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A survey was conducted to assess the knowledge and attitudes of 67 preschool and children's directors of the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas during a statewide meeting on AIDS. Data on church policies regarding AIDS and AIDS education were also obtained from the participants.
The purpose was to conduct a pilot study of the extent of stress and differences in sources of stress experienced by HIV+ and HIV- caregivers of HIV+ children living in South Texas. 13 infected and 9 uninfected caregivers each completed the Questionnaire on Resources and Stress for their preschool-aged HIV+ child. Both HIV+ and HIV- caregivers experienced clinically significant stress. HIV+ caregivers reported that relative to the HIV- group, they perceived themselves to be in poorer physical or emotional health, to receive less social support from others, and to be less pessimistic about the future of their child or family.
Two hundred castrated male Angora goats (18 mo of age) were divided equally between rangeland sites in the oak savannah of the Edwards Plateau (EP) and the mixed-brush shrublands of the South Texas Plains (STP) for 5 yr to study influence of environment and age on body weight (BW), mohair production, and mohair fiber characteristics. Goats were grazed on rangeland typical of the respective regions and were given typical management that included shearing in February and July or August of each year. Shorn goats were weighed and individual fleeces were measured for grease weight (GFW), clean yield (CMFP), average fiber diameter (AFD), and proportion of medullated fibers, med (MFP) and kemp (KFP). Rainfall and maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded daily at each site. The AFD (P = .01) and its associated SD (P < .001) and kemp levels (P = .03) were all higher at the STP than at the EP site (39.4 vs 37.9 microns, 10.4 vs 11.1 microns, and .80 vs .68%, respectively). Angora goats at EP weighed less (38.1 vs 41.7 kg, P = .03), and sheared less (1.90 vs 2.22 kg, P = .01), finer (36.4 vs 39.3 microns, P < .001), and less kempy (.52 vs .84%, P < .001) mohair at the February shearing than at the August shearing. No seasonal differences in body weight or in mohair production or quality were apparent at STP. The proportions of total variation in grease mohair production (30.6%), CMFP (22.2%), and AFD (15.7%) due to year effects were two to three times greater at STP than at EP. In contrast, year effects were responsible for only a small proportion (2.2 to 4.6%) of the variation in medullated fibers. The effects of rainfall accumulation within specific 6-mo growing periods were positive for BW, GFW, CFW, AFD, SD of AFD and MFP and negative for CMFP and KFP. Only the rainfall effects on SD of AFD and medullated fibers were significant (P < .05). The effects of age were positive for BW (P < .001), CMFP (P = .046), AFD (P < .001), MFP (P = .014), and KFP (P = .084) and negative for GFW (P = .046) and CFW (P = .107). This study documents influence of environment and age of goats on body weight, mohair production, and fiber characteristics.
Two experiments involving Brangus and Hereford x Brangus cows (3 to 10 yr) were conducted at four locations in western Texas to determine the effects of supplemental feeding interval on serum urea nitrogen (SUN) patterns, intake of supplement and forage, and winter changes in live body weight and condition score. Treatments were control (Control; no supplemental feed) and the equivalent of .91 kg/d of cottonseed meal (CSM) fed daily (Daily), three times per week (3T/WK), or one time per week (WK). At each location, one pasture group was given all four treatments (four cows/treatment) using Calan gates. In Exp. 1, conducted in 1994-95, blood samples were obtained for determining SUN during the last week of the study. Experiment 2, conducted in 1995-96, included both an individually fed herd and four additional herds at each location that were group-fed the four treatments. Experiment 2 included estimates of intakes of both CSM and forage in both individually fed and group-fed herds. A bolus containing chromium (Cr-bolus) was used to estimate fecal output in the individually fed cows. A double marker technique was used to determine total (Cr-bolus) and CSM (Yb) intakes in the group-fed cows. Data included initial and final cow weights and condition scores (Exp. 1 and 2), SUN patterns (Exp. 1), and supplement, forage, and total intakes (Exp. 2). Feeding CSM to range cows increased SUN concentrations (Exp. 1), reduced losses in live body weight and body condition score (Exp. 1 and 2), and tended to decrease forage intake by the approximate amount of the supplement (Exp. 2). Generally, providing supplement as infrequently as once per week reduced losses in live body weight and body condition score compared with control and was as effective as once daily supplementation. For the group-fed cows, supplement intake, forage intake, and live body weight change were more variable within groups with once daily feeding than when supplement was fed less frequently. These data indicate that feeding as infrequently as one time per week can be effective nutrition management for adult cows grazing native range.
