Reply to Benkman: Hispaniolan crossbills formerly resided in the Bahamas [Biological Sciences]
We appreciate the issues raised in Benkman’s letter (1), which is critical of our paper (2). Here, we will address these issues. Benkman (1) believes that the late Pleistocene Bahamian (Abaco island) fossils we identified as Hispaniolan crossbill (Loxia megaplaga), in fact, represent nonresident individuals of red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra).... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - November 21, 2017 Category: Science Authors: David W. Steadman, Janet Franklin Tags: Letters Source Type: research
Crossbills were unlikely resident in the Bahamas; thus, there was no population to be extirpated [Biological Sciences]
In PNAS, Steadman and Franklin (1) make the argument that the large reduction in land area and shift in vegetation in the Bahamian Archipelago from ∼15–9 ka caused declines and extirpation of two bird species, the Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) and Hispaniolan crossbill (Loxia megaplaga). Their evidence for L. megaplaga... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - November 21, 2017 Category: Science Authors: Craig W. Benkman Tags: Letters Source Type: research
A multi ‐institutional study of the perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing evidence‐based practice
ConclusionsNurses generally expressed that they required additional training in research and evidence‐based practice concepts. Although some nurses had a desire to implement evidence‐based practice to provide quality care and improve patient outcomes, many expressed that they lacked the required resources. The study draws attention to the need for prioritization of evidence‐based practice both at institutional and governmental levels.
Relevance to clinical practiceSuccessful adoption of evidence‐based practice implies combined efforts of nurses, health care providers and policy makers. Further research is needed to...
Source: Journal of Clinical Nursing - November 17, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Daphne C. Duncombe Tags: Original Article Source Type: research
The prostate cancer screening clinic in the Bahamas: a model for low- and middle-income countries
ConclusionThis study suggests that low-resource countries can advance cost-effective screening clinics, apply policy guidelines, and provide services within acceptable standards of care. It is the expectation, with a sustained effort and community participation over the ensuing years, that earlier disease presentation will occur and, consequently, a concomitant decrease in the disease-specific mortality. (Source: Cancer Causes and Control)
Source: Cancer Causes and Control - November 8, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Short report: Follow ‐up of Bahamian women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation
ConclusionPreventive surgery is an acceptable option for a significant proportion of Bahamian women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. It will be important to identify and reduce barriers to preventive surgery in the Bahamas in order that the benefit of getting testing can be fully realized.
We sought to determine to what extent the knowledge of carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation influences the uptake of preventive surgeries in Bahamian women. Of the 78 mutation carriers, 19 women had a bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy (24%). Seven out of 37 patients who had unilateral breast cancer chose to remove the unaffected contralate...
Source: Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine - November 1, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Steven A. Narod, Raleigh Butler, David Bobrowski, Mohammad R. Akbari, DuVaughan Curling, John Lunn, Catherine Ho, Sara Panahi, Marcia Llacuachaqui, Talia Donenberg, Judith Hurley Tags: CLINICAL REPORT Source Type: research
IJERPH, Vol. 14, Pages 1220: Cusp Catastrophe Regression and Its Application in Public Health and Behavioral Research
In this study, we reported our work in the development of a new modeling method—cusp catastrophe regression (RegCusp in short) by casting the cusp catastrophe into a statistical regression. With the RegCusp approach, unbiased model parameters can be estimated with the maximum likelihood estimation method. To validate the RegCusp method, a series of simulations were conducted to demonstrate the unbiasedness of parameter estimation. Since the estimated residual variance with the Fisher information matrix method was over-dispersed, a bootstrap re-sampling procedure was developed and used as a remedy. We also demonstrate the...
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health - October 13, 2017 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Ding-Geng Chen Xinguang Chen Tags: Article Source Type: research
The effects of self-efficacy in bifurcating the relationship of perceived benefit and cost with condom use among adolescents: A cusp catastrophe modeling analysis
This study tested the complex relationship among the perceived benefit from and cost of condom use, self-efficacy and condom use among adolescents as a nonlinear dynamic process. Participants were 12th graders in public Bahamian high schools who reported having had sex and frequency of condom use. Results revealed that the perceived benefit and perceived cost as asymmetry variables were significantly associated with condom use (p < 0.001) after controlling for covariates. The association was bifurcated by the variable self-efficacy (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the cusp model was better than linear and logist...
