Locations In Texas Research Articles

Hydrologic Drought Atlas for Texas

AbstractThis paper presents a hydrologic drought atlas for the state of Texas. The atlas depicts the spatial variation of drought severity for durations of 3, 6, 12, and 24 months corresponding to the return periods of 10, 25, 50, and 100 years. Using the variable infiltration capacity model which is a large-scale land surface model, drought characteristics were derived from monthly stream flow simulated at 1/8° resolution over the state of Texas. Appropriate marginal distributions of drought severity and duration were selected from amongst exponential, gamma, log-normal, and Weibull distributions, whereas the joint distribution of severity and duration was selected from the Archimedean, extreme value, Plackett, and elliptical families. Then, severity-duration-frequency (SDF) curves were obtained which were used for preparing the drought atlas that depicts the drought severity for any drought duration and return period at any location in Texas. Results indicate a decreasing pattern of severities from west...

Attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of active duty soldiers attending the ArmyMOVE! weight management program.

The objective of this study was to assess the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of Active Duty Soldiers attending the ArmyMOVE! (AM!) weight management program at three locations in Texas. A 40-question survey on weight-loss attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors was administered to participants before receiving the AM! education. The response rate was 82.8% (n = 312). The sample was predominantly obese (64.3%), male (81.7%), and enlisted (95.3%). Only 30% were able to correctly identify their weight status using body mass index. The majority felt that weight standards were achievable (47%) and were confident in their ability to make diet (88.8%) and exercise (87.5%) changes; though most felt the tape test was not an accurate measure of body composition (71.5%). Soldiers reported using suboptimal weight-loss behaviors including diet pills (48.7%), sweat suits/saunas (44.9%), fasting (45.3%), and herbal supplements (31.1%), whereas the majority were not achieving proven recommendations for weight loss including adequate fruit (57%) and vegetable (93%) intake and adequate sleep duration (80%). This survey demonstrated AM! participants are using suboptimal methods of weight loss, few are following the Army Surgeon General's guidelines for nutrition and sleep, and an increased intensity of the AM! program is desired by the participants.

Origins of the invasive red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in the Santa Monica Mountains

Although native to the southeastern United States, the red swamp crayfish ( Procambarus clarkii) has become established worldwide through accidental and intentional actions by humans. In the Santa Monica Mountains of southern California, the presence of the omnivorous crayfish is associated with the absence or reduced abundance of native amphibians. The original source of P. clarkii in southern California is unknown; however genetic analysis can be used to determine sources of invasion. We sequenced 16S rRNA subunit and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial genes to trace the origins of P. clarkii in the Santa Monica Mountains. The resulting haplotype network of the combined COI and 16S rRNA subunit genes showed 19 distinct haplotypes and suggested multiple introductions of crayfish to the Santa Monica Mountains from possible source locations in Texas, Florida and Louisiana. Identifying original sources and mechanisms of

Environmental effect on flavonoid concentrations and profiles of red and lemon-yellow sorghum grains

Pigmented sorghum genotypes high in flavonoids have been developed in recent years. Flavonoid levels of seven sorghum genotypes grown in four locations in Texas, USA were evaluated to assess the relative genotype, environment and genotype×environment effects. Sorghums from Halfway were highly weathered which affected flavonoid levels. Two flavanones, four 3-deoxyanthocyanidins, and two flavones were detected and quantified. Weathered grains had the lowest flavanone levels (303μg/g) and the highest 3-deoxyanthocyanidins levels (82μg/g). Only genotype 99LGWO50 had high levels of flavones (255μg/g). For all flavonoids there was a genotype×environment interaction effect (p<0.01), which suggested that environment had a different effect on flavonoid levels depending on the genotype. Red and lemon-yellow genotypes must be evaluated in multiple environments to identify the best genotype to obtain the highest yields of specific flavonoid compounds.

