bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Updated Demographically Adjusted Norms for the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised in Monolingual Spanish Speakers from the United States – Mexico Border Region
Authors: Diaz-Santos M , Suarez P , Marquine M J , Rivera Mindt M , Artiola i Fortuny L , Heaton R K , Cherner M
Published: August 2019

Objective

Culturally and linguistically appropriate neuropsychological assessments for the large number of primary Spanish speakers in the United States remain imperative to serve the needs of this underserved population. As part of a larger co-norming project, we generated demographically adjusted norms for the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-revised (BVMT-R) and the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-revised (HVLT-R) for use with native Spanish speakers from the U.S.-Mexico border regions.

Participants and Method

Participants were 202 healthy native Spanish speakers recruited in San Diego, CA and Tucson, AZ, ages 19 to 60, with education ranging from 0-20 years, and 59% women. Test stimuli for the HVLT-R and instructions for both tests were adapted into Spanish by a team of native Spanish speakers from multiple countries using standard procedures (Cherner et al., 2007). Raw scores for the various learning and delayed recall outcomes were converted to T-scores using fractional polynomial equations accounting for effects of education, age, and sex. We then computed the rates of impairment that would be obtained when applying the original published norms for these two tests, and compared these results to the expected rate of impairment of -1SD (around 16%) derived from the normal distribution of T-scores in our new, demographically corrected norms.

Results

Results showed significant overestimation of impairment when applying the original norms for non-Hispanic English speakers to our Spanish-speaking sample, ranging from 35-38% for HVLT-R and 25-26% for BVMTR. As expected, these overestimations of impairment were greater for individuals with lower education, but our demographically corrected norms reduced the rate of impairment for all levels of education.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the urgent need to account for demographic effects on neuropsychological performance in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy of our measures when applied to US-dwelling Spanish speakers.

References

Cherner, M., Suarez, P., Lazzaretto, D., Fortuny, L. A. I., Mindt, M. R., Dawes, S., ... & HNRC group. (2007). Demographically corrected norms for the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-revised and Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-revised in monolingual Spanish speakers from the US–Mexico border region. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 22(3), 343-353.
Value Assessment in Healthcare Decision-Making of Ethnically and Cognitively Diverse Older Adults
Authors: Mejia A , Smith G D , Curiel R E , Barker W , Behar R , Armstrong M J
Published: August 2019

Objective

Little is known regarding the values that patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) incorporate into healthcare decision-making or how culture may affect such values. Even if values overlap across cultures, cultural groups may emphasize the importance of specific values differently since values emanate, at least in part, from cultural and life-long learning. The aim of this study was to explore and compare values that older adults of different ethnicities and cognitive statuses incorporate in their medical decisions.

Participants and Method

Four focus groups were established by identifying older adults as, a) Hispanic or non-Hispanic, and with b) normal cognition or MCI. Participants were recruited from the 1Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Focus groups were audio-recorded and transcribed using a professional transcription service.

Results

There were a total of 23 participants (Age: M = 70.9, SD = 6.4). MCI groups had briefer discussions (Time M = 44 minutes) than the normal cognition groups (Time M = 62 minutes). Qualitative analysis of discussions was used to explore the values identified across the focus groups. The MCI groups valued spirituality, doctor recommendations, and family involvement when facing medical decisions. Normal cognition groups valued the necessity of proactive involvement as healthcare consumers and the relationship between the quality of patient-clinician interaction and their health care related decisions. Cultural themes involving perceptions of gender and generational differences emerged from the Hispanic normal cognition group.

Conclusions

This study identified many determinants influencing the medical decision-making process of diverse older adults: including past experiences, family involvement, healthcare barriers, and cultural background. These results have the potential to impact patient-clinician discussions, decisions made by surrogates, and the development of decision aids with a broader range of relevant patient values.
Perceived Racial/Ethnic Discrimination Predicts Worse Global Cognition in a Diverse Sample
Authors: Morris E , Guzman V , Tell E , Summers A C , Clark U S , Byrd D A , Rivera Mindt M , Arce Rentería M
Published: August 2019

Objective

While perceived racial/ethnic discrimination (PD) and HIV can be independently detrimental to cognitive function, it is unclear whether persons living with HIV (PLWH) who experience PD may be at risk for greater cognitive dysfunction than HIV- persons. In a diverse sample, we hypothesized that PD would be related to worse cognition and that this effect would be moderated by HIV status.

Participants and Method

This cross-sectional study included 53 participants (57% PLWH; 77% African American and 23% Latinx; 45% male; M Age = 54.5 ± 6.1 years; M Education = 12.4 ± 2.2 years) who completed the Perceived Ethnic Discrimination Questionnaire (PEDQ) and a neurocognitive (NC) battery. Variables included education (years); HIV status; PEDQ Total Score and global NC T-score (averaged, demographically-corrected T-scores for all tests). A general linear model examined main and interaction effects of HIV status and PD on global cognitive function. Covariates included depression and urine toxicology status for cocaine and marijuana.

