Mapping is a fundamental tool in assessing a disease's geographic distribution and severity across populations and periods. For mortality maps, the use of age adjustment allows for population comparisons without the confounding effects from differences in age structures. Mortality maps tend to use the direct age adjustment method for computing rates, where age-specific rates of the study populations are applied to the same standard population weights. However, the less often used indirect method of age adjustment, where a set of standard age-specific death rates are weighted to the actual age structure of the population, may be preferred for mapping outcomes associated with older age, yet still evident across other ages. Using 2000-2020 United States county-level sepsis mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data portal (CDC WONDER), this research explores the reliability of calculating accurate estimates of missing or censored mortality CDC data to create both direct and indirect age-adjusted mortality maps. Both direct and indirect maps were shown to be consistent with spatial clustering patterns, and the indirect age-adjusted map provided more stabilized rates for small population counties, often ignored due to missing or unreliable rates. Additionally, the calculated mortality rates were shown to have a high degree of similarity to the sourced CDC WONDER death rates. This research highlights the impacts of choice in age adjustment methods for mortality mapping, with an emphasis on indirect age adjustment, particularly for diseases with variability in age-dependent mortality rates.

Thesis (M.T.S.)--Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, 1989. / Vita. Includes bibliographies.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toronto, 2006. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-07, Section: A, page: 2422. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-133).

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-163).

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur den rumsliga utformningen av utomhusmiljön i förskolan främjar inkludering av barn i åldrarna ett till sex år där möjlighet till olika typer av lek och pedagogisk verksamhet understöds. Studien är förlagd till Mullvadens förskolegård på Södermalm i Stockholm. Det är en kvalitativ studie där observations-, intervju-, enkät- och litteraturstudier har genomförts. I resultatdelen har tre tematiska områden lyfts fram; åldersanpassning, rumslighet och pedagogisk verksamhet. Genom designprocessen har sedan dessa tematiska områden brutits ner till temat för gestaltningsförslaget; variation och kontrast. Empirin och teori ligger till grund för gestaltningsförslaget och har utförts för att undersöka förutsättningar, problem och visioner. Resultatet av studien visar att det finns potential för att, genom rumsliga element, förbättra förutsättningarna för inkludering, genom att ändra rörelseflöden och struktur samt tillföra material. Naturmiljöer framhålls genomgående som positivt för barns utveckling, vilket är en stor utmaning att tillgodose i en stadsmiljö. Gestaltningsförslaget avser att ge Mullvadens förskola en variationsrik gård med kontraster i en ”naturlig” miljö. Naturelement och material har tillförts vilket ämnar bidra till att egenskaper från naturen, så som att vara levande och modifierbar erhålls. / The purpose of this study is to investigate how the spatial design of the preschool outdoor environment has the potential to promote inclusivity of children aged one to six years, when utilised in conjunction with different types of play and educational activities. The study is located in Mullvadens preschool in Stockholm. This is a qualitative study were observation, interview, survey and literature studies have been conducted. The results have highlighted three key thematic areas; age adjustment, spatiality and educational work. The design process has these themes, "boiled down” to the theme of the design proposal; variety and contrast. The empirical data and theory underpin the design proposal and have been conducted to determine current conditions, problems and visions. The results of this study show that there is potential to, by utilisation of spatial elements, change the climate of inclusion. It is argued that this can be achieved by both the addition of materials and the removal of items, with the aim of changing the flow of motion and structure in the space. Natural environment is emphasised throughout as positive in the development of children, posing a major challenge in an urban environment. The design proposal aims, however, to make this challenge central and to provide Mullvadens preschool with a diversified yard which includes the "natural" environment. By using natural elements and materials an environment is proposed which not only links to nature but is, itself, more natural in that it is alive and modifiable.