cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Writing for Publication: An Analysis of 591 Articles in Five Journals Dealing with Information Technology in Education.

Abstract This article presents information about all articles published over three years in five different journals dealing with information technology in education. The researchers collected all 591 articles from these well-known journals. All articles were analyzed using a researcher-made matrix. Information gathered included descriptive information about each journal such as the editor's name, address, format, style required for submission, and data on types of published articles. The purpose of this study is to provide information for prospective authors.
Coupling effects throughout the solar atmosphere: 2. Model of energetically open circuit

[1] EUV structures in the solar atmosphere are studied on the basis of the energetically open equivalent circuits. The systems consist of current carrying magnetic loops that interconnect a high β energy-production region with a low β dissipation region and include the transition region where the most efficient generation of currents and transport of the accumulated energy through the resistive stresses occurs. As nonconservative systems with a source and sink of energy, they may be driven into various dynamic forms via nonlinear processes with continuous flow of matter and energy. The corresponding equivalent circuit equation has the form of the Van der Pol oscillator. Depending on the coefficients determined by the system parameters, this equation describes different behaviors of the EUV structures including long-living steady loops with subtle oscillations, loops in the relaxation regime, and the periodically flaring and exploding loop systems. The model predicts that the EUV loops must have a filamentary structure and allows us to estimate the limiting currents and critical radii of elemental filaments associated with the stability criteria. Simple relations between the parameters, most of which are observables, may provide reliable diagnostic tools.
Temporal and metal-specific patterns in the accumulation of heavy metals by the scales of Fundulus heteroclitus

X-ray microanalysis (XMA) was utilized to measure the zinc/calcium ratios in individual scales from Fundulus heteroclitus with different histories of exposure to Zn (10 mg/l). Circuli which formed during Zn-exposure contained high Zn/Ca ratios compared to those forming under ‘metal-free’ conditions. Since circuli form sequentially as the scale grows, scale Zn/Ca profiles constructed by XMA of each circulus in a scale provide a record of temporal variation in Zn exposure. Fish showed some ability to partially remove Zn from previously deposited scale tissue but Zn signatures remained for at least 16 weeks after transfer to metal-free water. The results indicate that teleost scales may be useful as continuous recorders of environmental metal exposure: the elemental composition of each circulus reflecting that of the environment at the time the circulus formed. When mixtures of metal chlorides were tested, Zn, Mn, Pb, and Sr were the metals most readily accumulated by F. heteroclitus scales while Cd and Cu showed little or no accumulation. The ability of fish scales to accumulate heavy metals has the potential for application to environmental monitoring, population identification, and age determination.
Tackling the readmission epidemic: a resident teaching service perspective

Background: Readmission rates are projected to serve as quality measures that have the potential to negatively impact hospital and physician reimbursement. Individual physicians and hospitals are developing plans to reduce readmission rates. Successful plans should be based on specific data obtained from each individual type of practice. Objective: To analyze the etiological factors responsible for readmissions to various teaching services in a community hospital. This will serve to identify potentially correctable factors that will be the basis for developing practice-specific plans to reduce readmissions. Design: Retrospective detailed chart review. Setting: Community teaching hospital affiliated with a large academic health care system. Participants: Patients admitted to teaching services at a community hospital. Measurements: Data are presented as descriptive analysis. Results: Advanced chronic medical conditions (31%), patients’ lifestyle choices (28%), and new unrelated diagnoses (21%) are the major causes of readmissions. The remaining small percentage of readmissions is attributed to premature discharge, poor discharge planning, poor post-discharge follow-up, medication errors, and failure to implement medical care guidelines. Limitations: Retrospective study from a single center. Conclusions: Causes of readmission are diverse. Although most are universal, the relative contribution of each factor is unique to each population. Institutions should generate their own data in order to direct their resources toward ‘high return’ areas. Current studies emphasize the role of physicians and health systems in reducing readmission rates. However, the area of readmissions related to patients’ behaviors is not well explored. Our study identified the role of patients’ lifestyle choices as a major cause of readmission. Keywords: hospital readmission; hospital quality; discharge planning (Published: 7 January 2013) Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2012, 2 : 19647 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v2i4.19647
Energetics of subdomain movements and fluorescence probe solvation environment change in ATP-bound myosin.

