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open access

Finding the Frontline in Civil Conflict: Looting and Recruiting in African Refugee Camps

This paper explores the relationship between the locations of conflict zones and refugee camps in African nations.

Date: 2014

Creator: Bolte, Brandon L.

Item Type: Article

Partner: UNT Honors College

open access

Breast Cancer in Texas Counties 1980-1998

Paper examines effects of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, genes and environment on breast cancer morbidity in Texas counties from 1980-1998.

Date: 2011

Creator: Barry, Djenabou

Item Type: Article

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Spatio-temporal Variation of Nitrate Levels in Groundwater in Texas, 1970 to 2010

This study looks at spatial variation of groundwater nitrate in Texas and its fluctuations at 10 year increments using data from the Texas Water Development Board. While groundwater nitrate increased in the Ogallala and Seymour aquifers across the time period, the overall rate in Texas appears to be declining as time progresses. However, the available data is limited. Findings show that a much more targeted, knowledge based strategy for sampling would not only reduce the cost of water qualit… more

Date: December 2012

Creator: Rice, Susan C.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Analyzing Tuberculosis Vulnerability and Variables in Tarrant County

Over 9 million new cases of tuberculosis (TB) were reported worldwide in 2013. While the TB rate is much lower in the US, its uneven distribution and associated explanatory variables require interrogation in order to determine effective strategies for intervention and control. However, paucity of case data at fine geographic scales precludes such research. This research, using zip code level data from 837 confirmed TB cases in Tarrant County obtained from Texas Department of State Health Servic… more

Date: December 2016

Creator: McGlone, John Francis

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Influence of the Choice of Disease Mapping Method on Population Characteristics in Areas of High Disease Burdens

Disease maps are powerful tools for depicting spatial variations in disease risk and its underlying drivers. However, producing effective disease maps requires careful consideration of the statistical and spatial properties of the disease data. In fact, the choice of mapping method influences the resulting spatial pattern of the disease, as well as the understanding of its underlying population characteristics. New developments in mapping methods and software in addition to continuing improvem… more

Date: December 2015

Creator: Desai, Khyati Sanket

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

The Geography of Maternal Health Indicators in Ghana

Ghana is identified among the developing countries with high maternal mortality ratio in Africa. This study unpacked the Demographic and Health Survey data by examining the maternal health indicators at the district level using GIS methods. Understanding the geographic patterns of antenatal care, place of delivery, and skilled birth attendants at the small scale will help to formulate and plan for location-specific health interventions that can improve maternal health care behavior among Ghanai… more

Date: May 2017

Creator: Iyanda, Ayodeji Emmanuel

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Dismantling the Psychiatric Ghetto: Evaluating a Blended-Clinic Approach to Supportive Housing in Houston, Texas

Locational decisions based on stigma and low funding have handicapped the efficiency of community based mental healthcare in the United States since 1963. However, the pattern of services in the 21st century American South remains largely unknown. This thesis addresses this gap in knowledge by using a mixed methodology including location allocation, descriptive statistics, and qualitative site visits to explore the geography of community clinics offering both physical and mental health services… more

Date: December 2014

Creator: Lester, Katherine Ann

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

GIS application in emergency management of terrorism events on the University of North Texas campus.

This thesis presents a Web-based geographic information system (GIS) application for campus emergency management that allows users to visualize, integrate, and analyze student population, facilities, and hazard data for efficient emergency management of University of North Texas before, during, and after a terrorism event. End-users can locate and search the source area of an event on a digital map from the ArcIMS-based Website. The website displays corresponding population information and attr… more

Date: August 2008

Creator: Tsang, Yuenting

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

An Investigation of the Relationship between HIV and Prison Facilities in Texas: The Geographic Variation and Vulnerable Neighborhood Characteristics

Previous research suggests that prisons may be fueling the spread of HIV infection in the general population. In 2005, the HIV rate was more than 2.5 times higher in US prison populations. Environmental factors in prisons such as illicit drug use and unprotected sexual activities can be conducive for HIV transmission. Because the vast majority of prison inmates are incarcerated for less than three years, transmission of HIV between prison inmates and members of the general population may occur … more

