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Limited access to screening and evaluation for autism spectrum disorder in children is a major barrier to improving outcomes for marginalized families. To identify and evaluate available digital autism spectrum disorder screening resources, we simulated web and mobile app searches by a parent concerned about their child's likelihood of autism spectrum disorder. Included digital autism spectrum disorder screening tools (a) were on Internet or mobile app; (b) were in English; (c) had a parent user inputting data; (d) assigned likelihood category to child <9 years; and (e) screened for autism spectrum disorder. Ten search terms, developed using Google Search and parent panel recommendations, were used to search web and app tools in the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Australia, and Canada using Virtual Private Networks. Results were examined for attributes likely to benefit parents in marginalized communities, such as ease of searching, language versions, and reading level. The four terms most likely to identify any tools were "autism quiz," "autism screening tool," "does my child have autism," and "autism toddler." Three out of five searches contained autism spectrum disorder screening tools, as did one of 10 links or apps. Searches identified a total of 1475 websites and 919 apps, which yielded 23 unique tools. Most tools required continuous Internet access or offered only English, and many had high reading levels. In conclusion, screening tools are available, but they are not easily found. Barriers include inaccessibility to parents with limited literacy or limited English proficiency, and frequent encounters with games, advertisements, and user fees.

Objectives: The risk for mpox virus (MPXV) transmission in most workplaces has not been thoroughly assessed in the context of the 2022 global mpox outbreak. Our objectives were to describe mpox case patients who worked while infectious and the subsequent workplace contact tracing efforts, risk assessments, and outcomes. Methods: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requested information from health departments in the United States in September 2022 to identify people with confirmed or probable mpox who worked outside the home while infectious, either before or after diagnosis, from June 1 through August 31, 2022. We collected and summarized data on demographic, clinical, and workplace characteristics of case patients and workplace contact investigations. We stratified data by industry and occupation categories. Results: In total, 102 case patients were reported by 6 jurisdictions. The most common industries were accommodation and food services (19.8%) and professional business, management, and technical services (17.0%). Contact investigations identified 178 total contacts; 54 cases (52.9%) had no contacts identified. Of 178 contacts, 54 (30.3%) were recommended to receive postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) and 18 (10.1%) received PEP. None of the contacts developed a rash or were tested for orthopox or mpox, and none were reported to have confirmed or probable mpox. Conclusion: Data from 6 jurisdictions suggest that the risk of MPXV transmission from workers to others in workplace settings in many industries is low. These findings might support future updates to exposure risk classifications and work activity recommendations for patients. These findings also demonstrate the importance of collecting and analyzing occupation and industry data in case reports to better understand risks in workplaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile health (mHealth) screening tools for autism are gaining in prevalence, and have benefits such as video content and direct resources linkage. However, it is unclear whether such tools will ameliorate autism inequities or will help only those already advantaged in autism care. To investigate this issue, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with 18 primary care and Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education providers in six US states. Providers were given hypothetical scenarios in which a family presents to care with results from one of 9 mHealth autism screening tools. Providers discussed their clinical approach and assessed the tool's fit with their patient/client population. Each transcript was audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded; a phenomenological approach was used to develop key themes. 4 themes and 18 subthemes emerged. These included Clinical and business factors (e.g. scope of practice concerns and clinical efficiency), Validity and trustworthiness (e.g. familiarity, data privacy/security), Family interaction quality (e.g. supporting family advocacy, provision of information, affecting family anxiety, and emotional support), and Accessibility (e.g. English proficiency/language issues, cultural inclusivity, and literacy/educational level). Providers suggested modifications to enhance equity, such as portraying diverse families, reducing the reading level of text, and making tools shorter to better fit clinical context. Families may find information about autism online, and health care and education providers may use online tools to screen for autism. However, we do not know if online autism screening tools are easily used by families and providers. We interviewed primary care and educational providers, asking them to review results from online tools that screen for autism. Providers had concerns about how usable and accessible these tools are for diverse families and suggested changes to make tools easier to use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article has at its core the unraveling of factors that have influenced the identity of those who have been caught in between two worlds (Mexico and The United States) and whom will be called pre- and in-service returnees from now on. A qualitative approach was chosen in order to delve deep into the participants' lived experiences through narrative inquiry which in turn aided in the discovery of the elements that have influenced their identity construction. The data suggest that those same elements have been crucial in the creation of a small culture among the participants at a teacher education program in teaching English to speakers of other languages at a Mexican university.