Energetics of conformational changes experienced by an ATP-bound myosin head detached from actin was studied by all-atom explicit water umbrella sampling simulations. The statistics of coupling between large scale domain movements and smaller scale structural features were examined, including the closing of the ATP binding pocket, and a number of key hydrogen bond formations shown to play roles in structural and biochemical studies. The statistics for the ATP binding pocket open/close transition show an evolution of the relative stability from the open state in the early stages of the recovery stroke to the stable closed state after the stroke. The change in solvation environment of the fluorescence probe Trp507 (scallop numbering; 501 in Dictyostelium discoideum) indicates that the probe faithfully reflects the closing of the binding pocket as previously shown in experimental studies, while being directly coupled to roughly the early half of the overall large scale conformational change of the converter domain rotation. The free energy change of this solvation environment change, in particular, is −1.3 kcal/mol, in close agreement with experimental estimates. In addition, our results provide direct molecular level data allowing for interpretations of the fluorescence experiments of myosin conformational change in terms of the de-solvation of Trp side chain.
Concrete impaction of the external auditory canal

A case of accidental impaction of the external auditory canal by concrete in a construction worker seen at Orlando Regional Medical Center is reported. A general discussion of the pathophysiology of concrete-related injuries is included. Recommendations are made for the optimal emergency management of these type injuries.
A low pressure, parallel plate avalanche chamber for detection of soft X-ray fluorescence

A description is given of the design considerations and performance of a low pressure, parallel plate avalanche chamber (PPAC), for use in detecting soft x-ray fluorescence. Detection efficiency and energy resolution are discussed and the application of the PPAC to detection of fluorescence emission from a high {Tc} superconductor is outlined. 8 refs., 7 figs.
Infertility in American college alumnae.

Abstract Objective: The objective of this paper is to present data on prevalence of infertility, causes and treatments based on self-reports of a sample of American college alumnae. Methods: A sample of 3940 American college alumnae, ages 37 to over 70 years, completed a self-administered questionnaire relating to infertility, its causes, treatment and treatment outcomes. Results: Of the entire sample ( n =3940), 3.1% ( n =121) had primary infertility; 14.0% ( n =548) had secondary infertility and were treated; 4.7% ( n =184) tried for more than 1 year without success but had pregnancies without treatment; and 62.4% had no problems with infertility; and 16% ( n =616) did not try to get pregnant. The major causes were ‘unexplained infertility’ reported by 43.5%; low sperm count or low motility, 21.4%; and anovulatory cycles, 20.3%. Treatment by clomid was reported by 39.5%. The overall success rate, resulting from treatment was 45%. The highest success rate occurred when anovulatory cycles were treated with clomid. Conclusion: Prevalence of primary and secondary infertility in this sample of American women is approximately 17%, similar to that observed for Sub-Saharan Africa.
The involvement of atriopeptins in blood pressure regulation.

The atriopeptins are newly discovered cardiac-derived peptides whose observed actions suggest a role in volume homeostasis and blood pressure regulation. Studies in animal models are underway to pinpoint pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the evolution of hypertension, some of which may well be shared by humans with “essential” hypertension. Preliminary observations indicate that circulating atriopeptin levels are altered in human disease. It is anticipated that exogenously administered atriopeptin may be a helpful pharmacological tool in the management of patients with volume overload and hypertension.
Principal ideal properties of R-sequences and asymptotic sequences

Abstract It is well known that if I and J are ideals of a ring R (commutative with identity) and b is a regular nonunit in R , then: (a) b n I : b n R = I , for all n ≥ 1; (b) if b n J ⊆ b n I for some n ≥ 1, t hen J ⊆ I ; (c) b n ( I ∩ J ) = b n I ∩ b n J for all n ≥ 1; and, (d) if R is Noetherian, then Ass(itR)/ I ⊆ Ass( R / b n I ) ⊆ Ass( R / I ) ∪ Ass( R / bR ) for all n ≥ 1, and the second inclusion is an equality when height( I ) ≥ 1 and every prime divisor of bR has height one. The main result shows that (a)–(d) continue to hold when b is replaced by an ideal B that is generated by an R -sequence contained in I and J . Then an asymptotic sequence version of these results is given.
The electrical conductivity of single crystals of Ag2HgI4

Abstract Electrical conductivity measurements are reported for single crystal samples of Ag 2 HgI 4 in the temperature range between −17°C and 72°C. The results are interpreted in terms of two distinct regions of linear log conductivity versus reciprocal temperature behavior for β-Ag 2 HgI 4 , a phase transition region, and an α-Ag 2 HgI 4 region. The data reaffirm the anomalously high pre-exponential and activation energy terms in the conductivity equation for α-Ag 2 HgI 4 as compared with other AgI-type conductors. Thermo-emf measurements on polycrystalline Ag 2 HgI 4 samples are also reported.
DEVIL'S ADVOCACY IN MANAGERIAL DECISION-MAKING

There is some debate about the potential value of using devil's advocates in top-level organizational decision-making. In this paper, the contrasting views on this question are summarized briefly and the field and laboratory research on the devil's advocate and related techniques is discussed. This research is then used as the basis for detailed suggestions on the effective use of devil's advocates in improving managerial decisions.
Identification and Genetic Characterization of Phenol-Degrading Bacteria from Leaf Microbial Communities

