Travis County Research Articles

Texas task force to address mental health audit

Police officials in Austin, Texas, have formed a task force to address the conclusions of an audit that found the Austin Police Department could do a better job interacting with people with mental illness, Police Chief Brian Manley wrote in a memo Nov. 29, the Austin American‐Statesman reported Dec. 1. The audit found there are not enough mental health experts to assist police when they interact with people with mental illness, and that a third of the 24 people killed in Austin police shootings from 2010 through 2016 were having mental health crises. The Austin Police Department formed the committee to address the audit's findings in collaboration with Austin Travis County Integral Care and the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Manley said in the memo. The committee's co‐chairs are Austin Police Assistant Chief Joseph Chacon, Dawn Handley of Integral Care and Karen Ranus of NAMI. The city will pay $75,000 to hire a consultant to craft the committee's final report, Manley wrote. Specific issues to be explored include police training, 911 dispatch, mental health data access and sharing, and outcome tracking.

Pavement network reliability: a dual‐network based on fuzzy set methodology

Pavement Management System (PMS) is used to conduct efficient pavement management. Since the pavement network is generally large and complex in scale, the reliability of the pavement network cannot be easily determined by applying conventional serial or parallel reliability models, or even a combination of the two. The objective of this paper is to propose a novel model by employing fuzzy set theory and dual-network method to calculate the relative importance of each pavement route and estimate the reliability of a pavement network. A fuzzy condition model is developed to describe the condition state of pavement management segments, pavement links, pavement routes, and eventually the whole network. The spatial weight of each pavement route is represented by the node degree of the corresponding dual-network. A case study is conducted by using the pavement network of Travis County, Texas, to illustrate the applicability of the proposed methodology. The results show that the model is able to calculate the relative importance of each route and determine the reliability of the given pavement network. This paper could help transportation agencies obtain more insight information on relative importance of each roadway and make more effective decisions on pavement network maintenance with a limited budget.

New occurrence records for stygobiontic invertebrates from the Edwards and Trinity aquifers in west-central Texas, USA

We report new occurrence records for stygobiontic invertebrates from the Edwards and Trinity aquifers in Blanco, Hays, and Travis counties of central Texas, USA. Our collection includes seven species from four families: Caecidoteareddelli (Steeves, 1968), Asellidae; Crangonyxnr.pseudogracilis Bousfield, 1958, Stygobromusbalconis (Hubricht, 1943), Stygobromusbifurcatus (Holsinger, 1967), and Stygobromusrusselli (Holsinger, 1967), Crangonyctidae; Sphalloplanamohri Hyman, 1938, Kenkiidae; and Cirolanides sp., Cirolanidae. Specimens of Caecidoteareddelli and Crangonyxnr.pseudogracilis are new records for Hays County and Travis county, respectively. Specimens of an undescribed species of Cirolanides were collected from a well in Hays County and from two localities in Travis County.

Review of: Poisons: An Introduction for Forensic Investigators

Journal of Forensic SciencesVolume 63, Issue 6 p. 1934-1935 Book Review Review of: Poisons: An Introduction for Forensic Investigators Kayla N. Ellefsen Ph.D., Kayla N. Ellefsen Ph.D. Deputy Chief Toxicologist, Travis County Medical Examiner's Office, Austin, TXSearch for more papers by this author Kayla N. Ellefsen Ph.D., Kayla N. Ellefsen Ph.D. Deputy Chief Toxicologist, Travis County Medical Examiner's Office, Austin, TXSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 November 2018 https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13896Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume63, Issue6November 2018Pages 1934-1935 RelatedInformation

First Report of a Helminth Parasite, Clinostomum marginatum (Digenea: Clinostomidae) from the Federally Threatened Jollyville Plateau Salamander, Eurycea tonkawae (Caudata: Plethodontidae), from Texas, U.S.A.

We examined 822 Jollyville Plateau Salamanders, Eurycea tonkawae, from Williamson and Travis counties, Texas, U.S.A., for endoparasites. Because this species is protected, we used a minimally invasive technique to visualize and obtain encapsulated parasites. Three salamanders (0.37%) were found to be harboring metacercaria of a Clinostomum species. We identified these digeneans as belonging to C. marginatum based on morphological characteristics and supporting molecular analyses. This is the first peer-reviewed published report of any parasite from this federally threatened salamander.

