Master of Public Health / Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology / Robert L. Larson / Variant H1N1 influenza (vH1N1) virus is an issue both in swine production medicine and in the arena of public health. Influenza viruses can infect but not always produce disease in avian, humans and swine. Swine are unique among the three previously mentioned species in that their respiratory epithelium possesses three receptor sites for the virus types common to each of the three mentioned species. Swine influenza virus (SI) is common and widespread in nearly all Midwestern swine herds and can be transmitted by both direct contact and aerosolization. All of the three previously mentioned species have the potential to re-assort (produce virons containing genetic material of different virons to produce a unique influenza virus (IV). Because of their three specific receptor sites, swine have the greatest re-assortment capability. This re-assortment has the potential is a low mortality/high morbidity disease that is a substantial cost to the swine industry due to its negative effect on production parameters such as average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (FE). It is a public health concern due to its potential to produce different virus types which may have increased mortality/morbidity in humans. Avian are the IV reservoir and have the ability to introduce virus types that are foreign to specific populations in all venues on the planet. It is in the mutual best interest of public health and swine production to mitigate the introduction of different virus types in swine and to control existing infections in swine populations with a goal of establishing SI-free herds. Mitigation for swine populations can occur through vaccination, diagnosis/isolation, and Biosecurity procedures designed to reduce/eliminate IV introduction into swine production facilities. In addition, preventing the interaction of infected humans with swine is another component of swine population Biosecurity.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology / Elizabeth Davis / The immune status of an individual host or among a population is affected by important variables including the source and route of potential natural exposure and for vaccination consist of vaccine type, potency, and virus strain; vaccination route and schedule; and individual host factors. Although, perhaps, often overlooked, it is essential to have a basic understanding of the laboratory methods used to measure and assess the host’s immune status. The precision, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of a method must be well defined. Moreover, an “adequate,” acceptable, or diagnostic value for each method must be clearly defined so that a particular test result for a patient can be meaningfully interpreted in relation to the patient’s history and clinical management. The reasons for performing rabies serology can range from diagnosis of infection to investigation of epitope specificity of an anti-rabies virus glycoprotein monoclonal antibody. Characterization of an antibody’s affinity, specificity, quantity, and neutralizing function, and class/subclass are achieved by various methods. Many serological techniques developed over the past five decades differ not only in their ability to detect the function, affinity and specificity of rabies virus antibodies, but also in the ease and practicality with which they are performed. To select an appropriate method and appropriately interpret test results, it is essential to understand the specific strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of available methods. The decision to use a specific assay should start with the purpose of testing and the intended application of results. Other factors to consider are the assay complexity, degree of precision and/or accuracy, specificity and range of detection. Given the importance of RVNA levels in the prevention of human and animal rabies, guidelines for adequate vaccination should be stated in terms that are readily understood by individuals-at-risk and health care providers, both veterinary and medical, who will use the recommendations for clinical management of humans or animals. Across the globe, the standardization of rabies serologic assays has a direct effect on the clinical use of human and animal products, including direct assessment of, and assessment of host responses to, rabies vaccines for the prevention of rabies.

