Search result: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2019

Health Sciences and Technology Master Information
Major in Human Health, Nutrition and Environment
Electives
Elective Courses II
Module: Infectious Diseases
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
701-1708-00LInfectious Disease DynamicsW4 credits2VS. Bonhoeffer, R. D. Kouyos, R. R. Regös, T. Stadler
AbstractThis course introduces into current research on the population biology of infectious diseases. The course discusses the most important mathematical tools and their application to relevant diseases of human, natural or managed populations.
ObjectiveAttendees will learn about:
* the impact of important infectious pathogens and their evolution on human, natural and managed populations
* the population biological impact of interventions such as treatment or vaccination
* the impact of population structure on disease transmission

Attendees will learn how:
* the emergence spread of infectious diseases is described mathematically
* the impact of interventions can be predicted and optimized with mathematical models
* population biological models are parameterized from empirical data
* genetic information can be used to infer the population biology of the infectious disease

The course will focus on how the formal methods ("how") can be used to derive biological insights about the host-pathogen system ("about").
ContentAfter an introduction into the history of infectious diseases and epidemiology the course will discuss basic epidemiological models and the mathematical methods of their analysis. We will then discuss the population dynamical effects of intervention strategies such as vaccination and treatment. In the second part of the course we will introduce into more advanced topics such as the effect of spatial population structure, explicit contact structure, host heterogeneity, and stochasticity. In the final part of the course we will introduce basic concepts of phylogenetic analysis in the context of infectious diseases.
Lecture notesSlides and script of the lecture will be available online.
LiteratureThe course is not based on any of the textbooks below, but they are excellent choices as accompanying material:
* Keeling & Rohani, Modeling Infectious Diseases in Humans and Animals, Princeton Univ Press 2008
* Anderson & May, Infectious Diseases in Humans, Oxford Univ Press 1990
* Murray, Mathematical Biology, Springer 2002/3
* Nowak & May, Virus Dynamics, Oxford Univ Press 2000
* Holmes, The Evolution and Emergence of RNA Viruses, Oxford Univ Press 2009
Prerequisites / NoticeBasic knowledge of population dynamics and population genetics as well as linear algebra and analysis will be an advantage.
Module: Nutrition and Health
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
752-1300-00LIntroduction to ToxicologyW3 credits2VR. Eggen, S. J. Sturla
AbstractIntroduction to how chemical properties and biological interactions govern the disposition and influences of toxicants.
ObjectiveThe objectives are for the student to establish a framework for examining adverse effects resulting from exposures to toxicants by understanding key mechanisms that give rise to toxic responses and disease processes.
ContentThis course will introduce mechanisms governing the chemical disposition and biological influences of toxicants. The course is geared toward advanced bachelors students in food science, environmental science, and related disciplines, such as chemistry, biology and pharmaceutical sciences. Examples of topics include: dose-response relationships and risk assessment, absorption, transport, and biotransformation of xenobiotic chemicals; Carcinogenesis; DNA damage, repair, and mutation; Immunotoxicity; Neurotoxicity; and modern toxicity testing strategies. These fundamental concepts in Mechanistic Toxicology will be integrated with examples of toxicants relevant to food, drugs and the environment.
LiteratureCasarett & Doull's Toxicology, The Basic Science of Poisons. Seventh Edition. Editor: Curtis D. Klaassen, 2008, McGraw-Hill. (available on-line)
Prerequisites / NoticeBasic knowledge of organic chemistry and biochemistry is required.
752-1300-01LFood Toxicology Information W2 credits1VS. J. Sturla, N. Antczak
AbstractBuilds on a foundation in Toxicology fundamentals to address situations and toxins relevant to Food Science, Nutrition, and Food Safety & Quality.
ObjectiveCourse objectives are for the student to have a broad awareness of toxicant classes and toxicants relevant to food, and to know their identities (i.e. chemical structure or biological nature), origins, relevance of human exposures, general mode of biological action, and potential mitigation strategies.
ContentBuilds on a foundation in Toxicology fundamentals to address situations relevant to Food Science, Nutrition, and Food Safety & Quality. Representative topics: Toxic Phytochemicals and Mycotoxins, Industrial Contaminants and Packaging Materials, Toxicants formed During Food Processing, Alcohol and Tobacco. The class is comprised of bi-weekly lectures, independent reading, and preparation of an independent evaluation of a food-related toxin.
LiteratureReading from the primary literature will be referenced in class and posted to the course website.