Texas Attorney General as Debt Collection Act Enforcer and Practitioner: Post-Judgment Amicus Curiae Brief in State of Texas vs. Samara Portfolio Management, LLC, et al, in the 80th District Court of Texas, Harris County, Texas

In 2017 Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas, obtained a judgment for more than $25 million dollars in a civil enforcement action against Houston Attorney Joseph O. Onwuteaka, his debt buying company, Samara Portfolio Management, LLC, and his law firm, for violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices—Consumer Protection Act (DTPA);—mostly for Onwuteaka’s practice of suing and obtaining default judgments against hapless consumers/defendants in a county in which they did not live (Harris County). Ironically, the Texas Attorney General engages in the very same conduct in suing former Texas college students and their co-signers on defaulted student loans made by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Loans (THECB). He files all such collection actions in Travis County (Austin, TX) regardless where the student loan obligors may live, and additionally engages in deceptive or otherwise dubious practices with respect to disclosure of interest accrual on some loans and hefty add-on attorney’s fees in most or all of them. The Travis County venue for THECB education loan collection suits was fixed by the Texas Legislature, while the other practices are discretionary. The hefty attorney’s fees are heaped on because student loan debtors are considered a suitable revenue source to help fund operations of the Office of the Attorney General. As of April 2018, the AG enforcement case against Onwuteaka et al remains on hold in the Fourteenth Court of Appeals, pending performance of a settlement agreement.

Abstract P279: Workplace Facilities and Policies Associated With Bicycling to Work Among Adults

Introduction: Bicycling to work is a mode of transportation that provides regular physical activity and has been associated with mental and physical well-being. Limited research has examined what facilities, such as bike racks, and policies within the workplace are associated with bicycling to work. Hypothesis: Access to workplace facilities and policies will be associated with higher odds of bicycling to work. Methods: In 2016/17, a convenience sample of adult residents of Travis County (Austin), Texas, and Jefferson County (Birmingham), Alabama who had ridden a bicycle at least once in the past year responded to an Internet-based questionnaire assessing correlates of bicycling. Participants who self-reported that a purpose of their bicycle trips was commuting to/from work were categorized as a bicycle commuter. Workplace facilities/policies included (a) bicycle lockers, (b) locked rooms/cages, (c) clothes storage, (d) bike racks, (e) showers, and (f) policies that supported bicycling to work. A summary score ordinal variable, (g) total facilitators, was derived by adding the total number of reported policies/facilities per participant. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for age, race, education, income, number of motor vehicles, relationship status, children in household, and sex were used to estimate the association between individual workplace facilities and policies, as well as total facilitators, and bicycle commuting. Interactions were tested between sex and each of the workplace variables. Analyses was limited to participants who were employed. Results: The final analytic sample was 771; 45% were categorized as a bicycle commuter (n=344). Access to workplace facilities/policies ranged from 7% (bike lockers) to 50% (bike racks). Bike lockers (OR 5.6; 95% CI 4.5,6.8), locked rooms/cages, (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.4, 3.3), clothes storage (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.5, 2.7), bike racks (OR 3.2; 95% CI 3.0, 3.3), and policies that supported bicycling to work (OR 3.3, 95% CI 2.5, 4.4) were associated with significantly higher odds of being a bicycle commuter. Only showers in the workplace showed a significant interaction by sex; showers were directly associated with being a bicycle commuter for males (OR 2.1; 95% CI 2.0, 2.1), but inversely associated with being a bicycle commuter for females (OR 0.9; 95% CI 0.8, 0.9). As compared to no facilitators, having 1 facilitator was associated with 2.1 times higher odds (95% CI 1.8, 2.6), 2 facilitators with 3.1 times higher odds (95% CI 2.1, 4.5), 3 facilitators with 4.4 times higher odds (95% CI 4.2, 4.8), and 4 or more facilitators with 7.9 times higher odds of being a bicycle commuter (95% CI 7.0, 9.0). Conclusions: The presence of workplace facilities/policies is associated with higher odds of bicycling to work. Workplaces should consider how the institutional environment can promote active transportation, and, in turn, employee health.

