BS, Kent State University, 2024, College of Public Health

Air pollution disproportionately affects minoritized populations, which has been studied extensively in environmental justice, public health, and environmental policy research. However, due to the complex nature of air pollution management, it is especially difficult to keep under control. While strides have been made since the environmental protection agency (EPA) was formed in 1970, current air pollution levels are still accelerating climate change and those who are producing the most emissions are experiencing the least of their effects. For this research, I examined what is currently hindering progress in air pollution management. I looked at where siloing, or the separation between fields, exists in current air pollution management, and how communication between air pollution experts, community members, and industries can be improved to reduce emissions. After analyzing historical newspaper articles from Northeast Ohio between the years 1870-2020 and conducting interviews with air pollution experts in the fields of environmental justice, environmental policy, and public health, I examined how siloing has evolved over time, and how it shaped the siloing that exists today. I found that siloing is a complex issue with extensive historical context, and that it is faced in nearly every aspect of air pollution regulation. With these findings, I propose strategies to more effectively manage air pollution.

Committee: Ashley Nickels (Advisor); Susan Roxburgh (Committee Member); Lan Yin Hsiao (Committee Member); Sheryl Chatfield (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Health; Environmental Justice; Environmental Management; Health

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2022, History

In September of 1858, a mob of Staten Islanders burned down a quarantine station in order to protect their own health and safety. Though Richmond County citizens destroyed over thirty acres of New York State property in the two-day riot, legal authorities determined that a crime had not been committed. It was an act of "salutary violence." This seemingly paradoxical event shaped the course of health system development in the nation's premier city. Scholars have overlooked the riot's significance or characterized it as an outburst of xenophobic violence. This dissertation argues that the riot was not spontaneous or reactionary. It did not follow a major outbreak of epidemic disease, and it occurred when immigration was at an all-time low. It presents layered contexts to recast the riot as the climax of a longstanding movement that crystalized in the wake of administrative changes at the institution. The polarized political climate of antebellum New York deepened existing tensions, as the quarantine controversy split along party lines. Understanding how momentum for the quarantine relocation movement was gathered through state legislation, sustained through regional support, and ultimately cemented when Staten Islanders became unified by the threat of quarantine expansion, presents a better causal framework for the riot than shallow arguments of fear and xenophobia alone. In the event's aftermath, communities united to resist State conscription to host the "dangerous" institution and lobbied for their own protection. The riot and quarantine relocation movement raised questions about the nature of public health that we still grapple with today: What public does public health protect? This dissertation demonstrates that community level activism, violent protest, and even the will of the mob, shaped the trajectory of public health in the United States.

Committee: Jonathan Sadowsky (Committee Co-Chair); John Broich (Committee Co-Chair); Erin Lamb (Committee Member); Peter Shulman (Committee Member) Subjects: American History; Environmental Health; Environmental Justice; Health; Medical Ethics; Public Health

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2019, Medicine: Epidemiology (Environmental Health)

Background: Exhibiting a dual role with regards to human health, manganese (Mn) is necessary in trace quantities; however, at increased exposure levels, the metal poses a risk to neurologic functions. Previous studies have described negative associations between elevated concentrations of Mn and neurodevelopmental deficits. Additionally, supporting the dual role of Mn as both a nutrient and a neurotoxicant, a biphasic dose-response relationship between Mn exposure and cognition has been described. In particular, children are extremely vulnerable to neurologic insults and negative impacts during the early years may persist. Therefore, this dissertation aims to understand the impact of Mn exposure on cognition among school-age children living in Appalachian Ohio. Methods: First, a literature review was conducted to gain an understanding of previous studies examining Mn and cognition and identify gaps in the research. Utilizing the Communities Actively Researching Exposure Study (CARES), we analyzed Mn exposure data (Blood: MnB, Hair: MnH and Toenails: MnT) and cognitive measures (academic achievement and intelligence quotients (IQ)) among school-aged children living in eastern Ohio, an area with excess environmental exposure to Mn. We calculated geometric means (GM) and frequencies for sociodemographic information and metal concentrations in biological specimen. We explored linear dose-response associations through adjusted multiple regression models. Due to the biologic necessity of Mn, we additionally assessed nonlinear relationships. Results: The majority of the CARES participants are Caucasian and have parents with greater than 12 years of education. The GMs were as follows: MnB: 9.73 µg/L; MnH: 405.26 ng/g; MnT: 0.67 µg/g (Chapter 4). Mn concentrations measured in hair and toenails were significantly correlated [r = 0.34 p = <0.001 (Chapter 3); r = 0.37 p =0.0001 (Chapter 4)]. After adjustment for covariates, there were no significant associations between (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Kelly Brunst Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Kim Dietrich Ph.D. (Committee Member); Erin Haynes Dr.P.H. (Committee Member); Heidi Sucharew Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Epidemiology

