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ESSAYS ON HUMAN HEALTH AND ECONOMICS OF DISEASES
No full textThis dissertation is an essay on investments in human health, disease control and impacts of disease shocks on economy. In the first chapter, we revisit the causal relationship between parental income and children’s diseases symptoms, examining the attenuating role of child nutrition and household sanitation. We employ panel data from the population morbidity surveillance and socio-economic survey in Asembo, Kenya. We specify linear and nonlinear models, correct for sample selection and endogeneity of parental income with children' diseases symptoms and perform a mediation analysis. Lower-income children have a higher number of reported symptoms, and child nutrition and household sanitation attenuate the causal relationship between parental income and children's health in a context where communicable diseases make a substantial share of diseases burden.
The second chapter proposes a Bayesian approach to systematically estimate the economic impacts of diseases shocks. The approach is illustrated with the US meat industry shocked by Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), Rift Valley Fever (RVF), and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Farm supply shock harms the most the industry. BSE has the most significant adverse aggregate effects on the beef sector and the industry. Farmers are the most affected for BSE and RVF while for HPAI wholesalers incur the most substantial impact. Consumers are mostly worst off under the scenario analysis, but the distribution differs per affected commodities. Their welfare change under the sensitivity analysis depends on the affected sector. We find that a non-informative prior is a proxy to a medium outbreak while categorizing shocks based on their distributional moments provides detailed outcomes and improves estimation of impacts.
The third chapter endogenizes Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) incidence on economy allowing a two-way interaction between the economy and the disease dynamics to study health investment, disease control and learning associated with it. We show that the change in the steady state of economic variables is non-linear and can be non-monotonic. Disease control, and health capital investment increase with a decreasing discount rate as does the output share of disease, although non-monotonically. While the disease-free steady state is parameter-free, a parameter-dependent steady state emerges from the endemic problem.Washington State University, Economic
A META-ANALYSIS, SYSTEMATIC REVIEW, AND EMPIRICAL EVALUATION OF SIMULATION-BASED TRAINING IN VETERINARY EDUCATION
No full textOne of the greatest challenges in veterinary education is adequately preparing students with the clinical skills they need to be successful healthcare providers. Integration of simulation-based medical education (SBME) approaches into the veterinary curriculum can help address challenges to clinical instruction. The SBME model of learning aims to enhance clinical skills and increase patient safety by providing standardized learning opportunities. Despite the evidence regarding the effectiveness of simulation-based training in human healthcare education, the effectiveness of this instructional modality in the context of veterinary education remains unclear. The purpose of the first phase of this research project was to gain insight into this literature gap by comprehensively searching, critically appraising, and carefully synthesizing the evidence to inform policy and guide future development of simulation-based resources in veterinary education. A systematic search identified 416 potential manuscripts from which 60 articles were included after application of inclusion criteria. Information was extracted from 71 independent experiments. The overall weighted mean effect size was small for the fixed effect model (g = 0.33) and stronger for the mixed effects model (g = 0.49). All outcome measures of knowledge and clinical skills produced statistically significant (p < .001) mean effect sizes in favor of simulation ranging from d = 0.35 – 0.79. A moderator analysis was conducted for study characteristics and quality, as well as for best practice features of instruction and research design. Moderators that positively influenced the effect size of training with simulation were incorporated into the design of the second phase of the research project. This was an empirical study that demonstrated when an anesthesia simulation-based course was designed according to best practice recommendations, pretest-posttest scores for knowledge and self-efficacy significantly increased and course participants received higher ratings on clinical task performance and professional skills (i.e., communication and collaboration) compared to a matched control group when evaluated by blinded, external raters using a standardized rubric.Washington State University, Educational Psycholog
MOLD & COLD: THE SOLUTION IS SWEET IN WINTER WHEAT
No full textWinter conditions necessitate tolerance of snow mold and freezing cold among winter wheat plants. These traits involve numerous quantitative trait loci (QTL), environmental interactions, and mechanisms such as carbohydrate tolerance and gene regulation, that complicate efforts to select for improved tolerance. To identify molecular markers associated with these traits, QTL analysis was performed using a population of 155 F2:5 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a cross between soft white wheat cultivars 'Finch' and 'Eltan', which differ in their tolerance to each of these stressors. Two novel QTL for freezing tolerance were identified on chromosomes 5A and 4B, one QTL for snow mold tolerance was identified on chromosome 6B, and a QTL conferring tolerance both mold and cold was detected on 5A and was determined to co-locate with the Fr-A2 (Frost-Resistance A2) locus. Twenty-six additional QTL for snow mold tolerance were detected in a RIL population from a cross between 'Xerpha' and 'Münstertaler'. This RIL population was also compared to a marker-assisted selection subpopulation, derived from the same cross, and was used for genomic selection to investigate the effectiveness of these selection tools. Although both methods failed to improve snow mold tolerance in the Xerpha-Münstertaler population, genomic prediction had good accuracy in the Finch-Eltan RIL population. To investigate the contribution of carbohydrate accumulation to snow mold and cold tolerance in the Finch-Eltan RIL population, eight lines, representing four combinations of tolerance, were analyzed for carbohydrate content over the cold-acclimation period. The lack of significant differences in carbohydrate content between these categories suggests that other traits are responsible for the observed segregation. RNA-seq was performed to investigate differential gene expression, which could account for the segregation. The knowledge derived from this study will facilitate efforts to breed for tolerance to snow mold and freezing cold by improving the understanding of the quantitative nature of these traits and enabling better leveraging of selection methods.Washington State University, Molecular Plant Science