In this study, we test a clashing narrative approach to conflict, which argues that political conflict is based on opposing narratives that negate one another. We focus on the role of two master narratives central to political schism in the United States. The first is the American dream narrative, which posits that anyone who works hard can become successful in the United States. The opposing narrative, the systemic racism narrative, argues that the United States is a racist country where minorities are systemically held back. A survey study of 189 participants demonstrated that these two master narratives predict support for the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump or Joe Biden above and beyond more traditional ideological dispositions such as right‐wing authoritarianism and social dominance orientation. In a follow‐up experiment (n = 157), we examined how the Trump's administration policies of increased surveillance and policing of Latino immigrants crossing the border influenced White and Latinx participants' agreement with the narrative of the American dream and the United States as a systemically racist country. Findings suggest that when confronted with news clips of immigrant death at the border, Latinx participants, compared to White participants, increased their endorsement of the American dream narrative. Conversely, White participants, increased their endorsement of the United States as a systemically racist country compared to Latinx participants. The results of this study help us understand support for the Republican party among Latinx voters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual assault (SA) continues to be a serious problem on college campuses in the United States. This meta-analysis sought to identify correlates for SA victimization on college campuses, as well as examine if there were any differences in correlates for men and women. Database searches utilizing Boolean search terms were used to identify studies to be included in the meta-analysis. Studies were included if they provided quantitative data on correlates for SA victimization among college students. A total of 118 studies yielding 405 unique effect sizes were included in this study. The strongest correlates for SA victimization among college students were physical intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, physical IPV victimization, emotional IPV victimization, and prior SA victimization. Other significant correlates were related to mental health (e.g., hopelessness, suicidal ideation, trauma symptoms, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms), and factors related to a campus party culture (e.g., binge drinking, alcohol use, drug use, Greek membership). We were able to compare seven correlates between men and women. Results of the meta-analysis also highlight the need for future research to examine additional correlates for SA victimization, as well as examine race/ethnicity and gender as separate categories when trying to further understand correlates for SA victimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black immigrants and their children represent a significant and growing share of the U.S. Black population; however, their experiences of their multifaceted identities are often collapsed into the experiences of multigenerational Black youth. The current study investigates whether generalized ethnic-racial identity measures are equivalent for Black youth with an immigrant parent and Black youth with only U.S.-born parents. Participants were 767 Black adolescents (16.6% immigrant-origin; Mage = 16.28, SD = 1.12) attending diverse high schools in two regions of the U.S. Participants completed the affirmation, exploration, and resolution subscales of the Ethnic Identity Scale-Brief (EIS-B), along with the centrality and public regard subscales of the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity-Teen (MIBI-T). The results indicated that, whereas the EIS-B demonstrated scalar invariance, the MIBI-T demonstrated partial scalar invariance. Accounting for measurement error, immigrant-origin youth reported lower affirmation than multigenerational U.S.-origin youth. Across groups, ethnic-racial identity exploration and resolution scores were positively associated with family ethnic socialization; ethnic-racial identity affirmation was positively associated with self-esteem; and ethnic-racial identity public regard was negatively associated with ethnic-racial discrimination, supporting convergent validity. Conversely, centrality was positively associated with discrimination among multigenerational U.S.-origin Black youth, but the relation was not significant among immigrant-origin Black youth. These results fill a methodological gap in the literature, providing researchers with empirical support for considering whether to pool immigrant-origin and multigenerational U.S.-origin Black youth in analyses regarding ethnic-racial identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes how collaborative online projects (COPs) are used to facilitate science content-area learning for English Learners of Hispanic origin. This is a Mexico-USA partnership project funded by the National Science Foundation. A COP is a 10-week thematic science unit, completely online, and bilingual (Spanish and English) designed to provide collaborative learning experiences with culturally and linguistically relevant science instruction in an interactive and multimodal learning environment. Units are integrated with explicit instructional lessons that include: (a) hands-on and laboratory activities, (b) interactive materials and interactive games with immediate feedback, (c) animated video tutorials, (d) discussion forums where students exchange scientific learning across classrooms in the USA and in Mexico, and (e) summative and formative assessments. Thematic units have been aligned to U.S. National Science Education Standards and are under current revisions for alignment to the Common Core State Standards. Training materials for the teachers have been integrated into the project website to facilitate self-paced and independent learning. Preliminary findings of our pre-experimental study with a sample of 53 students (81% ELs), distributed across three different groups, resulted in a 21% statistically significant points increase from pretest to posttest assessments of science content learning, t(52) = 11.07, p = 0.000.

The Halpern Critical Thinking Assessment (HCTA) is a reliable measure of critical thinking that has been validated with numerous qualitatively different samples and measures of academic success (Halpern, 2010a). This paper presents several cross-national applications of the assessment, and recent work to expand the validation of the HCTA with real-world outcomes of critical thinking (e.g., contracting a sexual transmitted infection because you did not wear a condom). The real-world outcomes (RWO) inventory measures behavior in a wide range of domains, such as education, health, finance, and interpersonal relationships. Study 1 examined whether scores on the HCTA predicted real-world outcomes in three qualitatively different samples in the United States. Study 2 used the HCTA to assess the effectiveness of an online critical thinking course, and whether the HCTA predicted real-world outcomes in Ireland. Study 3 describes preliminary research involving the translation quality of the RWO (into Spanish and Portuguese) and explored differences in behaviors in the two countries. Overall, the HCTA is a useful tool for assessing critical thinking and predicts real-world outcomes of critical thinking. Cross-national implications and applications are discussed. (Contains 1 figure and 3 tables.)

Disparities exist in the availability of high-quality early childhood education and care settings (ECEC) across communities within the United States. Teachers have an imperative role in fostering children's socioemotional development; however, when the classroom climate deteriorates due to disruptive behavior, meeting these emotional and learning needs becomes more difficult. Dealing with challenging behaviors can lead to emotional exhaustion which is directly linked to a decrease in teacher sense of efficacy. Teacher–Child Interaction Training-Universal (TCIT-U) targets teachers' skills to provide quality interactions and decrease child behavior problems. Despite evidence that teacher sense of self-efficacy can inhibit negative teaching practices, a lack of research has explored this construct as related to TCIT-U. The current study is a randomized, wait-list control study measuring the change of teachers' sense of self-efficacy after participating in TCIT-U, and the first known of its kind. The study included mostly Hispanic (96.4%) teachers (N = 84) of ECEC programs across 13 unique sites serving 900 children ages 2–5 years from low-income, urban areas. Results from inferential statistics and hierarchical linear regression tests demonstrated TCIT-U as an effective intervention to improve teachers' sense of efficacy in classroom management, instructional strategies, and student engagement. In addition, this study contributes to the effectiveness of TCIT-U as an in-service training which targets teacher communication skills for teachers with diverse backgrounds in ECEC settings with mostly dual language learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 2 weeks after September 11th, adolescents from a national sample of households who were indirectly exposed to the terrorist attacks through the media completed a Web-based survey that assessed event-related acute stress symptoms. One year later, these adolescents (N = 142) and a randomly selected parent from their household completed a second survey. On average, adolescents reported mild to moderate acute stress symptoms shortly after the attacks and few trauma-related symptoms, low psychological distress and functional impairment, and moderate levels of positive affect 1 year later. After adjusting for acute stress symptoms reported after the attacks, greater parent-adolescent conflict was positively associated with adolescents' trauma symptoms, distress, and functional impairment at 1 year. Higher levels of adolescent positive affect at 1 year were associated with greater parental positive affect, greater parental support, and higher levels of parenting self-efficacy. Parents may play an important role in adolescents' responses to stressful national events. (Contains 3 tables and 2 figures.)