Microbial communities on aerial plant leaves may contribute to the degradation of organic air pollutants such as phenol. Epiphytic bacteria capable of phenol degradation were isolated from the leaves of green ash trees grown at a site rich in airborne pollutants. Bacteria from these communities were subjected, in parallel, to serial enrichments with increasing concentrations of phenol and to direct plating followed by a colony autoradiography screen in the presence of radiolabeled phenol. Ten isolates capable of phenol mineralization were identified. Based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis, these isolates included members of the genera Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, and Rhodococcus. The sequences of the genes encoding the large subunit of a multicomponent phenol hydroxylase (mPH) in these isolates indicated that the mPHs of the gram-negative isolates belonged to a single kinetic class, and that is one with a moderate affinity for phenol; this affinity was consistent with the predicted phenol levels in the phyllosphere. PCR amplification of genes for catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (C12O) and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C23O) in combination with a functional assay for C23O activity provided evidence that the gram-negative strains had the C12O−, but not the C23O−, phenol catabolic pathway. Similarly, the Rhodococcus isolates lacked C23O activity, although consensus primers to the C12O and C23O genes of Rhodococcus could not be identified. Collectively, these results demonstrate that these leaf surface communities contained several taxonomically distinct phenol-degrading bacteria that exhibited diversity in their mPH genes but little diversity in the catabolic pathways they employ for phenol degradation.
Correlated responses in growth and body composition of replicated single-trait and index selected lines of mice

Correlated responses in growth, body composition and efficiency were evaluated in lines of mice selected in the following ways: W+T i o , increased six-week body weight (WT6); W ° T i + , increased six-week tail length (TL6); W+T i − , increased WT6 and decreased TL6; W−T i + , decreased WT6 and increased TL6; M16, increased three-to six-week postweaning gain (PWG). Each of the first four selection treatments had two replicate lines (i = 1, 2) selected for 13 generations and the fifth treatment had one line selected for 30 generations. All lines were derived from a randombred ICR albino population which served as a control. Additional traits studied were three-week body weight and tail length, postweaning gain in tail length, percent body composition (ash, fat, moisture and protein) at six weeks of age, and three-to six-week feed consumption (CONS) and efficiency (EFF = PWG/CONS). Efficiency of body constituent gains (ash, fat, protein and caloric value) were determined by dividing each constituent by CONS. Relative to selection treatments, replicate variation in the array of traits was small and was primarily attributable to the effects of genetic drift; more frequent significant replicate differences among traits in W+T− were associated with a replicate difference in cumulative selection differentials. Selection for different criteria involving WT6 and TL6 did not change the allometric relationship between tail length and body weight in the three-to six-week age interval. The significant divergence between W+T ° and W °T+ and between W+T− and W−T+ was as expected for WT6 and TL6. Significant asymmetry of selection response between W+T− and W−T+ for WT6 and TL6 was attributed to maternal effects. In agreement with theory, antagonistic index selection generally yielded smaller genetic responses than single trait selection. Positive correlated responses in CONS and EFF were found for M16 and W+T °. Significant correlated changes in CONS (positive in W °T+ and negative in W−T+) were not accompanied by a significant change in EFF. In contrast, W+T− evinced an increased EFF and no change in CONS. Percent fat increased significantly in W+T ° and M16. For W+To, W+T− and M16, an increased energetic, fat and ash efficiency was observed, whereas M16 exhibited a positive increment in protein efficiency as well. Among selection treatment means, there were high positive correlations between WT6 and fat weight, protein weight, percent fat, CONS and EFF and a high negative correlation between WT6 and percent protein.
Effects of capture on biological parameters in free-ranging bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis): evaluation of drop-net, drive-net, chemical immobilization and the net-gun.

Blood samples and physiological data were collected from 634 bighorn sheep captured between 1980 and 1986 in the western United States. Bighorn sheep were evaluated for physiological parameters (temperature, pulse and respiration), selected biochemical parameters (Cortisol, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphotase (AP), potassium, sodium, chloride, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), selenium, glucose, total protein, plasma pH and plasma PCO2), and selected hematological parameters (packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (HB), red blood cell count (RBC), and white blood cell count (WBC)). These parameters were compared among bighorn sheep captured by four different methods: drop-net (n = 158), drive-net (n = 249), chemical immobilization (n =90) and the net-gun (n = 137). Biological parameters affected by stress, including temperature, respiration, Cortisol, CPK, SGOT, potassium, glucose and WBC revealed significant dif...
Anti-Rotavirus G Type-Specific and Isotype-Specific Antibodies in Children with Natural Rotavirus Infections