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2020, Environmental Science

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) formed by cyanobacteria are found in many water ecosystems and can disrupt water usage and damage the natural environment. These cyanobacteria often produce various toxins, such as the hepatotoxin microcystins (MC), that directly threaten public health. HABs are increasingly becoming more intense and frequent in the United States and around the world due to eutrophication and climate change. These harmful cyanobacteria blooms and toxins present in source water for drinking water treatment plants are usually removed to provide safe drinking water for communities. Water treatment plants produce daily waste called water treatment residuals (WTR) that can contain the removed cyanobacteria and their cyanotoxins. As current WTR disposal methods, such as storage in lagoons or waste disposal areas, become more difficult to sustain environmentally and economically, agricultural land application has become a beneficial future disposal option. However, WTR-applied lands, some of which may be used for growing crops meant for human consumption, may contain these cyanobacteria and their cyanotoxins from the WTR and pose a public health threat. Little is known about the comprehensive microbiome profile of WTR, especially key community players, such as cyanobacteria, cyanophage, and symbiotic bacteria (potential toxin degraders) present in bloom ecosystems. Feasible biocontrol solutions for reducing both cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in this lesser known environmental matrix are necessary for protecting human health and the environment. Chapter 1 is a literature review that highlights the current knowledge around cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, and the role climate change is playing in the proliferation of the two, particularly in the Midwest and Lake Erie. Insight into Lake Erie-specific public health concerns, with unique environmental matrices becoming new exposure pathways for toxin, as well as the current knowledge gaps, are included. Lastly, HAB co (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jiyoung Lee (Advisor); Nicholas Basta (Committee Member); Jay Martin (Committee Member) Subjects: Biology; Climate Change; Environmental Health; Environmental Science; Microbiology; Public Health

MA, University of Cincinnati, 2019, Arts and Sciences: Communication

This study analyzes the discourse of community participation within a multi-stakeholder bureaucratic model of public health intervention in West Bengal, India, and highlights the role that vulnerable populations play in the well-meaning participatory health interventions designed for them. A total of 13 individuals (including 5 in-depth interviews and one focus group discussion with 3 community health worker s and 5 affected individuals) were interviewed for the project. Two research questions guide this thesis including: RQ1: How do stakeholders across various agencies construct the discourse of the nature of arsenic problem in West Bengal? and RQ 2: What roles do members from the affected communities play in the current well-meaning participatory processes and with what implications? The dataset revealed stakeholders depended on specific discourses (technical, economic, bureaucratic and moralistic) to discuss the nature of the problem of groundwater arsenic. It also highlighted how marginalization and gender inequalities are played out in the participatory health discourses.