Cows (n = 116) sired by Angus, Gray Brahman, Gir, Indu-Brazil, Nellore, and Red Brahman bulls and from Hereford dams were evaluated (when bred to the same breed of bull) for reproductive performance and cow weight and height and their calves (n = 1,161) were evaluated for birth and weaning weight in central Texas (temperate winters and subtropical summers). Cows were born from 1982 to 1985 and their calves were born from 1985 to 1999. Crossbred cows sired by Angus had a higher (P < 0.10) occurrence of calving difficulty than Gir, Indu-Brazil, Nellore, and Red Brahman crossbreds. Calves from Gir crossbreds had lighter (P < 0.10) birth weight (34.8 kg) than calves from Angus and Red Brahman crossbreds (39.4 and 37.2 kg). Calves from Angus crossbreds cows had lighter (P < 0.001) weaning weight (227.0 kg) than calves from Bos indicus crossbreds. Cows sired by Angus were lighter (P < 0.10) as mature cows (520.69 kg) than Gray Brahman, Indu-Brazil, and Red Brahman crossbreds (585.6, 571.9, and 577.6 kg, respectively). They also had smaller (P < 0.05) hip height (124.7 cm) than Bos indicus crossbreds. Mature cows sired by Indu-Brazil had greater (P < 0.05) hip height (138.3 cm) than Gir crossbreds (133.8 cm). Differences among sire breeds were noted within cow age categories (2 through 14 yr of age) for pregnancy rate, calf crop born, calf survival rate (as a trait of cow), and calf crop weaned. Angus and Indu-Brazil crossbred cows were lower (P < or = 0.10) than Gir and Nellore crossbreds for pregnancy rate, calf crop born, and(or) calf crop weaned at some, but not all, ages. Indu-Brazil crossbreds had a lower (P < or = 0.10) calf survival rate than most other breed groups at ages 11 to 14 yr. The results of this study indicate that Nellore and Gir crossbreds, but not Indu-Brazil, could perform as well or better than breeds traditionally used in cross-breeding programs of U.S. cow-calf production.
Since July 2002, ongoing surveillance efforts have been conducted to determine potential vectors of West Nile virus (WNV) and Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) in the mosquito population occurring in Lubbock County, Texas. Adult mosquitoes collected in Lubbock County during 2002 and 2003 represented 7 genera, with Culex tarsalis and Ochlerotatus sollicitans being the predominant species collected. Mosquitoes were initially screened for WNV and SLEV by using the VecTest antigen panel assay. Positive VecTest results were confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. West Nile virus-positive pools of mosquitoes were detected in 2002 and 2003, with the majority of the positive pools consisting of Cx. tarsalis. None of the mosquito pools tested positive for SLEV.
This descriptive prevalence study describes the relationships between mosquito density and the presence of arboviruses (in mosquitoes and humans) with various socioeconomic and environmental factors present near the time of teh arbovirus outbreak in Harris County, Texas, in 2002. This study suggests that mosquito density increased if the trap was located in an area with a large number of containers that may inadvertently retain rainwater (P = 0.056). When considering only virus-positive mosquitoes, significant relationships were observed if the trap was located near waste materials (P < 0.001) or near containers that may inadvertently retain rainwater (P = 0.037). Furthermore, the presence of arbovirus activity (in mosquitoes or humans) in a geographic area tended to be associated with the socioeconomic status of the local community. Although the results of socioeconomic comparisons were not significant, they were suggestive, demonstrating an interesting trend. Compared with communities where virus activity was not observed, the socioeconomic status of the arbovirus-positive community was consistently lower. Specifically, results showed that the populations residing in virus-positive census tracts attained less education, earned less income per household, and were more likely to be below the poverty level. In addition, this study found that virus-positive mosquitoes were randomly distributed throughout the study area, whereas severe human infection cases were clustered. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that the health outcome of a local community as it relates to West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis is dependent on many factors, including eh socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the community.
