorsHartman, Mykaila Corrine (Author) / Stevens, Carol (Thesis director) / Munoz, Aliria (Committee member) / Link, Denise (Committee member) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2015-12
Description
Collaborative research is not only a form of social and human capital and a public good, but also a fundamental elicitor of positive Collective Action. Collaborative Research Networks can serve as models of proactive and purposive Collective Action and catalysts of societal change, if they function as more than hubs of research and knowledge. It is the goal of this Honors Thesis to examine the current nature under which collaborative research networks, focused on matters of Global Health or Sustainability, operate., how they are organized, what type of collaboration they engage in, and who collaborates with whom. A better understanding of these types of networks can lead to the formation of more effective networks that can develop innovative solutions to our collective Global Health and Sustainability problems.
ContributorsHodzic, Mirna (Author) / Van Der Leeuw, Sander (Thesis director) / Janssen, Marco (Committee member) / Schoon, Michael (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2012-05
Description
Since its inception in the early 1990s, the concept of gene vaccines, particularly DNA vaccines, has enticed researchers across the board due to its simple design, flexible modification, and overall inexpensive cost of manufacturing. However, the past three decades have proven to be less fruitful than anticipated as scientists have yet to tackle the issue of inducing a strong enough response in humans and non-human primates to protect against foreign pathogens, an issue that has since been coined as the “simian barrier.” This appears to be a human/primate barrier as protective vaccines have been produced for other mammals. Despite millions of dollars in research along with some of the world’s brightest minds chipping in to resolve this, there has yet to be any truly viable solution to overcoming this barrier. With current research illustrating effective applications of RNA vaccines in humans, these studies may be uncovering the solution to the largely unsolved simian barrier dilemma. If vaccines using RNA, the transcribed version of DNA, are effective in humans, the problem may be inefficient transcription of the DNA. This may be attributable to a DNA promoter that has insufficient activity in primates. Additionally, with DNA vaccines being even cheaper and easier to manufacture than RNA vaccines, along with having no required cold chain for distribution, this concept remains more promising than RNA vaccines that are further along in clinical trials.
ContributorsWillis, Joshua Aaron (Author) / Johnston, Stephen (Thesis director) / Sykes, Kathryn (Committee member) / Shen, Luhui (Committee member) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-12