A belief based on a personal experience that asthma incidence in New Zealand is interrelated with the indoor environment, led the author to establish the study between asthma and housing. A considerable period of time was spent first on studying the roots of the two issues, asthma and New Zealand housing. The historical experience showed that health and housing problems at the national level in the 19 th century in England were solved by state interference. The architectural background of this study created a need to cover some medical knowledge to understand the causes, symptoms and cure of asthma, if any. This knowledge was crucial while monitoring houses, designing the questionnaire, and analysing results. Two stages of monitoring were achieved in 2000 and 2001. In addition to the monitoring, there was an attempt to find out as much information as possible about any issues related to the health conditions, especially the respiratory disorders, and the houses. The study of housing included building construction, house dust mite allergen levels in the carpet, building drawings, and other issues in preparation for the next stage of analysis. The overwhelming quantity of information gathered about the 30 houses investigated in 2000 was so confusing that no statistical software package was seen as a perfect way for analysing it. It was decided then to establish comparisons between each factor investigated and asthma presence. Also, in most of the cases, the correlation between more than one factor with asthma rates was examined. The investigation of the relations between many issues and asthma showed that there were links between asthma incidence and some indoor conditions of houses. Raised timber floors, which were found in most of the houses to be un-insulated, and in all the cases to be on unprotected ground, were found to have a strong relation with asthma incidence. In these houses, it was found that high asthma incidence was related to a higher level of moisture indoors. Asthma incidence in houses having old carpet, moulds, pets, or smokers indoors was higher than asthma incidence in houses without these. Old houses were found to have more asthma incidence than new houses. All the allergen levels in the carpets were extremely high and they were all above the allergen levels induced by house dust mites that can provoke asthma in susceptible individuals. Based on the knowledge gained about the defective factors in housing affecting asthma, upgrading of the houses was designed. A house was chosen to be upgraded in three stages, each stage providing a different level of insulation. The upgrading costs were compared with the current national costs of health and heating to see what level of upgrading would be logical and cost-effective. National costs and savings were estimated in four cases each with different level of insulation. It was decided at the final stage of the study that insulating ceilings and floors in addition to other basic upgrading factors would provide savings in health and heating costs and would result in less CO2 emissions to the atmosphere of New Zealand. / Subscription resource available via Digital Dissertations only.

A belief based on a personal experience that asthma incidence in New Zealand is interrelated with the indoor environment, led the author to establish the study between asthma and housing. A considerable period of time was spent first on studying the roots of the two issues, asthma and New Zealand housing. The historical experience showed that health and housing problems at the national level in the 19 th century in England were solved by state interference. The architectural background of this study created a need to cover some medical knowledge to understand the causes, symptoms and cure of asthma, if any. This knowledge was crucial while monitoring houses, designing the questionnaire, and analysing results. Two stages of monitoring were achieved in 2000 and 2001. In addition to the monitoring, there was an attempt to find out as much information as possible about any issues related to the health conditions, especially the respiratory disorders, and the houses. The study of housing included building construction, house dust mite allergen levels in the carpet, building drawings, and other issues in preparation for the next stage of analysis. The overwhelming quantity of information gathered about the 30 houses investigated in 2000 was so confusing that no statistical software package was seen as a perfect way for analysing it. It was decided then to establish comparisons between each factor investigated and asthma presence. Also, in most of the cases, the correlation between more than one factor with asthma rates was examined. The investigation of the relations between many issues and asthma showed that there were links between asthma incidence and some indoor conditions of houses. Raised timber floors, which were found in most of the houses to be un-insulated, and in all the cases to be on unprotected ground, were found to have a strong relation with asthma incidence. In these houses, it was found that high asthma incidence was related to a higher level of moisture indoors. Asthma incidence in houses having old carpet, moulds, pets, or smokers indoors was higher than asthma incidence in houses without these. Old houses were found to have more asthma incidence than new houses. All the allergen levels in the carpets were extremely high and they were all above the allergen levels induced by house dust mites that can provoke asthma in susceptible individuals. Based on the knowledge gained about the defective factors in housing affecting asthma, upgrading of the houses was designed. A house was chosen to be upgraded in three stages, each stage providing a different level of insulation. The upgrading costs were compared with the current national costs of health and heating to see what level of upgrading would be logical and cost-effective. National costs and savings were estimated in four cases each with different level of insulation. It was decided at the final stage of the study that insulating ceilings and floors in addition to other basic upgrading factors would provide savings in health and heating costs and would result in less CO2 emissions to the atmosphere of New Zealand. / Subscription resource available via Digital Dissertations only.