Activity of adult female populations of Culex salinarius, as determined by light trap collections, was studied in Chambers County, Texas, from June 1988 to July 1990. Overall, Cx. salinarius was the predominant species collected by light traps. Female Cx. salinarius were present in every month of the 2-year study period, with spring peaks in April and May and autumn peaks in September and October. Traps set in southern and central areas collected more specimens of Cx. salinarius than did those located in western areas, especially during spring, summer, and fall seasons. Females with longest wing lengths were collected in cooler winter months and those with shortest wing lengths were collected in warm summer months. Females having the longest wings tended to be collected at trap sites in coastal marsh areas of Chambers County, irrespective of when collections were made. Dipper samples taken on a monthly basis from fixed sites in upland agricultural and coastal marshland areas indicate that larvae of this species were present at more sampling sites during cooler months than in the warmest months of June, July, and August.
Few comparative studies exist examining the relationship between substance abuse and aggressive behavior under different social conditions. We studied the relationship between aggressive crime and substance abuse among Mexican-American, black and white male arrestees in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, Texas using existing 1992 Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) data. The aim of the analysis was to predict the outcome of aggressive crime from drug and alcohol-related and ethnic group variables within the total male sample (n = 2,364). Results indicated that ethnicity was significantly related to aggressive crime. Mexican-American arrestees were more likely to be arrested for aggressive crimes than either blacks or whites. Drug and alcohol use effects were found across all ethnic groups. In general, the subgroup which drank frequently and tested positive for drug use was less likely to be charged with aggressive crimes than the other subgroups. The psychopharmacological influence of alcohol as a disinhibitor and drugs as a inhibitor provides one explantation of the results. Specific ethnic subcultural and ecological influences also affect the outcome. Our study strongly indicates the heterogeneous character of the drug using population in relation to aggression. The variability between subculturally defined subgroups requires detained ethnographic field studies in the future to describe the contexts of substance use and aggressive behavior.
A historical retrospective study of 242 shiftworker (SW) and 224 non-SW (NSW) injuries at a chemical manufacturing plant in southeast Texas (U.S.A.) was performed. Data were collected on injuries that occurred between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1985. The SW schedule comprised an 8-hr, 7-day backward rotation program while the dayworker schedule consisted of a typical U.S.A. 40-hr work week. Injury records were matched against payroll/attendance records to substantiate the probability of isolating possible effects of the shiftwork rotation schedule on the rates, distribution and severity of injuries. Injuries in the SW sample were compared to those in the non-SW sample. The work responsibilities of dayworkers were not exactly the same as those of shiftworkers. However, the job responsibilities for males and females within the dayworker and shiftworker groups were equivalent. Overall injury incidence rates were not significantly different between SWs and non-SWs, although female SWs had significantly higher incidence rates than did male SWs and both male and female dayworkers. The occurrence of injuries, however, was not equally distributed during the day shift and the night shift, but was equally distributed during the evening shift and for non-SWs, suggesting that certain, yet to be determined, factors were affecting the distribution of injuries during the day and night shift. However, the average number of injuries was two-three times higher during the first four days of the day and night shift, yet were not elevated during the evening shift.
In three Texas cities illicit drug injectors not in treatment were located by outreach and interviewed with a standard questionnaire. In all the cities the drug injectors were predominantly undereducated and unemployed young men from minority groups. In Dallas and Houston most were Black, while in San Antonio most were Hispanic. The most frequently reported primary drug in Houston was cocaine, but in Dallas and San Antonio it was heroin. The high needle risk for AIDS and the low rates of positive HIV antibody tests in these samples present a special window of opportunity for prevention of AIDS.
This study investigated possible explanations for increases in marijuana use among eighth grade students in Texas from 1992 to 1996. The variables examined were availability of marijuana, perceived dangerousness of marijuana use, use of alcohol and cigarettes, parental attitudes toward marijuana use, and a number of other variables related to family, peers, and school. Although many of these variables were strongly related to marijuana use during the past year, only measures relating to availability of marijuana showed increases in prevalence similar to those of marijuana use across three time periods investigated. Another finding of interest was the dramatic increase (from 4% in 1992 to 24% in 1996) in marijuana use among African American students.