Date: August 2011

Creator: Kutch, Libbey

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

A Multiscalar Analysis of Buruli Ulcer in Ghana: Environmental and Behavioral Factors in Disease Prevalence

Buruli ulcer (BU), an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is the third most common mycobacterial disease after leprosy and tuberculosis and a WHO-defined neglected tropical disease. Despite years of research, the mode of transmission of BU remains unknown. This master’s thesis provides an integrated spatial analysis of disease dynamics in Ghana, West Africa, an area of comparatively high BU incidence. Within a case/matched control study design, environmental factors associated … more

Date: May 2012

Creator: Ferring, David

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

The Geography of Maternal Mortality in Nigeria

Maternal mortality is the leading cause of death among women in Nigeria, especially women aged between 15 and 19 years. This research examines the geography of maternal mortality in Nigeria and the role of cultural and religious practices, socio-economic inequalities, urbanization, access to pre and postnatal care in explaining the spatial pattern. State-level data on maternal mortality rates and predictor variables are presented. Access to healthcare, place of residence and religion explains o… more

Date: May 2012

Creator: Ebeniro, Jane

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Spatial Variations and Cultural Explanations to Obesity in Ghana

While obesity is now recognized as a major health concern in Ghana, the major drivers, causal factors, and their spatial variation remain unclear. Nutritional changes and lack of physical activity are frequently blamed but the underlying factors, particularly cultural values and practices, remain understudied. Using hot spot analysis and spatial autocorrelation, this research investigates the spatial patterns of obesity in Ghana and the explanatory factors. We also use focus group discussions t… more

Date: August 2019

Creator: Asubonteng, Agnes

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Effects of Non-homogeneous Population Distribution on Smoothed Maps Produced Using Kernel Density Estimation Methods

Understanding spatial perspectives on the spread and incidence of a disease is invaluable for public health planning and intervention. Choropleth maps are commonly used to provide an abstraction of disease risk across geographic space. These maps are derived from aggregated population counts that are known to be affected by the small numbers problem. Kernel density estimation methods account for this problem by producing risk estimates that are based on aggregations of approximately equal popul… more

Date: December 2014

Creator: Jones, Jesse Jack

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Wind Energy-related Wildlife Impacts: Analysis and Potential Implications for Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species of Birds and Bats in Texas

Texas currently maintains the highest installed nameplate capacity and does not require publicly available post-construction monitoring studies that examine the impacts of wind energy production on surrounding fauna. This thesis examines potential wind energy impacts on avian and bat species in Texas through a three-part objective. The first two objectives synthesize literature on variables attractive to species within wind development areas and estimate impacted ranges outside of Texas, based … more

Date: August 2010

Creator: Graham, Tara L.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

A Spatially Explicit Environmental Health Surveillance Framework for Tick-Borne Diseases

In this paper, I will show how applying a spatially explicit context to an existing environmental health surveillance framework is vital for more complete surveillance of disease, and for disease prevention and intervention strategies. As a case study to test the viability of a spatial approach to this existing framework, the risk of human exposure to Lyme disease will be estimated. This spatially explicit framework divides the surveillance process into three components: hazard surveillance, ex… more

Date: August 2010

Creator: Aviña, Aldo

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Estimating Buruli Ulcer Prevalence in Southwestern Ghana

Mycobacterium ulcerans is sweeping across sub-Saharan Africa, but little is known about the mode of transmission and its natural reservoirs. Since the only effective treatment is excision of the infection and surrounding tissue, early diagnosis and treatment is the only way to reduce the havoc associated with Buruli ulcer. Using data from a national case search survey conducted in Ghana during 2000 and suspected risk factors this study tests the hypothesized factors and probes the challenges of… more

Date: August 2007

Creator: Denton, Curtis James

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Spatial Analysis of Hiv/aids Survival in Dallas and Harris Counties, Texas

More Texans are living with HIV infection than ever before. in fact, there has been a 6% increase annually, since 2002. This trend is not a result of increased HIV/AIDS incidence, but rather improving life expectancy of those living with HIV. Due to significant advances in HIV/AIDS testing, prevention, and treatment, individuals with HIV are living longer than ever before. However, throughout the state, the life expectancy of a person infected with HIV/AIDS varies spatially. This study inves… more