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects 30% of adults in the United States. Transient elastography (TE) (Fibroscan, Echosens, Paris, France) with controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) is a noninvasive way to evaluate liver steatosis and liver stiffness. The primary objective of this study was to assess prevalence of elevated liver stiffness and steatosis immediately postpartum. Furthermore, we sought to evaluate whether there were differences in rates of metabolic disorders of pregnancy (gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), gestational hypertension, and preeclampsia) and pre-pregnancy conditions (type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic hypertension, and obesity) in those with elevated postpartum liver steatosis/liver stiffness. IRB approved prospective cross-sectional study in which TE and liver function tests were performed 1–2 days postpartum. CAP ≥300 dB/m was classified as significant steatosis. Increased liver stiffness was defined as ≥7 kPa. Prevalence was determined by proportion of individuals undergoing TE/CAP who met criteria. Chi-square analysis was used to compare differences between groups. Eighty-nine patients were included: 20 (22%) had GDM, 13 (15%) had gestational hypertension, and 15 (17%) had preeclampsia. Women with kPa ≥7 were more likely to have ALT ≥25, type 2 diabetes, and preeclampsia (p <.05). Pre-gravid BMI, BMI at delivery, and GDM were not associated with increased kPa. Pregravid BMI ≥25 and chronic hypertension were associated with CAP ≥ 300 dB/m (p <.05). GDM, preeclampsia, and gestational hypertension were not associated with CAP ≥300 dB/m. Patients with preeclampsia, type 2 diabetes, and elevated ALT were more likely to have elevated postpartum liver stiffness. Pregravid BMI ≥25 and ≥30 were associated with increased liver steatosis, although did not impact liver stiffness. GDM was not associated with increased liver stiffness or steatosis. Consideration should be made for screening pregnant patients with preeclampsia, type 2 DM and overweight or obese BMI for liver disease in the postpartum period with potential for lifestyle intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical and contemporary political events underscore that Latinx people do not necessarily view race and racism in the United States through a shared lens with other Latinx people and other communities of color. Thus, it is critical to understand how Latinx youth develop attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that challenge white supremacy—or anti‐racist identities and behaviors—that actively disrupt racial oppression communities of color face as well as their own communities. In this paper, we review theoretical mechanisms by which Latinx youth may develop anti‐racist identities and actions on behalf of their own ethnic/racial communities and other communities oppressed by white supremacy. We conclude by offering suggestions for how institutions may support Latinx youth's anti‐racist identities and actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors address expulsions of migrants and asylum seekers at the U.S. borders in fiscal year 2021 due to the confluence of Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) and the 2020 invocation of 42 U.S. Code 265, an obscure public health policy last updated in 1944. Topics discussed include background of the public health policy known today as Title 42, glimpse at the on-the-ground impact of these policies, and observation of Circuit Judge Justin R. Walker about the use of Title 42.

Heterosexism, in the form of microaggressions, contributes to hostile, anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) college campus climates, thereby limiting sexual and gender minority students' social engagement and academic persistence. Using Tinto's model of institutional departure, we examined the degree to which experiencing microaggressions affects sexual minority college students' retention as a function of their feelings of discomfort in the classroom. Mediation analyses were performed on a subsample of data from 152 self-identified LGBTQ college students at a southern university in the United States to examine relations among experiences of self-reported microaggressions, self-rated classroom discomfort, and expressed intentions to transfer from the university. Self-reported discomfort in the classroom accounts for the relation between experiences of microaggressions and LGBTQ students' intentions to transfer from the university. Specifically, LGBTQ students who experienced microaggressions more often reported greater discomfort in their classrooms and reported fewer intentions to continue studying at their university. Universities should strive to implement campus-wide programs that help minimize microaggressions, encourage cultural competency and comfort in the classroom, and combat anti-LGBTQ prejudice to better support students in their day-to-day academic endeavors. LGBTQ students who feel safe and supported in the classroom may be protected from heterosexism and social isolation and, thereby, may be more likely to persevere in their academic pursuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this experiment was to examine the effect of milk replacer (MR) feeding rate (FR) and frequency (FF) on glucose metabolism before and after weaning during summer and winter in the subtropical climate of the southeastern United States. Holstein calves (n = 48/season) were enrolled at 8 d of age (DOA) in the summer (June to August, body weight = 40.6 ± 0.7 kg) and winter (November to January, body weight = 41.9 ± 0.8 kg). In each season, calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement including 2 FR [0.65 (low) or 0.76 kg of solids/d (high) of a 26% CP and 17% fat MR] and 2 FF [2× (0700 and 1600 h) or 3× (0700, 1600, and 2200 h)]. Calves were managed similarly and housed in polyethylene hutches bedded with sand. Milk replacer (12.5%) was fed based on treatments until 42 DOA when FR was reduced by half and offered 1×/d (0700 h) for 7 d. Plasma was collected weekly at 1400 h for analyses of glucose and insulin concentrations in all calves. Pre- and postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations of a subset of calves (n = 10/treatment