Differences Between Schools of Choice and Traditional Comprehensive Schools in Their Grade 9 Academic Performance

This study was conducted to determine the differences between schools of choice and traditional comprehensive high schools in terms of their Grade 9 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) End-of-Course (EOC) exams in Biology, English 1, and Algebra 1 during the 2017-2018 school year. Inferential statistical analyses revealed the presence of a statistically significant difference between the two types of schools on their EOC exam passing rates in all three content areas for students who were not at-risk and for students who were not in poverty. In contrast, statistically significant differences were not revealed between the two types of schools in terms of the EOC exam passing rates of their CATE and Non-CATE students. Knowing that students who have choice appear to perform better academically, policymakers are encouraged to study the feasibility of channeling more funding to help school districts expand their school choice programs to (a) motivate more students to find the school that fit their needs and their future college and career aspirations, and (b) to solicit more support from parents and community businesses to invest in their communities to improve schools through taxes. Given that the data for this research were gathered for only 16 school districts in South Texas, researchers are encouraged to conduct a study that will involve all school districts in the whole state and possibly the whole nation to reach more conclusive evidence on the differences between schools of choice and neighborhood schools.

Early Documentation of Life-Sustaining Treatment Orders Prior to Diagnosis of COVID-19 in Nursing Home Residents

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a devastating impact on older adult nursing home residents (NHR). NHRs comprise greater than one-third of COVID-19 U.S. deaths, emphasizing the importance of engaging in end-of-life discussions. At South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS), we implemented early documentation of patient’s Life-Sustaining Treatment (LST) or end-of-life goals-of-care preferences prior COVID-19 infection. We now aim to examine the association between early LST documentation (prior to COVID-19 diagnosis) and hospital admissions for COVID-19 by conducting a retrospective cohort study of Veteran NHRs at STVHCS from March 2020-January 2021. Inclusion criteria were NHRs with COVID-19 diagnosis, LST documentation, and clear timing of whether the LST documentation occurred before or after COVID-19 diagnosis. Logistic regression was used to determine the likelihood of hospitalization by whether LST was documented before or after COVID-19 diagnosis. 208 NHRs were diagnosed with COVID-19 and 160 (76.9%) had LST documentation. Of these, 148 were included in the analysis: 84 (56.8%) had a completed LST note prior to diagnosis and 64 (43.2%) after diagnosis. The hospitalization rate was 46% for those with LST prior to diagnosis compared to 78% in those with LST after diagnosis (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.12-0.50, P<0.001), showing that early LST documentation was associated with 76% lower likelihood of hospitalization. Early interventions for LST documentation can reduce hospitalization in high-risk populations. These findings may have implications for reducing unnecessary hospitalizations, diminishing healthcare costs, and resolving ethical dilemmas related to potential resource allocation during a pandemic.

Challenges Adapting a Backpack Harness for Use on Gray Hawks (Buteo plagiatus)

ABSTRACT Raptor biologists have successfully used backpack-type harnesses to attach transmitters to a wide range of raptor species for research. As part of a graduate research project with Gray Hawks (Buteo plagiatus) in south Texas, we attached harnesses to 58 individuals and experienced problems with seven birds removing the harnesses and with all females covering the solar panels of the OrniTrack-10 GPS-GSM transmitters, preventing them from functioning properly. We appear to have resolved these issues by trimming nape feathers (short-term solution), switching to a different harness material, stitching through the knots, switching to a different brand of glue, and using a transmitter with an elevated solar panel for females, which are typically larger than males.

Pre-Sowing Treatments Improve Germinability of South Texas Native Plant Seeds

The incorporation of native plant species is central to restoration efforts, but this is often limited by both the availability of seeds and the relatively low viability and germination rates of commercially available seeds. Although pre-sowing treatments are commonly used to improve germination rates of seeds, the efficacy of these treatments is found to vary across species. In this study, we tested how four pre-sow treatments (physical scarification, acid scarification, cold stratification, and aerated hydropriming) affected the viability and seed germination rates of 12 commercially available plant species native to south Texas and commonly used in restoration efforts. Our results show that the viability of the seeds have a wide range, from 78% to 1.25%. Similarly, the total germination rate ranged from 62% to 0%. We found that pre-sowing treatments accelerated the germination rate in 9 of 12 plant species tested, but the effect varied by treatment. Collectively, our results identify various methods to achieve the best germination rates for native plants of south Texas, to help improve restoration efforts across the region.

