Archeological Testing of Sites 41GD113 and 41GD114 in Goliad County, Texas

Archeological testing of two previously identified prehistoric archeological sites in Goliad County, Texas, was performed by the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Testing examined 41GD113 and 41GD114 to determine their potential eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and whether they warranted designation as State Archeological Landmarks (SAL) . The work was performed for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) on July 24–August 2, 2002. Archeological testing was performed in relation to a proposed highway realignment to avoid the Noble Cemetery currently adjacent U.S. Highway 59. These investigations were conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 2899, with Dr. Raymond P. Mauldin serving as Principal Investigator. 41GD113 is a Late Archaic site that is a palimpsest deposit of multiple, probably short-term, occupations. Five backhoe trenches and seven 1-x-1-m test units were excavated on this site. Geoarcheological investigations identified the site as a floodplain setting subject to periodic, fine, low-energy deposition. No intact features were identified, although fire-cracked rock was present and is almost certainly derived from cultural thermal use. A single late stage biface fragment, three flake tools, one core, and a relatively small debitage assemblage (n=866) was recovered. Most of these lithics came from two excavation units within intact deposits and another from a highly disturbed context. No diagnostic artifacts were encountered. The few faunal remains recovered cannot be unambiguously associated with past human activity. The portion of 41GD114 within the TxDOT right-of-way was extensively mechanically disturbed prior to these testing efforts. Three backhoe trenches and two 1-x-1-m test units were excavated on this site. Soils in the test units were shallow and encountered bedrock or gravel deposits at approximately 60 cm below surface. No tools or diagnostic artifacts were recovered and only 65 pieces of debitage were collected from controlled excavations. Subsequent to laboratory analyses, natural gravels, gastropods, and mussel shell remains from 41GD113 were discarded. All of the magnetic susceptibility samples from 41GD113 and 41GD114 were discarded following analysis. The entire assemblage from 41GD114 also was disposed of after analyses and will not be curated. All discarded materials were disposed of following proper artifact disposal procedures with the pre-approval of TxDOT and the Texas Historical Commission. All other materials and samples from 41GD113 were curated at the CAR permanent curation facility. Following the field investigation and analyses by CAR, neither 41GD113 nor 41GD114 is considered to be eligible for nomination for NRHP listing nor warrant designation as a SAL. Based on this testing effort no additional archeological investigations are considered necessary and it is recommended that construction of the proposed highway bypass be allowed to proceed

Let’s practice: Shaping crisis management of preservice counseling professionals

Counselors frequently encounter crises in practice with various factors shaping crisis management. However, limited preparation and training combined with personal and situational characteristics affect a counselors’ ability to properly handle a crisis. The purpose of the present study was to identify factors that could potentially affect the ability to handle a crisis in session among counselors-in-training and add to the understanding of self-efficacy in crisis counseling. The study consisted of participants enrolled in a practicum pre-service course in a CACREP accredited program. Results were analyzed through a narrative research approach, specifically a categorical-content narrative analysis, theory-driven thematic analysis and cross-case analysis was used to compare and contrast each point to identify common themes. Four predefined source of self-efficacy themes identified were performance experience, vicarious performances, verbal persuasion, and imaginal performance as well as three themes derived from narrative analysis: crisis management, practice self-care, and personal characteristics. Findings indicated participants’ exposure to a crisis in a counseling session demonstrated increases in perceived ability to effectively manage and work with a client experiencing a crisis. Participants, who attended to a real or fictional crisis, expressed a positive impact on their crisis counseling self-efficacy. Implications for counselor education and practitioners are discussed

Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Salado Creek Hike and Bike Trail, City of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