per season) were measured on 20 DOA. A subset of calves (n = 8/treatment per season) was subjected to an intravenous glucose tolerance test (GTT) on 27 and 57 DOA and insulin challenge on 28 and 58 DOA at 1030 h. Average ambient temperature was 26.1 ± 2.2°C in summer and 12.9 ± 5.4°C in winter. During the preweaning period in both seasons, feeding high increased plasma glucose concentrations compared with low, and increasing FF reduced basal insulin concentrations. Compared with 2×, feeding 3× did not affect postprandial glucose but lowered insulin in the summer, whereas in the winter, increased glucose from 30 to 180 min but lowered insulin from 240 to 420 min after MR feeding. Following GTT before weaning in both seasons, 3× reduced insulin increment and area under the curve compared with 2× without affecting glucose disposal. After weaning, treatment did not affect glucose disposal or insulin responses after GTT during winter, but calves fed 3× had faster glucose disposal and stronger insulin responses than 2× during summer. In both summer and winter, preweaned calves fed 3× had greater decrement and area under the curve of plasma glucose after insulin challenge, suggesting enhanced peripheral tissue insulin response compared with 2×. This effect persisted after weaning only during summer. Increasing FR had no effect on metabolic responses in both seasons. In conclusion, increasing MR FF from 2 to 3 times per day reduced insulin secretion but enhanced insulin response on peripheral tissues of preweaned calves regardless of season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effects of milk replacer (MR) feeding rate (FR) and frequency (FF) on performance, abomasal emptying, and nutrient digestibility in the southeastern United States, Holstein calves (n = 48/season) were enrolled at 8 d of age (DOA) during summer [June to August, body weight (BW; mean ± SD) = 40.71 ± 4.35 kg] and winter (November to January, BW = 42.03 ± 3.83 kg). Within season, calves were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement including 2 FR [0.65 (low) or 0.76 kg of solid per day (high) of a 26% crude protein and 17% fat MR], and 2 FF [2× (0700 and 1600 h) or 3× (0700, 1600, and 2200 h) daily]. Calves were housed in polyethylene hutches and managed similarly throughout the trial. Milk replacer (12.5% solids) was fed to calves based on their respective treatments until 42 DOA, when MR allowance was reduced by 50% and offered once a day (0700 h) for the following 7 d until weaning. Calves remained on trial until 63 DOA. Calf starter and water were offered ad libitum. Ambient temperature and relative humidity inside and outside hutches were measured hourly. Starter and MR intakes were recorded daily. Respiration rate and rectal temperature were recorded 3 times a week. Structural growth and BW were measured weekly. Acetaminophen (50 mg/kg of BW) mixed with MR was fed to a subset of calves (0700 h, n = 10/treatment per season) on 20 DOA. Plasma was collected at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 330, 360, 420, and 480 min after feeding, to analyze acetaminophen. The acetaminophen concentration-time curve was modeled to the first derivative of Siegel's modified power exponential equation, and the time for plasma acetaminophen to reach maximum (Tmax) was calculated to evaluate abomasal emptying rate. During the pre- (14.9–17.9 DOA) and postweaning (51.0–54.0 DOA) periods, a subset (n = 8/treatment per season) of calves was used to determine the apparent digestibility of nutrients, using chromic oxide as the external marker. Feeding 3× reduced preweaning respiration rate during summer and reduced rectal temperature during winter. Increasing FR improved BW gain and structural growth. Feeding more times per day tended to improve growth during winter but not summer. We found no effect of treatment on nutrient digestibility. Increasing FR had no effect on Tmax during winter but tended to delay Tmax of plasma acetaminophen during summer. Regardless of season, increasing FF lowered Tmax of plasma acetaminophen. In conclusion, increasing FF accelerated abomasal emptying and might reduce heat load of preweaning dairy calves but improved growth only during winter. Increased MR allowance improved growth in both seasons but delayed abomasal emptying only under heat stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents and friends are important influences on adolescents' academic outcomes. We examine whether and how adolescents' social networks compensate for or enhance the effects of their parents' education on academic outcomes. Among a large ethnoracially diverse sample of high school students in the Southwestern (N = 2,136) and Midwestern (N = 1,055) United States, results from network autocorrelation models showed that higher levels of mother and father education were related to greater academic self‐efficacy and engagement and higher aspirations, expectations, and grade point averages at both schools. Friends' parents' education levels were positively associated with adolescents' academic aspirations, expectations, and grade point averages across all of the models; higher levels of friends' parents' education were related to greater academic self‐efficacy across all models, except for mothers in the Southwest; and friends' fathers' education levels were positively related to adolescents' academic engagement for students in the Midwestern school only. There were no significant interaction effects between parents' and friends' parents' education levels in predicting academic outcomes. Differences in the distribution of parental education across ethnic‐racial groups shaped the implications of the model for adolescents' academic adjustment. Findings highlight the impact of educational opportunity across generations in shaping academic inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article outlines the rules, elements, practices and case procedures on the foreclosure of local special assessment liens in Florida. Topics discussed include the statutory nature of a special assessment, the role of a local government ordinance in determining the priority of a special assessment lien, and the lack of requirement of individual service of process in the foreclosure of a special assessment due to its in rem nature.