Committee: Shaunak Sastry Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Zhuo Ban Ph.D. (Committee Member); Stephen Depoe Ph.D. (Committee Member); Heather Zoller Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2019, Public Health

Background: Occupational exposure to airborne chemical agents is a concern for thousands of workers in the United States. Regulatory limits determine the level at which workers may be exposed to chemical agents, and exposure over these limits may indicate a risk for health hazards. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate exposure to specific airborne chemical agents by industry group, by occupation group, and over time using occupational exposure monitoring data in order to determine potential groups of workers that should be targeted for intervention and future research. In addition, this study used an auto-coding program in order to code the free text job descriptions to standardized occupation codes for the first time, as only industry was provided as a standardized code within the applied dataset. Methods: The study employed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) and Occupational Safety and Health Information System (OIS) databases to evaluate personal air monitoring samples taken from 1979 through 2015. The OSHA IMIS/OIS is the largest occupational exposure database in the United States. Analyses were conducted in SAS. Exceedance fractions over an agent's threshold limit value (TLV) or permissible exposure limit (PEL) were calculated through frequency analyses and linear regression was used to determine changes in geometric mean of exposure level over time. Statistical procedures included using logistic regression and mixed-model analyses to obtain odds ratios for the likelihood of exposure over an agent's TLV or PEL in comparison to other industry or occupation groups. The NIOSH Industry and Occupation Computerized Coding System (NIOCCS) version 3.0 was used to auto-code free text job descriptions into standardized occupation codes. Results: Examination of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX) occupational exposure indicated that manufacturing industry groups inclu (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Michael Bisesi PhD (Advisor); John Crawford PhD (Advisor); Carolyn Sommerich PhD (Committee Member); Christopher Weghorst PhD (Committee Member); Olorunfemi Adetona PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Occupational Health; Public Health

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1999, Public Health

The purpose of these investigations was to evaluate hypotheses concerning associations between the acute phase response (APR), an adaptive response to cellular injury during which hepatocyte protein synthesis is altered, and preclinical cancer and myocardial infarction (MI). The goal of the first investigation (Chapter 2) was to determine how long prior to cancer or MI diagnoses alterations in serum albumin, transferrin (assessed as iron binding capacity [IBC]), and serum iron occur. Age-adjusted statistically significant decreases in serum albumin, IBC, and serum iron prior to both cancer and MI diagnoses are found. Men not diagnosed with either cancer or MI have initial IBC and serum iron levels significantly lower than men developing cancer and MI, and show significant increases in IBC and serum iron during the eight-year study period. Results from the second investigation (Chapter 3) indicate that routinely-measured acute phase reactants are altered at least three years prior to diagnoses of two smoking-related cancers: lung and bladder cancer, although results vary by sex. For example, among males, risk of bladder cancer is 8.24 times greater (95 percent confidence interval [CI]: 3.39-20.04), and risk for lung cancer is 2.95 times greater (95 percent CI: 1.90-4.56) in men with WBCC in the upper quartile compared to men in remaining quartiles. Results from the third investigation (Chapter 4) indicate that serum micronutrients are altered during the APR. Statistically significant inverse associations between the APR and the following micronutrients are found: serum iron, selenium, vitamin C, vitamin A, a-carotene, ß-carotene, and lycopene. Finally, results of the last investigation (Chapter 5) indicate that urinary albumin levels greater than 100 ug/dl are found associated with the APR independent of serum albumin (prevalence odds ratio = 1.80, 95 percent CI: 1.19-2.70), and urinary albumin excretion is associated with increased risk of prostate (RR = 1.88, 95 pe (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Judith Schwartzbaum (Advisor) Subjects: Epidemiology; Oncology; Public Health

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2014, Industrial and Systems Engineering (Engineering and Technology)

As regional university campuses continue to increase in enrollment, centralized safety and health management structures may not be able to meet all of the demands. Currently Ohio University institutes safety in a centralized location in the Environmental Health and Safety Department at the main campus in Athens, where they help the regional campuses on an as needed basis. The primary objective of this study was to gain insight into managerial perceptions from the Environmental Health and Safety Department and from the regional campuses with regard to safety and health services and training received and/or needed. The goal was to identify the gaps between what is currently being done and what management perceives is needed. Results suggest that there are misperceptions within management at the regional campuses and between the regional campuses and the main campus at Ohio University. A lack of acknowledgement of formalized safety and health programs and appropriate incident recording indicate a need for process improvements. It is recommended that Ohio University should consider the development of a regional safety coordinator and the implementation of an established safety and health program for all campuses.