In November of 2002 and March of 2003, a crew from the Center for Archaeological Research at The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted archeological and geoarcheological investigations along Salado Creek in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. The purpose of this fieldwork was to investigate, using shovel testing and backhoe trenching, the impact of the proposed construction of an approximately three-mile-long hike and bike trail along the creek. The work included testing for the presence of the historic Alsbury Family Cemetery and Homestead that may be in close proximity to the trail’s right-of-way. Work was performed under contract with HNTB Corporation of San Antonio. This work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 2917, with Steve A. Tomka serving as Principal Investigator. Shovel testing and backhoe trenching yielded no significant archeological deposits. No cultural material was collected during the survey. A backhoe trench and shovel tests placed along the trail’s path in the vicinity of the cemetery encountered no signs of graves and archival research suggests the cemetery is well outside the trail right-of-way. It is believed that locating the Alsbury Family Cemetery may require pedestrian survey and subsurface investigations that are outside the scope of this project. Finally, it is recommended that the construction of the proposed hike and bike trail proceed as planned since it will not impact intact cultural deposits of significant research potential

Archeological Survey and Testing of Selected Prehistoric Sites along FM 481, Zavala County, Texas

Between April 1981 and December 1982, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) personnel conducted archeological fieldwork along an approximately 13-km segment of FM 481 in northwest Zavala County. The work was part of an evaluation of the impacts of road improvements to a series of sites along the right-of-way. All of the sites but one (41ZV202) were found not to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and not to warrant designations as State Archeological Landmarks. Additional work, not reported here, was later conducted at 41ZV202. As part of Work Authorization #57015PD004, the Environmental Affairs Division of TxDOT contracted with the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio to report on the fieldwork carried out at the sites during the early 1980s, identify data types warranting additional research, and conduct the appropriate analyses. The current document provides descriptions of the work undertaken along FM 481, assesses the analytical utility of the data types recovered, and reports the results of limited new research of selected data types. Note that all documentation of the project, including notes, photographs, and a sample of recovered artifacts are curated at the Center for Archaeological Research. The sample includes all projectile points, as well as other chipped and ground stone tools, and the debitage recovered for a 10% sample of proveniences

Informing the development of online weight management interventions:a qualitative investigation of primary care patient perceptions

Background: The internet is a potentially promising medium for delivering weight loss interventions. The current study sought to explore factors that might influence primary care patients’ initial uptake and continued use (up to four-weeks) of such programmes to help inform the development of novel, or refinement of existing, weight management interventions.Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 patients purposively sampled based on age, gender and BMI from a single rural general practice. The interviews were conducted 4 weeks after recruitment at the general practice and focused on experiences with using one of three freely available weight loss websites. Thematic Analysis was used to analyse the data.Results: Findings suggested that patients were initially motivated to engage with internet-based weight loss programmes by their accessibility and novelty. However, continued use was influenced by substantial facilitators and barriers, such as time and effort involved, reaction to prompts/reminders, and usefulness of information. Facilitation by face-to-face consultations with the GP was reported to be helpful in supporting change.Conclusions: Although primary care patients may not be ready yet to solely depend on online interventions for weight loss, their willingness to use them shows potential for use alongside face–to-face weight management advice or intervention. Recommendations to minimise barriers to engagement are provided

Archaeology of the Planned Location of the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

From October 2002 to January 2004, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted archaeological investigations for the City of San Antonio in a 2,570.25-acre project area that is the future site of the San Antonio Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant. The work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 2982 with Dr. Steve A. Tomka, CAR Director, serving as Principal Investigator. The project included the reconnaissance of over 500 acres of the project area, the excavation of 376 shovel tests, 250 mechanical auger borings, and 42 backhoe and Gradall trenches. The backhoe and Gradall trenches were dug for geoarchaeological investigations and in one instance to search for a presumed historic cemetery. Reassessment for National Register of Historic Places and State Archeological Landmark status was conducted for 16 previously documented archaeological sites (41BX125, 41BX349, 41BX652, 41BX653, 41BX654, 41BX655, 41BX656, 41BX657, 41BX658, 41BX659, 41BX660, 41BX661, 41BX662, 41BX676, 41BX681, and 41BX832) and five newly identified sites (41BX1571–41BX1575). Of the 21 sites examined during this project, 12 are prehistoric, seven are historic and two have both prehistoric and historic components. The prehistoric sites are lithic and burned rock scatters, possibly the remnants of campsites. Diagnostic artifacts found in previous surveys indicate Archaic and Late Prehistoric time frames. The historic sites present are farmstead-ranch complexes including residential structures and outbuildings. Also encountered were tenant farmer residences and a small brick kiln. The historic components are primarily late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century, although original surveys noted early-nineteenth-century artifacts. All artifacts collected are curated at the Center for Archaeological Research laboratory facility