Results

Greater PD was associated with higher education and greater depression. The model showed that greater PD (β = -.48, p < .05) and lower education (β = -19.0, p < .01) were related to worse global cognitive function. This relationship was moderated by education (β = .59, p < .01), such that the relationship between PD and global cognitive function was stronger in those with higher education. There was no main effect of HIV or HIV*PD interaction on global cognitive function.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that greater PD is related to worse global cognitive function and this relationship is stronger in those with more education. While no causal factors can be attributed, racial/ethnic minorities with higher education may be granted greater access to areas with greater structural racism and/or microagressions (i.e., predominantly white workplaces). Future studies should evaluate the role of socioeconomic and workplace diversity when considering discrimination.
The Role of Quality of Education in Neurocognitive Functioning in a Diverse Sample with Chronic Opioid Use Disorder
Authors: Olsen J , Arnsten J , Scott T , Arias F , Zhang C , Rivera Mindt M
Published: August 2019

Objective

Literacy is a proxy for quality of education (QoE) and mediates ethnicity-related differences in neurocognitive (NC) performance in some populations (Manly et al., 2002; Rivera Mindt et al., 2008). However, it is unknown whether this relationship exists in the context of chronic opioid use disorder (OUD). This study examined the role of ethnicity, QoE, opioid use severity, and depression in predicting NC performance in a diverse sample of persons with OUD.

Participants and Method

This cross-sectional study included 74 adults with OUD (Age M = 40.3 [SD = 10.5]; Education M = 11.3 [2.5]; 24% female; 68% Latinx and 32% Non-Latinx White [NLW]). All participants completed comprehensive NC testing and psychiatric/substance use questionnaires. Variables included ethnicity (Latinx vs. Non-Latinx White), years of education, QoE (Wide Range Achievement Test, Third Edition; WRAT-3 Reading Standard Scores), opioid use severity (high vs. low OAT dose), current depression (Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition; BDI-II Total Score), and demographically-corrected NC T-scores were computed and used for average domain T-scores (e.g., learning, memory, verbal fluency, executive function). Bivariate and ANCOVA analyses were used to compare ethnic groups.

Results

There were no significant group differences on opioid use severity or current depression (p’s > .05). However, compared to the NLW group, the Latinx group had lower years of education (M = 10.9 [SD = 1.7] vs. M = 12.2 [SD = 3.5]; t[72)] = 2.1, p < .05), QoE (M = 83.1 [SD = 13.6] vs. M = 94.8 [SD = 9.4]; t[72] = 3.8, p < .001), executive functioning (M = 42.0 [SD = 6.5] vs. M = 45.8 [SD = 8.5]; t[72) = 2.1, p < .05), and learning (M = 32.2 [SD = 8.2] vs. M = 37.8 [SD = 8.7]; t[72)] = 2.7, p < .05), with medium to large effect sizes (Cohen’s d > .50). The overall effect of ethnicity became non-significant for executive functioning after accounting for QoE (F[2,70] = 10.0, p = .002) and years of education (F[2,70)] = 16.8, p < .001).

Conclusions

The current study found that accounting for years of education and QoE attenuates some differences in NC performance between Latinx and Non-Latinx participants.

References

Manly, J. J., Jacobs, D. M., Touradji, P., Small, S. A., & Stern, Y. (2002). Reading level attenuates differences in neuropsychological test performance between African American and White elders. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 8(3), 341-348. Mindt, M. R., Arentoft, A., Germano, K. K., D’Aquila, E., Scheiner, D., Pizzirusso, M., ... & Gollan, T. H. (2008). Neuropsychological, cognitive, and theoretical considerations for evaluation of bilingual individuals. Neuropsychology review, 18(3), 255-268.
Does Decision-Making Ability Predict HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder?
Authors: Summers A C , Morris A , Savin M J , Aghvinian M , Crook C , Byrd D , Rivera Mindt M
Published: August 2019

Background

Executive dysfunction (EF) in people living with HIV (PLWH) is well-established. However, decision-making, a key aspect of EF, is often overlooked in neurocognitive (NC) evaluations of PLWH. Poor decision-making can detrimentally impact PLWH by increasing risk of poor health outcomes. This study aimed to determine if including a decision-making task in NC evaluations might improve diagnostic formulations.

Participants and Method

This cross-sectional study included 90 PLWH (63 Latinx; 27 non-Latinx white) who were evaluated for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) using established criteria, with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Trail Making Test Part B (TMTB) comprising the “traditional” EF domain. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) assessed decision-making. Demographically corrected T-scores were calculated for each test. The “traditional” EF tests were averaged into an EF domain T-score. The WCST, TMTB, and IGT were also averaged into a “new” EF+IGT domain T-score.