Date: May 2012

Creator: Heald, Stephanie

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

The Impact Of Land Use And Land Cover Change On The Spatial Distribution Of Buruli Ulcer In Southwest Ghana

Buruli ulcer (BU) is an environmental bacterium caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Modes of transmission and hosts of the disease remain unknown. The purposes of this study are to explore the environmental factors that are possibly explain the spatial distribution of BU, to predict BU cases by using the environmental factors, and to investigate the impact of land use and land cover change on the BU distribution. The study area covers the southwest portion of Ghana, 74 districts in 6 regions. The… more

Date: December 2011

Creator: Ruckthongsook, Warangkana

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Geography of HIV Infection Among Adults Aged 50 Years and Older in Texas From 1999-2009

Twenty four percent of all HIV infections in the United States occur among adults aged 50 and older (mature adults), yet little is understood of the dynamics of HIV infection among this group in Texas. Data from 1999 to 2009 examined the relationship between HIV spatial and temporal patterns affecting socio-economic and demographic variables including poverty, gender, race/ethnicity and mode of exposure. Results revealed highest HIV infection rates among White homosexual men, Black males engag… more

Date: August 2012

Creator: Hedrich, Mara Nicole

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Emergency Fire Response in Ghana: The Case of Fire Stations in Kumasi

Comprehensive emergency management and response is crucial for disaster prevention and health emergencies. However, in African countries with an abundance of natural disasters and a rising surge in cardiovascular and obstetric emergencies, little research exists on emergency response. This study examines the fire emergency response in Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), Ghana's second largest city. We use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools including location -allocation modeling to eval… more

Date: May 2017

Creator: Boakye, Kwadwo Adu

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Areal and Volumetric Phytoplankton Productivity of Lake Texoma

Phytoplankton productivity of Lake Texoma was measured for one year from August 1999 to August 2000 for four stations, using the oxygen change method and laboratory incubation. Mean values of the photosynthetic parameters, PBmax and alphaB ranged from 4.86 to 46.39 mg O2.mg Chl-1.hr-1 for PBmax and 20.06 to 98.96 mg O2.mg Chl-1.E-1.m2 for alphaB. These values were in the range to be expected for a highly turbid, temperate reservoir. Estimated gross annual areal productivity ranged from 594 g… more

Date: August 2001

Creator: Baugher, Tessy

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Modeling Infectious Disease Spread Using Global Stochastic Field Simulation

Susceptibles-infectives-removals (SIR) and its derivatives are the classic mathematical models for the study of infectious diseases in epidemiology. In order to model and simulate epidemics of an infectious disease, a global stochastic field simulation paradigm (GSFS) is proposed, which incorporates geographic and demographic based interactions. The interaction measure between regions is a function of population density and geographical distance, and has been extended to include demographic and… more

Date: August 2006

Creator: Venkatachalam, Sangeeta

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

A Comparative Analysis of Diseases Associated with Mining and Non-Mining Communities: A Case Study of Obusai and Asankrangwa, Ghana

Disease prevalence varies with geographic location. This research pursues a medical geographic perspective and examines the spatial variations in disease patterns between Obuasi, a gold mining town and Asankrangwa, a non gold mining town in Ghana, West Africa. Political ecology/economy and the human ecology frameworks are used to explain the prevalence of diseases. Mining alters the environment and allows disease causing pathogens and vectors to survive more freely than in other similar environ… more

Date: August 2005

Creator: Reddy, Sumanth G.

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries

open access

Traditional Medicine: a Blessing or Bane? The Case of Ghana

The study examines the socio-demographic characteristics of Traditional Medical Practitioners in Ghana. Their attitudes towards collaboration with biomedical practitioners, their associations, and regulation is also discussed. Data for the study was obtained from a Survey of Traditional Medical Practitioners in Ghana.

Date: August 1996

Creator: Sakyi-Addo, Isaac

Item Type: Thesis or Dissertation

Partner: UNT Libraries