Numerical investigation on the hydrodynamic performance of a 2D U-shaped Oscillating Water Column wave energy converter

The U-Oscillating Water Column (U-OWC) is a wave energy harvester exploiting the working principle of oscillating water columns for capturing and converting energy from sea waves. U-OWC devices can be integrated into a breakwater to enable wave energy extraction and provide shelter for port activities. In this work, a coupled Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) model was developed and applied to investigate the hydrodynamics of a U-OWC breakwater. The numerical model is validated against the experimental results over a range of regular wave conditions. An extensive campaign of computational tests is then carried out, studying the effects of geometrical parameters on the hydrodynamic performance and wave loading over the U-OWC breakwater. It shows that the geometrical parameters of the U-shape have a significant effect on the air pressure inside the chamber and the load phase difference between the two sides of the lip wall. The minimum load and maximum capture efficiency designs for U-OWC breakwaters cannot be satisfied geometrically at the same time. This demonstrates that it is necessary to consider comprehensively the structural reliability and hydrodynamic performance in the design and construction of a U-OWC breakwater

Review of evidence for the alignment of guidelines on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander absolute cardiovascular disease risk: A report prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health

Policy context: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is highly preventable. CVD continues to be the largest contributor to mortality within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population and rates of CVD are disproportionately higher within the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population compared to the non-Indigenous population. Improving uptake of current evidence based solutions such as the absolute risk approach to CVD within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is important to address this disparity. Although there are several tools available supporting an absolute CVD risk approach, clinical uptake is limited due to a number of factors including an outdated continued reliance on the ‘single risk factor’ approach to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of CVD. A major barrier to uptake is inconsistent messages in the current clinical practice guidelines. Key messages: There are three main guidelines on the absolute CVD risk approach for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia: The NVDPA Guidelines for the Management of Absolute Cardiovascular Disease Risk; The Central Australian Rural Practitioners Association Standard Treatment Manual; and the RACGP National Guide to a Preventive Health Assessment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. There is considerable alignment between the existing guidelines, including the need for an absolute risk approach, conditions conferring automatic high risk, use of the Framingham risk equation as the basis of calculating absolute risk, and the need to treat people at a greater than 15% risk of a primary CVD event over the next five years. The guidelines diverge materially in relation to four recommendations: 1) the age at which to commence absolute CVD risk assessment; 2) whether or not calculated risk scores should be adjusted upward by 5%; 3) how often CVD risk should be assessed; and 4) treatment targets for blood pressure. Available evidence indicates that CVD events and high absolute CVD risk occurs earlier in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and that prevention of CVD should also start early. The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at high absolute CVD risk at the ages of 18-34 years broadly corresponds to the proportion at high risk among the general population aged 45-54 years. Limited evidence suggests that the current risk scores are likely to underestimate risk in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Specific data on the extent of underestimation and alternative validated risk scores in this population are lacking. There is no primary data on adjusting risk scores upwards by 5% in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Frequency of CVD risk assessment should be based on initial level of risk but the optimal interval for risk reassessment at each level of risk is not clear. There is general agreement between the guidelines to lower blood pressure as tolerated but there are inconsistencies in the exact blood pressure target. Evidence suggests that reductions in systolic blood pressure result in proportional reductions in CVD events and all-cause mortality. CVD guidelines could be kept up to date by adopting a ‘living’ guidelines model, but consideration needs to be given to how to identify relevant updated evidence and how to integrate the updates into electronic decision support tools.This research was supported by a grant from the Australian Government Department of Health