Results

The new EF+IGT domain T-score significantly predicted HAND diagnosis (R^2 = .14, p < .001). However, using hierarchical regression, the “traditional” EF domain (WCST and TMTB) also significantly predicted HAND (R^2 = .18, p < .001) and adding the IGT Total T-score did not contribute unique variance to the model (R^2 = .18, p < .001; R^2Δ < .001, pΔ = .92).

Conclusions

A new combined EF domain T-score that included decision-making was a significant predictor of HAND diagnosis. However, adding IGT Total Score did not enhance HAND diagnosis compared to “traditional” EF measurement, indicating that the “traditional” EF domain adequately informs HAND diagnosis. A limitation of this study was the small sample size. Given the important health implications of decision-making in PLWH, future research, with a larger sample size is warranted to better conceptualize how decision-making can be incorporated into diagnostic formulations for PLWH.
Community Engagement and Cognition in a Sample of Older Adults Residing in Costa Rica
Authors: Valdivieso Mora E , Ivanisevic M , Johnson D
Published: August 2019

Objective

Costa Rica has the highest percentage of older adults (65+) of the Central American and Latin American region. In fact, Costa Rica has the highest life expectancy within an advanced healthcare system and socioeconomic infrastructure that differentiates it from neighboring countries in Central America. Previous research has shown that older adults who engage in higher social engagement show overall better cognitive functioning (Chen et al., 2018); however, limited research has examined the impact of socialization on cognition across rural and urban regions and furthermore no research to date has examined these factors in Costa Rican older adults. This study examined the effects of community engagement on cognition in urban and rural older adults residing in Costa Rica.

Participants and Method

Participants were neurotypical older adults residing in San Jose (urban region, n = 156) and Guanacaste (rural region, n = 69). Those with a history of neurological conditions and major psychiatric disorders were excluded.

Results

Older adults residing in an urban area (M = 55.43, SD = 23.26) participate more in social engagement within the community compared to those residing in the rural region (M = 46.30, SD = 28.50), p = 0.019. Furthermore, in the urban sample, those with higher social engagement showed better performance on learning and encoding (r = 30), verbal memory (r = 0.26), and executive functioning (r = .20). In older adults residing in the rural region, higher social engagement was only associated with better visuospatial abilities (r = 0.27).

Conclusions

Findings suggest that social engagement in the community for older adults in Costa Rica may serve as a protective factor for their cognitive health. However, there are significant differences on what cognitive processes serve as a protective factor as a function of location (rural versus urban). This study highlights the importance of examining the quality of social engagement when evaluating the cognition of Costa Rican older adults.

References

Chen, Ya-Mei, Tu, Yu-Kang, Yu, Hsiao-Wei, Chiu, Tzu-Ying, Chiang, Tung-Liang, Chen, Duan-Rung, & Chang, Ray-E. (2018). Leisure time activities as mediating variables in functional disability progression: An application of parallel latent growth curve modeling. PLoS ONE, 13(10).
Cognitive Test Differences Between our Bronx English and Spanish Speaking Patients: Lessons Learned Through the Expansion of Neuropsychological Services
Authors: Weiss E , Facchini R , Zwerling J
Published: August 2019

Objective

To demonstrate the differences between the English-speaking and Spanish-speaking patients evaluated at a Memory Disorders Clinic.

Participants and Method

Through a foundation grant to reduce barriers to appropriate neurological care, we established a bilingual/bicultural neuropsychology post-doctoral fellowship. In the initial 2 years, 405 new patients were seen at our multidisciplinary memory disorders clinics for neuropsychological and neurological evaluations. These patients were 63% female (n = 256), and had a mean age of 73.09 (SD = 10.63, range 52-98). Fifty-eight percent of our population identified as Hispanic/Latino (primarily Puerto Rican and Dominican) and 42% were evaluated in Spanish.

Results

Patients evaluated in Spanish had less education (p < .001) and were younger (p = .03) than those evaluated in English (including our Hispanic/Latino English speaking patients). Individuals evaluated in Spanish performed worse on a mental status exam (Blessed) than those evaluated in English (p = .001) even after controlling for age and education (p = .048). However, those evaluated in Spanish were more likely to do better on memory tasks than those evaluated in English, compared to their respective normative peers. Higher levels of anxiety and depression were evident in Hispanics/Latinos compared to non-Hispanics with highest levels in Hispanics evaluated in English.

Conclusions

Through a grant to expand services to the previously underserved Spanish-only speaking population of the Bronx, we were able to validate the need for appropriate language and cultural resources in our robust medical community. We demonstrated that our Spanish speaking population is diverse and requires different resources from their English-speaking counterparts. Our data supports the establishment of additional studies (including improved cultural and language specific normative data) and further education of providers working with our diverse populations.
Normative Data for Wisconsin Card Sorting Test-64 Item in a Spanish Speaking Adult Population Living in the US/Mexico Border Region
Authors: Yassai-Gonzalez D , Marquine M J , Perez-Tejada A , Umlauf A , Kamalyan L , Morlett Paredes A , Suarez P , Rivera Mindt M , Artiola i Fortuny L , Franklin D R , Cherner M , Heaton R K
Published: August 2019

Objective

The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is a commonly used test of executive functioning. We aimed to generate norms on the WCST-64 item version for Spanish-speakers living in the US.

