Sexual Violence Prevention at Historically Black Colleges and Universities throughout Georgia

Sexual violence is a public health issue of epidemic proportions, particularly in regards to the high prevalence rates on college campuses in the United States. This paper begins with a review of the literature regarding campus sexual assault, with a specific focus on sexual violence at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) within Georgia. Georgia is home to seven HBCUs, which are located throughout the state and are a mix of public and private four-year institutions. The paper then describes a survey of key college and university administrators at these seven schools. Staff members (21 in total) were sent a survey regarding their perceptions of sexual violence on campus as well as their personal and the institution's effectiveness in responding to and preventing the problem. Staff were asked additional questions about the types of intervention and prevention programs and resources that exist on campus and information on the school's official guidelines and response protocols related to sexual assault on campus. Two key suggestions regarding enhanced prevention and intervention strategies are recommended.Master of Public Healt

What’s in the Pipeline? Evidence on the Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via Building Wastewater Plumbing Systems

There is emerging evidence of the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via the sanitary plumbing wastewater system, a known transmission pathway of SARS-CoV-1. These events can no longer be dismissed as isolated cases, yet a lack of awareness and of basic research makes it impossible to say just how widespread this mode of transmission might be. Virus is transmitted within wastewater systems by the aerosolisation of wastewater and subsequent transport of bioaerosols on naturally occurring airflows within the piped network. Central to the debate around risk to building occupants from SARS-CoV-2 spread via wastewater plumbing systems is the question of infectivity of faeces, urine and associated aerosols. This paper presents an examination of the processes which underlie this mode of transmission, and the existing epidemiological evidence, as well as existing mitigation strategies; significant gaps in the state of the knowledge are also identified. It is hoped that this review will cultivate a wider awareness and understanding of this most overlooked of threats, and to facilitate the selection and adoption of appropriate mitigation strategies. Key gaps in the knowledge span the rate of generation of bioaerosols within the building drainage system, their composition and transport properties, and the viability and infectivity of virions and other pathogens which they carry. While much of this work will be conducted in the laboratory, we also identify a dearth of field observations, without which it is impossible to truly grasp the scale of this problem, its character, or its solution

Torres Strait baseline study : pilot study final report June 1993 : trace metal concentrations in sediments and selected marine biota as indicator organisms and food items in the diet of Torres Strait Islanders and coastal Papuans

The Torres Strait Baseline Study (TSBS) was instigated in response to concerns by Torres Strait Islanders, scientists and conservationists about possible heavy metal contamination within the Torres Strait (see Lawrence & Dight, 1991 for background to the study). This concern arose as a result of mining activities within the Fly River catchment of Papua New Guinea. The purpose of the study is to acquire data that will assist in determining the extent of influence of Fly River discharge and whether there is evidence of elevated metal concentrations within the Torres Strait

Detection and seroprevalence of morbillivirus and other paramyxoviruses in geriatric cats with and without evidence of azotemic chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Feline morbillivirus (FeMV) is associated with the presence of tubulo-interstitial nephritis (TIN) in cats, however the seroprevalence of FeMV in the UK and the association between the presence of FeMV and renal azotemia is unknown HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To identify whether paramyxoviruses are present in urine samples of geriatric cats and to develop an assay to assess FeMV seroprevalence. To investigate the relationship between both urinary paramyxovirus (including FeMV) excretion and FeMV seroprevalence and azotemic chronic kidney disease (CKD). ANIMALS: Seventy-nine cats (40 for FeMV detection; 72 for seroprevalence). METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional, case control study. Viral RNA was extracted from urine for RT-PCR. PCR products were sequenced for virus identification and comparison. The FeMV N protein gene was cloned and partially purified for use as an antigen to screen cat sera for anti-FeMV antibodies by Western Blot. RESULTS: Feline morbillivirus RNA from five distinct morbilliviruses were identified. Detection was not significantly different between azotemic CKD (1/16) and nonazotemic groups (4/24; P = .36). Three distinct, non-FeMV paramyxoviruses were present in the nonazotemic group but their absence from the azotemic group was not statistically significant (P = .15). 6/14 (43%) azotemic cats and 40/55 (73%) nonazotemic cats were seropositive (P = .06). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Feline morbillivirus was detected in cats in the UK for the First time. However, there was no association between virus prevalence or seropositivity and azotemic CKD. These data do not support the hypothesis that FeMV infection is associated with the development of azotemic CKD in cats in the UK

Safe levels of cadmium intake to prevent renal toxicity in human subjects

The present review attempts to provide an update of the scientific knowledge on the renal toxicity which occurs in human subjects as a result of chronic ingestion of low-level dietary Cd. It highlights important features of Cd toxicology and sources of uncertainty in the assessment of health risk due to dietary Cd. It also discusses potential mechanisms for increased susceptibility to Cd toxicity in individuals with diabetes. Exposure assessment on the basis of Cd levels in foodstuffs reveals that vegetables and cereals are the main sources of dietary Cd, although Cd is also found in meat, albeit to a lesser extent. Cd accumulates particularly in the kidney and liver, and hence offal contains relatively high amounts. Fish contains only small quantities of Cd, while crustaceans and molluscs may accumulate larger amounts from the aquatic environment. Data on Cd accumulation in human kidney and liver obtained from autopsy studies are presented, along with results of epidemiological studies showing the relationship between renal tubular dysfunction and kidney Cd burden. These findings suggest that a kidney Cd level of 50 mug/g wet weight is a maximum tolerable level in order to avoid abnormal kidney function. This renal Cd burden corresponds to a urinary Cd excretion of 2 mug/d. Accordingly, safe daily levels of Cd intake should be kept below 30 mug per person. Individual variations in Cd absorption and sensitivity to toxicity predicts that a dietary Cd intake of 30 mug/d may result in a slight renal dysfunction in about 1% of the adult population. The previous guideline for a maximum recommended Cd intake of 1 mug/kg body weight per d is thus shown to be too high to ensure that renal dysfunction does not occur as a result of dietary Cd intake

α1-adrenoceptor antagonists and 5α-reductase inhibitors for urinary tract symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a condition that develops in the majority of men and is by some estimates is the most prevalent of all minor ailments. A healthily functioning prostate is important for the workings of the male reproductive and urinary systems. The most frequently prescribed first-line pharmacological treatments for lower urinary tract symptoms attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia are α1-adrenoceptor antagonists and 5α-reductase inhibitors; surgery can also be carried out. Expert consensus and a strong body of evidence show these drugs are safe and effective. However, they come with a variety of side-effects so patients' priorities and lifestyles will influence pharmacological management. Abstract published with permission

Determining the stages of exercise in a convenience sample of differing genders and ages at a Midwest health science center

Scholarly project (M.S.)