Discriminatory legislation targeting Latinx immigrants in the United States has shifted how parents communicate with their children about the hostile political climate. One way that Latinx parents talk about and prepare their children to face prejudice is through ethnic‐racial socialization, which can promote children's positive development. Few scholars, however, have focused on how Latinx immigrant families with precarious documentation status socialize their children around issues of immigration, documentation status, and the potential for family separation. The current study seeks to broaden our understanding and conceptualization of ethnic‐racial socialization practices among Latinx immigrant families living in the United States to include documentation status socialization to better capture the messages parents transmit to their children about the causes and potential impacts of their documentation status. Thirty‐nine Latinx immigrant mothers aged 35–53 (M = 41.66), (22 undocumented, 17 documented) were interviewed regarding the ways in which their documentation status informs their ethnic‐racial socialization practices. Five subthemes of Documentation Status Socialization were identified among both undocumented and documented parents. Example of subthemes included Limitations and Restrictions of Undocumented Status, and Documentation Privilege, in which parents discussed the limitation of being undocumented as well as the privilege that comes with the legal documentation status with their youth. Our findings yield important implications for practice and research alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hypertension can cause significant morbidity and reduced life expectancy. Most patients with hypertension have primary hypertension; however, 10% to 15% have secondary hypertension. Endocrine disorders as a secondary cause occur in approximately 10% of patients with secondary hypertension, and thyroid disorders account for approximately 1% of all patients with hypertension. The identification of patients with hyperthyroidism has important benefits for these particular patients. The objective of this study was to examine the occurrence of high blood pressure in patients with hyperthyroidism.Methods: We reviewed the clinical information available from 414 new patients referred to an endocrinology clinic in west Texas for evaluation of hyperthyroidism. The final cohort included 96 patients who had both thyroid laboratory tests and blood pressure measurements at the time of their clinic visit. We also examined this relationship in a nationally representative sample of US adults (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2012), which included thyroid test results and at least one blood pressure measurement (N = 8837).Results: Sixty-five of these clinic patients had elevated blood pressure based on criteria suggested by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association. These patients had similar thyroid hormone levels as patients who did not have hypertension but tended to be older. Ordinary least squares regression analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2012 data demonstrated a significant positive association between free T3 levels and systolic blood pressure, adjusting for age, sex, and the use of levothyroxine.Conclusions: These findings from a specialty clinic and a national sample suggest that clinicians should consider the possibility of hyperthyroidism in patients with hypertension, even in older patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite associations between ethnic-racial identity processes (i.e., exploration and resolution) and positive psychosocial outcomes among adolescents, limited empirical research investigates longitudinal associations between these processes and civic beliefs. To address this gap in the literature, this research explored whether changes in ethnic-racial identity exploration and resolution predicted civic beliefs among adolescents. Participants included 400 Latinx (n = 121; 47.1% girls) and Black American (n = 279; 52.0% girls) adolescents in the 6th (n = 210), 7th (n = 113) and 8th Grades (n = 74). Neither initial levels nor changes in ethnic-racial identity exploration predicted civic beliefs across four time-points of the study, or across two years of middle school. Adolescents who demonstrated greater increases in ethnic-racial identity resolution across two years of middle school were likely to have greater civic beliefs by the end of the two years, as compared to adolescents who had smaller increases in resolution. These results suggest that adolescents who have an increasingly clear sense of their ethnic-racial selves may have greater access to cognitive and socioemotional resources that promote their development of beliefs on the need to advance the well-being of their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic hypocalcemia in Thoroughbred (TB) foals causes tetany and seizures and is invariably fatal. Based upon the similarity of this disease with human familial hypoparathyroidism and occurrence only in the TB breed, we conducted a genetic investigation on two affected TB foals. Familial hypoparathyroidism was identified, and pedigree analysis suggested an autosomal recessive (AR) mode of inheritance. We performed whole-genome sequencing of the two foals, their unaffected dams and four unaffected, unrelated TB horses. Both homozygosity mapping and an association analysis were used to prioritize potential genetic variants. Of the 2,808 variants that significantly associated with the phenotype using an AR mode of inheritance (P<0.02) and located within a region of homozygosity, 1,507 (54%) were located in a 9.7 Mb region on chr4 (44.9–54.6 Mb). Within this region, a nonsense variant (RAPGEF5 c.2624C>A,p.Ser875*) was significantly associated with the hypoparathyroid phenotype (Pallelic = 0.008). Affected foals were homozygous for the variant, with two additional affected foals subsequently confirmed in 2019. Necropsies of all affected foals failed to identify any histologically normal parathyroid glands. Because the nonsense mutation in RAPGEF5 was near the C-terminal end of the protein, the impact on protein function was unclear. Therefore, we tested the variant in our Xenopus overexpression model and demonstrated RAPGEF5 loss-of-function. This RAPGEF5 variant represents the first genetic variant for hypoparathyroidism identified in any domestic animal species. Author summary: The Thoroughbred breeding industry in the United States produces a total impact of $6 billion. A lethal hypocalcemic syndrome was first described in young Thoroughbred horses in 1997. Affected foals suffer from seizures due to low blood calcium concentrations in the first few weeks of life. Our clinical evaluation of affected foals supported a diagnosis of primary hypoparathyroidism and the disease appeared to be inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Whole-genome sequencing of two affected foals identified a nonsense variant in RAPGEF5. Two additional affected foals were subsequently genotyped and also homozygous for the nonsense variant. Overexpression of the equine variant in frog embryos demonstrated loss-of-function. Genetic testing is now available to screen carrier Thoroughbreds and the disease was renamed equine isolated familial hypoparathyroidism (EIFH). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural identity of peoples and individuals has been threatened by the continuous migrations, mainly from under-developed to developed countries. Therefore, it is an issue of current importance that has been approached from different fields of study. However, the study of this phenomenon from the linguistic perspective is insufficient, even when language is one of the vital pillars of identity. The use of language in the Cuban-American literature is a way of representing the cultural hybridism of Cuban immigrants in the United States. Hence, the objective of this research is to propose a cultural-linguistic model of analysis of bilingualism in the discourse of Cuban-American authors as a representation of cultural identity, illustrated through the analysis of bilingualism in Next Year in Cuba, a representative Cuban-American literary work. The hermeneutic-dialectic approach has been present throughout this research which has permitted the transit from observation, comprehension, explanation, and interpretation. Through this model it has been possible to demonstrate that bilingualism is a feature of linguistic identity that expresses the bicultural identity of immigrants of Cuban origin in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on the agribusinesses of corn production in Mexico is analyzed, taking into special consideration the policy of encouragement to small producers, productive