Ecology of the Eastern Cottonmouth (\u3ci\u3eAgkistrodon p. piscivorus\u3c/i\u3e) at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge: A Comparative Study of Natural and Anthropogenic Marsh Habitats

Mark-recapture sampling and radiotelemetry were used to investigate populations of the eastern cottonmouth, Agkistrodon p. piscivorus, in both natural and anthropogenic marsh habitats at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (BBNWR), Virginia Beach, Virginia from autumn 1995 to late spring 1998. Mark-recapture subjects were captured, marked by ventral scale-clipping, and released back into the population. A modified Schnabel Census estimator was used to estimate population sizes and corresponding densities in both marsh systems based on a total of 244 captures of 222 individuals. Most snakes were found \u3e0.05 in from water, but it was apparent that proximity to water played a major role in the distribution of these snakes. Most snakes were found with the body extended and in direct sunlight regardless of temperature; live vegetation served as the primary cover object for these snakes. The majority of captures were male snakes, and few gravid females were captured in either marsh in either year. Many snakes fled before capture. Snakes fled in the direction opposite the investigator no matter which medium (land or water) they occupied at the time. Aggressive behaviors were rare. Radiotelemetry subjects were captured, removed to the laboratory for radiotransmitter implantation, and subsequently released at the initial capture location. Snakes were tracked from 83–208 days, and between 54 and 101 observations were made for each subject. Snakes in the anthropogenic marsh moved greater overall distances than did snakes in the natural marsh. Discriminant Function Analysis based on comparisons of use and non-use sites and Polytomous Logistic Regression, based on use-intensity classification of sites used by radiotelemetry subjects both suggested that the most important habitat variables for determining sites used by cottonmouths in both marshes were: distance to water, distance to overstory trees, leaf litter cover, and vegetation cover. Gut analyses suggested that frogs (Rana spp.) and sunfishes (Lepomisspp.) were the primary prey sources. Snakes hibernated both singly and together. The greatest single concern for future populations of cottonmouths at BBNWR is likely the availability of adequate cover, particularly in terms of the conversion of areas containing hibernacula to management impoundment

Rana Catesbeiana Diet

Data were obtained opportunistically from 28 adult (14M; 14 F) bullfrogs collected during April 2001 from Meadow Valley Wash located between the cities of Carp and Elgin, Lincoln County. Nevada, USA (37⁰17’N, 114⁰30\u27W). Although there are two summary reports that provide publication lists of bullfrog food/diet literature (Bury and Whelan I 984. Ecology and Management of the Bullfrog. USDI, FWS Resource Publ. 155. 23 pp.; Casper and Hendricks, in press. In M.J. Lannoo [ed.], Status and Conservation of U.S. Amphibians. Univ. California Press, Berkeley), there are, to our knowledge, no published bullfrog diets from this region

Resilience, Acculturative Stress, and Family Norms Against Disclosure of Mental Health Problems Among Foreign-Born Filipino American Women

The present study explores the relationships between resilience, acculturative stress, and family norms against disclosure of mental health problems among foreign-born Filipino American women. The sample consisted of 159 foreign-born Filipino American women aged 18 years and above and residing in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Participants completed paper-and-pencil questionnaires. Results indicated high levels of resilience and moderate levels of acculturative stress. Findings also showed a significant negative correlation between resilience and acculturative stress, and a significant predictive effect of resilience on acculturative stress. We also found a significant negative relationship between resilience and family norms against disclosure of mental health problems but no significant mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between acculturative stress and family norms. This lack of significant findings related to the mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between acculturative stress and family norms against disclosure of mental illness may be due to the absence of theoretical models and research regarding the role of resilience in the context of acculturation among Filipino American women. Our findings imply the need to further explore underlying mechanisms that explain the relationships between resilience, acculturative stress, and family norms. The findings of the study also confirm the need to develop interventions and resources that ameliorate acculturative stress and promote an increase of the disclosure and reporting of mental health problems among Filipino American women