New occurrence records for Eurycea sosorum Chippindale, Price & Hillis, 1993 (Caudata, Plethodontidae) in Travis and Hays counties, Texas, USA

We present 7 new occurrence records for the Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum Chippindale, Price & Hillis, 1993) from Hays and Travis counties, Texas, USA, including the first for this species from the Trinity Aquifer. Eurycea sosorum is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 due to ongoing threats from urbanization and aquifer overdraft throughout its narrow range. Although this species is more widely distributed than when it was first described in 1993, its range is still exceptionally small, restricted to portions of only two watersheds (Onion and Barton creeks) in one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States (Austin, Texas). Under any ecologically-relevant criterion that is based on the best available scientific evidence, this species remains in danger of extinction throughout its range.

Effects of a Tobacco-Free Work Site Policy on Employee Tobacco Attitudes and Behaviors, Travis County, Texas, 2010-2012.

BackgroundThe adoption of tobacco-free policies in behavioral health settings is an important step in reducing staff tobacco use as well as the high rates of tobacco use among people with mental illness and behavioral disorders. Studies have demonstrated the importance of staff support when implementing tobacco-free workplace policies, but there is limited research examining tobacco use prevalence among staff and staff attitude before and after policy adoption.Community ContextIntegral Care, a local authority for behavioral health and developmental disabilities in Austin, Texas, and Austin Public Health embarked on a comprehensive planning process before implementing a 100% tobacco-free campus policy. The objectives were 1) assess staff tobacco use and attitudes toward a tobacco-free policy, 2) communicate policy to staff, 3) provide staff education and training, and 4) provide cessation resources.MethodsIntegral Care and Austin Public Health conducted a web-based employee survey 6 months before and 6 and 12 months after implementation of the policy to measure tobacco use prevalence and attitudes among employees.OutcomeEmployees had significant improvements in tobacco use prevalence and attitudes toward the tobacco-free policy from pre-implementation to post-implementation. Tobacco use prevalence among staff decreased from 27.6% to 13.8%, and support for the policy increased from 60.6% to 80.3% at 12 months post-implementation.InterpretationAdoption of 100% tobacco-free campus policies in behavioral health settings can result in significant reductions in staff tobacco use. Leadership should provide staff with education, training, and cessation support before adoption of tobacco-free work site policies to ensure success.

Postabortion Contraceptive Use and Continuation When Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Is Free.

To compare preference for long-acting contraception (LARC) and subsequent use, year-long continuation, and pregnancy among women after induced abortion who were and were not eligible to participate in a specialized funding program that provided LARC at no cost. Between October 2014 and March 2016, we conducted a prospective study of abortion patients at Planned Parenthood in Austin, Texas (located in Travis County). We compared our primary outcome of interest, postabortion LARC use, among women who were eligible for the specialized funding program (low-income, uninsured, Travis County residents) and two groups who were ineligible (low-income, uninsured, non-Travis County residents, and higher income or insured women). Secondary outcomes of interest included preabortion preference for LARC and 1-year continuation and pregnancy rates among the three groups. Among 518 women, preabortion preference for LARC was high among all three groups (low-income eligible: 64% [91/143]; low-income ineligible: 44% [49/112]; and higher income 55% [146/263]). However, low-income eligible participants were more likely to receive LARC (65% [93/143] compared with 5% [6/112] and 24% [62/263], respectively, P<.05). Specifically, after adjusting for age, race-ethnicity, and education, low-income eligible participants had a 10-fold greater incidence of receiving postabortion LARC compared with low-income ineligible participants (incidence rate ratio 10.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.68-21.91). Among low-income eligible and higher income women who received postabortion LARC, 1-year continuation was 90% (95% CI 82-97%) and 86% (95% CI 76-97%), respectively. One-year pregnancy risk was higher among low-income ineligible than low-income eligible women (hazard ratio 3.28, 95% CI 1.15-9.31). Preference for postabortion LARC was high among all three eligibility groups, yet women with access to no-cost LARC were more likely to use and continue these methods. Low-income ineligible women were far more likely to use less effective contraception and become pregnant. Specialized funding programs can play an important role in immediate postabortion contraceptive provision, particularly in settings where state funding is limited.