Serum VP7 (G) type- and isotype-specific anti-rotavirus antibodies were assessed among children monitored longitudinally over one or two rotavirus seasons in day care centers. Seventy-five pairs of blood specimens from 63 children were tested for anti-rotavirus antibodies. Stool specimens were collected weekly and tested for rotavirus antigen. G typing of detected rotaviruses showed that seven outbreaks of G1 and one of G3 occurred during the two seasons. G type-specific responses to the outbreak strain occurred among 79% of infected children and 9% of children with infection not detected (P < .001). Of children infected with G1, 54% had a heterotypic response; they were older (P = .048) and had higher preexisting G1 antibody levels than children who had only homotypic responses (P = .012). Higher IgA, IgG, and homotypic antibody levels to the antigenic site C of the G1 and G3 VP7s correlated with protection against infection and illness, homotypic antibody independently of IgA or IgG titers.
A NEW SCAEVOLA (GOODENIACEAE) FROM SOCOTRA ISLAND

RIASSUNTO Viene descritta una nuova specie di Scaevola (Goodeniaceae) per l'isola di Socotra, Scaevola socotraensis sp. nov., che risulta essere la prima specie non costiera del genere per l'Oceano Indiano.
Commentary on "Cancer incidence in adolescents and young adults in the United States, 1992-1997".

Purpose: To examine cancer incidence patterns among adolescents and young adults in the United States. Methods: Cancer incidence data from 26 population-based central cancer registries for 1992-1997 were used. Individual cancers were grouped into specific diagnostic groups and subgroups using an integrated classification scheme. The integrated scheme was developed for this study and was based on the most commonly used schemes in population-based epidemiologic studies: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program's site groups, International Classification of Childhood Cancer, and International Agency for Research on Cancer's Histological Groups for Comparitive Studies. Percent distributions and age-specific incidence rates per million population were computed for adolescents (aged 15-19 years) and young adults (aged 20-24 years) by gender. Results: The data for 26,010 cancer cases were examined. Among 15-19-year-olds, the five most common cancers were Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, cancer in the brain and other nervous system, bone cancer, and non-Hodgkin's disease. Among 20-24-year-olds, the five most common cancers were Hodgkin's disease, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, melanoma of the skin, and leukemia. The proportions and rates of the histologic subtypes for most of the common cancers changed with advancing age. For example, among 15-19-year-olds, acute lymphocytic leukemia accounted for approximately 60% of leukemias in males and 50% in females. Among 20-24-year-olds, however, the corresponding percentages of acute lymphocytic leukemia were 37% in males and 31% in females. For ovarian cancer, the germ cell tumor was the most common subtype (54.6% of all ovarian cancers) among 15-19-year-olds. In contrast, ovarian carcinoma was the predominant subtype (70.4%) among 20-24-year-olds. For both age groups, the incidence rates of nodular Hodgkin's disease, melanoma of the skin, and thyroid cancer were significantly greater in females than in males. Conclusions: Cancer incidence patterns among adolescents and young adults are distinctive. In these age groups, a transition from predominantly pediatric histologic subtypes to adult subtypes was observed for Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, ovarian cancer, and soft tissue sarcoma. Gender differences were found for Hodgkin's disease, melanoma of the skin, and thyroid cancer.
Examining Similarities and Differences Among Parent–Teacher Reports of Spanish–English Productive Vocabulary

Purpose The purposes of the present study were to (a) explore the relationship between parent and teacher reports of children's bilingual (Spanish–English) productive vocabulary and (b) examine sim...
NOAA's future earth observations from advanced GOES satellites☆

Abstract IAF-95-B.2.01 This paper describes early progress made toward defining the next generation of GOES satellites. These satellites could be first launched in 2008. The paper is divided into four main sections. First, the actual process of starting a new satellite program is presented as it has occurred during the past two years. NOAA formed 12 internal teams to determine requirements and will contract with industry soon for feasibility studies. This real process in a complex agency and with many potential users is compared with the classic textbook approaches recommended for new program space starts by NASA/NOAA. These early results of requirements for GOES R are presented as the second section. Imager and sounder instruments currently on GOES are improved considerably. New instruments such as passive microwave, lightning mapper and ocean color are described. Finally, even new spacecraft configurations and more reliance on industry/government partnerships are suggested. Section three offers ideas about new spacecraft configurations for GOES N. These include both larger payload sizes or lighter payloads that might fly on lighter spacecraft. In addition, the use of commercial satellites for NOAA measurements is suggested. The fourth section gives advantages of geosynchronous orbit and the need for international participation in future geo-satellite missions. In a broader sense geo measurements will benefit the world and we welcome immediate and practical participation of interested parties in our planning.
Inhibition of transforming growth factor-β/Smad signaling by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) activates phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt, an important cell survival signaling pathway, to stimulate growth of various cell types. Transforming growth factor (TGF) superfamily ligands activate intracellular Smad signaling to regulate cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis; dysregulation of the TGF-β/Smad pathway has been noted in cancer cells. Therefore, we sought to determine whether a potential cross-talk exists between the TGF-β/Smad and PI3-K pathways in the regulation of neuroblastoma cell growth. Increased Smad DNA binding was noted in SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells when treated with LY294002, an inhibitor of PI3-K, by transcription factor/DNA array analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. LY294002 treatment resulted in Smad2 accumulation in the nuclei and an increased Smad binding element (SBE)-luciferase activity. These findings were corroborated by co-transfection with pCGNN-Δp85 plasmid, which expresses a PI3-K mutant p85 subunit. In contrast, GRP treatment decreased Smad binding activity in neuroblastoma cells. Our findings demonstrate that the PI3-K pathway negatively regulates TGF-β/Smad signaling in neuroblastoma cells. GRP-induced activation of PI3-K, resulting in neuroblastoma cell growth promotion, is potentiated by down-regulation of TGF-β/Smad signaling.
Is DNA methylation of tumour suppressor genes epigenetic