A belief based on a personal experience that asthma incidence in New Zealand is interrelated with the indoor environment, led the author to establish the study between asthma and housing. A considerable period of time was spent first on studying the roots of the two issues, asthma and New Zealand housing. The historical experience showed that health and housing problems at the national level in the 19 th century in England were solved by state interference. The architectural background of this study created a need to cover some medical knowledge to understand the causes, symptoms and cure of asthma, if any. This knowledge was crucial while monitoring houses, designing the questionnaire, and analysing results. Two stages of monitoring were achieved in 2000 and 2001. In addition to the monitoring, there was an attempt to find out as much information as possible about any issues related to the health conditions, especially the respiratory disorders, and the houses. The study of housing included building construction, house dust mite allergen levels in the carpet, building drawings, and other issues in preparation for the next stage of analysis. The overwhelming quantity of information gathered about the 30 houses investigated in 2000 was so confusing that no statistical software package was seen as a perfect way for analysing it. It was decided then to establish comparisons between each factor investigated and asthma presence. Also, in most of the cases, the correlation between more than one factor with asthma rates was examined. The investigation of the relations between many issues and asthma showed that there were links between asthma incidence and some indoor conditions of houses. Raised timber floors, which were found in most of the houses to be un-insulated, and in all the cases to be on unprotected ground, were found to have a strong relation with asthma incidence. In these houses, it was found that high asthma incidence was related to a higher level of moisture indoors. Asthma incidence in houses having old carpet, moulds, pets, or smokers indoors was higher than asthma incidence in houses without these. Old houses were found to have more asthma incidence than new houses. All the allergen levels in the carpets were extremely high and they were all above the allergen levels induced by house dust mites that can provoke asthma in susceptible individuals. Based on the knowledge gained about the defective factors in housing affecting asthma, upgrading of the houses was designed. A house was chosen to be upgraded in three stages, each stage providing a different level of insulation. The upgrading costs were compared with the current national costs of health and heating to see what level of upgrading would be logical and cost-effective. National costs and savings were estimated in four cases each with different level of insulation. It was decided at the final stage of the study that insulating ceilings and floors in addition to other basic upgrading factors would provide savings in health and heating costs and would result in less CO2 emissions to the atmosphere of New Zealand. / Subscription resource available via Digital Dissertations only.

A belief based on a personal experience that asthma incidence in New Zealand is interrelated with the indoor environment, led the author to establish the study between asthma and housing. A considerable period of time was spent first on studying the roots of the two issues, asthma and New Zealand housing. The historical experience showed that health and housing problems at the national level in the 19 th century in England were solved by state interference. The architectural background of this study created a need to cover some medical knowledge to understand the causes, symptoms and cure of asthma, if any. This knowledge was crucial while monitoring houses, designing the questionnaire, and analysing results. Two stages of monitoring were achieved in 2000 and 2001. In addition to the monitoring, there was an attempt to find out as much information as possible about any issues related to the health conditions, especially the respiratory disorders, and the houses. The study of housing included building construction, house dust mite allergen levels in the carpet, building drawings, and other issues in preparation for the next stage of analysis. The overwhelming quantity of information gathered about the 30 houses investigated in 2000 was so confusing that no statistical software package was seen as a perfect way for analysing it. It was decided then to establish comparisons between each factor investigated and asthma presence. Also, in most of the cases, the correlation between more than one factor with asthma rates was examined. The investigation of the relations between many issues and asthma showed that there were links between asthma incidence and some indoor conditions of houses. Raised timber floors, which were found in most of the houses to be un-insulated, and in all the cases to be on unprotected ground, were found to have a strong relation with asthma incidence. In these houses, it was found that high asthma incidence was related to a higher level of moisture indoors. Asthma incidence in houses having old carpet, moulds, pets, or smokers indoors was higher than asthma incidence in houses without these. Old houses were found to have more asthma incidence than new houses. All the allergen levels in the carpets were extremely high and they were all above the allergen levels induced by house dust mites that can provoke asthma in susceptible individuals. Based on the knowledge gained about the defective factors in housing affecting asthma, upgrading of the houses was designed. A house was chosen to be upgraded in three stages, each stage providing a different level of insulation. The upgrading costs were compared with the current national costs of health and heating to see what level of upgrading would be logical and cost-effective. National costs and savings were estimated in four cases each with different level of insulation. It was decided at the final stage of the study that insulating ceilings and floors in addition to other basic upgrading factors would provide savings in health and heating costs and would result in less CO2 emissions to the atmosphere of New Zealand. / Subscription resource available via Digital Dissertations only.