Implementation of Brackish Groundwater Desalination Using Wind-Generated Electricity: A Case Study of the Energy-Water Nexus in Texas

Growing populations and periodic drought conditions have exacerbated water stress in many areas worldwide. In response, some municipalities have considered desalination of saline water as a freshwater supply. Unfortunately, desalination requires a sizeable energy investment. However, renewable energy technologies can be paired with desalination to mitigate concern over the environmental impacts of increased energy use. At the same time, desalination can be operated in an intermittent way to match the variable availability of renewable resources. Integrating wind power and brackish groundwater desalination generates a high-value product (drinking water) from low-value resources (saline water and wind power without storage). This paper presents a geographically-resolved performance and economic method that estimates the energy requirements and profitability of an integrated wind-powered reverse osmosis facility treating brackish groundwater. It is based on a model that incorporates prevailing natural and market conditions such as average wind speeds, total dissolved solids content, brackish well depth, desalination treatment capacity, capital and operation costs of wind and desalination facilities, brine disposal costs, and electricity and water prices into its calculation. The model is illustrated using conditions in Texas (where there are counties with significant co-location of wind and brackish water resources). Results from this case study indicate that integrating wind turbines and brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) systems is economically favorable in a few municipal locations in West Texas.

Association of Flax Seed Yield and Its Components in Southeast Texas Using Path Coefficient and Biplot Analyses

In addition to numerous health and industrial uses, flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) has been evaluated throughout the United States as a potential biodiesel crop. One approach for improving flax yields was to identify the physiological characteristics contributing the most to flax yield. Two locations in southern Texas were selected to evaluate the association between tiller number, number of pods per tiller, number of seeds per pod, seed weight, and overall yields. Tiller number was the most significant positive contributing trait (P < 0.05) to seed yield of flax at both locations. However, the effect of tiller number was almost equally negated by that of pods per tiller (compensatory) at both locations. Seed per pod and seed weight were not significant (P > 0.05) components of seed yield in flax in this study. Selection for higher tiller number would increase grain yield of flax in southern Texas and should be the focus of plant breeders to further enhance seed yield for this area.

Evaluation of Meteorological Base Models for Estimating Hourly Global Solar Radiation in Texas

Building thermal performance and potential solar applications depend on the quality of the solar resource data available. Unfortunately, most of the locations do not account for measured solar radiation data and, as a result, rely on the values from typical meteorological years. Texas, in a similar fashion as other states in the US, does not have an active network for solar radiation data and has a variety of weather conditions that could be integrated into more than three climate zones. Therefore, in order to estimate reliable solar radiation for different locations in Texas, this paper presents the comparison and the adjustment between two models that use the meteorological data available from the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The comparison study was based on sixteen solar stations that cover three climate zones in Texas and use hourly solar radiation data that was recorded from 2000 through 2002 and 2010 through 2012.In this study, the estimated and measured hourly global solar radiations were compared to evaluate which model would be most suitable in each location in Texas. The two models that were studied were a modified Cloud-cover Radiation Model (CRM) by Muneer and the model developed by Zhang and Huang. These models are regression type models that use location or site specific coefficients, which have shown a good correlation during the past years between measured global solar radiation and local meteorological parameters. Most of the locations in climate zone 2, in general, fit the Zhang–Huang Model better, whereas the CRM model presents a better correlation for climate zones 3 and 4.

Validation of a quantitative phosphorus loss assessment tool.

Pasture Phosphorus Management Plus (PPM Plus) is a tool that allows nutrient management and conservation planners to evaluate phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural fields. This tool uses a modified version of the widely used Soil and Water Assessment Tool model with a vastly simplified interface. The development of PPM Plus has been fully described in previous publications; in this article we evaluate the accuracy of PPM Plus using 286 field-years of runoff, sediment, and P validation data from runoff studies at various locations in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Georgia. Land uses include pasture, small grains, and row crops with rainfall ranging from 630 to 1390 mm yr, with and without animal manure application. PPM Plus explained 68% of the variability in total P loss, 56% of runoff, and 73% of the variability of sediment yield. An empirical model developed from these data using soil test P, total applied P, slope, and precipitation only accounted for 15% of the variability in total P loss, which implies that a process-based model is required to account for the diversity present in these data. PPM Plus is an easy-to-use conservation planning tool for P loss prediction, which, with modification, could be applicable at the regional and national scales.

