Shrimp Disease in Asia Resulting in High U.S. Import Prices

[Excerpt] Shrimp has become a popular purchase for American consumers, with U.S. consumption of shrimp reaching 3.8 pounds per person in 2012. Demand for shrimp has increased over the years, and shrimp is currently the largest imported seafood species, accounting for 29 percent of seafood imports by dollar value. In 2013, consumers and businesses found themselves paying higher prices with less product available in supermarkets and restaurants. For example, the popular restaurant chain Red Lobster recently saw a 35-percent increase in the price the company paid for shrimp. The price hike contributed to a 3.1-percent increase in the company’s overall food costs and, more recently, an 18-percent decrease in earnings during the quarter that ended in February 2014. Similarly, Noodles & Company noted that the cost of shrimp in its pasta dishes would rise 29 percent this year

Predictors of Failure from Primary Therapy for Giardiasis in San Diego: A Single Institution Retrospective Review.

This study aimed to determine the presence of giardiasis among HIV patients in San Diego, the rate of failure of metronidazole treatment, and factors associated with treatment failure. We used a 7 year retrospective single-center case series of HIV-infected individuals with giardiasis at University of California San Diego Medical Center. Data were analyzed for the changes in the hematological, biochemical, and immunologic results at pre- and at-diagnosis levels. We also compared the changes at the diagnosis level among patients who were treated successfully and those who experienced treatment failure as defined by retreatment with a second course of antibiotics. In 29 Giardia lamblia-infected HIV patients, following diagnosis of G. lamblia, there was a non-significant decrement in cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), but a statistically significant increase in the number of white blood cell (WBC). Other indices did not differ between pre- and at-diagnosis levels. Twenty patients (69%) were treated with a single course of metronidazole or tinidazole and seven patients (24.1%) were treated with more than one course of metronidazole. These seven patients had statistically significant higher hemoglobin at the time of diagnosis, but further studies are required to confirm if this is a consistent finding and if this can predict failure from primary therapy

The power of integrated spatial modelling: RailSmart Planning Wanneroo

The Planning and Transport Research Centre has just completed a major Smart Cities project entitled “RailSmart Planning Wanneroo”. The output was an interactive digital platform which tests optimal public transport patronage and employment creation potential of various railway station development options. The process of formulating the system was fascinating as this paper will argue that the concept of modelling intrinsic within the Smart Cities concept is a return to 1950’s procedural planning policies such as mixed method planning and a bounded rationality. The project highlighted the danger of entrenching existing patterns if systems are fully automated and argues that the power in the smart modelling should be limited to informing scenarios to best test alternatives. The power of the dashboard does not lie in the results it generates but rather in the patterns and trends it displays. The paper begins by describing the project and its outputs this is followed by a deeper reflection on how this was achieved procedurally. The process of creating this dashboard laid bare the dilemmas of planning where planners serve more than one client as they are working for a client in the public realm and within a political reality

Longitudinal Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG Seropositivity to Detect COVID-19.

BackgroundSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a novel beta-coronavirus that has recently emerged as the cause of the 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based tests are optimal and recommended for the diagnosis of an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Serology tests for viral antibodies provide an important tool to diagnose previous exposure to the virus. Here we evaluate the analytical performance parameters of the Diazyme SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG serology assays and describe the kinetics of IgM and IgG seroconversion observed in patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 who were admitted to our hospital.MethodsWe validated the performance of the Diazyme assay in 235 presumed SARS-CoV-2 negative subjects to determine specificity. Subsequently, we evaluated the SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG seroconversion of 54 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients and determined sensitivity of the assay at three different timeframes.ResultSensitivity and specificity for detecting seropositivity at ≥15 days following a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR result, was 100.0% and 98.7% when assaying for the panel of IgM and IgG. The median time to seropositivity observed for a reactive IgM and IgG result from the date of a positive PCR was 5 days (IQR: 2.75-9 days) and 4 days (IQR: 2.75-6.75 days), respectively.ConclusionsOur data demonstrate that the Diazyme IgM/IgG assays are suited for the purpose of detecting SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM in patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infections. For the first time, we report longitudinal data showing the evolution of seroconversion for both IgG and IgM in a cohort of acutely ill patients in the United States. We also demonstrate a low false positive rate in patients who were presumed to be disease free

Mob Grazing Results in High Forage Utilization and Reduced Western Snowberry Size