Texas Adolescent Tobacco and Marketing Surveillance System's Design.

To provide a full methodological description of the design of the wave I and II (6-month follow-up) surveys of the Texas Adolescent Tobacco and Marketing Surveillance System (TATAMS), a longitudinal surveillance study of 6th, 8th, and 10th grade students who attended schools in Bexar, Dallas, Tarrant, Harris, or Travis counties, where the 4 largest cities in Texas (San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and Austin, respectively) are located. TATAMS used a complex probability design, yielding representative estimates of these students in these counties during the 2014-2015 academic year. Weighted prevalence of the use of tobacco products, drugs and alcohol in wave I, and the percent of: (i) bias, (ii) relative bias, and (iii) relative bias ratio, between waves I and II are estimated. The wave I sample included 79 schools and 3,907 students. The prevalence of current cigarette, e-cigarette and hookah use at wave I was 3.5%, 7.4%, and 2.5%, respectively. Small biases, mostly less than 3.5%, were observed for nonrespondents in wave II. Even with adaptions to the sampling methodology, the resulting sample adequately represents the target population. Results from TATAMS will have important implications for future tobacco policy in Texas and federal regulation.

New nesting record of the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) in central Texas

We document a nesting female of peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) in Austin, Texas. Nesting took place in an artificial nest box installed on the tower at the University of Texas campus. The female produced four infertile eggs. This finding documents the first nesting in Travis County and broadens the range of peregrine falcon in the state.

Unraveling the Slut Narrative: Gender Constraints on Adolescent Girls' Sexual Decision-Making

ABSTRACTLimited research exists on the slut labeling process, a key means of enforcing rules around appropriate female sexuality. This study explores that process through qualitative interviews with 44 adolescent girls in Travis County, Texas. Labeling girls as sluts or hos was pervasive and was based on a number of factors beyond sexual behavior, including dress, friendships with boys, or jealousy from other girls. Responses depicted a narrow space in which girls functioned, bound at one end by limited agency and at the other by pervasive vulnerability. There was consensus about the negative consequences of being labeled. Most girls held mixed opinions about the slut labeling process: this may reflect their attempts to push back against a system that entraps them. These findings suggest that prevention and sex education programs must explicitly address slut labeling as well as other gender narratives that impede healthy sexual development.

Legal Representation in the Juvenile Dependency System: Travis County, Texas’ Parent Representation Pilot Project

This study examines outcomes related to a parent representation pilot program in Travis County, Texas. Participation in the pilot program was related to earlier attorney appointment, a higher percentage of attorney presence across the life of the case, and a higher percentage of permanent outcomes for children. Parents’ percentage of presence at hearings across the life of the case was related to the child being returned home, dismissal of the juvenile dependency petition, and permanent management conservatorship. Early attorney appointment (i.e., less than 10 days from the initial hearing to full appointment) was related to permanent case outcomes.

TAKE10: A community approach to teaching compression-only CPR to high-risk zip codes

ObjectiveBystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has the ability to improve patient survival. However, the rates at which CPR occurs are suboptimal. We hypothesized that targeted CPR training in neighborhoods with low bystander CPR and high incidence of cardiac arrests would increase the incidence of bystander CPR for adult OHCA. MethodsThis study is a descriptive observation and analysis of the TAKE 10 program, which recruited City of Austin and Travis County residents to teach fellow community members compression-only CPR. Twelve zip codes in Austin and Travis County were identified as “high-risk,” based on low bystander CPR rates and high incidences of cardiac arrest. Data was collected on bystander CPR for OHCA over the study period of July 2008 to September 2013. Incidence of cardiac arrest and bystander CPR were calculated yearly and overall. ResultsOver the study period, a total of 11,242 community members completed compression-only CPR training. While there was no significant difference in the number of individuals trained in high-risk zip codes compared to the other zip codes (High-Risk [n±sd] 263±235; General 212±193; p-value 0.46), the amount of people trained in the high-risk zip codes did trend upwards over the study period. Additionally, there was an increase in percent of bystander CPR per eligible cardiac arrest in the high-risk zip codes (2009: [n±sd] 0.28±0.34 to 2013: 0.39±0.28). ConclusionsTargeted compression-only CPR training in high-risk neighborhoods may be associated with increased bystander CPR rates over time.

