Diet And Dental Health In Predynastic Egypt: A Comparison Of Hierakonpolis And Naqada

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2006Seven dietary indicators on 364 dentitions of working class Predynastic Egyptians from Hierakonpolis and Naqada are examined in this dissertation. The majority of the samples from both sites date to the Naqada 11 period (3500-3200 BC), during which these were the two main urban centers for Upper Egypt. Both sites are located on the west bank of the Nile approximately 130 km from one-another. The samples consist of adults and juveniles ranging from 6 years to over 50 years of age. The dietary indicators, which include caries, calculus, abscess, periodontal disease, macrowear, microwear, and hypoplastic enamel defects are used to look for statistically significant differences between working class inhabitants of the two sites as well as between the sex and age groups within each site. The analysis is used to address four main research questions. (1) What combination of the above indicators is the best for establishing an overall picture of diet and dental health? Results illustrate the importance of using a wide array of indictors. (2) Which of the available flora and fauna were being eaten? While each specific food could no be identified individually, cultivated items, such as wheat, barley or millet were being eaten in the form of bread, that raw vegetables were consumed by all individuals at Hierakonpolis but mostly women and children at Naqada, and that at least some meat and/or fish was consumed at both sites. (3) Were food types found as burial offerings were being eaten? Consumption of at least two burial offerings, bread and yellow nutsedge (Hierakonpolis only), are supported by the data. (4) Were the working class inhabitants of Hierakonpolis and Naqada consuming the same diet? Differences and similarities in the diet and dental health between inhabitants of the two sites are examined. While the major portions of the diet appear to be similar, this study found both dietary and behavioral differences between the working class members of these sites

A pilot study of heart rate variability biofeedback therapy in the treatment of perinatal depression on a specialized perinatal psychiatry inpatient unit

Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) therapy may be useful in treating the prominent anxiety features of perinatal depression. We investigated the use of this non-pharmacologic therapy among women hospitalized with severe perinatal depression

The burden of prostate cancer in Trinidad and Tobago: one of the highest mortality rates in the world

Purpose In Trinidad and Tobago (TT), prostate cancer (CaP) is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the leading cause of cancer deaths among men. TT currently has one of the highest CaP mortality rates in the world. Methods: 6,064 incident and 3,704 mortality cases of CaP occurring in TT from January 1995 to 31 December 2009 reported to the Dr. Elizabeth Quamina Cancer population-based cancer registry for TT, were analyzed to examine CaP survival, incidence, and mortality rates and trends by ancestry and geography. Results: The age-standardized CaP incidence and mortality rates (per 100,000) based on the 1960 world-standardized in 2009 were 64.2 and 47.1 per 100,000. The mortality rate in TT increased between 1995 (37.9 per 100,000) and 2009 (79.4 per 100,000), while the rate in the US decreased from 37.3 per 100,000 to 22.1 per 100,000 over the same period. Fewer African ancestry patients received treatment relative to those of Indian and mixed ancestry (45.7%, 60.3%, and 60.9%, respectively). Conclusions: Notwithstanding the limitations surrounding data quality, our findings highlight the increasing burden of CaP in TT and the need for improved surveillance and standard of care. Our findings highlight the need for optimized models to project cancer rates in developing countries like TT. This study also provides the rationale for targeted screening and optimized treatment for CaP to ameliorate the rates we report. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10552-018-1038-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

A framework for the development of a global standardised marine taxon reference image database (SMarTaR-ID) to support image-based analyses

Video and image data are regularly used in the field of benthic ecology to document biodiversity. However, their use is subject to a number of challenges, principally the identification of taxa within the images without associated physical specimens. The challenge of applying traditional taxonomic keys to the identification of fauna from images has led to the development of personal, group, or institution level reference image catalogues of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) or morphospecies. Lack of standardisation among these reference catalogues has led to problems with observer bias and the inability to combine datasets across studies. In addition, lack of a common reference standard is stifling efforts in the application of artificial intelligence to taxon identification. Using the North Atlantic deep sea as a case study, we propose a database structure to facilitate standardisation of morphospecies image catalogues between research groups and support future use in multiple front-end applications. We also propose a framework for coordination of international efforts to develop reference guides for the identification of marine species from images. The proposed structure maps to the Darwin Core standard to allow integration with existing databases. We suggest a management framework where high-level taxonomic groups are curated by a regional team, consisting of both end users and taxonomic experts. We identify a mechanism by which overall quality of data within a common reference guide could be raised over the next decade. Finally, we discuss the role of a common reference standard in advancing marine ecology and supporting sustainable use of this ecosystem