Prerequisites / NoticeThe course "Introduction to Toxicology" (752-1300-00V) is a prerequisite for the students who want to take this course. Equivalent course may be accepted; contact the instructor.
752-6102-00LThe Role of Food and Nutrition for Disease PreventionW3 credits2VM. Andersson
AbstractThe course teaches the links between the diet and the etiology and progression of chronic diseases.
ObjectiveTo examine and understand the protective effects of foods and food ingredients in the maintenance of health and the prevention of chronic disease, as well as the progression of complications of chronic diseases.
ContentThe course evaluates food and nutrition in relation to primary and secondary prevention of chronic diseases.
Lecture notesThere is no script. Powerpoint presentations and relevant literature will be made available online to students.
LiteratureObligatory course literature to be provided by the responsible lecturer and the individual invited lecturers.
Prerequisites / NoticeNo compulsory prerequisites, but prior completion of Introduction to Nutritional Science (752-6001-00L) and Advanced Topics in Nutritional Science (752-6002-00L) is strongly adviced.
752-6302-00LPhysiology of Eating Information W3 credits2VW. Langhans
AbstractIntroduction to the basic knowledge necessary for an understanding of the physiology and pathology of hunger, satiety, and body weight control, how this knowledge is generated, and how it helps improve nutritional advice for healthy people as well as nutritional guidelines for patients.
ObjectiveThis course requires basic knowledge in physiology and is designed to build on course HE03 “Selected Topics in Physiology Related to Nutrition.” The course covers psychological and physiological determinants of food selection and amount eaten. The aim is to introduce the students to (a) the basic knowledge necessary for an understanding of the physiology and pathology of hunger, satiety, and body weight control, (b) how new scientific knowledge in this area is generated, (c) how this basic knowledge helps improve nutritional advice for healthy people as well as nutritional guidelines for patients. Major topics are: Basic scientific concepts for the physiological study of eating in animals and humans; the psychopharmacology of reward; endocrine and metabolic controls of eating; the neural control of eating; psychological aspects of eating; eating behavior and energy balance; exercise, eating and body weight; popular diets and their evaluation; epidemiology, clinical features and the treatment of psychiatric eating disorders; epidemiology, clinical features and the treatment of obesity, including related aspects of non-insulin dependent diabetes; mechanisms of cachexia and anorexia during illness; exogenous factors that influence eating, including pharmaceutical drugs, alcohol, coffee, etc.
Lecture notesHandouts will be provided
LiteratureLiterature will be discussed in class
Module: Environment and Health
NumberTitleTypeECTSHoursLecturers
701-0662-00LEnvironmental Impacts, Threshold Levels and Health Effects Information W3 credits2VC.‑T. Monn, M. Brink
AbstractEnvironmental impacts on human health and well-being will be discussed. Concepts and methods for exposure measurements and assessments will be shown. In the first part of the semester, air pollutants (for example for ozone, and fine particles).
In the second part, noise, its effects and control, will be covered.
Objective- to understand the basic concepts of an exposure assessment (air, noise)
- to know methods used in health effect research
- to know criteria and methods for setting threshold levels
ContentAir Pollutants
- sources of pollutants (indoors and outdoors)
- concepts of an exposure assessment
- measurement methods for gases and particles
- health effect of pollutants (methods, most important pollutants, such as fine particles and ozone)

Noise
- Introduction to acoustics, Measurement, Hearing
- Auditory processing
- Exposure assessment of noise
- Noise effects, Exposure-effect relationships
- Basics of noise control and abatement, exposure limits
- Noise abatement policy
Lecture notesPresentations (ppt, pdf) will be sent by email.
Literaturesee references in the scripts.
701-1312-00LAdvanced EcotoxicologyW3 credits2VR. Eggen, E. Janssen, K. Schirmer, M. Suter
AbstractThis course will take up the principles of environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology from the bachelor courses and deepen the understanding on selected topics. Linkages will be made between i) bioavailability and effects, ii) structures of compounds and modes of toxic action, iii) effects over various biological levels, moderated by environmental factors, iv) chemical and biological assessments
Objective- Understanding the key processes involved in fate, behavior and the bioaccumulation of (mainly) organic contaminants
- Overview on and understanding of mechanisms of toxicity
- linking structures and characteristics of compounds with effects
- processes in hazard assessment and risk assessment
- get insight in integrative approaches in ecotoxicology
ContentUnits 1-3: Fate of contaminants, dynamic interactions with the (a)biotic environment, toxikokinetics
- physico-chemical properties
- partitioning processes in environmental compartments
- partitioning to biota
- bioavailability and bioaccumulation concepts
- partitioning in biota