Participants and Method

Healthy Spanish-speakers (N=189) were recruited (Age M = 38.2, SD = 10.3, range 19-60; Education M = 10.9, SD = 4.5, range 0-20; 59.3% female) from the US-Mexico border region. Participants completed the WCST-64 as part of a larger neuropsychological battery. Spearman correlations and Wilcoxon Rank-sum tests were used to assess associations between demographic variables and raw scores. T-scores enabling demographic corrections for various WCST-64 measures (Total Errors, Perseverative Responses, Perseverative Errors, and Number of Categories Completed) were obtained using fractional polynomial equations with corrections for age, education, and gender. Uncorrected percentile scores were reported for Failures to Maintain Set. Rates of neurocognitive impairment (NCI; T < 40) were calculated by applying the newly developed norms along with published norms for non-Hispanic (NH) White and African American English-speakers.

Results

Older age was significantly associated with worse performance, and higher education was linked to better performance on most WCST-64 raw scores. Current norms resulted in expected rates of NCI (14-16% across measures). Applying norms for NH-Whites overestimated NCI (38-52% across measures). Applying norms for African Americans yielded NCI rates closer to what would be expected, with milder misclassifications (NCI: Total Errors = 14%, Perseverative Responses = 19%, Perseverative Errors = 10%).

Conclusions

Regional normative data will improve interpretation of test performance on the WCST-64 for Spanish-speakers of Mexican origin living in the US and will facilitate a more valid analysis of neuropsychological profile patterns in this population. Future research will need to explore the generalizability of these norms to other groups.
Factorial Validity of the Emotional Verbal Learning Test-Spanish (EVLT-S)
Authors: Zink D N , Reyes E , Kuwabara H , Strauss G P , Allen D N
Published: August 2019

Objective

The EVLT-S is the Spanish translation of a novel measure of emotional verbal learning and memory. The current study aimed to preliminarily examine the factorial validity of the EVLT-S to determine if its latent structure was similar to that identified for the EVLT by Strauss and Allen (2013) in a sample of 329 English speakers.

Participants and Method

Two principal component analyses (PCAs) were conducted to examine the latent structure of the EVLT-S. The first PCA examined EVLT/EVLT-S performance in a combined sample of English language-dominant participants (n = 52; Age M = 23.1 years; Education M = 13.4 years; 32.7% White non-Hispanic, 36.5% Hispanic, and 30.8 % other; 55.8% female) and Spanish language-dominant participants (n = 50; Age M = 20.3 years; Education M = 12.8 years; 98% Hispanic and 2% other; 72% female). The second PCA was conducted with the Spanish dominant sample alone (n = 50). PCAs were conducted using comparable scores and procedures reported by Strauss and Allen (2013), including scores for the four emotion categories (happiness, sadness, anger, anxiety), varimax rotation, and Kaiser-Guttman criteria to determine the number of components, allowing for direct comparisons between the current results and those previously reported.

Results

Both PCA’s identified five components that accounted for 68.6 – 70.4 percent of the variance and attained simple structure. Based on factor loadings, these components were labeled Anger, Sadness, Happiness, Anxiety, and Short-Term Memory (STM).

Conclusions

The PCA analyses in this study were exploratory in nature but were remarkably consistent with prior results attained in a much larger sample (n = 329) of English speakers. Results provide preliminary support for a stable and generalizable EVLT latent structure in Spanish and English versions. Future studies with larger samples using confirmatory factor analyses are needed to further establish the factorial validity of the EVLT-S.

References

Strauss, G. P., & Allen, D. N. (2013). Emotional Verbal Learning Test: development and psychometric properties. Archives of clinical neuropsychology, 28(5), 435-451.
A Case of a Monolingual Spanish-Speaking Latina with Semantic Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia (svPPA)
Authors: Perez L
Published: August 2019

Objective

Often, individuals with lower educational attainment and limited proficiency in the English language get misdiagnosed and/or undertreated, which can impact their quality of life and other outcomes. The present case study intends to review and discuss the presentation of a monolingual, Spanish-speaking woman with Semantic Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia (svPPA), who was originally referred for a neuropsychological evaluation to determine the severity of her existing Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) diagnosis.

Case Description

Ms. X, is a 64-year-old, right-handed Hispanic woman with 6 years of education. Symptoms included forgetfulness, restlessness, and insomnia. Her family reported that she was repeating her ideas frequently during conversations and failing to recognize previously acquainted people, including her own relatives. A recent MRI of the brain showed anterior temporal lobe atrophy.