restructuring and identification of positive and negative effects. Second, the evolution of the US–Mexican maize belts (1994–2017) is analyzed, establishing the economic and political impacts with respect to NAFTA. Design/methodology/approach: The paper opted for a documentary meta-analysis study using data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the System of Agricultural and Fishery Information (SIAP) in Mexico. The data were completed with documentary analysis of research on maize productivity. Findings: Provided is the information about the impacts of maize belts in the United States (US) and Mexico, where it was determined that the leading states maintained productive hegemony to a greater and lesser extent and that Mexico experienced a productive reorientation. The findings show that it is a myth that there are losers in the maize agroindustry of Mexico and the United States as it is suggested that after twenty-four years they have become complementary. Research limitations/implications: Summarized is the state of knowledge from 1994 to 2017, aligned to the databases of the United States and Mexico. Originality/value: A need to study the relation between the productive evolution of maize production and NAFTA is identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Kawasaki disease (KD) vasculitis is an acute febrile illness of childhood characterized by systemic vasculitis of unknown origin, and is the most common cause of acquired heart disease among children in the United States. While  histological evidence of myocarditis can be found in all patients with acute KD, only a minority of patients are clinically symptomatic and a subset demonstrate echocardiographic evidence of impaired myocardial function, as well as increased left ventricular mass, presumed to be due to myocardial edema and inflammation. Up to a third of KD patients fail to respond to first‐line therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and the use of interleukin (IL)‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1Ra, anakinra) is currently being investigated as an alternative therapeutic approach to treat IVIG‐resistant patients. In this study, we sought to investigate the effect of IL‐1Ra on myocardial dysfunction and its relation to myocarditis development during KD vasculitis. We used the Lactobacillus casei cell‐wall extract (LCWE)‐induced murine model of KD vasculitis and investigated the effect of IL‐1Ra pretreatment on myocardial dysfunction during KD vasculitis by performing histological, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiographic evaluations. IL‐1Ra pretreatment significantly reduced KD‐induced myocardial inflammation and N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) release. Both MRI and echocardiographic studies on LCWE‐injected KD mice demonstrated that IL‐1Ra pretreatment results in an improved ejection fraction and a normalized left ventricular function. These findings further support the potential beneficial effects of IL‐1Ra therapy in preventing the cardiovascular complications in acute KD patients, including the myocarditis and myocardial dysfunction associated with acute KD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Shiga toxin–producing Escherchia coli (STEC) O157:H7 is a zoonotic pathogen that causes numerous food and waterborne disease outbreaks. It is globally distributed, but its origin and the temporal sequence of its geographical spread are unknown. Methods We analyzed whole-genome sequencing data of 757 isolates from 4 continents, and performed a pan-genome analysis to identify the core genome and, from this, extracted single-nucleotide polymorphisms. A timed phylogeographic analysis was performed on a subset of the isolates to investigate its worldwide spread. Results The common ancestor of this set of isolates occurred around 1890 (1845–1925) and originated from the Netherlands. Phylogeographic analysis identified 34 major transmission events. The earliest were predominantly intercontinental, moving from Europe to Australia around 1937 (1909–1958), to the United States in 1941 (1921–1962), to Canada in 1960 (1943–1979), and from Australia to New Zealand in 1966 (1943–1982). This pre-dates the first reported human case of E. coli O157:H7, which was in 1975 from the United States. Conclusions Inter- and intra-continental transmission events have resulted in the current international distribution of E. coli O157:H7, and it is likely that these events were facilitated by animal movements (eg, Holstein Friesian cattle). These findings will inform policy on action that is crucial to reduce the further spread of E. coli O157:H7 and other (emerging) STEC strains globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry, ephemeral, desert wetlands are major sources of windblown sediment, as well as repositories for diapausing stages (propagules) of aquatic invertebrates. Zooplankton propagules are of the same size range as sand and dust grains. They can be deflated and transported in windstorm events. This study provides evidence that dust storms aid in dispersal of microinvertebrate propagules via anemochory (aeolian transport).We monitored 91 windstorms at six sites in the southwestern U.S.A. over a 17‐year period. The primary study site was located in El Paso, Texas in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Additional samples were collected from the Southern High Plains region. Dust carried by these events was collected and rehydrated to hatch viable propagules transported with it.Using samples collected over a 6‐year period, 21 m above the ground, which included 59 storm events, we tested the hypothesis that transport of propagules is correlated with storm intensity by monitoring meteorological conditions such as storm duration, wind direction, wind speed, and particulate matter (PM10; fine dust concentration). An air quality monitoring site located adjacent to the dust samplers provided quantitative hourly measurements.Rehydration results from all events showed that ciliates were found in 92% of the samples, rotifers in 81%, branchiopods in 29%, ostracods in 4%, nematodes in 13%, gastrotrichs in 16%, and tardigrades in 3%. Overall, four bdelloid and 11 monogonont rotifer species were identified from rehydrated windblown dust samples.Principal component analysis indicated gastrotrichs, branchiopods, nematodes, tardigrades, and monogonont rotifer occurrence positively correlated with PM10 and dust event duration. Bdelloid rotifers were correlated with amount of sediment deposited. Non‐metric multidimensional scaling showed a significant relationship between PM10 and occurrence of some taxa. Zero‐inflated, general linear models with mixed‐effects indicated significant relationships with bdelloid and nematode transport and PM10.Thus, windstorms with high PM10 concentration and long duration are more likely to transport microinvertebrate diapausing stages in drylands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the USA, many states have adopted response to intervention or multi-tiered systems of supports to provide early intervention. However, there is considerable variability in how states and schools implement RTI. Teachers are responsible for using student data from RTI to inform instructional decisions for students with or at risk for dyslexia, so it is necessary to understand the knowledge they have about the structure of RTI in their individual schools. This study reviews the results of an exploratory factor analysis of a survey aimed at measuring teachers' knowledge about RTI implementation and their understanding of RTI implementation within their school. The 52-item survey was administered online to 139 general and special education teachers. The three final factors from this factor analytic work were (1) Teacher Knowledge about Tier 1 Implementation, (2) Teacher Knowledge about Leadership and School Systems, and (3) Teacher Knowledge about Data-Based Decision Making. Factor determinacy scores demonstrated that the survey had high internal consistency. On average, teachers' survey scores were higher on the first two factors and slightly lower on the third factor. Implications of the findings for teachers of students with learning disabilities, including dyslexia, and directions for future research were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents and analyzes the current procedures for bid protests under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) that was adopted in Florida in 1961, or similar local procedures for protests that follow its most important aspects. Topics covered include the governing laws and jurisdiction in Florida that govern competitive bidding, grounds for parties to file a protest against the decision of a public agency on the bidding, and the requirements of the formal written protest.