Diseases Prevalence and Behavioral Choices in Nevada

Determining the health of a state population is a complex task. It involves knowing at least the prevalence of various diseases and conditions as well as the leading causes of death and disability compared to a national mean or median. The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Since health is affected by numerous social, economic, environmental, and cultural factors, these factors must also be considered when examining the health status of a population. All attempts to rank states in health are limited by the type and quality of available data. A remarkable array of health-related data is collected by federal, state, and local governmental agencies. Meaningful analyses of this data are usually limited to the mission of the collecting agencies and available funding

Student stress and academic performance: Home hospital program

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether nursing students assigned to a home hospital experience less stress and improved academic performance. Students were assigned to a home hospital clinical placement (n = 78) or a control clinical placement (n = 79). Stress was measured using the Student Nurse Stress Index (SNSI) and Spielberger’s State Anxiety Inventory. Academic performance included score on the RN CAT, a standardized mock NCLEX-RN®-type test; nursing grade point average; and first attempt pass-fail on the NCLEX-RN. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, or score on the nurse entrance examination. There were significant changes in SNSI over time but not between groups. Academic load and state anxiety showed an interaction of time by group, with the home hospital group showing reductions over time, compared with the control group

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Pregnant Women and Their Newborns in Las Vegas, Nevada

Colonization and infection by resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus are being reported in epidemic proportions. The goal of this study was to determine the local prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in pregnant women in southern Nevada and how it correlates with colonization and infection of their neonates. Signed consent was obtained, and a brief questionnaire was administered by the medical staff to each pregnant woman to collect demographic data and pertinent medical, family and social history. Nasal and vaginal specimens were obtained from pregnant women at ≥35 weeks gestation, and nasal and umbilicus specimens were obtained from their newborns. Specimens were cultured onto two selective media for S. aureus and MRSA. Potential MRSA isolates were further evaluated for susceptibility to antibiotics. Specimens from 307 pregnant women and 174 neonates were collected, resulting in 172 mother-neonate paired specimens. A total of 278 questionnaires were received from study participants. MRSA prevalence in pregnant women was 1.0% and 0.3% for nasal and vaginal specimens, respectively. The MRSA prevalence in neonates was 0% and 0.6% for nasal and umbilical specimens, respectively. Four different antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were observed among the MRSA isolates. The results did not show transmission of MRSA from pregnant women to their newborns, or infections of newborns with MRSA. It is expected that the results of this study will inform future decisions on surveillance, treatment and prevention of MRSA infections in Nevada

Prevalence and Antimicrobial Agent Susceptibility of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Healthy Pediatric Outpatients in Las Vegas

Colonization and infection by community-associated resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus are being reported in epidemic proportions. The purpose of this study was to determine the local prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in children and to characterize the MRSA isolates in the laboratory with regard to antimicrobial agent susceptibility patterns, and the presence of the mecA and the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes. Nasal swabs were collected at two pediatric clinics from a total of 505 children during health maintenance visits. A brief questionnaire was administered to collect demographic data and pertinent medical, family, and social history. Samples were cultured onto 2 selective media for S. aureus and MRSA. Potential MRSA isolates were further evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and for susceptibility to eight antibiotics by disk diffusion. Culture results showed that MRSA was present in 15 of the 505 specimens (3.0%). Six different antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were observed among the MRSA isolates. PCR amplification results showed that all 15 MRSA isolates were positive for the presence of the mecA gene, and 10 MRSA isolates contained the PVL gene. Understanding local prevalence rates and the role of colonization in infection are needed to develop effective interventions to reduce MRSA infections

How Student Written Communication Skills Benefit During Participation in an Industry-Sponsored Civil Engineering Capstone Course

Because many engineering programs use capstone design courses and value strong communication abilities, authors sought to identify how student written communication skills changed because of industry-sponsored capstone design projects. A student exit survey was collected at the end of the capstone design course during faculty-led projects and projects led by practicing engineers in industry. These results led the researchers to subsequently evaluate two semesters of before-andafter writing samples using a rubric. Student surveys suggested a statistically significant increase in learning about professional issues, problem solving, and written/oral communication. Evaluation of student writing samples suggests that the students significantly improved their grammar/spelling and their organization of content during the course. These findings suggest that industry-sponsored projects help students recognize the relation between professionalism and correspondence that is organized and void of grammar and spelling errors