Committee: Diana Schwerha (Advisor) Subjects: Occupational Safety

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 2007, Psychology

Previous research has demonstrated that the constructs of motivation, level of global functioning, and readiness to change are related to substance abuse treatment outcome. These constructs were used to predict premature termination from a residential substance abuse treatment program for homeless men. Results indicated that the constructs were unrelated to premature termination or treatment outcome for the sample. However, premature termination was positively related to the presence of a documented mental illness. Overall, the findings suggest that homeless men do not vary significantly in their levels of motivation, readiness to enact change and overall global functioning, and that shelter resources may be better spent assessing and targeting mental illness rather than general constructs such as motivation and global functioning.

Committee: Susan L. Kenford Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Norman J. Barry Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Member); Christian End Ph.D. (Committee Member); Robert McBrady Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Mental Health

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, 2002, Psychology

The relationship between personality traits on the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and sexual practices reported on the Bobowicz Sex Inventory (BSI) were investigated in an older adult sample (aged 60 and older). With research done by Eysenck and others, it appears that there is a relationship between personality traits and sexual behaviors that would put at one risk for acquiring HIV (1976). Little research has been conducted in this area with older adults while individuals over 50 make up 10 percent of the newly acquired HIV cases (Hinkle, 1991; Nocera, 1997; and Whipple and Scura, 1996). It was predicted that Neuroticism on the NEO-FFI would correlate negatively with risk for acquiring HIV on the BSI, while Extraversion, Openness to Experience, and Agreeableness would correlate positively with HIV Risk on the BSI. No significant results were found.

Committee: Suzanne Norman Ph.D. (Committee Chair); C. Walker Gollar Ph.D. (Committee Member); Karl W. Stukenberg Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Member) Subjects: Health; Personality; Personality Psychology; Psychology; Public Health

Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Dayton, 2011, Communication

This study examines 161 participants' behavior change in regard to purchasing organic and/or local foods after message exposure. Although much health research and environmental research exist, no research has combined these fields and applied them to behavior change. Participants were exposed to a health message, an environmental message, or a combined health and environmental message. Using the theory of planned behavior as the theoretical foundation, participants' attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention were also used as prediction measures for behavior change. Participant cognitions were also coded through a thought-listing measure. The results of this study reveal that participant attitudes, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control all predicted behavioral intention; however, these individual variables did not predict actual behavior. Participant cognitions were found to be reflective of the message type that was read. Additionally, while both political preference and age individually and in interaction with message type influenced behavior, sex individually and in interaction with message type did not.

Committee: Teresa L. Thompson PhD (Advisor); James D. Robinson PhD (Committee Member); Jon A. Hess PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Agriculture; Behavioral Sciences; Communication; Conservation; Environmental Health; Health; Health Education; Public Health; Public Health Education; Sustainability

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2006, English/Technical Writing

The problem that I will examine is the gap between expert communication and public perception, which interferes with effective environmental risk communication. This thesis will investigate the communication of mad cow disease, experiences from an expert in environmental health, and public participation information from the Ohio EPA web site to show what we have learned about communicating health risks to the public. My case study analysis of mad cow communication, interview with an environmental expert, and web site analysis of the Ohio EPA reveal how this gap is created using statistics, and ineffective public input. There are several challenges facing governmental agencies and experts who communicate information to the public. Government agencies have the primary responsibility for risk communication, specifically those agencies having authority over a broad range of health and environmental risks. These agencies already have the legal authority to manage risks. Agencies need to determine who is responsible at the state, federal, and local levels and assign groups to communicate information to the public. Some experts believe that knowing more about the current scientific research would calm the public's nerves in matters of risk. But it is very difficult communicate this to non-expert audiences. One way to communicate risks is for technical communicators to get the public's opinion through surveys and interviews, and give this information to the experts. Technical communicators can investigate the audience (the concerned public) about their view of health risks. Experts can use technical communicator's skills and experience with audiences in distributing information to the public.

