SURVEY OF Rickettsia spp. IN TICKS IN NACOGDOCHES COUNTY, TEXAS

Rickettsia parkeri is an obligate intracellular pathogenic bacterium that is commonly transmitted by the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum. Rickettsia parkeri is the causative agent of Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, which is a disease characterized by nonspecific symptomology. Significant effort by numerous research groups focuses on determining the geographic distribution of potential vectors of this pathogen. The purpose of this study was to study A. maculatum populations in Nacogdoches County, Texas, for the presence of Rickettsia parkeri. Over a two-year period, 49 ticks were collected in Nacogdoches county and taxonomically identified. The DNA was extracted using DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit, and the UltraClean Microbial DNA Isolation Kit. The genomic contents of the tick were subjected to PCR amplification to identify Rickettsia genus bacteria. Any ticks testing positive for Rickettsia spp. were subjected to PCR to test for R. parkeri and R. rickettsii. Ultimately, 26% of ticks collected were positive for a rickettsia bacteria with 6% positive for Rickettsia parkeri

Primetime War on Drugs & Terror

At the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center, we've produced research demonstrating the profound impact that televised entertainment can have on audiences. Whether we like it or not, people are moved by entertainment content and, if the depictions seem realistic, there is a good chance they will apply what they see on the screen to their lives.This is one reason that we decided to develop a research project with the American Civil Liberties Union that would help us understand what Americans (and the rest of the world) might be learning about the War on Terror and the War on Drugs from the most popular shows on U.S. television (which are watched by billions of people around the world). With the assistance of Princeton Survey Research Associates International, we conducted a very detailed analysis of 49 recent episodes of popular primetime dramas (Fig. 2).We selected episodes that addressed the War on Terror or the War on Drugs from ten highly-rated one hour network dramas: 24, CSI, CSI: Miami, The Good Wife, House, Law & Order, Law & Order: Los Angeles, Law & Order: SVU, NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles. All of the episodes aired during 2010, except for eight shows which aired in late 2009 as part of the network 2009-10 season. The aim was to analyze how terror or drugrelated plots were portrayed rather than to assess how frequently these plots appeared. We subjected each episode to a codebook with 145 variables and over 800 sub-variables (see the Methodology section on page 27 for more details). In an effort to contextualize this research and how it might come into dialogue with other conversations about the War on Drugs and the War on Terror, we include recent public opinion survey data about these wars as well as data about how the government and the justice system, in particular, are conducting them. We think viewing these three types of data together -- that is, depictions on television, public opinion and statistics about real world practices -- is the best way to begin an informed conversation about how these wars are being carried out and understood in America

REGIONAL MARKETS FOR AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD PRODUCTS: NEEDED RESEARCH

Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

The Business and Culture of Social Media: In Search of the People Formerly Known As the Audience

This presentation addresses three transformations: the transformation of the audience; of advertising models; and of media businesses. The talk describes how they were transformed first by digital technology, and how they are now being transformed by social media. It goes on to describe what we call the "three economies" which govern the era of social media and proposes some research needed in order to understand and to monetize the audiences of this era

REGIONAL GAINS AND LOSSES FOR CONSUMERS AND PRODUCERS FROM CHANGES IN FLUID MILK PRICES

Agribusiness,

Coddling Spies: Why the Law Doesn’t Adequately Address Computer Spyware

Consumers and businesses have attempted to use the common law of torts as well as federal statutes like the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Stored Wire and Electronic Communications and Transactional Records Act, and the Wiretap Act to address the expanding problem of spyware. Spyware, which consists of software applications inserted into another\u27s computer to report a user\u27s activity to an outsider, is as innocuous as tracking purchases or as sinister as stealing trade secrets or an individual\u27s identity. Existing law does not address spyware adequately because authorization language, buried in click-through boilerplate, renders much of current law useless. Congress must act to make spyware companies disclose their intentions with conspicuous and clearly-stated warnings

Preventing Falls in Long-Term Care Using Patient-Centered Fall Interventions

Practice Problem: The practice problem identified within the Community Living Center included continuous falls, despite using current fall prevention strategies and provider-driven interventions. Baseline data reflected a fall rate of 4.2 in the long-term care areas despite improving the fall prevention program. PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was: In older adult residents (P), what is the effect of a standing operating procedure (SOP) using patient-centered interventions (I) compared to physician-driven fall interventions (C) on decreasing falls and falls with injuries (O) within one month (T)? Evidence: In twelve high-quality articles that fit the eligibility criteria and contained EBP literature, the overwhelming evidence revealed that an SOP encompassing patient-centered fall interventions could decrease LTC falls and falls within injury rates. Outcome: Observations reflected the nursing staff utilized the SOP and patient-centered fall interventions in practice; however, fall rates on both LTC #1 and LTC #2 increased from baseline, but the falls with injury rates remained zero. Patient satisfaction measured a weighted mean score of 4.7 of 5 points, representing satisfaction with the patient-centered interventions and nurses as a whole. Conclusion: The EBP project did not result in an overall reduction in the fall rates; however, falls with injury rates remained at zero. Furthermore, the patient\u27s overall satisfaction with the nurses and patient-centered fall prevention program was favorable. It is essential to note that due to COVID-19 related events, the project halted after 30 days, and the results might have been different if implemented 90 days as initially projected

Validity of Various Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Devices vs the Bod Pod for Body Composition

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of various BIA devices compared to a criterion, the Bod Pod. It was hypothesized that (1) there would be no significant difference in the various BIA devices (Seca, Inbody, Tanita, Omron) as compared to the Bod Pod, for validity and reliability, (2) there would be no significant difference in total body water as measured by the Seca and Tanita, and (3) there would be significant differences in weight as measured by four of the five devices (Bod Pod, Seca, Tanita, Inbody). Methods: Forty participants, ages 18-31 years, 20 female and 20 males, were included in this study. Participants were tested on five devices (Bod Pod, Seca, Tanita, Omron, and Inbody), on the same day. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to assess device differences for percent fat and lean mass. For device differences, protected t-tests were used. Pearson correlations were used to assess predictive validity of each device vs the Bod Pod. Results: For percent fat, the Omron (20.5%) significantly (p \u3c 0.05) underestimated percent fat as compared to all other devices: Bod Pod (24.1%), Seca (24.5%), Inbody (24.6%), Tanita (23.6%). The Omron also significantly (p \u3c 0.05) overestimated lean mass as compared to all other devices. Reliability of each device was high (r2 range = 0.995-1.000). There were no significant differences in total body water measured on the Seca (89.3 l) and the Tanita (90.0 l) BIA devices. For body weight, the Seca (73.5 kg) and the Inbody (73.7 kg) were significantly (p \u3c 0.05) higher than the Bod Pod (73.4 kg) and the Tanita (73.4 kg). Conclusion: The Omron significantly underestimated percent fat and overestimated lean body mass when compared to all other devices. The Seca, Inbody, and Tanita all showed acceptable validity as compared to the Bod Pod. However, the Omron is not recommended for body composition analysis