http://hdl.handle.net/1957/7 Search the Channel search http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/dspace/simple-search http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8344 Title: Whole system perspective: steelhead, Onchorhynchus mykiss, glutathione s-transferase as a biomarker of chlorpyrifos exposure <br/> <br/>Abstract: Organophosphate insecticides may produce sublethal, adverse effects on salmonid growth, reproduction, maturation, swimming, and feeding. Chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate insecticide, was detected by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality in the Hood River and tributaries during March 1999 at levels exceeding state water quality standards in the range of 0.011-0.482 μg/L. This timing overlaps with the early life stage development of winter steelhead populations listed as threatened on the Endangered Species Act. Hatchery steelhead were exposed in lab experiments to chlorpyrifos levels within the range detected in Hood River. Glutathione s-transferase activity in the liver was measured as a potential biomarker of exposure to complement biomarker measurements of acetyicholinesterase activity in the brain. Glutathione stransferase was significantly inhibited after 24 hour exposure, and there was no doseresponse after 96 hour exposure. Correlating internal exposure to a sublethal effect, and then a sublethal effect to a declining population, will take many years of research. Thereare many potential causes of the population decline, interacting and accumulating on a temporal scale of over 150 years and a spatial scale from the Hood River to seas fished by Japan, Canada, and the USA. Drawing relational diagrams in conjunction with standard research encourages the search for component interactions, causal flows, patterns, loops, temporal and spatial consequences and leverage points within the whole system affecting the steelhead population decline. <br/> <br/>Description: 2001 http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8181 Title: Evaluating the stage of epidemiologic transition in Tunis, Tunisia <br/> <br/>Abstract: With the rapid onset of globalization, there are a large number of political, economic and social factors which are constantly changing. These all have profound effects on the demographics of individual populations. This shift in social demography is accompanied by an epidemiologic transition as well. In order to gain an understanding of epidemiologic transition, it is necessary to understand the study of epidemiology. Epidemiology is defined as, “the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations, and the application of this study to the prevention and control of health problems.” By observing past data from epidemiologic studies and comparing it with data from current studies, one can begin to obtain a picture of the changing causes and manifestations of disease and death in a population. It is also useful to take changing environmental factors into account (such as tobacco/alcohol use, dietary standards, working conditions and water quality) when determining which stage of epidemiologic transition a certain population is in. Customarily, epidemiologic transition follows a predictable pattern. Omran points out that “during the transition, a long-term shift occurs in mortality and disease patterns whereby pandemics of infection are gradually displaced by degenerative and man-made diseases as the chief form of morbidity and primary cause of death” . When developing countries undergo industrialization and modernization, they are better able to deal with infectious diseases due to increased resources, access to medical care, and education. The “degenerative and man-made” diseases which follow are also thought of as “chronic”, or “non-communicable diseases”. They include things such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, lung disease and various forms of cancer. There is great importance in discovering the state of epidemiologic transition which a country is in. Once one finds out the relative prevalence of chronic diseases as compared to that of infectious diseases, one can modify the health system in order to better accommodate the health needs of the population. Since the health status of a nation is constantly in transition, it is necessary to change the delivery method of care in order to most effectively combat the health problems present. More funds can be allocated for prevention of certain types of disease and death over other types. Policies may be enacted which could benefit the health status of a larger percentage of people with less money spent. It is evident that Tunisia is experiencing epidemiological transition. Within the last 15 years, we have seen total mortality is decreasing, life expectancy is increasing, and lifestyles associated with chronic disease, particularly diabetes and CVD, are being adopted. The purpose of this thesis is to answer the question, “What is the current stage of epidemiologic transition is Tunis, Tunisia?” http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8177 Title: Economies as drivers of deforestation : a study of the soy production in Brazil <br/> <br/>Abstract: In the last decade food production has undergone dramatic changes. The introduction of biotechnology and genetic modification has greatly increased crop yields and altered the balance of international agricultural trade. This paper aims to discuss and explore a current global issue involving international trade and its sometimes hazardous environmental impact. Following in the wake of the Mad Cow epidemic in Europe, caused mainly by the use of ground up animal bones in livestock feed, farmers were forced to find a non-animal based protein-rich feed for livestock. Soy meal was found to be a perfect alternative, resulting in a large increase in the demand for soy. Currently, the United States is the world’s largest exporter of agricultural products; more importantly, the largest exporter of soy based products. The overwhelming majority of the United States’ soy based exports are of the genetically modified variety. Both China and the European Union currently prohibit the importation of genetically modified foods, eliminating the United States from a large foreign market. This large, emerging market opportunity is appealing to many countries currently producing non-genetically modified soy. Few countries however, possess the resources and agricultural infrastructure necessary to take advantage of this opportunity. The world’s second largest exporter of soy based products is Brazil, a country that at present predominantly produces non-genetically modified soy. Brazil has historically committed to producing non-genetically modified soy and has vast amounts of both land and labor to capitalize on foreign markets. In order to satisfy the already large and growing demand for non-genetically modified soy, Brazil would be forced to undertake large, expansive agricultural projects and convert millions of acres of tropical rainforests into land fertile enough for soy production. The issue at hand is one of short term benefits and long term consequences. Brazil has access and control over the largest and most unique natural resource in the world, the Amazon rainforest. Though the majority of if lies within the borders of Brazil, the Amazon rainforest affects the global climate, impacting countries thousands of miles away. The decision to exploit the Amazon rainforest lies largely on the shoulders of the Brazilian government, but the consequences of these decisions will travel far beyond Brazil’s borders. Genetically modified foods are the topic of continuous discussion and debate, with numerous pundits on each side of the issue debating their acceptance. The first section of this analysis will concern genetically modified foods and their role in this situation. The second section will discuss Brazil’s current economic condition, their motivations for possibly undertaking such a large effort towards fulfilling the non-genetically modified soy demand, and their possible entrance into the genetically modified soy market. The third and final section of this analysis will explain in detail the potential environmental impact of these actions and conclude with a discussion concerning the idea of economic progression as a driver of environmental destruction. http://hdl.handle.net/1957/8112 Title: Excellence in healthcare : the identification of characteristics of organizational excellence <br/> <br/>Abstract: There are an alarmingly low number of hospitals and healthcare systems that have been identified as excellent, leaving the impression that the majority of hospitals are performing below this expectation. Performance excellence should be the standard of all health systems. The objective of this paper is to identify key criteria/characteristics of performance excellence in health systems in order to develop a measurement of excellence that may be used by similar health organizations. This will be achieved by examining current rating systems to determine what criteria of organizational excellence is measured, as well as researching key attributes of examples of healthcare and nonhealthcare organizations identified as excellent, to find any similarities. From the research, the identified key characteristics for performance excellence were placed into seven pillars: Planning and Management, Leadership, Patient Satisfaction and Quality of Care, Service, Employee Satisfaction and Empowerment of Employees, Growth, and Financial Performance. Once the identified attributes are determined, they can be utilized by healthcare systems to achieve and sustain excellence.