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Background Auditory system plasticity is a promising target for neuromodulation, cognitive rehabilitation and therapeutic development in schizophrenia (SZ). Auditory-based targeted cognitive training (TCT) is a 'bottom up' intervention designed to enhance the speed and accuracy of auditory information processing, which has been shown to improve neurocognition in certain SZ patients. However, the dynamics of TCT learning as a function of training exercises and their impact on neurocognitive functioning and therapeutic outcomes are unknown. Methods Forty subjects (SZ, n = 21; healthy subjects (HS), n = 19) underwent comprehensive clinical, cognitive, and auditory assessments, including measurements of auditory processing speed (APS) at baseline and after 1-h of TCT. SZ patients additionally completed 30-hours of TCT and repeated assessments ~10–12 weeks later. Results SZ patients were deficient in APS at baseline (d = 0.96, p < 0.005) relative to HS. After 1-h of TCT, analyses revealed significant main effects of diagnosis (d = 1.75, p = 0.002) and time (d = 1.04, p < 0.001), and a diagnosis × time interaction (d = 0.85, p = 0.02) on APS. APS learning effects were robust after 1-h in SZ patients (d = 1.47, p < 0.001) and persisted throughout the 30-h of training. Baseline APS was associated with verbal learning gains after 30-h of TCT (r = 0.51, p = 0.02) in SZ. Conclusions TCT learning metrics may have prognostic utility and aid in the prospective identification of individuals likely to benefit from TCT. Future experimental medicine studies may advance predictive algorithms that enhance TCT-related clinical, cognitive and functional outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychotic experiences have been framed as a marker of mental and physical health status; however, more research is needed to confirm these associations in university populations. We analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Survey (Fall Semester Cohort 2020), which is a non-probability sample of students attending one of 28 universities in the United States, who completed an online survey (September 2020–December 2020). We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the associations between several mental and physical health conditions and psychotic experiences, adjusting for age, gender, sexual orientation race/ethnicity, and international student status. In terms of mental health, all conditions were associated with greater odds of having lifetime psychotic experiences. Having at least one mental health condition was associated with 2.18 times greater odds of having lifetime psychotic experiences (aOR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.96–2.42). In terms of physical health, having at least one physical health condition was associated with 1.37 times greater odds of having lifetime psychotic experiences (aOR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.22–1.53), but only four conditions were associated with greater odds of lifetime psychotic experiences, which were: asthma, gastrointestinal disease, HIV/AIDS, and other chronic disease. The counts of mental and physical health conditions were associated with greater odds of lifetime psychotic experiences in a dose-dependent fashion. Psychotic experiences appear to be an indicator for mental health problems and some physical health problems. More research is needed to determine whether assessing for psychotic experiences broadly can help identify at-risk individuals in university settings who may benefit from targeted preventive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how the sorting and separating of pupils into entangled categories of social/cultural disadvantage and disability in the 1960s through the 1980s created populations of concern. Even though the United States and Germany are typically contrasted in their approaches to inclusive education, a new scientisation of the "social" had similar effects in both countries. While inclusion is usually presumed as the opposite of segregation, we examine how distinct curricula – often administered in separate classrooms or schools – became deemed essential to prepare target populations for eventual inclusion. In the United States, demands for desegregation and mainstreaming were met in part with the design of curricula and instructional strategies for populations marked by categories of disability and/or cultural disadvantage. In West Germany, similar pedagogies appeared in materials designed for special and lower-track schools aimed at pupils classified as learning disabled and/or socio-culturally disadvantaged. Drawing on archival analysis of research journals, reports, and curricular materials from both countries, we examine how science pedagogies constituted social/cultural disadvantage and/or disability as a type of learner with limited experiences requiring compensation and emotional needs requiring affective calibration. Similar practices produced these populations of concern, enclosing them in a pre-scholastic intervention space and prescribing targeted strategies as necessary for their integration as healthy, responsible citizens. At stake is understanding how curricular differentiation directed to previously excluded groups can generate new subdivisions of the social – authorising separate (and unequally positioned) instruction in the name of inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender differences may play a role in functional outcomes for individuals with schizophrenia. To better understand differences, an exploratory secondary analysis was conducted using data from a large, multi-site study of individuals with schizophrenia in treatment at Veterans Affairs medical centers. Participants completed surveys at baseline (n = 801; 734 men, 67 women) to assess demographics, symptoms, social supports, and recovery; and one year (n = 662; 604 men, 58 women) to assess quality of life and functioning. Hierarchical linear regressions examined interactions of baseline factors with functioning and quality of life. Women and men did not differ significantly in baseline social support, psychiatric symptoms, or recovery. Female gender predicted higher occupational functioning, while social functioning in men was inversely related to baseline symptom severity. Being married predicted higher quality of life for women, but not men. These findings may inform gender tailoring of services for schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive alcohol intake, e.g., binge drinking, is a serious and mounting public health problem in the United States and throughout the world. Hence the need for novel insights into the underlying neurobiology that may help improve prevention and therapeutic strategies. Therefore, our group employed a darkness-induced alcohol intake protocol to define the reward deficiency domains of alcohol and other substance use disorders in terms of reward pathways' reduced dopamine signaling and its restoration via specifically-designed therapeutic compounds. It has been determined that KCNK13 and RASGRF2 genes, respectively, code for potassium two pore domain channel subfamily K member 13 and Ras-specific guanine nucleotide-releasing factor 2, and both genes have important dopamine-related functions pertaining to alcohol binge drinking. We present a hypothesis that identification of KCNK13 and RASGRF2 genes' risk polymorphism, coupled with genetic addiction