Integration of Airborne Dust Prediction Systems and Vegetation Phenology to Track Pollen for Asthma Alerts in Public Health Decision Support Systems

No abstract availabl

Earthworm preference: analzying the effects of soil moisture, pH, and calcium levels on the distribution of Lumbricus rubellus.

Studies have shown that the earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus, is often less abundant in soils with lower pH. However, it is not known if earthworms physiologically cannot tolerate low pH or if low pH soils lack nutrients (e.g., calcium) that are necessary for earthworm survival. To determine the effects of pH, moisture, and calcium levels on earthworm distribution, soil samples were taken at four separate sites, and the pH, moisture, and calcium levels of each were recorded. Experiments were run by manipulating the pH, moisture, and calcium levels of these soils and adding worms from each of the sites to test soil preference of worms. The worms preferred soil with relatively high moisture, calcium, and pH levels. The preference by the worms depends upon the original pH, calcium, and moisture levels of the soil from which the worm was taken. Since acid rain affects soil pH and, therefore, calcium levels due to increased nutrient leaching, we conclude that an increase in acid rain could affect earthworm habitat. However, further studies are needed to assess the magnitude to which earthworm habitat would be affected.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/54362/1/2798.pdfDescription of 2798.pdf : Access restricted to on-site users at the U-M Biological Station

RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN PREMATURE HEART DISEASE DEATHS IN NEW MEXICO: WHAT IS THE ROLE OF DIABETES?

Multiple-cause mortality files from 1999– 2001 were obtained to describe premature heart disease (PHD) deaths and the role of diabetes as a contributing cause in heart disease (HD) mortality in American Indians, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic Whites in New Mexico. The proportion and rate of PHD and diabetes-related HD death were calculated and reported by race/ethnicity and gender. Results indicate that from 1999 to 2001, 24% of all deaths in New Mexico reported HD as the leading cause of death. Of these, 16.6% occurred in persons ,65 years of age and were therefore classified as premature. The proportion of premature HD deaths was substantially higher in the American-Indian (29.2%) and Hispanic (20.8%) populations compared to Whites (13.7%). Furthermore, diabetes contributed to almost 18% of premature HD deaths in American Indians and Hispanics and to 10% of premature HD among Whites. These findings suggest that American Indians and Hispanics are disproportionately affected by premature HD death and that diabetes as a contributing cause is greater among these populations compared to non- Hispanic Whites

Integration of Dust Prediction Systems and Vegetation Phenology to Track Pollen for Asthma Alerts in Public Health

Initial efforts to develop a deterministic model for predicting and simulating pollen release and downwind concentration to study dependencies of phenology on meteorology will be discussed. The development of a real-time, rapid response pollen release and transport system as a component of the New Mexico Environmental Public Health Tracking System (EPHTS), is based on meteorological models, NASA Earth science results (ESR), and an in-situ network of phenology cameras. The plan is to detect pollen release verified using ground based atmospheric pollen sampling within a few hours using daily MODIS daa in nearly real-time from Direct Broadcast, similar to the MODIS Rapid Response System for fire detection. As MODIS winds down, the NPOESS-VIIRS sensor will assume daily vegetation monitoring tasks. Also, advancements in geostationary satellites will allow 1km vegetation indices at 15-30 minute intervals. The pollen module in EPHTS will be used to: (1) support public health decisions for asthma and allergy alerts in New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma; (2) augment the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (EPHTN); and (3) extend surveillance services to local healthcare providers subscribing to the Syndrome Reporting Information System (SYRIS). Previous studies in NASA's public health applications portfolios provide the infrastructure for this effort. The team is confident that NASA and NOAA ESR data, combined into a verified and validated dust model will yield groundbreaking results using the modified dust model to transport pollen. The growing ESR/health infrastructure is based on results from a rapid prototype scoping effort for pollen detection and simulation carried out by the principal investigators

List of all indicators in the Diabetes Indicators and Data Sources Internet Tool (DIDIT) by type

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "An Innovative Approach to Enhancing the Surveillance Capacity of State-based Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs: The Diabetes Indicators and Data Sources Internet Tool (DIDIT)"</p><p>Preventing Chronic Disease 2005;2(3):-.</p><p>Published online 15 Jun 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1364523.</p><p></p

List of diabetes indicators and their associated national-, state-, and Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP)-specific data sources

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "An Innovative Approach to Enhancing the Surveillance Capacity of State-based Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs: The Diabetes Indicators and Data Sources Internet Tool (DIDIT)"</p><p>Preventing Chronic Disease 2005;2(3):-.</p><p>Published online 15 Jun 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1364523.</p><p></p

Information in the Diabetes Indicators and Data Sources Internet Tool (DIDIT) on each of 38 diabetes indicators

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "An Innovative Approach to Enhancing the Surveillance Capacity of State-based Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs: The Diabetes Indicators and Data Sources Internet Tool (DIDIT)"</p><p>Preventing Chronic Disease 2005;2(3):-.</p><p>Published online 15 Jun 2005</p><p>PMCID:PMC1364523.</p><p></p