Seemann Composites (United States)

Background: High fasting plasma glucose (HFPG) is a major metabolic risk factor driving the global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, temporal trends in HFPG-attributable CVD burden across Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) levels remain underexplored, particularly with updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. Objective: To assess global, regional, and SDI-specific trends in CVD burden attributable to HFPG from 1990 to 2021. Methods: We analyzed HFPG-attributable CVD mortality and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) using GBD 2021 data. Trends were evaluated using annual percentage change (APC) in age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR), by SDI, location, and sex. Results: From 1990 to 2021, globally, the APC for ASMR declined by 13% and for ASDR by 8%. Female ASMR decreased more sharply (−18%) than male ASMR (−9%). The greatest reduction in APC for ASMR and ASDR was observed in Singapore, while the highest increase occurred in Lesotho. APC for ASMR rose in low-middle SDI countries, followed by low SDI countries, whereas the largest declines were noted in high SDI countries, followed by high-middle SDI countries. In 2021, deaths were highest among individuals aged 80–84 years, while DALYs peaked in those aged 70–74 years. Conclusion: In 2021, deaths due to ischemic heart disease and stroke attributable to HFPG accounted for 14.97% and 11.61%, respectively. While high and high-middle SDI countries have achieved substantial gains, low and low-middle SDI countries continue to face rising challenges. These findings highlight the need for region-specific public health policies to reduce the disproportionate impact of HFPG-related cardiovascular disease.

BackgroundReliable biomarkers for monitoring disease progression and management in dogs with acute pancreatitis have not been described.ObjectiveTo determine if serum concentrations of canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) can be used as biomarkers for disease progression in hospitalized dogs with acute pancreatitis.AnimalsThirteen hospitalized dogs with acute pancreatitis diagnosed based on clinical signs, serum cPLI concentrations, and imaging findings were enrolled.MethodsSerum cPLI and CRP concentrations were determined before and then daily during hospital management and 1 week after hospital discharge. Modified canine activity index (MCAI) and canine acute pancreatitis clinical severity index (CAPCSI) scores were calculated daily for each patient while hospitalized.ResultsThe MCAI scores (P = .03) but not CAPCSI scores (P = .31) were significantly different between dogs that survived to discharge (n = 11) and those that did not (n = 2). Serum cPLI concentration was positively correlated with MCAI (rho = 0.42; P = .01). Serum CRP concentration also was positively correlated with the MCAI (rho = 0.42, P = .01).ConclusionsSerum cPLI and possibly CRP could be used as objective biomarkers for clinical changes in hospitalized dogs with acute pancreatitis. Additional studies involving larger numbers of dogs would be warranted to evaluate the broader impact of these findings.

Low-grade weirs placed within agricultural drainage ditches in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley can be used as a management practice to enhance nitrogen removal. The addition of organic carbon amendments within ditches that contain weirs could further increase nitrogen removal. Through repeated trials, changes in -N concentration between inflow and outflow were variable in the ditch without weirs, while only decreases in concentration were observed in ditches with weirs. Significant differences in -N concentrations were observed between treatments, with greater removal of -N observed in dissolved organic carbon treatments compared to control and particulate organic carbon treatments. At medium- and high-flow rates, respectively, dissolved organic carbon treatments resulted in greater -N concentration decreases of 31.6% and 27.1% compared to 19% and 11.6% in particulate organic carbon treatments and 18.6% and 17.2% in control treatments. Significant effects of weirs and sampling date on nirS, nirK, nosZ, and 16S rRNA gene abundances were observed. Observed increases in -N removal with organic carbon amendments, provides support for continued investigation on improving the efficacy of organic carbon amendments as a best management practice for -N removal in agricultural drainage ditches. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Dissolved organic carbon amendments increased nitrate-nitrogen removal. Only decreases in nitrate-nitrogen concentration were observed in ditches with weirs. Increasing flow rate did not affect nitrate-nitrogen removal. Abundance of denitrification-performing microbes likely did not affect N removal. Lack of anaerobic soil conditions and short residence time reduced nitrate-N removal.