Diagnostic Impressions and Outcomes

Overall, she showed naming deficits (anomia), impaired verbal fluency, surface dyslexia, and significant problems with comprehension. Executive functioning, sentence repetition, working memory, and attention were generally intact. Qualitatively, her speech was apparently fluent and automatic, yet clearly empty in meaning. In Ms. X’s case, collateral reports of word-finding difficulties, tendency to repeat her thoughts incessantly, associative agnosia and prosopagnosia, and spared repetition and motor speech are strongly indicative of svPPA.

Discussion

svPPA primarily impacts language production and comprehension, and is characterized by severe anomia, word-finding difficulties, impaired single word comprehension, and in some cases, defective recognition of familiar faces. On testing, impairments can be observed in confrontation naming, with motor speech and repetition, working memory, episodic memory, visuospatial skills, and problem-solving skills relatively intact. Language symptoms are thought to stem from deficits of the semantic system.
Do You Understand Me? An Aphasia Assessment Case Study in a Non-Native English Speaker
Authors: Ruiz A , McLaren M E , Riggall E , Penna S
Published: August 2019

Objective

We report on the assessment of a non-native, English speaking patient who presented for a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation following an infarct with associated language deficits. Challenges in assessment and interpretation given language and cultural barriers are discussed.

Case Description

The patient presented for an evaluation of cognitive and emotional difficulties following a left internal carotid artery infarct. Brain MRI revealed multiple acute infarcts in the left hemisphere, including the left occipital, medial aspect of the left temporal, left frontal, and left parietal lobes. While the patient had lived in the U.S. for 30 years and spoke English fluently for work, he primarily spoke his native language (Tamil). Given the lack of medically certified interpreters in the region along with a lack of culturally sensitive tests, the patient was evaluated in English using English-based tests and norms.

Diagnostic Impressions and Outcomes

Results were suggestive of a transcortical sensory aphasia. Language comprehension deficits were observed in both oral and written formats, while simple oral expression and repetition remained intact. The lack of normative data that matched the patient’s demographic background in addition to the lack of available samples regarding the patient’s English language functioning prior to the stroke made assessing the severity of deficits challenging. The family’s cultural norms and the patient’s unawareness of his deficits may have resulted in underreporting of the patient’s symptoms to providers. These factors further complicated the selection of appropriate recommendations for short- versus long-term disability.

Discussion

Specific challenges included an inability to assess the patient in his native language while using culturally-sensitive measures; thus, shedding light on the current clinical need for increasing competency in the assessment of non-native English-speaking patients. Further directions and opportunities are discussed.
Education/Training of Cultural Neuropsychology at the Postdoctoral Residency Level: Integration of a Competency-Based Model into Practice
Authors: Berrios-Siervo G , Salinas C , Janusz J
Published: August 2019

Objective

In recent years, much attention has been focused on the delineation of basic competencies for education and training in clinical neuropsychology. Simultaneously, neuropsychology as a field has recognized the increasing need for the inclusion of cultural neuropsychology practices (AACN Relevance 2050).

Method

The Clinical Neuropsychology Synarchy (CNS) released a taxonomy for education and training in clinical neuropsychology in 2017, with individual and cultural diversity identified as an essential foundational competency across all specialties. Recommendations from the Education/Training workgroup of the 2017 Cultural Neuropsychology Summit provide initial guidance regarding the training of directors for the inclusion of cultural neuropsychology across the professional lifespan: including clinical, research, and education/training. Based on these recommendations, our program has developed a post-doctoral residency track focused on bilingual/multicultural neuropsychology.

Outcomes

The process by which our program integrates specific, knowledge-based, and applied competencies in cultural neuropsychology is presented.

Discussion

Suggestions on how to integrate recommendations into the existing education/training model for postdoctoral residency are provided, as well as a discussion of barriers and challenges in creating such a program.
Developing Linguistic/Cultural Competence in Heritage Languages
Authors: Judd T , Sanchez O
Published: August 2019

The field of neuropsychology is diversifying its workforce, in part, to access linguistic/cultural resources that can aid in the provision of improved services to our research and clinical populations. Consequently, a growing number of people enter the field with knowledge of a heritage language learned at home. To exploit this resource optimally, the profession needs to incorporate training for clinical competence in the heritage language/culture. Many entering the field have Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS) in their heritage language, but not Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency Skills (CALPS) or clinical proficiency. Based on our training experiences, we present a comprehensive, aspirational model of honing clinical competence in the heritage language that includes the following components: Goal settingTraining planAcademic creditMentoringPeer supportEvaluating language needsFormal language instructionInterpreter trainingLanguage Immersion experiencesClinically-directed language learningAccessing in-language professional literature, tests, and other resourcesTraining in basic cultural competenciesLearning about heritage culture academically and clinicallyEasing into in-language clinical experienceSupervisionAttention to language skills during clinical trainingContinuous learning