Evaluating the Factors Influencing the Number of Visits to Farmers’ Markets

The primary objective of this article was to determine key factors affecting the frequency of consumer visits to farmers’ markets. Data were obtained from in-person surveys administered in two farmers’ markets locations in Texas, and used to determine consumer factors, market factors, and socio-demographic characteristics of shoppers influencing frequency of visits. The results of the model showed that travel distance, number of adults in the household, market promotional activities such as entertainment and education, food events, and, to a lesser degree, some demographic variables were all determinants of frequency of visits to farmers’ markets. The negative effect of the distance to the market highlights the importance of farmers’ market location and influences the demographic profile of buyers as most visitors tend to shop in nearby markets. Thus, results also suggest that demographics characteristics are a weak predictor of farmers’ markets interest.

Estimating tropical cyclone precipitation risk in Texas

AbstractThis paper uses a new rainfall algorithm to simulate the long‐term tropical cyclone precipitation (TCP) climatology in Texas based on synthetic tropical cyclones generated from National Center for Atmospheric Research/National Centers for Environmental Prediction reanalysis data from 1980 to 2010. The synthetic TCP climatology shows good agreement with the available observations with respect to TCP return periods, especially for daily and event TCP. Areas within 200 km of the coast have higher TCP risk with two hot spots located near Houston and Corpus Christi. Based on this technique, there are locations in Texas where a TCP event &gt; 1000 mm has a return period of 500 years and a TCP event &gt; 1400 mm has a return period of 1000 years. There is a high degree of spatial heterogeneity in TCP risk in central Texas due to the topography.

Benefits of Colocating Concentrating Solar Power and Wind

We analyze the potential benefits of colocating wind and concentrating solar power (CSP) plants in the southwestern U.S. Using a location in western Texas as a case study, we demonstrate that such a deployment strategy can improve the capacity factor of the combined plant and the associated transmission investment. This is because of two synergies between wind and CSP: 1) the negative correlation between real-time wind and solar resource availability and 2) the use of low-cost high-efficiency thermal energy storage in CSP. The economic tradeoff between transmission and system performance is highly sensitive to CSP and transmission costs. We demonstrate that a number of deployment configurations, which include up to 67% CSP, yield a positive net return on investment.

Spatial Access to Health Care Services and Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis in Texas*

Early diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is important for improving the survival rate of the disease. Disparities in CRC diagnosis among different population groups have persisted in the United States. This study examines whether spatial access to medical services contributes to disparities of late-stage diagnosis of CRC in Texas. Analysis results suggest that there are significant disparities in late-stage CRC diagnosis by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location in Texas. It is concluded that spatial access to primary care is associated with CRC stage at diagnosis, but not with racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities.

Online Training on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders for Court-Appointed Special Advocates Volunteers

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a leading cause of developmental disabilities. Children within the child welfare system are five to 10 times more likely than other children to experience these symptoms. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers are uniquely positioned to identify these children and refer them for assessment and services. This study used a one-group pretest-posttest design to assess the impact of a three-hour online FASDs training on CASA workers' knowledge of FASDs and their comfort and confidence in identifying children with FASDs for referral, advocating for them, and linking them to services. The training and assessment measures were completed by 338 CASA volunteers and staff from 55 CASA locations in Texas. Wilcoxon matched-pairs tests and paired t tests were used to assess change in each of the dependent measures. All comfort and confidence items showed significant improvement from pretest to posttest; there was also a significant improvement in knowledge. These results support the potential of this online training to enhance CASA volunteers' ability to help children with FASDs.