Committee: Andrew Mara (Advisor) Subjects: Environmental Sciences

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2024, Mechanical Engineering (Engineering and Technology)

In recent years, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have played an essential role in nowadays energy storage system, especially electric vehicles (EVs) and portable electronics because of its high energy density and long cycle life [1, 2]. However, one of the biggest challenges is how to guarantee their dependability and trustworthiness. In the present investigation, Acoustic Emission (AE) and Ultrasound Testing (UT) techniques are systematically employed to verify probable critical defects in the LIBs. Where AE technology is able to record the stress waves produced by the growth of the defects, UT uses high-frequency sound waves to penetrate the batteries and provide an indication of the internal voids. The performances of these approaches were systematically tested on as-received, pre-damaged and cold-soaked batteries. Different AE and UT activity patterns were shown in the results under various environmental conditions that influenced battery performance. Combining Acoustic Emission (AE) and Ultrasound Testing (UT) with clustering and outlier analysis machine learning algorithms improved defect detection effectiveness. Such research highlights that AE and UT can be robust noninvasive techniques for on-line health monitoring of LIBs that should aid in maintaining the longevity and operability of LIBs.

Committee: Brian Wisner (Advisor) Subjects: Acoustics; Mechanical Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2024, Environmental Science

Context: This study contributes to understanding how social and environmental factors are associated with health status and learning outcomes. It developed from a larger community-based participatory research study based in Columbus, Ohio. United States census data serves as rationale for this study, as it shows that adverse health outcomes are magnified in the vulnerable Columbus neighborhoods on the Near East Side when compared to Columbus city proper, Franklin County, and/or the state of Ohio. Environmental exposures and neighborhood factors influence these health outcomes. These exposures and factors include air pollution and sociodemographic characteristics, such as race and ethnicity, age, and income. It has also been shown that exposures to environmental stressors from the built, natural, and social environments can impact early childhood development. A community engagement model referred to as E6, Enhancing Environmental Endeavors via e-Equity, Education, and Empowerment was developed. Using this model, a multidisciplinary stakeholder team was established, and community engagement meetings were held to assess the needs of local community residents and identify potential environmental hazards associated with adverse health outcomes in those census tracts. This stakeholder team included Columbus Early Learning Centers, an early childhood education and care provider in Columbus, Ohio. Our community engagement efforts spanned from November 2019 through March 2020, as the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) "shutdown" began. Since then, COVID-19 has disrupted life and learning for everyone, particularly children living in higher-risk communities. Current national standardized test data reveals that COVID-19 has contributed to greater learning loss than the typical summer learning loss in elementary aged children. This has been termed the "COVID-19 developmental slide". It is unknown how these trends persist in pre-kindergarten aged children as they do not take standar (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Darryl Hood (Advisor); Olorunfemi Adetona (Committee Member); Karen Williams (Committee Member); Cynthia Colen (Committee Member) Subjects: Early Childhood Education; Environmental Justice; Environmental Science; Public Health

Bachelor of Science (BS), Ohio University, 2024, Biological Sciences

Environmental health challenges are present in numerous communities across the nation but have a unique and significant impact on the Appalachian region. This study explored the impact of each factor in the decision-making process of Appalachian individuals, as well as highlighted the importance of environmental inequities in Appalachia. The results were striking – the impact of the social environment, followed by a general understanding of the built environment, played the largest role in shaping the social determinants of health and Appalachian decision-making. Environmental health proved to have little influence on Appalachian decision-making, but data shows that environmental determinants do have an impact on human health and wellbeing. Improving the population's understanding of environmental health and its associated impacts may aid Appalachia in reducing health disparities and improve human wellbeing. Also, a focus on improving the social and built environments of Appalachians might contribute to improving community cohesion and overall health and wellbeing. I did not seek to paint the region in a negative light in this work; rather, my work sought to understand the importance of the environment to Appalachians. My work may serve as a beacon to bring these environmental injustices to attention, highlighting the importance of environmental and health literacy, enabling these individuals to make more informed decisions about their own health.