Catalogue of Texas spiders.

This catalogue lists 1,084 species of spiders (three identified to genus only) in 311 genera from 53 families currently recorded from Texas and is based on the “Bibliography of Texas Spiders” published by Bea Vogel in 1970. The online list of species can be found at http://pecanspiders.tamu.edu/spidersoftexas.htm. Many taxonomic revisions have since been published, particularly in the families Araneidae, Gnaphosidae and Leptonetidae. Many genera in other families have been revised. The Anyphaenidae, Ctenidae, Hahniidae, Nesticidae, Sicariidae and Tetragnathidae were also revised. Several families have been added and others split up. Several genera of Corinnidae were transferred to Phrurolithidae and Trachelidae. Two genera from Miturgidae were transferred to Eutichuridae. Zoridae was synonymized under Miturgidae. A single species formerly in Amaurobiidae is now in the Family Amphinectidae. Some trapdoor spiders in the family Ctenizidae have been transferred to Euctenizidae.Gertsch and Mulaik started a list of Texas spiders in 1940. In a letter from Willis J. Gertsch dated October 20, 1982, he stated “Years ago a first listing of the Texas fauna was published by me based largely on Stanley Mulaik material, but it had to be abandoned because of other tasks.” This paper is a compendium of the spiders of Texas with distribution, habitat, collecting method and other data available from revisions and collections. This includes many records and unpublished data (including data from three unpublished studies). One of these studies included 16,000 adult spiders belonging to 177 species in 29 families. All specimens in that study were measured and results are in the appendix. Hidalgo County has 340 species recorded with Brazos County at 323 and Travis County at 314 species. These reflect the amount of collecting in the area.

Assessing climate change and health vulnerability at the local level: Travis County, Texas.

We created a measure to help comprehend population vulnerability to potential flooding and excessive heat events using health, built environment and social factors. Through principal component analysis (PCA), we created non-weighted sum index scores of literature-reviewed social and built environment characteristics. We created baseline poor health measures using 1999-2005 age-adjusted cardiovascular and combined diabetes and hypertension mortality rates to correspond with social-built environment indices. We mapped US Census block groups by linked age-adjusted mortality and a PCA-created social-built environment index. The goal was to measure flooding and excessive heat event vulnerability as proxies for population vulnerability to climate change for Travis County, Texas. This assessment identified communities where baseline poor health, social marginalisation and built environmental impediments intersected. Such assessments may assist targeted interventions and improve emergency preparedness in identified vulnerable communities, while fostering resilience through the focus of climate change adaptation policies at the local level.

Big Hole (41TV2161): Two Stratigraphically Isolated Middle Holocene Components in Travis County, Texas Volume I

Big Hole (41TV2161): Two Stratigraphically Isolated Middle Holocene Components in Travis County, Texas Volume I

Comparing contraceptive choices among postabortion patients with and without free access to long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods

Objectives: In 2014, a Medicaid 1115 waiver program offering free LARC methods to low-income uninsured Travis County residents was implemented at Planned Parenthood in Austin, Texas. We evaluated preabortion contraceptive desires and postabortion LARC method uptake among women who were and were not eligible for the program.

How local and state regulations affect the child care food environment: A qualitative study of child care center directors' perspectives.

Almost one-third of preschoolers spend regular time in child care centers where they can consume the majority of their daily dietary intake. The child care setting influences children's dietary intake. Thus, it is important to examine factors, such as local and state regulations, that influence the food environment at the center. This qualitative study explored directors' perceptions of how regulations influence the foods available at child care centers. Ten directors of centers in Travis County, Texas completed semi-structured interviews. Directors reported that changes in local health department regulations (e.g., kitchen specifications) result in less-healthful foods being served (e.g., more prepackaged foods). Directors of centers that do not participate in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) said the state licensing regulations clarify the portion size and nutritional requirements for preschoolers thereby improving the nutritional quality of the food served. Directors of centers participating in CACFP said they are not affected by state mandates, because the CACFP regulations are more stringent. These findings suggest that state regulations that specify and quantify nutritional standards may beneficially impact preschoolers' diets. However, local health department regulations enacted to improve food safety may negatively influence the nutritional value of food served in centers.