This general model needs to be flexible in its application due to variability in the trainee’s base language skills, available faculty and resources, available clinical and research populations, individual goals, and language-specific characteristics.
Limitations of Multicultural Supervision in Clinical Neuropsychology
Authors: Cohen M J , Fredrick-Keniston M , Jain D
Published: August 2019

Multicultural awareness, competency based clinical supervision, and the clinical neuropsychology subspecialties are areas of growing importance in the psychology field. Specific guidelines exist for multicultural practice, clinical supervision, as well as training in clinical neuropsychology. However, there are significantly fewer resources and training procedures that focus on multicultural supervision, very limited information regarding neuropsychology supervision, and almost non-existent resources that address multicultural considerations in clinical neuropsychology supervision. Objective: This Poster highlights the most important literature regarding general aspects of multicultural supervision in psychology, supervision in clinical neuropsychology, while also introducing ideas and considerations regarding the dire need of multicultural supervision in clinical neuropsychology.

Method

The authors reviewed the literature regarding general aspects of multicultural supervision in clinical psychology, supervision in clinical neuropsychology, and additionally highlighted the gaps related to supervision in multicultural neuropsychology. Finally, they introduced ideas to address some of the needs in the arena of supervision in multicultural neuropsychology.

Discussion

Available resources that explore, delineate, or evaluate competent multicultural supervision in clinical neuropsychology are absent. Partially, the limited understanding of - and research that focuses on - the influence of diversity in neuropsychological assessment and interventions might explain the lack of resources allotted to competent multicultural supervision in clinical neuropsychology. It is proposed that in clinical, neuropsychology supervisory process (as in therapy supervision) should include a culturally competent supervisor who can assist in the development of self-awareness, knowledge, and skills in order to provide interventions that understand, honor, and respect the clients’ multiple diversity dimensions.
Law and Policy Training for the Identification of SLD in Hispanic Children
Authors: Sepulveda-Miranda P , Moreno Torres M A
Published: August 2019

Objective

The purpose of this poster is to present the results of a survey about perceived and real knowledge of federal regulations and policies required to evaluate, and provide services for, Hispanic children with Special Learning Disability (SLD). This work illustrates the relevance of getting education and training in law, policy, and ethics, for neuropsychologists evaluating and treating Hispanic children from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Method

The participants were 38 psychologists providing services to Hispanic children in Puerto Rico. The data were collected via an online survey distributed through professional email lists. The survey explored the professional's perception of their knowledge of federal laws and regulations and their educational needs in law training regarding special education regulations. The answers were analyzed using descriptive statistics as measures of central tendency (e.g. frequencies and means).

Outcomes

Around 52% of the responders indicated employment by the Department of Education to determine children’s eligibility for special education services. Thirty-seven percent mentioned not having knowledge of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act’s (IDEA) requirements when conducting evaluations. Around 20% were unsure of the extension of the law pertaining to the regulation of the definition, scope, and evaluation processes for diagnosis and eligibility of special education services for children with SLD. Finally, 79% of the surveyed professionals agreed that they need to be trained in law and policy to improve their practice.

Discussion

Hispanic children with special education needs are victims of disproportionate and inadequate access to services, while being vulnerable to other related inequities. To achieve cultural and social justice in neuropsychological practices, it is important to discuss the need of underlying educational training in law, policy, and ethics- areas that strictly regulate and determine the access to available resources for these minorities.
Reduced Seroma Risk in Drainless Abdominoplasty Using Running Barbed Sutures: A 10-Year, Multicenter Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Rosen Allen D , Gutowski Karol A , Hartman Teresa
Published: August 2019

Background

Drains are still commonly inserted during abdominoplasties despite extensive evidence documenting the benefits of drainless procedures. Continued improvements in progressive tension suturing (PTS) techniques and suture technologies have consistently shown a reduced seroma risk profile that outperforms procedures involving surgical drains.

Objectives

The aim of this report was to assess the authors’ combined patient series, which represents the largest and longest-running, retrospective, multicenter set of abdominoplasty patients treated with a PTS technique involving running barbed sutures.

Methods

Two surgical groups, each at different surgical centers, have for the past decade performed drainless abdominoplasties in which running barbed sutures were used. The results for all 445 patients in this series are reported by surgical center and pooled across centers.

Results

The majority of the 445 patients underwent drainless abdominoplasty alone (n = 368; 82.7%); most of the remaining patients did so as part of a circumferential body lift (n = 55; 12.4%). Overall, 33 (7.4%) patients experienced a postoperative complication. The overall seroma rate was 4.7% (21 of 445 patients), but this dropped to 2.3% after surgical technique modifications were made to decrease upper abdominal dead space. The seroma incidence in this series is markedly lower than the 13% seroma rate with drains reported during the same time period and comparable to those seen in drainless abdominoplasties with interrupted suture techniques.