Mob-grazing strives to maximize forage utilization and minimize selective grazing by using high stocking densities in small paddocks for short durations (12–24 hr). Rotational-grazing uses low stocking densities for a longer time period, retaining about half of the original available forage; although selective grazing can occur. Three cattle (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) grazing intensities: mob- (stocking densities from 32,000 to 67,000 kg ha−1; duration—24 hr); rotation (stocking density—2500 kg ha−1; duration—35 d); and non-grazed systems were compared based on forage utilization and changes to western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis) (WS) patch volume in a 2-year South Dakota study. Pre- and post-grazing forage height was measured every 2.5 m along multiple 50-m transects with WS patch volume measured every 5 m. Forage utilization (consumed and trampled) ranged from 42 to 90% in mob-grazed areas, and harvest efficiency (forage consumed) ranged from 15 to 64%. WS patch volumes decreased by ≥45% in mob-grazed treatments compared with no change in rotational-grazing and increased cover in non-grazed areas. WS pre-graze patch size influenced mob-grazing impact; patches >6500 cm3 were browsed or trampled to a greater extent than smaller patches

The Ursinus Weekly, February 24, 1964

First Ursinus art show is extraordinary success • Thursday night concert of Four Freshmen proves that big names are possible here • Mr. Hudnut to lead Bible Study group • Kenneth Wells to speak Wed.; President of Freedoms Foundation • Miracles subject of vespers talk • Pi Nu to host national chapters • St. Andrews gives annual awards; Study in Scotland with stipend • Dr. Zucker to appear with Rutgers choir in Carnegie Hall concert • Curtain Club sets production date • Ursinus in three-way second place MAC tie • Bible Study fellowship to present film Tuesday • Pre-med and chemical groups hear Dr. Guarino • Editorial: No more doubt; Let\u27s go yell • Letters to the editor • Freedoms Foundation • Color Day program • The Lincoln - Ursinus visits described by participants • Greek gleanings • Human society and living cell linked • Impending crisis in our American railroads: Part three • Wrestlers hike mark to 5-2 • 2 wins, 1 loss: Playoff for UC courtmen • Ursinus drubs Juniata 83-69 • Bears tip Hopkins 61-55 • Dragons devour Bears 83-68 • Mermaids split; Beat Stroudsburg • Intramural basketballhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1265/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, February 24, 1964

First Ursinus art show is extraordinary success • Thursday night concert of Four Freshmen proves that big names are possible here • Mr. Hudnut to lead Bible Study group • Kenneth Wells to speak Wed.; President of Freedoms Foundation • Miracles subject of vespers talk • Pi Nu to host national chapters • St. Andrews gives annual awards; Study in Scotland with stipend • Dr. Zucker to appear with Rutgers choir in Carnegie Hall concert • Curtain Club sets production date • Ursinus in three-way second place MAC tie • Bible Study fellowship to present film Tuesday • Pre-med and chemical groups hear Dr. Guarino • Editorial: No more doubt; Let\u27s go yell • Letters to the editor • Freedoms Foundation • Color Day program • The Lincoln - Ursinus visits described by participants • Greek gleanings • Human society and living cell linked • Impending crisis in our American railroads: Part three • Wrestlers hike mark to 5-2 • 2 wins, 1 loss: Playoff for UC courtmen • Ursinus drubs Juniata 83-69 • Bears tip Hopkins 61-55 • Dragons devour Bears 83-68 • Mermaids split; Beat Stroudsburg • Intramural basketballhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1265/thumbnail.jp

Subjective Experiences of Older Adults Practicing Taiji and Qigong

This article presents a qualitative study following a 6-month Taiji (T'ai Chi)/Qigong (Ch'i Kung) intervention for older adults. The researchers conducted in-depth interviews of eight selected participants who elected to continue practicing Taiji after the intervention ended, in order to explore their subjective experiences of Taiji's effects and their motivations for continuing to practice. We created a Layers Model to capture the significance and meaning of the multidimensionality of their reported experiences. Participants not only reported simple benefits along five dimensions of experience (physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual) but also described complex multidimensional experiences. Overall findings indicate that participants derived a very wide variety of perceived benefits, the most meaningful being a felt sense of body-mind-spirit integration. Our results support the important role of qualitative studies in researching the effects of Taiji and Qigong