Committee: Michele Morrone Dr. (Advisor) Subjects: Environmental Studies

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2024, Civil Engineering

Single-use products are prevalent in the healthcare field and contribute to 5.9 million tons of waste per year to landfills located in the United States. These single-use products also account for 8% of total US carbon dioxide emissions. In the healthcare field, there is limited research available to analyze the impacts these products have on the United States. When you refine the scope to specific healthcare practices, such as dentistry, the research available is even further limited. This study analyzes three dental procedures for their single-use plastic contribution. The three procedures are a hygiene cleaning, a composite restoration, and an extraction. These three procedures were chosen due to a hygiene cleaning being recommended for preventative care every six months, and the extraction and restoration were chosen as they are procedures that can be a result for lack of preventative care. These procedures are analyzed using an environmental impact tool called Life Cycle Assessment. Life Cycle Assessments generates the impacts from a product, process or service and analyzes environmental impacts under different categories to generate units of measure to convey impacts. The data that is currently available using Life Cycle Assessments in the dental field is small and is nearly non-existent when you refine the scope to only being within the United States. Having geographical location-based information is important particularly for this study due to the differences in manufacturing and waste management systems in the United States. The results for this Life Cycle Assessment will be analyzed using midpoint and endpoint indicators as well as human health categories from different methodologies. Climate change is taking a toll on human health in the United States along with other nations. Unless greenhouse gases are reduced significantly and actions are taken, impacts will be felt on surrounding communities and human health will be impacted. Taking preventative (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jeffrey Bielicki (Advisor); Kelsea Best (Committee Member); Daniel Gingerich (Committee Member) Subjects: Environmental Engineering; Environmental Health

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Nursing: Nursing - Doctoral Program

Background: Stroke is one of the major chronic illnesses that require major adjustments in the stroke survivor's life. With over 795,000 people in the United States having a stroke each year, only 10% of stroke survivors can function independently. As a result, the quality of life of stroke survivors can be significantly impacted. Growing evidence suggests that providing proper care during the first-year post-stroke is critical and challenging. Furthermore, limited evidence exists regarding how individual and environmental characteristics may inform the determinants of stroke survivors health-related quality of life. Methods: Guided by a conceptual model derived from Ferrans'(2005) Health-Related Quality of Life model, this dissertation consisted of three papers. The first paper was a rigorous integrative review of the literature regarding factors influencing the health-related quality of life of stroke survivors during the first-year post-stroke. The second paper was a non-data-based paper that discussed the ramifications and ethical considerations associated with using proxy responses to examine the health-related quality of life of stroke survivors. The third paper was a secondary analysis of baseline data from a large randomized controlled clinical trial testing the efficacy of the Telephone Assessment and Skill-building Kit (TASK II Program) involving 254 stroke family caregivers. Data were analyzed to determine the associations between individual and environmental factors, biological function (number of strokes, depression diagnosis, chronic conditions), and symptoms (thinking, language, vision, energy) on stroke survivors health-related quality of life functional status (physical, mental, role). Findings: In the first paper, 22 studies published from January 2013 to December 2023 provided support for Ferrans' model detailing associations among individual characteristics, functional disability, and symptoms as the most salient factors that impac (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Elaine Miller Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Kari Dunning Ph.D. (Committee Member); Tamilyn Bakas PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Nursing

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2023, Medicine: Epidemiology (Environmental Health)