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This study investigates Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services related to competitive employment closure among non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB), non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), and Hispanics with HIV/AIDS and substance use disorder (SUD). Data of 4150 was extracted from the Rehabilitation Sendees Administration (RSA-911) database. Descriptive statistics and multi-variate analysis showed consumers who received SSI and Medicare were less likely to be employed than those who did not, and, NHW who received rehabilitation counseling and guidance benefited the most compared to NHB who did not. Rehabilitation counselors can assist minorities with HIV/AIDS and SUD secure employment given the positive effects of employment for this population. Health professionals should consider incorporating employment, using VR sendees in their treatment strategies, while making sure clients with different racial ethnicity background benefit equally from all VR services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined how adolescents' ethnic-racial identity (ERI) informed the demographic diversity of their friendship network (Goal 1) and the extent of similarity between adolescents' and their friends' ERI (Goal 2). Participants were sixth and seventh grade students (N = 353; Mage  = 11.88, SD = .73; 50% girls; 29% African American, 31% White, 13% Latino) in the Midwestern U.S. Results from longitudinal cross-lagged models (Goal 1) indicated that having more diverse friendships at T2 was associated with greater T3 ERI exploration among all youth. In addition, boys who reported higher ERI resolution at T1 had more diverse friendships at T2. Furthermore, findings from longitudinal social network analyses (SNA; Goal 2) suggested that influence drove similarity between adolescents and their friends in ERI exploration and resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peer context features prominently in theory, and increasingly in empirical research, about ethnic-racial identity (ERI) development, but no studies have assessed peer influence on ERI using methods designed to properly assess peer influence. We examined peer influence on ERI centrality, private, and public regard using longitudinal social network analysis. Data were drawn from two sites: a predominantly Latina/o Southwestern (SW) school (N = 1034; Mage = 12.10) and a diverse Midwestern (MW) school (N = 513; Mage = 11.99). Findings showed that peers influenced each other's public regard over time at both sites. However, peer influence on centrality was evident in the SW site, whereas peer influence on private regard was evident in the MW site. Importantly, peer influence was evident after controlling for selection effects. Our integration of developmental, contextual, and social network perspectives offers a fruitful approach to explicate how ERI content may shift in early adolescence as a function of peer influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsequent to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the experiences of military service members (MSVMs) and veterans have garnered increasing attention. A growing body of work has begun to shed light on their reintegration, a process that can bring with it transitions and challenges for service members and their families. Although many families adapt effectively, some have difficulty navigating this process, which can lead to a host of short- and long-term negative consequences for families. The literature to date is not well-developed regarding strategies for supporting successful reintegration of MSVMs and veterans in the context of military families. Guided by the ecological framework, this article summarizes selected evidence regarding factors that influence reintegration and puts forth recommendations for research and practice to promote the wellness of military families. Informed by findings regarding the diverse challenges faced by these families and grounded in the ecological framework, the authors highlight the need to assess both proximal and distal factors related to families' reintegration experiences and the need to intervene at multiple levels and across multiple contexts. Of primary importance, the authors recommend strategies to enhance the capacity of families' natural settings and describe selected capacity- and resource- enhancement approaches for families, neighborhoods, schools, and communities that facilitate resilience and promote wellness. Other recommendations include focusing on the accessibility, integration, and coordination of services; considering the long-view and developing strategies for longer-term support; developing mechanisms for family support; and evaluating efforts to address needs of families and promote family resilience. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which discusses ConNECT Framework model for advancing behavioral medicine science and practice to foster health equity. Topics discussed include evaluating the state of health equity efforts in behavioral medicine science, synergistic principles of ConNECT like communication technology and prioritizing specialized training, and need of a paradigm shift behavioral medicine science and practice.