A belief based on a personal experience that asthma incidence in New Zealand is interrelated with the indoor environment, led the author to establish the study between asthma and housing. A considerable period of time was spent first on studying the roots of the two issues, asthma and New Zealand housing. The historical experience showed that health and housing problems at the national level in the 19 th century in England were solved by state interference. The architectural background of this study created a need to cover some medical knowledge to understand the causes, symptoms and cure of asthma, if any. This knowledge was crucial while monitoring houses, designing the questionnaire, and analysing results. Two stages of monitoring were achieved in 2000 and 2001. In addition to the monitoring, there was an attempt to find out as much information as possible about any issues related to the health conditions, especially the respiratory disorders, and the houses. The study of housing included building construction, house dust mite allergen levels in the carpet, building drawings, and other issues in preparation for the next stage of analysis. The overwhelming quantity of information gathered about the 30 houses investigated in 2000 was so confusing that no statistical software package was seen as a perfect way for analysing it. It was decided then to establish comparisons between each factor investigated and asthma presence. Also, in most of the cases, the correlation between more than one factor with asthma rates was examined. The investigation of the relations between many issues and asthma showed that there were links between asthma incidence and some indoor conditions of houses. Raised timber floors, which were found in most of the houses to be un-insulated, and in all the cases to be on unprotected ground, were found to have a strong relation with asthma incidence. In these houses, it was found that high asthma incidence was related to a higher level of moisture indoors. Asthma incidence in houses having old carpet, moulds, pets, or smokers indoors was higher than asthma incidence in houses without these. Old houses were found to have more asthma incidence than new houses. All the allergen levels in the carpets were extremely high and they were all above the allergen levels induced by house dust mites that can provoke asthma in susceptible individuals. Based on the knowledge gained about the defective factors in housing affecting asthma, upgrading of the houses was designed. A house was chosen to be upgraded in three stages, each stage providing a different level of insulation. The upgrading costs were compared with the current national costs of health and heating to see what level of upgrading would be logical and cost-effective. National costs and savings were estimated in four cases each with different level of insulation. It was decided at the final stage of the study that insulating ceilings and floors in addition to other basic upgrading factors would provide savings in health and heating costs and would result in less CO2 emissions to the atmosphere of New Zealand. / Subscription resource available via Digital Dissertations only.

Master of Public Health / Kinesiology / David A. Dzewaltowski / Background: This study examined youth moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels during flag football practice and compared youth MVPA in practices led by trained or untrained, and by experienced or inexperienced coaches. Methods: Boys (n = 111, mean age= 7.9 ± 1.2 years) from 14 recreation flag football teams wore an accelerometer during two practices. Each team's volunteer head coach reported prior training and coaching experience. Results: Mixed-model team-adjusted means showed the proportion of practice time spent in sedentary (13 ± 1%), MVPA (34 ± 2%), and vigorous (12 ± 1%) activity. Practice contributed ~20 minutes of MVPA towards public health guidelines. There was no significant difference in percentage time spent in MVPA between teams with trained (mean = 33.3%, 95% CI = 29.4%, 37.2%) and untrained coaches (mean= 35.9%, 95% CI = 25.5%, 42.4%) or between experienced (mean = 34.1%, 95% CI= 30.2%, 38.0%) and inexperienced coaches (mean = 33.8, 95% CI = 27.9%, 39.7%). Conclusion: Although sport provides a setting for youth to be physically active at a moderate to vigorous level, two-thirds of practice was spent sedentary or in light activity. Having participated in a coach training program was not associated with higher MVPA. Further research is needed to inform volunteer coach training programs that provide coaches with skills necessary to increase the percentage of practice time spent in MVPA.