In colorectal cancer cells, a non-epigenetic transcriptional pathway that is mediated by an oncogene maintains DNA methylation of tumour suppressor genes
Influence of carboxymethyl cellulose for the transport of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in clean silica and mineral-coated sands

The transport properties of titanium dioxide (anatase polymorph) nanoparticles encapsulated by carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were evaluated as a function of changes in the solute chemical properties in clean quartz, amorphous aluminum, and iron hydroxide-coated sands. While pristine anatase TiO2 nanoparticles (ANTNPs) were completely immobile, the presence of CMC significantly enhanced their mobility. The magnitude of the surface charge exhibited by the CMC-coated anatase TiO2 nanoparticles (CMC-ANTNPs) significantly exceeded that of the uncoated ANTNPs, thereby leading to a negative surface charge over the pH range investigated (2−10). The mobility of CMC-ANTNPs was retarded by the presence of amorphous Fe and Al hydroxide, Na+ (30 mM), and Ca2+ (30 mM). Removal of CMC-ANTNPs was more significant in the presence of either Ca2+ or Fe-hydroxide. More retardation and incomplete breakthrough of the CMC-ANTNPs was observed in the mineral-coated sands. This is possibly due to an order of magnitude increase in ...
Mott transition in multiorbital models for iron pnictides

The bad-metal behavior of the iron pnictides has motivated a theoretical description in terms of a proximity to Mott localization. Since the parent compounds of the iron pnictides contain an even number of 3d electrons per Fe, it is important to determine whether a Mott transition robustly exists and clarify the nature of the possible Mott insulating phases. We address these issues in a minimal two-orbital model and a more realistic four-orbital model for the parent iron pnictides using a slave-spin approach. In the two-orbital model with two electrons per Fe, we identify a single transition from a metal to a Mott insulator, showing that this transition must exist as a result of orbital degeneracy. Depending on the ratio between the inter- and intraorbital Coulomb repulsions, the insulating state can be either a high-spin Mott insulator or a low-spin orbital-Mott insulator. In the four-orbital model with four electrons per Fe, we find a rich phase diagram for the metal-to-insulator transition. At strong Hund's couplings, a localization transition to a high-spin Mott insulator always occurs. At zero and weak Hund's couplings, on the other hand, we find a transition to an intermediate-spin insulating state. This transition can be viewed as an orbitally selective metal-to-insulator transition: the transition to a Mott insulator in the $xz$ and $yz$ orbitals takes place at the same critical coupling as the transition to either a band insulator at zero Hund's coupling or an orbitally polarized insulator at weak but finite Hund's coupling in the $xy$ and ${x}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{y}^{2}$ orbitals. The implications of our model studies for the physics of iron pnictides and iron chalcogenides are discussed.
Exploratory behaviour of young domestic fowl

Abstract Under the hypothesis that young domestic fowl, Gallus gallus , are motivated to seek opportunities to explore novel stimuli, it was predicted that broiler chickens would show greater motivation to enter peripheral space if it contained (a) novel objects (changed daily) than if it was (b) empty or contained (c) essential resources (food, water, heat) or (d) supplementary resources (peat moss, straw bale, elevated platform). Sixteen pens, each containing 100 chickens, were set up with a home area containing essential resources and an adjacent peripheral area of the same size to which the chickens were allowed access for 3 h daily by opening a gate. There were four replicate pens on each of four treatments varying in the resources (a–d) provided in the peripheral area. During week 6, continuous video recordings showed that more chickens on the novel objects treatment ran into the peripheral area during the first 5 min after the gates were opened than did chickens on the other three treatments ( P P >0.05). The results support the hypothesis that the chickens were motivated to seek opportunities to explore novel stimuli.
Structural Solutions for Additively Coupled Sum Constrained Games

