http://hdl.handle.net/2144/966 2013-03-30T18:29:52Z http://hdl.handle.net/2144/4367 PleioGRiP: Pleiotropic Genetic Risk Prediction via Bayesian model search and classification Sebastiani, Paola; Hartley, Stephen The program PleioGRiP performs a genome-wide Bayesian model search to identify SNPs associated with a discrete phenotype, and uses SNPs ranked by Bayes factor to produce nested Bayesian classifiers. These classifiers can be used for genetic risk prediction, either selecting the classifier with optimal number of features, or using an ensemble of classifiers. In addition, PleioGRiP implements an extension to the Bayesian search and classification, and can search for pleiotropic relationships in which SNPs are simultaneously associated with two or more distinct phenotypes. These relationships can be used to generate connected Bayesian classifiers to predict the phenotype of interest either using genetic data alone, or in combination with the secondary phenotype(s). 2012-11-16T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2144/3384 Reproductive Health Surveillance in the US-Mexico Border Region: Beyond the Border (and Into the Future) Kotelchuck, Milton 2008-09-15T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2144/3381 Causal Beliefs about Obesity and Associated Health Behaviors: Results from a Population-Based Survey Wang, Catharine; Coups, Elliot J BACKGROUND. Several genetic variants are associated with obesity risk. Promoting the notion of genes as a cause for obesity may increase genetically deterministic beliefs and decrease motivation to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors. Little is known about whether causal beliefs about obesity are associated with lifestyle behaviors. Study objectives were as follows: 1) to document the prevalence of various causal beliefs about obesity (i.e., genes versus lifestyle behaviors), and 2) to determine the association between obesity causal beliefs and self-reported dietary and physical activity behaviors. METHODS. The study data were drawn from the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS). A total of 3,534 individuals were included in the present study. RESULTS. Overall, 72% of respondents endorsed the belief that lifestyle behaviors have 'a lot' to do with causing obesity, whereas 19% indicated that inheritance has 'a lot' to do with causing obesity. Multinomial logistic regression analyses indicated that the belief that obesity is inherited was associated with lower reported levels of physical activity (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77-0.99) and fruit and vegetable consumption (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.76-0.99). In contrast, the belief that obesity is caused by lifestyle behaviors was associated with greater reported levels of physical activity (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.03-1.62), but was not associated with fruit and vegetable intake (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.90-1.28). CONCLUSIONS. Causal beliefs about obesity are associated with some lifestyle behaviors. Additional research is needed to determine whether promoting awareness of the genetic determinants of obesity will decrease the extent to which individuals will engage in the lifestyle behaviors essential to healthy weight management. 2010-03-03T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2144/3382 Adaptation of a Smoking Cessation and Prevention Website for Urban American Indian/Alaska Native Youth Taualii, Maile; Bush, Nigel; Bowen, Deborah J.; Forquera, Ralph Tobacco use among American Indian youth is a disproportionately significant problem. We adapted and modified an existing web-based and youth-focused tobacco control program to make it appropriate for young urban American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). The results of the focus group indicate that AI/AN youth were very receptive to the use of a web-based Zine-style intervention tool. They wanted the look and feel of the website to be more oriented toward their cultural images. Future research should examine if successful programs for reducing non-ceremonial tobacco use among urban AI/AN youth can keep young irregular smokers from becoming adult smokers. 2010-01-16T00:00:00Z