Fluoride is a ubiquitous exposure and evidence of its potential developmental neurotoxicity is rising. Increased fluoride exposure has been linked to cognitive deficits, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and mood abnormalities. Our previous work indicates fluoride may impact internalizing symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Despite evidence of fluoride's impact on neurobehavioral outcomes, the chemical's influence on brain structure is unclear. Additionally, we know little about sex-specific effects. This project leveraged neurobehavioral assessments, neuroimaging, and childhood urinary fluoride (CUF) data from the Cincinnati Combined Childhood Cohort (C4) study. We used validated neurobehavioral assessments to examine associations between CUF and neurobehavioral outcomes. These outcomes included externalizing (attention and hyperactivity-related symptoms) and internalizing (anxiety/depression symptoms) behaviors (Chapter 2). Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) we examined the relationship between CUF and brain structure, including regional brain volumes and cortical thickness (Chapter 3). Moreover, this study explored whether CUF impacts neurobehavior and brain structure in a sex-specific manner. We hypothesize that adolescents with higher CUF concentrations will exhibit more anxiety, depression, and ADHD-related behaviors and decreased brain volume and cortical thickness in areas related to emotion regulation and executive function in a sex-specific manner. We employed multiple statistical approaches, primarily relying on regression modeling using the generalized linear model (GLM) framework. Increased CUF was associated with more internalizing symptoms including those related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (β = 2.3, 95% CI 0.73 to 3.9, p = 0.0040), somatization (β = 2.1, 95% CI 0.26 to 4.0, p = 0.026), and separation anxiety (β =1.5, 95% CI 0.034 to 2.9, p = 0.045). Increased CUF was also associated with increased od (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Kelly Brunst Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Heidi Sucharew Ph.D. (Committee Member); David Edmondson Ph.D. (Committee Member); Kim Cecil Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Epidemiology

MPH, University of Cincinnati, 2023, Medicine: Biostatistics

Introduction: The Fernald Medical Monitoring Program (FMMP) was established to monitor the health of residents living in the area surrounding the Fernald Feed Materials Production Center (FMPC). Beginning in 1991, this program involved comprehensive physical examinations as well as multiple biospecimen collections. After the program ceased operations in 2008, the medical monitoring program became the Fernald Community Cohort (FCC), and as a result, a variety of laboratory data, medical histories, and lifetime uranium exposure estimates have been made available for research. Kidney diseases have been studied in this cohort, but specific analysis has not been conducted using lifetime exposure estimates and laboratory measures of renal health. Uranium has been associated with damage to the kidneys, but studies have struggled to establish a conclusive link between level of airborne exposure and renal function. The primary objective of this project is to investigate whether level of uranium exposure is associated with laboratory indicators of kidney function, namely serum glucose, serum creatinine, urine creatinine, and microalbumin. Methods: This study featured a cross-sectional quantitative approach using a sample of 8,235 eligible adult participants in the FCC. Upon enrollment, urine and blood samples were collected from participants in the program. An approximation of airborne uranium exposure was available for each participant using an algorithm provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Participants were also separated into three distinct groups by this exposure estimate. Descriptive statistics were generated for the full sample, as well as distributions of serum glucose, serum creatinine, urine creatinine, and microalbumin by age, sex, and exposure group. Linear regression and logistic regression models were created to investigate potential relationships between laboratory data and exposure, controlling for covariates of age and sex. Results (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Wei-Wen Hsu Ph.D. (Committee Member); Susan Pinney Ph.D. (Committee Chair) Subjects: Public Health

Doctor of Education , University of Dayton, 2022, Educational Leadership

This dissertation in practice examines the absence of an advocacy framework for Black placemakers in southwest Springfield neighborhoods seeking to transform vacant spaces into vibrant pocket parks, green spaces, and community gardens. This critical community-based participatory research addresses inadequate public policies, resources, and technical assistance to create and sustain neighborhood sites for endurance, belonging, and resistance. Thematic findings indicated that systemic issues, street-level organizing, and sustainability are primary barriers and opportunities. An action intervention and change process was developed to establish the Springfield Park and Green Space Ecosystem (SPGE). The action plan focuses on a community coalition of power building, a community benefits agreement, zoning revisions, and public-private partnerships with results-based accountability.

Committee: James Olive (Committee Chair); Castel Sweet (Committee Member); Pamela Cross Young (Committee Member) Subjects: African American Studies; Agricultural Education; Area Planning and Development; Behaviorial Sciences; Climate Change; Conservation; Cultural Anthropology; Environmental Education; Environmental Health; Environmental Justice; Land Use Planning; Landscape Architecture; Landscaping; Public Administration; Public Health; Public Health Education; Public Policy; Sustainability; Urban Forestry; Urban Planning