Conclusions

Drainless abdominoplasty involving PTS with running barbed sutures shows long-term reproducibility in lowering seroma risk compared to techniques in which drains are inserted, supporting results from published series of drainless abdominoplasty procedures that use interrupted suture techniques.

Level of Evidence: 4
Combination of Counter Current Salting-Out Homogenous Liquid–Liquid Extraction with Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction for the High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Environmental Estrogens in Water Samples
Authors: Shi Zhihong , Huai Qingru , Li Xinye , Ma Hongyu , Zhou Can , Chu Xiaoxue , Zhang Hongyi
Published: August 2019

In this paper, counter current salting-out homogenous liquid–liquid extraction was combined with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the determination of environmental estrogens in water samples by high-performance liquid chromatography. In this method, initially, sodium chloride was filled into a syringe and a mixture of water sample and acetonitrile was driven to pass through the syringe. Due to salting-out effect, fine droplets of acetonitrile went up through the remaining mixture and aggregated as a separated layer on the top. Then, the collected organic phase (acetonitrile) was removed with a syringe and mixed with carbon tetrachloride (extraction solvent). In the second step, the mixed organic phase was rapidly injected into 5 mL of distilled water to further enrich the analytes. Good linearity was obtained in the concentration range of 2.0~200 ng/mL for diethylstilbestrol (DES) and 8.0~200 ng/mL for octylphenol (OP), respectively. Limits of detection were 0.09 ng/mL for DES and 0.20 ng/mL for OP, respectively. Relative standard deviations for intra- and inter-day precisions were less than 2.1 and 3.1%, respectively. Finally, the established method was successfully applied to determine DES and OP in river water, well water, bottled water and campus drinking water samples with recoveries in the range from 81.0 to 105.9%.
Use of Oral Vancomycin for Clostridioides difficile Infection and the Risk of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci
Authors: Stevens Vanessa W , Khader Karim , Echevarria Kelly , Nelson Richard E , Zhang Yue , Jones Makoto , Timbrook Tristan T , Samore Matthew H , Rubin Michael A
Published: August 2019

Background

Vancomycin is now a preferred treatment for all cases of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), regardless of disease severity. Concerns remain that a large-scale shift to oral vancomycin may increase selection pressure for vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE). We evaluated the risk of VRE following oral vancomycin or metronidazole treatment among patients with CDI.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with CDI in the US Department of Veterans Affairs health system between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2016. Patients were included if they were treated with metronidazole or oral vancomycin and had no history of VRE in the previous year. Missing data were handled by multiple imputation of 50 datasets. Patients treated with oral vancomycin were compared to those treated with metronidazole after balancing on patient characteristics using propensity score matching in each imputed dataset. Patients were followed for VRE isolated from a clinical culture within 3 months.

Results

Patients treated with oral vancomycin were no more likely to develop VRE within 3 months than metronidazole-treated patients (adjusted relative risk, 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], .77 to 1.20), equating to an absolute risk difference of −0.11% (95% CI, −.68% to .47%). Similar results were observed at 6 months.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that oral vancomycin and metronidazole are equally likely to impact patients’ risk of VRE. In the setting of stable CDI incidence, replacement of metronidazole with oral vancomycin is unlikely to be a significant driver of increased risk of VRE at the patient level.

In this multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients with Clostridioides difficile infection, the use of oral vancomycin did not increase the risk of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci infection at 3 or 6 months compared to metronidazole.
Increased chilling tolerance of the invasive species Carpobrotus edulis may explain its expansion across new territories
Authors: Fenollosa Erola , Munné-Bosch Sergi
Published: August 2019

Invasive plants are expanding their geographical distribution across new regions. Expansion modeling is crucial for geographic prioritization in management policies. However, the assumption of niche conservatism and the lack of information of the species physiological response to the environmental factors determining species presence may hinder predictions. In this study, we aimed to understand the expansion of the widely distributed plant Carpobrotus edulis in Europe. We contrasted introduced and native C. edulis ecological niches and explored the experimental response to temperature, a major determining factor for species distribution, of native and invasive individuals in terms of different biochemical markers. Niche analysis revealed an expansion of the introduced niche to occupy colder climates. Introduced and native individuals showed differential mechanisms facing low temperatures. Individuals from the native range showed an increased sensitivity to chilling, as reflected by photosynthetic pigment degradation, increased de-epoxidation of xanthophylls and the accumulation of the lipophilic antioxidant alpha-tocopherol. The found physiological differentiation towards an increased invasive chilling tolerance of invasive C. edulis individuals together with a high propagule pressure may explain the introduced climatic niche shift to colder climates observed, allowing the extensive expansion of this species in Europe.
Early life history responses and phenotypic shifts in a rare endemic plant responding to climate change
Authors: Winkler Daniel E , Lin Michelle Yu-Chan , Delgadillo José , Chapin Kenneth J , Huxman Travis E
Published: August 2019