We propose and analyze a new family of games played by resource-constrained players. In particular, each strategic user has a single sum resource constraint over its action space and its own action impacts its own payoff through additive combinations of the other users' actions. We investigate convergence properties of various solutions for these games with and without real-time information exchange. First, when users cannot exchange messages with each other, but desire to maximize their individual utilities, we derive sufficient conditions under which best response dynamics converges to a globally asymptotically stable Nash equilibrium. Second, when users can exchange price signals in real-time to achieve coordination, we also establish the convergence properties of two action update mechanisms, including gradient play and Jacobi update. The investigated game model and our proposed solutions are readily applicable to various multi-user interaction, including communication networking applications, such as power control and flow control.
Perinatal Risks and Childhood Premorbid Indicators of Later Psychosis: Next Steps for Early Psychosocial Interventions

Schizophrenia and affective psychoses are debilitating disorders that together affect 2%-3% of the adult population. Approximately 50%-70% of the offspring of parents with schizophrenia manifest a range of observable difficulties including socioemotional, cognitive, neuromotor, speech-language problems, and psychopathology, and roughly 10% will develop psychosis. Despite the voluminous work on premorbid vulnerabilities to psychosis, especially on schizophrenia, the work on premorbid intervention approaches is scarce. While later interventions during the clinical high-risk (CHR) phase of psychosis, characterized primarily by attenuated positive symptoms, are promising, the CHR period is a relatively late phase of developmental derailment. This article reviews and proposes potential targets for psychosocial interventions during the premorbid period, complementing biological interventions described by others in this Special Theme issue. Beginning with pregnancy, parents with psychoses may benefit from enhanced prenatal care, social support, parenting skills, reduction of symptoms, and programs that are family-centered. For children at risk, we propose preemptive early intervention and cognitive remediation. Empirical research is needed to evaluate these interventions for parents and determine whether interventions for parents and children positively influence the developmental course of the offspring.
Laparoscopic endobiliary stenting significantly improves success of postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in low-volume centers.

Background: Occult common bile duct stones (CBDS) discovered during laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiography are most often managed by postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Expert endoscopists at high-volume centers achieve common bile duct cannulation in nearly all patients undergoing ERCP, but cannulation rates of less than 80% have been observed in low-volume centers. As many as 20% of patients with CBDS referred for postoperative ERCP in low-volume centers may require repeated attempts at ERCP, referral to a high-volume center, percutaneous transhepatic techniques, or reoperation for clearance of CBDS when postoperative ERCP fails. Methods: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiography performed in 511 consecutive patients over 80 months at a community hospital showed occult CBDS in 66 patients (12.9%). Laparoscopic endobiliary stent placement was successful in 65 patients (98.5%). As part of an earlier study, 16 patients underwent laparoscopic common bile duct exploration with clearance of CBDS before stent placement. Laparoscopic endobiliary stent placement failed in one patient for whom CBDS were cleared with intraoperative ERCP. Results: Initial postoperative ERCP was successful in clearing CBDS in all 65 patients (100%) with laparoscopically placed stents. During the same period, 611 patients underwent ERCP for various indications including CBDS (43%). Selective cannulation was achieved in 78% of all patients during initial ERCP. Conclusions: Laparoscopic endobiliary stent placement is an effective adjunct to the management of occult CBDS. Laparoscopic endobiliary stenting ensures selective cannulation during postoperative ERCP and eliminates the need for repeated attempts at ERCP, referral to specialty centers, use of transhepatic techniques, or reoperation for retained CBDS. Laparoscopic endobiliary stent placement for treatment of occult CBDS significantly improves the success of postoperative ERCP in low-volume centers and eliminates the morbidity and expense of repeated procedures.
Mechanisms of cytotoxicity of asbestos fibres in rat tracheal epithelial cells in culture

Little is known about the mechanism(s) of asbestos toxicity, especially in respiratory epithelium. Studies were carried out to elucidate some important aspects of the cytotoxic effects of asbestos, using a tracheal epithelial cell line in culture. Chrysotile and crocidolite asbestos with similar aspect ratios were used. Both induced in 2C5 cells a concentration-dependent inhibition of colony-forming ability, a measure of proliferative capacity. In this respect, chrysotile (LC(50), 0.95 mug/cm(2)) was about six times more toxic than crocidolite (LC(50), 5.8 mug/cm(2)). Both types of asbestos caused only minor changes in membrane permeability, measured by trypan blue exclusion and by [(75)Se]selenomethionine release, even at concentrations of asbestos that caused > 90% inhibition in colony formation. Thus membrane damage was only a minor component of the toxicity produced by the fibres. Chrysotile was phagocytized much more readily than crocidolite and produced an approximately threefold greater increase in binucleated cells and micronuclei than crocidolite, suggesting that phagocytosis was the rate-limiting step in fibre toxicity. Our studies suggest a potentially important pathway of fibre toxicity involving binding, phagocytosis, nuclear damage, disruption of mitosis, inhibition of proliferation and/or cell death. In this process, the fibre aspect ratio is not the only determinant of fibre toxicity, since chrysotile and crocidolite fibres of similar length and diameter exhibit very different degrees of toxicity. It appears that other fibre characteristics, such as fibre surface charge, are of equal importance.
The public dialogue consortium's school-wide dialogue process: a communicative approach to develop citizenship skills and enhance school climate