Source: Journal of Adolescence - September 22, 2017 Category: Child Development Source Type: research
Experience with curative radiotherapy for cervix cancer in the Bahamas for 2006 –2016
ConclusionThis report demonstrates the impact of providing curative radiation-based treatments for cervical cancer in a small state. It suggests ways to further improve operations and justifies additional research. (Source: Cancer Causes and Control)
Source: Cancer Causes and Control - September 18, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Origin, paleoecology, and extirpation of bluebirds and crossbills in the Bahamas across the last glacial-interglacial transition [Ecology]
On low islands or island groups such as the Bahamas, surrounded by shallow oceans, Quaternary glacial–interglacial changes in climate and sea level had major effects on terrestrial plant and animal communities. We examine the paleoecology of two species of songbirds (Passeriformes) recorded as Late Pleistocene fossils on the Bahamian island... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - September 12, 2017 Category: Science Authors: David W. Steadman, Janet Franklin Tags: Biological Sciences Source Type: research
Outcomes of treatment in men with prostate cancer at the cancer centre Bahamas
ConclusionsThis study establishes benchmark statistics from diagnosis to long-term follow-up. Outcomes in Bahamian men are consistent with expectations from risk-stratified guidelines followed in developed countries. (Source: Cancer Causes and Control)
Source: Cancer Causes and Control - September 1, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Presence of Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157 on the hide, and presence of Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157 and Campylobacter in feces from small-ruminant (goat and lamb) samples collected in the United States, Bahamas and Mexico
The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of Salmonella and E. coli O157 found on the hides, as well as presence of Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli O157 found in small-ruminant fecal samples from abattoirs and farms in California, New Mexico, Texas, Mexico and the Bahamas. In small-ruminant fecal samples, overall organism presence was identified as 13.9% Salmonella (n =532), 15.3% E. coli O157 (n =477) and 80.7% Campylobacter (n =176). Overall, on small-ruminant hide surfaces, Salmonella frequency was 17.1% (N =339) and E. coli O157 was detected at 1.5% (n =266). The overall lower detection (P <...
Source: Meat Science - August 23, 2017 Category: Food Science Source Type: research
Adaptive introgression from distant Caribbean islands contributed to the diversification of a microendemic adaptive radiation of trophic specialist pupfishes
by Emilie J. Richards, Christopher H. Martin
Rapid diversification often involves complex histories of gene flow that leave variable and conflicting signatures of evolutionary relatedness across the genome. Identifying the extent and source of variation in these evolutionary relationships can provide insight into the evolutionary mechanisms involved in rapid radiations. Here we compare the discordant evolutionary relationships associated with species phenotypes across 42 whole genomes from a sympatric adaptive radiation ofCyprinodon pupfishes endemic to San Salvador Island, Bahamas and several outgroup pupfish species in ...
Source: PLoS Genetics - August 10, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Emilie J. Richards Source Type: research
The HIV continuum of care in the Bahamas in 2014.
Conclusions: In the Bahamas, increased efforts are needed to help people living with HIV to link to and be retained in care. VS may remain suboptimal unless ART is scaled up and adherence interventions are included in measures to improve the treatment cascade.
PMID: 28718493 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Pan American Journal of Public Health)
Source: Pan American Journal of Public Health - July 21, 2017 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Tags: Rev Panam Salud Publica Source Type: research
Performance of and preference for oral rapid HIV testing in The Bahamas
Initiatives to increase access to quality rapid HIV diagnostics have had relative success in the Caribbean in recent years, including use of oral rapid HIV testing. However, to date, there has not been any investigation into the performance or acceptability of oral fluids HIV testing in the region. In this cross-sectional study in The Bahamas, 252 persons of unknown serostatus were tested side-by-side with two oral rapid test brands, and the results were compared with the national fingerprick algorithm. (Source: Journal of Infection and Public Health)
Source: Journal of Infection and Public Health - July 3, 2017 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Indira B. Martin, Vianna Williams, Desmond Ferguson, Stanley Read Source Type: research
Preconception Peer Educators' exploratory outreach to the Bahamas: A foundation for an international service learning initiative.
Abstract
A service learning outreach was undertaken to assess the feasibility of adapting the Preconception Peer Educator (PPE) program to Bahamian youth. By focusing on preconception health, the PPE program is a logical step toward ensuring age sensitive and developmentally appropriate education to improve potential birth outcomes and decrease infant mortality rates (IMR) associated with the complex societal problems on Grand Bahama. Concerned with the prevalence of adolescent pregnancy, lack of social support, depression, and failure to complete high school, a nurse midwife invited PPEs from a School of ...
Source: Journal of Professional Nursing - July 1, 2017 Category: Nursing Authors: Wade GH, DeLashmutt MB, DeCaire A, Boyce E Tags: J Prof Nurs Source Type: research