Abstract. The authors examined college student opinions of no-smoking policies, secondhand smoke, and smoking in public places. A convenience sample of 1,188 (66.4% female; 26.9% White, 64.1% Black, and 9.0% Hispanic) students attending 5 Texas colleges volunteered to complete a 60-item anonymous survey on tobacco attitudes and behaviors. Results of our study showed that women, Black students, and nonsmoking students reported the most favorable attitudes toward no smoking. Male students, white students, and students who smoked in the past 30 days (current smokers) reported the least favorable attitudes. The lowest level of agreement by all subgroups was provided for prohibiting smoking everywhere on campus (inside and outside of buildings). Implications for tobacco control on college campuses are discussed.
We describe the third known case of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) due to Bayou virus, from Jefferson County, Texas. By using molecular epidemiologic methods, we show that rice rats (Oryzomys palustris) are frequently infected with Bayou virus and that viral RNA sequences from HPS patients are similar to those from nearby rice rats. Bayou virus is associated with O. palustris; this rodent appears to be its predominant reservoir host.
Urban dengue is common in most countries of the Americas, but has been rare in the United States for more than half a century. In 1999 we investigated an outbreak of the disease that affected Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and Laredo, Texas, United States, contiguous cities that straddle the international border. The incidence of recent cases, indicated by immunoglobulin M antibody serosurvey, was higher in Nuevo Laredo, although the vector, Aedes aegypti, was more abundant in Laredo. Environmental factors that affect contact with mosquitoes, such as air-conditioning and human behavior, appear to account for this paradox. We conclude that the low prevalence of dengue in the United States is primarily due to economic, rather than climatic, factors.
Bats submitted to the Texas Department of Health (1996-2000) were speciated and tested for rabies virus antigen by direct immunofluorescence microscopy. Antigenic analysis of rabies virus-positive specimens was performed with monoclonal antibodies against the nucleoprotein of the virus; atypical or unexpected results were confirmed by genetic analysis of nucleoprotein sequence.
West Nile virus (WNV) was detected in 11 dead birds and two mosquito pools collected in east Texas and southern Louisiana during surveillance studies in the winter of 2003 to 2004. These findings suggest that WNV is active throughout the year in this region of the United States.
We analysed 20 boxes of, frozen imported bait-shrimp (China: Parapenaeopsis sp. and Metapenaeopsis sp.) and 8 boxes of native, frozen bait-shrimp (Gulf of Mexico: Litopenaeus setiferus and Farfantepenaeus duorarum) by RT-PCR or PCR for Taura syndrome virus (TSV), yellowhead virus/gill-associated virus (YHV/GAV), white-spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV). All 28 boxes of shrimp were negative for TSV, YHV/GAV and IHHNV; 2 boxes of imported bait-shrimp were WSSV-positive by 3 different PCR assays. Intramuscular injection of replicate groups of SPF (specific pathogen-free) L. vannamei juveniles with 2 different tissue homogenates prepared from the 2 WSSV-positive bait boxes resulted in 100% mortality of the test shrimp within 48 to 72 h post-injection. No mortality occurred among injected negative control groups. Histological and in situ hybridization analyses of 20 moribund treatment-shrimp demonstrated severe WSSV infections in each sample. Oral exposure of SPF L. vannamei postlarvae, PL (PL 25 to 30 stage; approximately 0.02 g) to minced tissue prepared from the 2 WSSV-positive bait-lots did not induce infection, possibly because of an insufficient infectious dose and/or viral inactivation resulting from multiple freeze-thaw cycles of the bait-shrimp during PCR testing. Use of an electric drill and collection of drill-tailings (tissue from approximately 20 to 30 shrimp) from frozen blocks of shrimp was successfully employed as an alternate tissue-sampling method without thawing. Our findings indicate that imported WSSV-infected bait shrimp, originating from China, are being sold in Texas for the purpose of sport fishing and represent a potential threat to freshwater and marine crustacean fisheries, as well as to coastal US shrimp farms.