Evaluation of Healthy South Texas Asthma Program on improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities among the underserved Hispanic population: using the RE-AIM model

Background In the United States, childhood asthma prevalence is higher among low-income communities and Hispanic populations. Previous studies found that asthma education could improve health and quality of life, especially in vulnerable populations lacking healthcare access. This study aims to describe Healthy South Texas Asthma Program (HSTAP), an evidence-based asthma education and environmental modification program in South Texas, and evaluate its associations with health-related outcomes among Hispanic children with asthma and their families. Methods The RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) planning and evaluation framework was used as an overarching tool to evaluate the impact of the HSTAP. This educational program included 451 children with asthma and their families living in South Texas, an impoverished area at the Texas-Mexico border. The program consisted of (a) the asthma education (2-h) for children with asthma provided by Respiratory Therapy students at the children’s schools and (b) the home visit Asthma and Healthy Homes education and walk-through sessions (at baseline and 3 months) for parents and two follow-up visits (6 and 9–12 months later) led by community health workers. The education was provided in either English or Spanish between September 2015 and August 2020 as part of the Healthy South Texas Initiative. A pre-and post-test design was implemented to assess the differences in health outcomes, knowledge, and behaviors using standardized self-reported surveys as reported by parents. Analyses included primary descriptive analyses, generalized estimating equation models, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and the McNemar test. Results The HSTAP was significantly associated with improved individual-level outcomes on the frequency of asthma-related respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and sleep difficulty, among children with asthma, as well as an enhanced asthma knowledge in their family. This study also showed significant associations with children’s school attendance and participation in physical activities and family social events and decreased families’ worry about their asthma management. Conclusions The RE-AIM model was a helpful framework to assess the HSTAP on all its components. The results suggest that participation in an asthma education and environmental modification program was associated with improved individual-level health conditions and reduced health disparities among children with asthma in low-income communities.

Carfentrazone Plus Pyroxasulfone Combinations for Weed Control in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Aims: To determine peanut response and weed control following the use of carfentrazone plus pyroxasulfone (C + P). Study Design: Randomized complete block design with 3-4 reps depending on location. Place and Duration of Study: Studies were conducted during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons in south Texas near Yoakum (29.276o N, 97.123o W), the High Plains of Texas near Lamesa (32.769o N, 101.977o W) or Brownfield (33.104o N, 102.161o W), and southwestern Oklahoma near Ft. Cobb (35.091o N, 98.275o W). Methodology: Plots were infested with naturally occurring weed populations. Pendimethalin was applied either preplant incorporated (PPI) or preemergence (PRE). Early postemergence (EPOST) applications varied according to weather conditions and peanut growth at each location. Postemergence (POST) treatments were applied 26 to 58 days after planting. Weed control and peanut stunting were visually estimated on a scale of 0 to 100 (0 indicating no control or plant death and 100 indicating complete control or plant death). Results: Peanut stunting with C + P was only noted at the High Plains and Oklahoma locations in 2015 but not 2016. Urochloa texana (Buckl.) control with C + P (PRE) varied from 75 to 93%. POST applications provided inconsistent control. Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats. control with C + P (PRE) was at least 78% season-long while POST applications were inconsistent (24 to 100%). Pendimethalin plus C + P controlled Cucumis melo L. var. Dudaim Naud. at least 80% late-season. Ipomoea hederacea Jacq. control was excellent season-long (> 80%) in 2015 but poor (< 60%) in 2016. Reduced peanut yields were noted with C + P in Oklahoma in 2015 to excessive season-long injury. Conclusion: The premix of C + P has potential for use in peanut especially for control of many small-seeded annual broadleaf weeds that continue to plague many peanut growers across the southwest. For effective broad-spectrum annual weed control season-long, the addition of pendimethalin to PRE applications will be required.

The G505A Nonsynonymous Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) in TAFI, the Gene Encoding Thrombin-Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor (TAFI) Is Pleiotropically Associated with TAFI Antigen Levels and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) in Mexican Americans of South Texas