A school-wide dialogue process was developed in the context of a community-wide project and designed to develop citizenship skills and enhance school climate. As we worked on the project, we were self-reflexively aware of working from a particular theory (the coordinated management of meaning, or CMM) and developing that theory in the process. Our reflections led to 3 criteria for evaluating our work and practical theory in general: engaging in continuing conversations with participants, practitioners, and theorists; celebrating and working with the interests of the participants; and developing principles and models that increase the abilities of all involved in the project to describe what is happening perspicaciously and to act into unfinished situations prudently. These criteria are consonant with a particular theoretical temperament: taking a participant's perspective on social worlds understood as pluralistic in which the theorist's goal is the continued exercise of curiosity. The 5-phase, 10-step SHEDD model was developed in successive iterations of the dialogue process and is presented as an example of the work of practical theorists.
The singular value decomposition applied to linear imaging with rectangular arrays

Two-dimensional arrays find applications in many imaging systems. The concept of the sum coarray of an active imaging system is used to develop techniques which allow a (P+Q)-element, L-shaped array to perform as well as a filled rectangular array composed of (P+1)(Q+1)/2 elements. This result is true for linear, narrowband imaging of far-field objects, and is achieved through additional processing of the data obtained from the L-shaped array. A convenient procedure is formulated in terms of the singular value decomposition of a particular matrix, after which the technique is extended to other array geometries and to passive imaging. >
Energy savings and emissions reductions associated with increased insulation for new homes in the United States

Abstract Residential energy efficiency measures can influence air pollutant emissions from power plants and residential combustion sources, with corresponding influences on public health and climate change. However, studies to date have not quantified national-scale benefits using models that account for variability in state housing codes and complexities in energy consumption patterns and electricity markets. In this study, we used the energy simulation software EnergyPlus within a high-performance computing platform to estimate the energy savings associated with increased residential insulation for a cohort of 665,000 new homes built in the United States in 2013. We linked hourly electricity savings with state-specific electricity dispatch models and quantified emissions reductions from power plants and residential combustion sources. We estimated reductions of 180 GWh of electricity and 840 million SCF of natural gas per year, among other combustion fuels, resulting in annual emissions reductions of 470,000 tons of carbon dioxide, 1,100,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and 770,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides. Our findings indicate that including the monetary value of health and climate benefits significantly reduces the payback period for energy efficiency investments, and our modeling platform allows for rapid comprehensive analyses of the economic and environmental benefits of alternative energy efficiency measures.
Layered Frequency-Domain Equalization for Single Carrier MIMO Systems with Multiple Carrier Frequency Offsets

In this paper, carrier frequency offsets (CFOs) are considered in a layered frequency-domain equalization (LFDE) architecture for a single carrier (SC) broadband wireless multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system. At each layer of detection, a group of best data streams are selected to be equalized and reliably detected via removing the phase and amplitude distortion caused by the multiple CFOs. The estimated phase rotations and amplitude scalars are required to be compensated to the detected data streams in order to reconstruct the interference signals which are canceled out from the received signals. Instead of direct estimation of CFOs, our algorithm is to estimate the phase rotations and amplitude scalars in a group-wise fashion, which dramatically reduces the computational complexity at receiver. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed LFDE with phase compensation architecture can provide good performance for a MIMO system impaired by CFOs over unbalanced multi-path channels with long delay spread. We also show that the performance will be improved if more layers are used at receivers.
Characterization of L1 retrotransposition with high-throughput dual-luciferase assays

Recent studies employing genome-wide approaches have provided an unprecedented view of the scope of L1 activities on structural variations in the human genome, and further reinforced the role of L1s as one of the major driving forces behind human genome evolution. The rapid identification of novel L1 elements by these high-throughput approaches demands improved L1 functional assays. However, the existing assays use antibiotic selection markers or fluorescent proteins as reporters; neither is amenable to miniaturization. To increase assay sensitivity and throughput, we have developed a third generation assay by using dual-luciferase reporters, in which firefly luciferase is used as the retrotransposition indicator and Renilla luciferase is encoded on the same or separate plasmid for normalization. This novel assay is highly sensitive and has a broad dynamic range. Quantitative data with high signal-to-noise ratios can be obtained from 24- up to 96-well plates in 2-4 days after transfection. Using the dual-luciferase assays, we have characterized profiles of retrotransposition by various human and mouse L1 elements, and detailed the kinetics of L1 retrotransposition in cultured cells. Its high-throughput and short assay timeframe make it well suited for routine tests as well as large-scale screening efforts.
Direct Binding of the Ligand PSG17 to CD9 Requires a CD9 Site Essential for Sperm-Egg Fusion