Master of Public Health / Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology / Justin J. Kastner / Globalization has resulted in closer integration of economies and societies. It has contributed to the emergence of a new world order which involves a vast nexus of global and regional institutions, surrounded by transnational corporations, and non-governmental agencies seeking to influence the agenda and direction of international public policy. Health is a center point of geopolitics, security, trade, and foreign policy. Expansion in the territory of health and an increase in the number of health actors have profound implications for global health governance. Accordingly, the focus of the thesis is on endorsing the three core elements of governance proposed by Ackleson and Lapid, which comprises a system of (formal and informal) political coordination—across multiple levels from the local to the global—among public agencies and private corporations seeking to accomplish common goals and resolve problems through collective action. This shift in global governance has been prominent in the health sector with the formation of numerous public-private partnerships, coalitions, networks, and informal collaborations. In an effort to cope with the proliferation of players in the health sector, the World Health Organization has undergone gradual transformation in its governance framework. It is important to examine the evolution of the governance architecture of the WHO, as well as its effective application in the current global environment maintaining the organization’s legitimacy. This study tries to offer a comprehensive account of the WHO’s history, its successes and failures, as well as challenges and opportunities confronting the organization. Embracing public-private partnerships and formal-informal interactions does not simply fill governance gaps opened by globalization, but helps cluster in narrower areas of cooperation, where the strategic interests of multilateral organizations (e.g., the WHO), states, and transnational actors intersect. Global health problems require global solutions, and neither public nor private organizations can solve these issues on their own. The forms of governance based on the Acklesonian-Lapidian definition assist in accomplishing public health goals through shared decision-making and risk taking.

Master of Public Health / Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology / John A. Pickrell / Airway inflammation is characterized by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6) and chemokine (IL-8) from airway epithelial cells. To screen for the potential inhalation toxicity as inflammation, we tested exposure of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs)-Titanium dioxide, Magnesium oxide, FastAct and Titanium Silicon Oxide-Manganese (TSO-Mn)-Aerogel to BEAS 2B human bronchial epithelial cells. A monolayer of cells having 80 – 90% confluence was treated with different concentrations of the NPs and feedlot dust as positive control for inflammatory processes. Releases of IL-6 and IL-8 into the culture supernatant fluid were measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Characterization of NPs such as solubility and agglomeration in cell culture media were carried out to predict the effect of these properties in cellular responses. Feedlot dust increased the release of both IL-6 and IL-8 by 3 to >5 fold, suggesting an inflammatory effect while NPs did not show any effect either at increasing the dose or duration of the incubation with cell. The NPs at higher doses reduced the total IL-6 and IL-8 released, suggesting that the NPs may have bound with the cytokine and chemokine or somehow interfered with their function. The inert activity of NPs was further investigated by inspecting cell morphology, counting viable cells and assessing mitochondrial membrane potential. Concentrations at 1000 mg/L of TiO2 and 250 mg/L TSO-Mn-Aerogel could apparently limit lung epithelial cell multiplication by partially occupying the intercellular spaces, qualitatively increasing the number of cell pores and resulting in less recovered cells after 12 hours of incubation. Cells exposed to feedlot dust and titanium NPs were less viable as indicated by propidium iodide staining, but cells exposed to TSO-Mn-aerogel were more apoptotic as indicated JC-1 staining. These changes occurred at projected inhalation exposure levels > 40-100 fold above the nuisance dust level for TiO2 and permissible exposure limit for Manganese. No MgO exposures reduced apparently recovered cells to < 50% as indicated by manual hemocytometer counts (+ 15-25% variability). The lack of toxicity was most likely reflected from the high MgO solubility in the incubating media, and the relative non-toxicity of MgO.