Units 4-6: Toxicodynamics (effect of contaminants on biota)
- internal concentrations; dose-response concept
- molecular mechanisms of toxic actions - classification
- Exercise: databases and estimation of toxicity

Unit 7-10: Toxic effects: from molecular to ecosystems
- complex mechanisms and feedback loops
- mixtures and multiple stressors
- stress- and adaptive responses
- dynamic exposures
- confounding factors, food web interactions
- Exercise: linking compounds with modes of toxic action

Unit 11: metal ecotoxicology

Unit 12-14: integrative approaches and case studies
- bioassays, -omics, systems ecotoxicology, phenotypic anchoring
- in vivo versus in vitro biotesting
- linking chemical with biological analytics
- bioassay-directed fractionation and identification
- (inter) national case studies and linkage of learned with approaches in practice
Lecture notesParts of scripts will be distributed, otherwise copies of overheads and selected publications
LiteratureR.P. Schwarzenbach, P.M. Gschwend, D.M. Imboden, Environmental Organic Chemistry, third edition, Wiley, 2005

C.J. van Leeuwen, J.L.M. Hermens (Editoren), Risk Assessment of Chemicals: An Introduction, Kluwer, 1995

Principles of ecotoxicology, CH Walker, RM Sibly, SP Hopkin, DB Peakall, fourth edition, CRC Press, 2012
Prerequisites / NoticeRequired:

1. Basics in environmental chemistry

2. Basics in environmental toxicology
701-1350-00LCase Studies in Environment and HealthW4 credits2VK. McNeill, N. Borduas-Dedekind, T. Julian
AbstractThis course will focus on a few individual chemicals and pathogens from different standpoints: their basic chemistry or biology, their environmental behavior, (eco)toxicology, and human health impacts. The course will draw out the common points in each chemical or pathogen's history.
ObjectiveThis course aims to illustrate how the individual properties of chemicals and pathogens along with societal pressures lead to environmental and human health crises. The ultimate goal of the course is to identify common aspects that will improve prediction of environmental crises before they occur. Students are expected to participate actively in the course, which includes the critical reading of the pertinent literature and class presentations.
ContentEach semester will feature case studies of chemicals and pathogens that have had a profound effect on human health and the environment. The instructors will present eight of these and the students will present approx. six in groups of three or four. Students will be expected to contribute to the discussion and, on selected topics, to lead the discussion.
Lecture notesHandouts will be provided as needed.
LiteratureHandouts will be provided as needed.
701-1704-01LHealth Impact Assessment: Concepts and Case StudiesW3 credits2VM. Winkler, C. Guéladio, M. Röösli, J. M. Utzinger
AbstractThis course introduces the concept of health impact assessment (HIA) and discusses a suite of case studies in industrialised and developing countries. HIA pursues an inter- and multidisciplinary approach, employs qualitative and quantitative methods with the overarching goal to influence decision-making.
ObjectiveAfter successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
o critically reflect on the concept of HIA and the different steps from screening to implementation and monitoring; and
o apply specific tools and methodologies for HIA of policies, programmes and projects in different social, ecological and epidemiological settings.
ContentThe course will present a broad set of tools and methods for the systematic and evidence-based judgment of potential health effects related to policies, programmes and projects. Methodological features will be introduced and applied to a variety of case studies in the public sector (e.g. traffic-related air pollution, passive smoking and waste water management) and private sector (e.g. water resource developments and extractive industries) all over the world.
Lecture notesHandouts will be distributed.
LiteratureWhenever possible, at least one peer-reviewed paper will be made available for each session.
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