Item Response Theory Analysis of the TriPM
No full textThesis (Ph.D.), Psychology - Clinical, Washington State UniversityThis study investigated item and scale functioning in the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM) using an item response theory analysis. TriPM data collected from 937 (410 men, 527 women) college students and community members was analyzed. A graded response model was utilized to analyze the 58 self-report items comprising the TriPM’s three scales. Each scale was found to include some items that did not function well at differentiating between respondents possessing varying levels of the trait being measured by that scale. Across all three scales, 40 totals items yielded evidence of significantly different responding between men and women possessing similar levels of the underlying trait. Item and scale performance was highly consistent between two scales, disinhibition and meanness, but distinct from the third scale, boldness. The analysis also found evidence that scoring format (i.e. directly scored vs. reverse-scored) impacted item functioning, especially when the given scale included a large majority of one scoring type. Overall, the IRT and DIF results suggest that the TriPM effectively identifies disinhibition and meanness in individuals possessing high levels of those traits, and boldness at lower levels, but does not seem to identify these traits equally in men and women.Washington State University, Psychology - Clinica
NEW PERSPECTIVES ON THIRD PARTY PERCEPTIONS OF MISTREATMENT
No full textThesis (Ph.D.), Management, Washington State UniversityThis three-essay dissertation investigates how the experience of witnessing workplace mistreatment (e.g. incivility, injustice) influences the perceptions and behaviors of third-party observers. I also explore how the influence of observing mistreatment varies based on individual differences (e.g. social identity, conception of morality) among third parties. To examine this phenomenon, I have developed a theoretical model and conducted two empirical studies.
The first essay is a theoretical work in which I propose that when third parties witness mistreatment and do nothing, the cognitive mechanisms often employed to resolve internal conflict are likely to have lasting effects on the way that third parties perceive future mistreatment in their environment. These effects are likely to be associated with behavioral changes that perpetuate a pattern of mistreatment and potentially allow for mistreatment to intensify. Furthermore, I suggest that rationalization is more likely to take place given a status difference between victim and instigator, and when social identity is shared between the observer and victim.
The second essay examines how third-party evaluation of work-related consequences for off-duty behavior is influenced by the third party’s idiosyncratic prioritization of fundamental moral values. This study finds that when a person is fired for violating a specific moral value, the extent to which the third party is sensitive to the violated value predicts the third party’s perceived fairness of the firing, and their intent to take retributive action against the manager responsible for the firing. Additionally, this study finds that the presence of a pre-existing code of conduct prohibiting off-duty deviance causes observers to see the firing as fairer.
The third essay investigates how third-party observation of incivility between coworkers influences evaluation of the instigator, the victim, and one’s workplace. This study finds that observing incivility is associated with seeing the victim as having less workplace status. I also find that observing incivility is associated with a more pessimistic forecast of one’s own future experience of interpersonal justice in that same workplace.Washington State University, Managemen
Nitrogen inhibitors : how do they work to reduce N losses?
No full textApplying nitrogen (N) fertilizer at the exact time of need is often operationally unrealistic for wheat and barley growers in Washington. Instead, N is commonly applied early, before its rapid uptake by plants. However, this practice may result in reduced return on investment and increased environmental risks associated with N loss through runoff, leaching, volatilization, and denitrification. Nitrogen inhibitors are products that temporarily retard conversion of fertilizers to the forms that can be lost through these pathways. This publication describes how N is lost after fertilizer applications, how N inhibitors can reduce such losses, and how to choose the right product for the forms of your fertilizers and application timings
Values for circle keepers
No full textTraditional circle practices (also known as council circles or talking circles) may be interpreted as representing some of humankind’s earliest approaches to community health and human interaction. Modern circle practices are now found in many well-established fields of health and human development, including education, therapy, governance, and justice. Many diverse fields of modern research and practice emerged from these communication traditions. Research in several fields of human science reflects back on the strong pedagogy that exists within circle practices. Aligning the pedagogy and praxis of circle communication with modern discoveries of the sciences, it is possible to distill core values that inform meaningful circle interactions. These core values also give those who facilitate circles (“Circle Keepers”) and researchers a starting place to consider the evaluation of traditional circle practices
Pseudomonas diseases on cucurbits in Western Washington
No full textCucurbits are well-suited for the maritime climate in western Washington and are considered high value specialty crops. For example, the most recent USDA NASS census data for pumpkins grown in Washington show that 398,000 cwt were produced with a value of $11,844,000 (USDA NASS 2019) in 2018. However, cucurbits are susceptible to a number of bacterial pathogens that can reduce fruit quality. One such group of bacterial pathogens is Pseudomonas syringae. Bacteria are microscopic, single-celled organisms, and Pseudomonas syringae are tiny rod-shaped organisms that are approximately 0.8 by 1–2 μM. Within this species are a number of pathovars, or strains, that cause similar symptoms on cucurbits