Studies have reported that the G505A nonsynonymous (ns)-SNP encoding the Ala147Thr amino acid substitution in TAFI, is associated with a reduction in risk of venous thrombosis and myocardial infarction. Interestingly, homozygosity for the A-allele (AA) of G505A is associated with increased TAFI antigen (TAFI:Ag) levels in plasma. In our study of the genetic determinants of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Mexican Americans of South Texas, we performed an exome-wide scan in relation to plasma TAFI antigen levels in 784 individuals. While accounting for age, sex, and their interactions as confounders in linear mixed model, we found a heritability of 59% for TAFI:Ag levels (p=1.4E-19), and that ns-SNP G505A was the only variant showing exome-wide significance (p=3.5E-14; Figure A). Figure B shows the quantile-quantile distribution of the p-values from all the exome-wide tests. Clearly, the p-value distribution reveals that there is no systematic bias that may act to skew the p-values, and that the lone exception¾in agreement between observed and expected quantiles¾is due to this TAFI SNP, which strongly suggests a truly significant effect. Consistent with previous reports, the regression coefficient for G505A as a predictor of TAFI:Ag levels showed them to be increasing from the homozygous for the major G-allele (GG), to the heterozygous individuals (GA), to the individuals homozygous for the minor A-allele (AA) (Figure B). We also investigated if G505A is associated with our CHD variable. Using a statistical genetic model for the liability to disease conditional on a threshold, which is equivalent to a probit mixed model, we found that the G505A ns-SNP in TAFI, encoding TAFI Ala147Thr, is significantly associated with a reduction in the risk of CHD (p=0.002). As observed in existing literature, potential limitations of this study include the ELISA assay used for the quantification of TAFI levels. Some ELISA assays measure proTAFI, TAFIa, and TAFIi. However, recent evidence suggests that there may be cross reactivity between TAFIa and TAFIi. This can result in measuring ongoing TAFI activation peptides and elevated levels of TAFIa which ultimately goes on to make resistant fibrin. This is likely the marker that results in the increased risk of venous thromboembolism. To mitigate this confounding factor, an ELISA assay specific to measuring TAFI antigen is needed. In conclusion, we found that TAFI G505A is pleiotropically associated with TAFI:Ag levels and risk of CHD. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures DeFronzo: AstraZeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novo Nordisk: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Boehringer-Ingelheim: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Intarcia: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Research Funding.

The Factor II (FII) Expression Quantitative Trait Locus (eQTL) Prothrombin G20210A Is Pleiotropically Associated with Plasma Fibrinogen Levels and Has a Profound Effect on Obesity in Mexican Americans of South Texas

The literature on risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) is replete with complex combinations of genetic and environmental determinants. Here we apply statistical genetic models to data from Mexican Americans of South Texas participating in the San Antonio Family Study (SAFS) to help disentangle some of this complexity. The SAFS has data for nearly 50 large extended pedigrees (Figure A) that are extensively phenotyped, especially for traits related to the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. Using a linear mixed model approach, while accounting for age, sex, and their interactions (including age-squared, age-by-sex, and age-squared-by-sex) as confounders, we found significant heritability for plasma FII (46%; N=640; p=6.9E-12) and fibrinogen (28%; N=759; p=1.6E-06) coagulant activity levels and that the Prothrombin G20210A mutation was significantly associated with both traits (FII: p=0.002; fibrinogen: p=0.037; Figure B). We also examined a dichotomous obesity variable based on the Adult Treatment Panel III criterion of sex-specific waist circumferences (&gt;102 cm in males; &gt;88 cm females) denoted as OBWC. Under a threshold and liability model, we found a significant heritability of the liability of OBWC (71%; N=654; p=4.4E-08) and that Prothrombin G20210A was a significant predictor (p=0.031), while still adjusting for age, sex, and their interactions. As can be seen in Figure C, the G20210A mutation profoundly impacts the liability of OBWC such that obesity prevalence, where the prevalence parameter is denoted by Kp in the figure, increases by 27% from individuals homozygous for the major G-allele (G/G) with a prevalence of 34% to heterozygous (G/A) individuals with a prevalence of 61%. To the best of our knowledge, this appears to be the largest single-allele-dose effect for obesity reported in the literature. We next performed bivariate trait analysis (each time accounting for age, sex, and their interactions as confounders) to discover potentially meaningful correlations between the three traits of interest and to see if these would influence their association with G20210A. Under a bivariate model for any two traits, denoted as trait A and B say, the parameters of the following equation are estimated: r_p(A,B) = r_g(A,B)*sqrt(h2_A)*sqrt(h2_B) + r_e(A,B)* sqrt(1-h2_A)*sqrt(1-h2_B), where r_p(A,B), r_g(A,B), and r_e(A,B) respectively denote the phenotypic, genetic, and environmental correlation coefficients of A and B, and where h2_A and h2_B denote the trait heritabilities. Moreover, we can test their significance using likelihood-based inferential statistics. For the FII and OBWC bivariate analysis, none of the correlation coefficients were significant. For the fibrinogen and OBWC bivariate analysis, we found significant phenotypic (r_p=0.24; p=2.0E-05) and genetic (r_g=0.41; p=0.024) correlations. For the FII and fibrinogen bivariate analysis, we found significant phenotypic (r_p=0.26; p=3.1E-10) and environmental (r_e=0.28; p=0.003) correlations. For all bivariate analyses, the Prothrombin G20210A mutation was always a significant predictor for both traits of any given pair. In conclusion, Prothrombin G20210A is pleiotropically associated with plasma FII and fibrinogen coagulant activity levels, and OBWC, and profoundly impacts the prevalence of obesity in our sample. The associations of the prothrombin G20210A mutation are not affected by the consideration of inter-correlations between the three traits examined and thus appears to be fairly robust. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures DeFronzo: AstraZeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novo Nordisk: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Boehringer-Ingelheim: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Intarcia: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Research Funding.