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of different types of instructional styles-traditional lecture with and without video examples and contemporary format that simulated a flipped classroom-on dental students' learning of behavior guidance techniques (BGTs) in pediatric dentistry. The study also sought to determine if students had an improved comfort level with BGTs with these instructional methods, if videos improved learning and comfort with BGTs, and if there were differences in outcomes by gender. All 96 second-year dental students at one U.S. dental school were recruited to participate in the study in 2017. Students were randomly divided into three groups: contemporary instruction (CI), traditional instruction with video (TIV), and traditional instruction with no video (TI). CI students watched a 20-minute mini-lecture and were divided into discussion groups led by calibrated faculty members. TIV students received 50 minutes of traditional lecture with video examples. TI students received a traditional lecture with no video examples. All groups completed a questionnaire prior to and on completion of the course. The questionnaire assessed students' learning and perceptions of the learning experience. All students participated in the course and the assessments, for a 100% response rate. The students' post-course scores improved for all teaching methods (TI>CI>TIV) with no significant differences among them. CI students rated comfort with BGTs and usefulness of videos higher than the other groups, but the difference was not statistically significant. Students rated their satisfaction with and usefulness of the course high for all groups (>3 on a four-point scale). Learning style and comfort treating children were not statistically significant by gender. Overall, the students reported high satisfaction with all the teaching methods. Although the differences were not statistically significant, discussion groups were ranked highest in satisfaction and usefulness.

This article explores how nine Swedish cultural editors and managers in mainstream media institutions define cultural journalism and its political dimensions during times of increased digitization and media convergence. Swedish cultural journalism is aesthetic and political critique applied to subject areas (music, literature, etc.) and contemporary societal and ethical issues. Drawing on Zelizer we ask whether there is a common interpretive community of cultural journalists in different media regarding: (1) how they define their scope, (2) how they understand “the political” in cultural journalism and its implications for democracy, and (3) how they view media convergence and digitalization. We find that although editors/managers from different media share a basic understanding of cultural journalism as an alternative perspective to news, “the political” in cultural journalism is approached differently in the press and the public service broadcast media. Furthermore, due in part to structural conditions, they also see the effects of digitization differently, forming sub-communities on two counts. This study thus contributes new knowledge to a field previously focused almost exclusively on newspapers.

Abstract A microgravity investigation was conducted in the upstream and downstream switchyards of the Wilson Dam powerplant, Florence, Alabama. The objective of the survey was the detection in the switchyard foundations of subsurface cavities or other anomalous conditions that could threaten the stability of the switchyard structures. The survey consisted of 288 gravity stations in the downstream switchyard and 347 stations in the upstream switchyard. Significant anomalous areas in the switchyards were selected on the basis of residual gravity anomaly maps. These results were prioritized and used to guide an exploratory drilling program to investigate the cause of the anomalies. Highest-priority boring location recommendations were in negative gravity anomaly areas, since negative anomalies could be caused by actual cavities or low-density zones that might represent incipient cavity formation. Remaining boring locations were in positive anomaly areas for verification purposes. The results of the borings confirm the presence of cavities and soft zones indicative of cavity formation.

The purpose of this apphcation is to conserve the estabhshed meaning of the ambush bug genus Carcinochelis Fieber, 1861 by the designation of C. alutaceus HandUrsch, 1897 as the type species. The first included nominal species was C. binghami Sharp, 1897, but acceptance of this as the type species would make Carcinochelis a senior subjective synonym of Carcinocoris Handlirsch, 1 897, and would upset the usage of both generic names.

The Navy is required by law to minimize adverse effects on the environment in all of its activities and to monitor its operations to ensure compliance with applicable standards and regulations. This report presents the results of part of a continuing study of the environmental effects of underwater explosion testing, and covers the practical aspects of monitoring such tests on a routine basis. Possible techniques for monitoring the biological, chemical, and physical effects of underwater explosion tests are described, and the results of the evaluation of a limited number of possible methods are given. The funds and man-hours required for techniques at different levels of sophistication are estimated. It is concluded that simple inexpensive monitoring techniques are adequate for routine explosion tests. However, an extra person would be needed in the crew in order to accomplish the monitoring without adding appreciably to the time spent in the field.