We studied how a rare, endemic alpine cushion plant responds to the interactive effects of warming and drought. Overall, we found that both drought and warming negatively influenced the species growth but that existing levels of phenotypic variation may be enough to at least temporarily buffer populations.
The histone modification H3 lysine 27 tri-methylation has conserved gene regulatory roles in the triplicated genome of Brassica rapa L.
Authors: Akter Ayasha , Takahashi Satoshi , Deng Weiwei , Shea Daniel J , Itabashi Etsuko , Shimizu Motoki , Miyaji Naomi , Osabe Kenji , Nishida Namiko , Suzuki Yutaka , Helliwell Chris A , Seki Motoaki , Peacock William James , Dennis Elizabeth S , Fujimoto Ryo
Published: August 2019

Brassica rapa L. is an important vegetable and oilseed crop. We investigated the distribution of the histone mark tri-methylation of H3K27 (H3K27me3) in B. rapa and its role in the control of gene expression at two stages of development (2-day cotyledons and 14-day leaves) and among paralogs in the triplicated genome. H3K27me3 has a similar distribution in two inbred lines, while there was variation of H3K27me3 sites between tissues. Sites that are specific to 2-day cotyledons have increased transcriptional activity, and low levels of H3K27me3 in the gene body region. In 14-day leaves, levels of H3K27me3 were associated with decreased gene expression. In the triplicated genome, H3K27me3 is associated with paralogs that have tissue-specific expression. Even though B. rapa and Arabidopsis thaliana are not closely related within the Brassicaceae, there is conservation of H3K27me3-marked sites in the two species. Both B. rapa and A. thaliana require vernalization for floral initiation with FLC being the major controlling locus. In all four BrFLC paralogs, low-temperature treatment increases H3K27me3 at the proximal nucleation site reducing BrFLC expression. Following return to normal temperature growth conditions, H3K27me3 spreads along all four BrFLC paralogs providing stable repression of the gene.
Effects of Stream Temperature and Substrate Type on Emergence Patterns of Plecoptera and Trichoptera From Northeastern United States Headwater Streams
Authors: Cheney Kristin N , Roy Allison H , Smith Robert F , Dewalt R Edward
Published: August 2019

The timing and spatial distribution of aquatic insect emergence is linked to the abiotic and biotic environment in streams. Studies of aquatic insect emergence are needed to generate baseline data to identify potential shifts in phenology and habitat-related emergence with global change. The purpose of this study was to 1) compare the timing of Plecoptera (stonefly) species emergence between two streams with different thermal regimes and 2) characterize the distribution of emerging Plecoptera and Trichoptera (caddisflies) from wood, rock, gravel, and sand substrates in five forested, headwater streams. Emergence timing and duration varied among Plecoptera species, with Ostrocerca albidipennis (Walker) (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) emerging only in May and four species in the genus Leuctra (Plecoptera: Leuctridae) collectively emerging throughout the summer (May to September). We observed earlier emergence of Amphinemura nigritta (Provancher) (Plecoptera: Nemouridae) and a longer total emergence period for Leuctra ferruginea (Walker) (Plecoptera: Leuctridae) in the stream with ~1.5°C warmer temperatures, which suggested that some insects may experience phenological shifts in streams with subtle differences in temperature. The abundance of plecopteran and trichopteran taxa emerging from wood was generally greater than for gravel or sand, and sand was the least preferred emergence substrate. The results suggest that human actions that decrease large wood and increase fine sedimentation may decrease habitat quality for many insect larvae and limit preferred emergence substrates.
Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) Success on Common Solanaceous Species from California Tomato Production Areas
Authors: Arnó Judit , Gabarra Rosa , Molina Paula , Godfrey Kristine E , Zalom Frank G
Published: August 2019

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is a devastating pest of tomato that has invaded many regions of the world. To date, it has not been detected in North America, but the pest reached Costa Rica in 2014 and seriously threatens the southern, southwestern, and western United States including California. Although the primary host of T. absoluta is tomato, several other species of Solanaceae may serve as alternative hosts. In our study, we aimed to assess the potential risk that other solanaceous crops and wild species that are often present in and around California tomato fields could serve as hosts. To accomplish this, we conducted greenhouse and laboratory studies to determine whether two common cultivars of fresh market tomato, two common cultivars of tomatillo, and the wild plants, Solanum nigrum L., Solanum sarrachoides (Sendtner), and Datura stramonium L., are suitable hosts for reproduction and development of the pest. According to our results, D. stramonium and tomatillo were unable to sustain T. absoluta larval development in either greenhouse studies or laboratory studies, and therefore, they are not likely to contribute to T. absoluta establishment during an invasion. On the contrary, the two other solanaceous weeds, S. nigrum and S. sarrachoides, share a similar potential as tomato to be reproductive and developmental hosts of T. absoluta, and might play an important role in the establishment of the pest in California.