Background: There has been a recent growth in health provider search portals, where patients specify filters-such as specialty or insurance-and providers are ranked by patient ratings or other attributes. Previous work has identified attributes associated with a provider's quality through user surveys. Other work supports that intuitive quality-indicating attributes are associated with a provider's quality.Methods: We adopt a data-driven approach to study how quality indicators of providers are associated with a rich set of attributes including medical school, graduation year, procedures, fellowships, patient reviews, location, and technology usage. In this work, we only consider providers as individuals (e.g., general practitioners) and not organizations (e.g., hospitals). As quality indicators, we consider the referral frequency of a provider and a peer-nominated quality designation. We combined data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and several provider rating web sites to perform our analysis.Results: Our data-driven analysis identified several attributes that correlate with and discriminate against referral volume and peer-nominated awards. In particular, our results consistently demonstrate that these attributes vary by locality and that the frequency of an attribute is more important than its value (e.g., the number of patient reviews or hospital affiliations are more important than the average review rating or the ranking of the hospital affiliations, respectively). We demonstrate that it is possible to build accurate classifiers for referral frequency and quality designation, with accuracies over 85 %.Conclusions: Our findings show that a one-size-fits-all approach to ranking providers is inadequate and that provider search portals should calibrate their ranking function based on location and specialty. Further, traditional filters of provider search portals should be reconsidered, and patients should be aware of existing pitfalls with these filters and educated on local factors that affect quality. These findings enable provider search portals to empower patients and to "load balance" patients between younger and older providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the clearance and settlement of the General Collateral Finance Repo (GCF Repo®) service trades among securities dealers in the U.S. It cites the risks associated with a heavy reliance on intraday credit in settling GCF Repo trades. It discusses the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation's (FICC) role as a central counterparty in reducing the risk of fire sales. Topics include an overview of GCF Repo, the GCF Repo settlement process, and tri-party repo settlement reforms.

The lack of culturally appropriate psychometric instruments for the assessment of cognitive and emotional functioning in minority populations has been a concern often discussed in the assessment literature. With the increased focus on the measurement of outcome in mental health treatment, the lack of appropriate instruments for minorities has become readily apparent in this venue as well. We report on the Spanish translation of a brief and reliable measure of psychological health and well-being that has been shown to be sensitive to treatment outcomes. The original and Spanish translated versions of this measure are highly correlated, providing clinicians and organizations with a instrument that can be used for assessment of psychological well-being and treatment outcomes with Hispanic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Identifying changes in the epidemiology of liver disease is critical for establishing healthcare priorities and allocating resources to develop therapies. The projected contribution of different etiologies toward development of cirrhosis in the United States was estimated based on current publications on epidemiological data and advances in therapy. Given the heterogeneity of published reports and the different perceptions that are not always reconcilable, a critical overview rather than a formal meta-analysis of the existing data and projections for the next decade was performed. Methods Data from the World Health Organization Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health of 2014, Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients from 1999 to 2012, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were inquired to determine future changes in the epidemiology of liver disease. Results Alcohol consumption has increased over the past 60 years. In 2010, transplant-related costs for liver recipients were the highest for hepatitis C (~$124 million) followed by alcohol-related cirrhosis (~$86 million). We anticipate a significant reduction in incidence cirrhosis due to causes other than alcohol because of the availability of high efficiency antiviral agents for hepatitis C, universal and effective vaccination for hepatitis B, relative stabilization of the obesity trends in the United States, and novel, potentially effective therapies for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The proportion of alcohol-related liver disease is therefore likely to increase in both the population as a whole and the liver transplant wait list. Conclusions Alcohol-related cirrhosis and alcohol-related liver disorders will be the major cause of liver disease in the coming decades. There is an urgent need to allocate resources aimed toward understanding the pathogenesis of the disease and its complications so that effective therapies can be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses several aspects of Florida's Bert J. Harris, Jr. Private Property Rights Protection Act as of 2015, and it mentions takings under the U.S. Constitution, as well as relief for landowners in Florida when ordinances, regulations, or laws burden or restrict private property. Several private property-related litigation matters are examined, including cases involving parties such as the cities of Jacksonville and Saint Augustine in Florida. Procedural prerequisites are examined.

Most countries in Central America have HIV epidemics concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW), with prevalence in these populations ranging from 8% in Nicaragua to 26% in El Salvador. High levels of stigma and discrimination coupled with this heavy HIV burden create a major challenge for efforts to reach these populations and combat the epidemic. The Pan-American Social Marketing Organization (PASMO) developed a combination prevention intervention in Central America that delivers HIV prevention behaviour change communication (BCC) messages, products, services, and referrals to promote improved condom and condom-compatible lubricant use, HIV testing, violence reporting and the use of complementary services. As part of this program, an online ?cyber-educator? intervention for MSM, consisting of virtual one-on-one BCC and HIV counseling and testing referrals, was launched through existing chat-rooms and websites. Participants were tracked using a confidential unique identifier code (UIC). In 2013, 7,219 MSM UICs were recorded. Created as a response to social media evolution, this intervention successfully illustrates how innovative HIV prevention education can reach populations most-at-risk for HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a survey of a community of Society of Petroleum Engineers professionals done to know the level of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics (AIPA) knowledge in the U.S. petroleum industry. The findings include data management and integration being the common challenges in information management, 50 percent of respondents having knowledge of applications in data mining and neural networks, and applications of AIPA still linked to research and development projects.

The emphasis on improving writing instruction, especially the writing of non-narrative texts, may lead some teachers to seek effective ways to teach students. The IMSCI model, a scaffolded model for writing instruction, is useful for planning effective instruction. This article describes a research project conducted in a 4th grade classroom emphasizing the combined benefits of scaffolded instruction and genre study and testing scaffolded persuasive writing lessons based on the IMSCI model. Researchers wrote lesson plans using the IMSCI model as the underlying structure and tied the lessons to science objectives for fourth grade. Teachers implemented the lessons in their classrooms and student essays were collected as data. Results from this study suggest there are positive outcomes in student writing as a result of a focus on genre in a scaffolded instructional setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]