http://hdl.handle.net/1903/8 2013-06-18T04:39:51Z http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13939 Title: The effects of settlement on the prevalence of infection in two Amerindian populations of the Brazilian Amazon Authors: Chernela, Janet M.; Thatcher, Vernon E. Abstract: Studies were made of the intestinal parasites of Amerindian populations of the Uaupes River basin of Brazil. Three groups were sampled: 1) Tukano fisher-agriculturalists who live in permanent riverine villages; 2) Maku hunter-horticulturalists who live in close contact with the Tukano fishing villages; and 3) Maku who inhabit the forest interior and have little contact with permanent settlements. Fecal samples were collected from 498 individuals of which 220 were from the first group, 135 from the second and 143 from the third. The samples were analyzed by means of microflotation and centrifugal sedimentation. A total of 18 protozoan and helminth species were recorded based on the presence of cysts or eggs. These included five nematode species that could not be identified. The three common pathogenic nematodes were found to be prevalent" the hookworm, Necator americanus (96%); the whipworm, Trichuris trichiura (77%) and the large roundworm, Ascaris lumbricoides (75%). The prevalence of Ascaris among the vollages was found to vary from 56-100%. Individuals living in, or associated with, permanent settlements has higher prevalence and intensity rates than those living in the nomadic hunter-gatherer way. This is shown to be directly related to fecal contamination of the environment in and around permanent settlements. The prevalence of Ascaris in a population can be used as an indicator of such environmental contamination. 1993-06-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13938 Title: Indigenous Rights and Ethno-Development: The Life of an Indigenous Organization in the Rio Negro of Brazil Authors: Chernela, Janet Abstract: Following a successful campaign to end the unlawful practices of trafficking that brought them to Manaus, indigenous Tukanoan women from the Upper Rio Negro established a local indigenous organization with which to plan and manage their own ethno-development, including cultural heritage activities, institution building, revenue development, health and legal services, community, and other initiatives. The case provides an opportunity to explore indigenous ethno-development, a concept at the heart of the theory and practice of Shelton (Sandy) Davis. No seguimento de uma campanha bem sucessida em Manaus para terminar com práticas de tráfego ilegais,mulheres indígenas da tribo Tukano do Alto Rio Negro fundaram uma organização indígena local com o fim de planejar e gerir o seu próprio desenvolvimento etnográfico, incluindo atividades culturais e patrimoniais, reforço institucional, desenvolvimento de rendimentos, serviços de saúde e legais, iniciativas comunitárias e outras. Este caso oferece uma oportunidade para estudar o desenvolvimento etnográfico, um conceito central na teoria e práctica de Shelton (Sandy) Davis. 2011-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13875 Title: Davi Kopenawa Yanomani Interview with Janet Chernela and Address to the American Anthropological Association, Demini Village, Brazil Authors: Kopenawa Yanomami, Davi; Chernela, Janet Abstract: This interview was conducted June 7, 2001, in the Yanomami village of Demini, Parima Highlands, Brazil. I invited Davi to participate in what I call "reciprocal interviewing" -- that is, he could interview me as I could interview him. Davi exercises his privilege toward the end of the interview. He understood that he was invited to speak to the American Anthropological Assocation in this interview, and refers to the Association in the course of his talk. Davi and I spoke in Portuguese. The interview was recorded on audio and video-tape, and later translated from tapes into English. Paragraphs, titles, and bracketed comments were added. Since Portuguese is not first language to either of us, it is not clear that the word choices were ideal. In some cases I included Davi's choice of Portuguese term. The words of Davi continue to have resonance beyond the past to include the enterprise of anthropological research, in general. The implications for globalization, cultural rights, and morality, are far-reaching. Description: Interview 2001-06-07T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1903/13847 Title: Adjustments for Nonresponse, Sample Quality Indicators, and Nonresponse Error in a Total Survey Error Context Authors: Ye, Cong Abstract: The decline in response rates in surveys of the general population is regarded by many researchers as one of the greatest threats to contemporary surveys. Much research has focused on the consequences of nonresponse. However, because the true values for the non-respondents are rarely known, it is difficult to estimate the magnitude of nonresponse bias or to develop effective methods for predicting and adjusting for nonresponse bias. This research uses two datasets that have records on each person in the frame to evaluate the effectiveness of adjustment methods aiming to correct nonresponse bias, to study indicators of sample quality, and to examine the relative magnitude of nonresponse bias under different modes. The results suggest that both response propensity weighting and GREG weighting, are not effective in reducing nonresponse bias present in the study data. There are some reductions in error, but the reductions are limited. The comparison between response propensity weighting and GREG weighting shows that with the same set of auxiliary variables, the choice between response propensity weighting and GREG weighting makes little difference. The evaluation of the R-indicators and the penalized R-indicators using the study datasets and from a simulation study suggests that the penalized R-indicators perform better than the R-indicators in terms of assessing sample quality. The penalized R-indicator shows a pattern that has a better match to the pattern for the estimated biases than the R-indicator does. Finally, the comparison of nonresponse bias to other types of errors finds that nonresponse bias in these two data sets may be larger than sampling error and coverage bias, but measurement bias can be bigger in turn than nonresponse bias, at least for sensitive questions. And postsurvey adjustments do not result in substantial reduction in the total survey error. We reach the conclusion that 1) efforts put into dealing with nonresponse bias are warranted; 2) the effectiveness of weighting adjustments for nonresponse depends on the availability and quality of the auxiliary variables, and 3) the penalized R-indicator may be more helpful in monitoring the quality of the survey than the R-indicator. 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z