The function currently attributed to tetraspanins is to organize molecular complexes in the plasma membrane by using multiple cis-interactions. Additionally, the tetraspanin CD9 may be a receptor that binds the soluble ligand PSG17, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF)/CEA subfamily. However, previous data are also consistent with the PSG17 receptor being a CD9 cis-associated protein. In the current study, CD9 extracellular loop (EC2) specifically bound to PSG17-coated beads, indicating a direct interaction between the two proteins. However, CD9-EC2 did not bind to PSG17-coated beads if the CD9-EC2 had the mutation SFQ (173-175) to AAA, a previously studied mutation in egg CD9 that abolishes sperm-egg fusion. Also, PSG17 bound to 293 T cells transfected with wild-type CD9 but not the mutant CD9. By immunofluorescence, PSG17 bound to wild-type eggs but not to CD9 null eggs. The presence of ∼2 μM recombinant PSG17 produced a significant and reversible inhibition (60-80%) of sperm-egg fusion. Thus, we conclude that CD9 is a receptor for PSG17 and when the PSG17 binding site is mutated or occupied, sperm-egg fusion is impaired. These findings suggest that egg CD9 may function in gamete fusion by binding to a sperm IgSF/CEA subfamily member and such proteins have previously been identified on sperm.
Genetic Variation and Adaptation in Africa: Implications for Human Evolution and Disease

Because modern humans originated in Africa and have adapted to diverse environments, African populations have high levels of genetic and phenotypic diversity. Thus, genomic studies of diverse African ethnic groups are essential for understanding human evolutionary history and how this leads to differential disease risk in all humans. Comparative studies of genetic diversity within and between African ethnic groups creates an opportunity to reconstruct some of the earliest events in human population history and are useful for identifying patterns of genetic variation that have been influenced by recent natural selection. Here we describe what is currently known about genetic variation and evolutionary history of diverse African ethnic groups. We also describe examples of recent natural selection in African genomes and how these data are informative for understanding the frequency of many genetic traits, including those that cause disease susceptibility in African populations and populations of recent African descent.
Regional data refine local predictions: modeling the distribution of plant species abundance on a portion of the central plains

Species distribution models are frequently used to predict species occurrences in novel conditions, yet few studies have examined the consequences of extrapolating locally collected data to regional landscapes. Similarly, the process of using regional data to inform local prediction for species distribution models has not been adequately evaluated. Using boosted regression trees, we examined errors associated with extrapolating models developed with locally collected abundance data to regional-scale spatial extents and associated with using regional data for predictions at a local extent for a native and non-native plant species across the northeastern central plains of Colorado. Our objectives were to compare model results and accuracy between those developed locally and extrapolated regionally, those developed regionally and extrapolated locally, and to evaluate extending species distribution modeling from predicting the probability of presence to predicting abundance. We developed models to predict the spatial distribution of plant species abundance using topographic, remotely sensed, land cover and soil taxonomic predictor variables. We compared model predicted mean and range abundance values to observed values between local and regional. We also evaluated model prediction performance based on Pearson’s correlation coefficient. We show that: (1) extrapolating local models to regional extents may restrict predictions, (2) regional data can help refine and improve local predictions, and (3) boosted regression trees can be useful to model and predict plant species abundance. Regional sampling designed in concert with large sampling frameworks such as the National Ecological Observatory Network may improve our ability to monitor changes in local species abundance.
Application of prebiotics and probiotics in poultry production

The intestinal microbiota, epithelium, and immune system provide resistance to enteric pathogens. Recent data suggest that resistance is not solely due to the sum of the components, but that cross-talk between these components is also involved in modulating this resistance. Inhibition of pathogens by the intestinal microbiota has been called bacterial antagonism, bacterial interference, barrier effect, colonization resistance, and competitive exclusion. Mechanisms by which the indigenous intestinal bacteria inhibit pathogens include competition for colonization sites, competition for nutrients, production of toxic compounds, or stimulation of the immune system. These mechanisms are not mutually exclusive, and inhibition may comprise one, several, or all of these mechanisms. Consumption of fermented foods has been associated with improved health, and lactic acid bacteria (lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) have been implicated as the causative agents for this improved health. Research over the last century has shown that lactic acid bacteria and certain other microorganisms can increase resistance to disease and that lactic acid bacteria can be enriched in the intestinal tract by feeding specific carbohydrates. Increased bacterial resistance to antibiotics in humans has caused an increase in public and governmental interest in eliminating sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics in livestock. An alternative approach to sub-therapeutic antibiotics in livestock is the use of probiotic microorganisms, prebiotic substrates that enrich certain bacterial populations, or synbiotic combinations of prebiotics and probiotics. Research is focused on identifying beneficial bacterial strains and substrates along with the conditions under which they are effective.