Determining Elementary Students\u27 Mathematical Self-Efficacy and Attitudes towards Mathematics through Journal Writing

Elementary students\u27 self-efficacy and attitudes towards mathematics can be challenging to measure. Bandura (1997) describes perceived self-efficacy as not a measure of the skills one has but a belief about what one can do under different sets of conditions with whatever skills one possesses (p. 37). Attitudes in the educational setting represent a desired outcome relative to a specific target (McCoach, Gable, & Madura, 2013). Efficacy and attitudes continue to influence educational attainments (Bandura, 1997). This sequential mixed-methods study explored grade 5 students\u27 mathematical self-efficacy and enjoyment, after implementing a 10-week journal writing treatment. The research questions were: 1. Is there a difference between students exposed to journal writing and not exposed, after controlling for initial differences on the pre-test, with respect to: mathematical self-efficacy and enjoyment? 2. Is there a difference between male and female students, after controlling for initial differences on the pre-test, with respect to: mathematical self-efficacy and enjoyment? 3. Is there an interaction between gender and treatment group, after controlling for initial differences on the pre-test, with respect to: mathematical self-efficacy and enjoyment? 4. How do grade 5 students in the treatment group respond to journal writing prompts regarding affective/attitudinal and dispositions in the content of mathematics? 5. In what ways are gender perspectives revealed through the journal writing responses? The instrument was administered to grade 5 participants in the journal writing treatment group (N=79) at one elementary school and the comparison group (N=51) from a comparable elementary school in the same district who were not exposed to the treatment. Two 2-way ANCOVAs revealed no significant differences (p\u3c.025) between treatment groups, gender, or the interaction between treatment variable and gender with respect to Mathematical Self-Efficacy and Enjoyment. Thematic analysis of students\u27 journals revealed five themes: perseverance, enjoyment and confidence, frustration and confusion, embarrassment and apprehension, and performance expectations. Female journal responses expressed an in-depth emotional connection to their attitudes and disposition towards mathematics, as compared to male journal responses. Results from this study will help educational leaders adapt instructional approaches and classroom discourse with respect to elementary students\u27 self-efficacy and attitudes towards mathematics

Risk of bias in cross-sectional studies: Protocol for a scoping review of concepts and tools

Cross-sectional studies are commonly used to study human health and disease, but are especially susceptible to bias. This scoping review aims to identify and describe available tools to assess the risk of bias (RoB) in cross-sectional studies and to compile the key bias concepts relevant to cross-sectional studies into an item bank. Using the JBI scoping review methodology, the strategy to locate relevant RoB concepts and tools is a combination of database searches, prospective review of PROSPERO registry records; and consultation with knowledge users and content experts. English language records will be included if they describe tools, checklists, or instruments which describe or permit assessment of RoB for cross-sectional studies. Systematic reviews will be included if they consider eligible RoB tools or use RoB tools for RoB of cross-sectional studies. All records will be independently screened, selected, and extracted by one researcher and checked by a second. An analytic framework will be used to structure the extraction of data. Results for the scoping review are pending. Results from this scoping review will be used to inform future selection of RoB tools and to consider whether development of a new RoB tool for cross-sectional studies is needed

Contribution of avoidable mortality to life expectancy inequalities in Wales: a decomposition by age and by cause between 2002 and 2020

Objectives To explore the contribution of avoidable mortality to life expectancy inequalities in Wales during 2002–2020. Design Observational study. Setting Wales, 2002–20, including early data from the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We used routine statistics for 2002–2020 on population and deaths in Wales stratified by age, sex, deprivation quintile and cause of death. We estimated the contribution of avoidable causes of death and specific age-categories using the Arriaga decomposition method to highlight priorities for action. Results Life expectancy inequalities rose 2002–20 amongst both sexes, driven by serial decreases in life expectancy amongst the most deprived quintiles. The contributions of amenable and preventable mortality to life expectancy inequalities changed relatively little between 2002 and 2020, with larger rises in non-avoidable causes. Key avoidable mortality conditions driving the life expectancy gap in the most recent period of 2018–2020 for females were circulatory disease, cancers, respiratory disease and alcohol- and drug-related deaths, and also injuries for males. Conclusions Life expectancy inequalities widened during 2002–20, driven by deteriorating life expectancy in the most deprived quintiles. Sustained investment in prevention post-COVID-19 is needed to address growing health inequity in Wales; there remains a role for the National Health Service in ensuring equitable healthcare access to alongside wider policies that promote equity