Stability Analysis of Upland Cotton in Texas

ABSTRACTCotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a high value cash crop for the southern United States with an annual production of over 3.2 million t. For breeders to fully maximize yield potential and to improve fiber properties of new cotton cultivars, it is important to use representative test locations to evaluate genotype × environment (G×E) effects and trait repeatability. In this study, G×E analysis was performed on 31 upland cotton genotypes developed by the Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Research Cotton Improvement Lab along with three commercial check cultivars. Seven distinct test locations across Texas representing major cotton growing regions were selected for the 2‐yr study. All experimental plots were managed with standard field practices and were machine harvested to determine yield. Hand‐harvested boll samples were ginned on a 10‐saw laboratory gin and high volume instrument (HVI) fiber properties determined. Yield and lint percent along with HVI fiber bundle strength (strength) and upper‐half mean length (UHML) were analyzed. Optimum test locations were identified for lint yield, lint percent, strength, and UHML. Combined correlation analysis of all traits indicated a high association between fiber yield and lint percent but highly negative association of yield traits and UHML. Repeatability of UHML and strength were 0.85 and 0.75, respectively, across all test locations in Texas over 2 yr suggesting a large genotypic component governing those traits.

A multi-environment trial analysis shows slight grain yield improvement in Texas commercial maize

Grain yield in maize has increased steadily in the Midwestern United States since the 1930s but trends are not clear for the maize production zones in the southern states, of which Texas is the major producer. The objective of this study was to elucidate trends of maize yields in Texas for the last 11 years and to identify any significant patterns in breeding and testing maize that can be exploited for improvement. A linear mixed model applied to 107 corn performance trials grown involving 11 years and 16 locations in Texas identified that the largest G×E variance for the multi-environment trial (MET) dataset was the three-factor interaction model that included hybrid, location, years and their interactions. Repeatability measures showed that two replicates and two years provided accurate estimates of genetic yield potential. Trial data and a separate analysis of county level yield data corroborated that there are two separate production zones in Texas, the High Plains and the rest of the state. Across these production zones there have been no substantial gains in yield and surprisingly some older commercial hybrids appear to have had better yield potential then what is currently commercially available. Plant height, ear height, plant population and test weight were positively correlated with grain yield with stronger effects observed in the rest of Texas than in the High Plains; lodging was negatively correlated with grain yield while days to silk showed little effect. This suggests separate strategies for additional genetic and trial improvement should be used in the High Plains and the rest of Texas.

Clinicopathologic analysis of Passeriform venous blood reflects transitions in elevation and habitat.

Jugular blood samples from 110 Passeriformes collected at several Texas locations were analyzed for multiple clinicopathologic parameters between April 2010 and August 2011. Electrolyte, blood gas, and select erythrocyte parameters were analyzed on site with a point of care analyzer, and gender, age, body condition score, location, and species were recorded. Many analytes exhibited a Gaussian distribution across species and are reported as a single range. Taxon affected electrolyte and red blood cell parameters, but not most blood gas or acid base variables. Migratory status affected select electrolytes but few blood gas variables. Red blood cell parameters were affected the most by variables of age, taxonomic group, and gender, but not migratory life history. We found significant changes in glucose and numerous acid base analytes in birds sampled from habitats with evolutionarily recent ecologic degradation. We advocate the use of these analytes, particularly venous blood gas values, as determined by a point of care analyzer, as reasonable biomarkers for determination of Passeriform population health, but also recommend that red blood cell parameters and electrolyte concentrations be controlled for age, species, and gender in future studies. Further, based on our investigation, venous blood gas values and acid base balance in Passeriformes can assess the health of an ecosystem.

Variability of Total Oil Content in Peanut Across the State of Texas

The state of Texas has three major regions with a history of peanut production: South Texas, Central Texas, and West Texas. The Texas A&M AgriLife peanut breeding program conducts replicated advanced yield trials at multiple locations within each of these regions annually. This study was initiated using entries from these same advanced line tests to determine if there were inter-regional and/or intra-regional differences in total oil content. The study was comprised of five cultivars used as checks in our yield tests and five advanced breeding lines. Three replications of each entry were tested for two South Texas, two West Texas, and two Central Texas locations. All of the samples were tested using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), which is a non-destructive test to determine the total oil content. A significant genotype by environment interaction was observed in both years of the study. Significant genotype differences were observed in all locations except the Stephenville location, which was inoculated with Sclerotinia minor in 2008. Maturity was significantly correlated with oil content across all locations for 2009 data.

