Correlation between the Bicycle Drawing Task and neuropsychological variables in patients referred for a dementia evaluation.

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the Bicycle Drawing Task and a number of neuropsychological variables, including the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status, in a heterogeneous group of older adults referred for a dementia evaluation. The sample consisted of 91 participants with a mean age of 77.0 yr.

Tell me--show me: using combined focus group and photovoice methods to gain understanding of health issues in rural Guatemala.

As health researchers, our training is more literary than visual. We are only beginning to learn about the value of photography as a qualitative data collection method. In this article we describe a project utilizing focus groups and photovoice, sequentially, to gather information about health-related conditions in rural Guatemala.

The outer membrane protein OprQ and adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to human fibronectin.

Outer membrane proteins of the Gram-negative organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa play a significant role in membrane permeability, antibiotic resistance, nutrient uptake, and virulence in the infection site. In this study, we show that the P. aeruginosa outer membrane protein OprQ, a member of the OprD superfamily, is involved in the binding of human fibronectin (Fn).

Bone health in immigrant Hispanic women living in Texas.

Osteoporosis is a serious national public health problem, and is expected to increase significantly over the next few decades, especially in women. A limitation of bone health research exists since few studies have involved Hispanic women, and even fewer, Hispanic immigrant women. For this study we examined the effects of anthropometric, behavioral, and health history variables on bone mineral density (BMD) in 84 immigrant Hispanic women, age 40 and above.

Journal editor survey: information to help authors publish.

Faculty are expected to publish but often do not know how to write a manuscript that avoids major reasons for subsequent rejection. The authors share the results of a survey of 63 journal editors who reported journal characteristics and reasons for rejection of manuscripts. Suggestions to improve the acceptance rate of faculty publications are offered.

Comfort in the eye of the storm: a survey of evacuees with special medical needs.

Introduction: This article reports on a descriptive study conducted in a Medical Special Needs Shelter with evacuees from Hurricane Gustav in 2008. This shelter was operated by the faculty, students and staff of the University of Texas at Tyler in Tyler, TX.

Methods: A descriptive survey approach was used to determine the perception of the shelter experience of evacuees with special medical needs.

Identification of bacterial species in the hemolymph of queen Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Evidence that symbiotic microorganisms can impact the development and fitness of insects has been shown in many species. Hemolymph-associated symbiotic bacteria have been identified in larvae of Solenopsis invicta Buren, the red imported fire ant; however, their association with adult red imported fire ants and the mode by which these organisms are transmitted from queens to offspring are not well known. In this study, Bacillus spp.

Transposing Yallom: recognizing and understanding group dynamics in a Canadian online diploma in psychiatric nursing.

Given the historical association between psychiatric/mental health (P/MH) nursing education and group formats, and the recent shift to online education, one might expect to see a well developed literature that focuses on P/MH nurse education in online group settings; yet this is patently not the case. This paper attempts to redress this omission by drawing on educational material produced in a regional online diploma in psychiatric nursing. After reviewing the relevant extant literature, it adopts Yallom's seminal work and transposes this into online group settings.

Molecular identification of hemolymph-associated symbiotic bacteria in red imported fire ant larvae.

The red imported fire ant (RIFA) (Solenopsis invicta Buren), an exotic insect pest in Texas, has become well established throughout the eastern part of the state. More aggressive than native ant species, RIFA gradually have enlarged their range and spread north and west despite intense efforts to stop them. Symbiotic bacteria have an important relationship in the midgut of fourth instar RIFA larvae.

Attentional-shaping as a means to improve emotion perception deficits in schizophrenia.

Inability to recognize emotional expressions of others (emotion perception) is one of the most common impairments observed among individuals with schizophrenia. Such deficits presumably contribute much to the social dysfunction characteristic of schizophrenia. This study examined the efficacy of a novel attentional-shaping intervention to improve emotion perception abilities.

Incorporating cultural issues in education for ethical practice.

The population of most non-dominant ethnic groups in the USA is growing dramatically. Faculty members are challenged to develop curricula that adequately prepare our future nurses. An increased focus on clinical ethics has resulted from the use of sophisticated technology, changes in health care financing, an increasing elderly population and the shift of care from inpatient to outpatient settings.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of nursing personnel regarding advance directives.

The aim of the study was to describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices of nursing personnel working in acute care settings regarding advance directives (ADs). The study was descriptive using a 40-item, newly developed tool (Update on Advance Directives questionnaire) distributed to 108 nursing personnel (mostly registered nurses) who were willing to complete the questionnaire. The findings were that nursing personnel reflected a lack of knowledge concerning federal and state laws and general information about ADs.

Factors influencing completion of advanced directives in hospitalized patients.

Aim: A cross-sectional, descriptive study to describe characteristics and other factors that influenced the decision by hospitalized patients in the East Texas area to formulate an advanced directive (AD).

Findings: Spouses, family members and sense of spirituality were the strongest influential factors for completion of an AD. Most learned about ADs from family, friends, personal attorneys, and others, while less than a quarter of the sample learned about ADs from health care providers.

A new species of hognose pitviper, genus Porthidium, from the southwestern Pacific of Costa Rica (Serpentes: Viperidae).

A new species of terrestrial pitviper, Porthidium porrasi, is described from mesophytic forests of the Península de Osa and surrounding area of the Pacific versant of southwestern Costa Rica. It is most similar to P. nasutum and is characterized by a pattern of bands, persistence of the juvenile tail color in adults, and a high number of dorsal scales.

Professional values held by baccalaureate and associate degree nursing students.

Purpose: To determine the congruency in value orientation of graduating students in baccalaureate and associate degree programs.

Design And Methods: A survey design with a convenience sample of 1,450 graduating nursing students from all baccalaureate and associate degree nursing programs in Texas. Data were collected using the Nurses Professional Values Scale (NPVS).

Polymeric potassium diaquahexa-mu-cyano-holmium(III)ruthenium(II) dihydrate.

The crystal structure of the title bimetallic cyanide-bridged complex, [K[HoRu(CN)(6)(H(2)O)(2)] x 2H(2)O](n), was determined by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The coordination about the central holmium(III) ion is eightfold in a square-antiprismatic arrangement, while the ruthenium(II) ion is octahedrally coordinated. Channels permeating the crystal lattice contain the potassium cations and two zeolitic water molecules.