The Texas Health Workforce Benefit of Military Physician Assistant Program Veterans

Little is known about the benefits to society of the educational development of health personnel in the military who return to civilian life and continue their careers. The U.S. Department of Defense has produced physician assistants (PAs) since the early 1970s, and PA training is now consolidated into one location in Texas as the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP). We studied redistribution of PAs upon service departure to determine if IPAP attendance had an effect on the Texas PA workforce. The Texas Medical Board dataset of licensed PAs was examined to identify program attended, practice specialty by supervising physician designation, practice location, and primary care or specialty care practice designation. Primary care was defined as family medicine, general pediatrics, or general internal medicine. All other designations were classified as specialty practice. Of 6016 licensed Texas PAs, 425 (7.0%) reported attending a military PA training program. Of the 254 PAs in full-time civilian clinical practice, 148 (58.3%) reported practice in primary care settings, and 106 (41.7%) reported specialty clinical practice settings. With the average military officer retirement age of 47 years and the 2010 average U.S. retirement age of 64 years for men and 62 for women, an estimated 16 years of community workforce productivity is provided per veteran PA following completion of military service. We estimated over 47,000 outpatient visits are provided per PA following military service. The care provided can be measured as a positive return-on-investment of taxpayer-provided education.

Increasing Hard Winter Wheat Yield Potential via Synthetic Hexaploid Wheat: II. Heritability and Combining Ability of Yield and its Components

Introgression of new genes through crosses to synthetic hexaploid wheat [Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn. (syn. Triticum durum Desf.) × Aegilops tauschii Coss.] could contribute to the improvement of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L). The purpose of this research was to explore the heritability of traits and combining ability of synthetic wheat in Texas. Ten elite primary synthetics from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), screened for desirable traits, were backcrossed to two Texas cultivars, ‘TAM 111’ and ‘TAM 112’. Heritability of traits and combining ability of genotypes for traits related to yield were determined in the BCF4 and BCF5 populations across five Texas locations in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Heritability estimates differed across locations. Single‐seed weight was the most heritable trait whereas yield was the least heritable trait. Primary synthetics that produced progeny superior to TAM 111 or TAM 112 were identified. Synthetics with high combining ability for yield also had high combining ability for head number or seed per head. This study suggests improved yield could result from selecting for increased seed per head in lines derived from synthetic populations.

Disaster-Related Injuries and Illnesses Treated by American Red Cross Disaster Health Services During Hurricanes Gustav and Ike

To describe the injuries and illnesses treated by the American Red Cross (Red Cross) during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike disaster relief operations reported on a new Aggregate Morbidity Report Form. From August 28 to October 18, 2008, 119 Red Cross field service locations in Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas addressed the healthcare needs of people affected by the hurricanes. From these locations, individual client visit data were retrospectively collated per site onto new 24-hour Aggregate Morbidity Report Forms. A total of 3863 clients were treated. Of the clients, 48% were girls and women and 44% were boys and men; 61% were 19 to 64 years old. Ninety-eight percent of the visits occurred in shelters. The reasons for half of the visits were acute illness and symptoms (eg, pain) and 16% were for routine follow-up care. The majority (65%) of the 2516 visits required treatment at a field location, although 34%, or 1296 visits, required a referral, including 543 healthcare facility transfers. During the hurricanes, a substantial number of displaced evacuees sought care for acute and routine healthcare needs. The capacity of the Red Cross to address the immediate and ongoing health needs of sheltered clients for an extended period of time is a critical resource for local public health agencies, which are often overwhelmed during a disaster. This article highlights the important role that this humanitarian organization fills, to decrease surge to local healthcare systems and to monitor health effects following a disaster. The Aggregate Morbidity Report Form has the potential to assist greatly in this role, and thus its utility for real-time reporting should be evaluated further.