risk score (GARS)-guided precision pro-dopamine regulation, will mitigate binge alcohol drinking. Accordingly, we review published reports on the benefits of this unique approach and provide data on favorable outcomes for both binge-drinking animals and drunk drivers, including reductions in alcohol intake and prevention of relapse to drinking behavior. Since driving under the influence of alcohol often leads to incarceration rather than rehabilitation, there is converging evidence to support the utilization of GARS with or without KCNK13 and RASGRF2 risk polymorphism in the legal arena, whereby the argument that "determinism" overrides the "free will" account may be a plausible defense strategy. Obviously, this type of research is tantamount to helping resolve a major problem related to polydrug abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) is a commonly used organophosphate flame retardant and plasticizer in the United States. Using zebrafish as a model, the overall objective of this study was to identify potential organs that might be targeted by TPHP during embryonic development. Based on mRNA-sequencing, TPHP exposure from 24 to 30 h post fertilization (hpf) and 24 to 48 hpf significantly affected the abundance of 305 and 274 transcripts, respectively, relative to vehicle (0.1% DMSO) controls. In addition to minor effects on cardiotoxicity- and nephrotoxicity-related pathways, ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) of significantly affected transcripts within 30- and 48-hpf embryos revealed that hepatotoxicity-related pathways were strongly affected following exposure to TPHP-alone. Moreover, although pretreatment with fenretinide (a retinoic acid receptor agonist) mitigated TPHP-induced pericardial edema and liver enlargement at 72 and 128 hpf, respectively, IPA revealed that fenretinide was unable to block TPHP-induced effects on cardiotoxicity-, nephrotoxicity-, and hepatotoxicity-related pathways at 48 hpf, suggesting that TPHP-induced effects on the transcriptome were not associated with toxicity later in development. In addition, based on Oil Red O staining, we found that exposure to TPHP nearly abolished neutral lipids from the embryonic head and trunk and, based on metabolomics, significantly decreased the total abundance of metabolites—including betaine, a known osmoprotectant—at 48 and 72 hpf. Overall, our data suggest that, in addition to the heart, TPHP exposure during early development results in adverse effects on the liver, lipid utilization, and osmoregulation within embryonic zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of research to date has attributed the pollution problems associated with agriculture to the independent decisions of individual farmers; in this article, we illustrate how seed companies' subtle forms of coercion encourage farmers to become compliant polluters. We focus on corn farmers in the midwestern United States, whose management decisions have become increasingly controlled by seed companies. Beyond obvious forms of control, seed companies influence farmers in ways that are less apparent. Drawing from Foucault's concept of disciplinary power, we explore how seed companies have encouraged farmers to increase their application of nitrogen fertilizer through disciplinary mechanisms that naturalize the imposition of constraints. We argue that seed companies employ disciplinary techniques related to the biology of the seed, the product life cycle, and knowledge. While most farmers believe their fertilizer decisions are made independently, these disciplinary techniques compel farmers to increase nitrogen fertilizer application, resulting in increased water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, scholars debating the choice between emissions trading and a pollution tax as environmental policy instruments have not considered interactions between policies. Instead, they consider these environmental protection instruments in isolation. But governments usually do not rely on a tax or trading program exclusively to address significant environmental problems. Instead, a pollution tax or a trading program almost always operates in conjunction with other programs. The existence of multiple programs raises the question of which market-based instrument works best with other programs. This Article focuses on this question. This Article argues that a pollution tax works much better with other programs than emissions trading. A pollution tax provides an added impetus for pollution sources to accept complementary regulation. Pollution sources carrying out other requirements to reduce emissions end up reducing their tax bill and further enhancing environmental quality. Furthermore, because every ton of pollution remains subject to a tax, polluters acquire an incentive to consider going further than required when a more specific reduction requirement applies to them. By contrast, a trading program systematically undermines supplemental measures. Additional programs do not usually generate extra emission reductions, as any additional pollution reductions arising from a supplemental program will usually generate credits that can be sold to polluters as a substitute for their local compliance with the trading program. As a result, a new program working together with trading often raises compliance cost and limits flexibility without necessarily adding environmental benefits. For these reasons, emissions trading will have the tendency to retard the development of robust multi-faceted approaches to environmental problems. This Article asks whether a pollution tax's superiority in "playing nice with other instruments" constitutes an important advantage, and concludes that for a complex long-term problem like transboundary air pollution, it does. Indeed, this Article shows that this ability to play nice with other instruments, at least in some contexts, matters a great deal more than the efficiency and simplicity arguments that scholars have conventionally focused on in debating instrument choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern biotechnology has the potential to substantially advance the feasibility, structure, and efficiency of future biofuel supply chains. Advances might be direct or indirect. A direct advance would be improving the efficiency of biochemical conversion processes and feedstock production. Direct advances in processing may involve developing improved enzymes and bacteria to convert lignocellulosic feedstocks to ethanol. Progress in feedstock production could include enhancing crop yields via genetic modification or the selection of specific natural variants and breeds. Other direct results of biotechnology might increase the production of fungible biofuels and bioproducts, which would impact the supply chain. Indirect advances might include modifications to dedicated bioenergy crops that enable them to grow on marginal lands rather than land needed for food production. This study assesses the feasibility and advantages of near-future (10-year) biotechnological developments for a US biomass-based supply chain for bioenergy production. We assume a simplified supply chain of feedstock, logistics and land use, conversion, and products and utilization. The primary focus is how likely developments in feedstock production and conversion technologies will impact bioenergy and biofuels in the USA; a secondary focus is other innovative uses of biotechnologies in the energy arenas. The assessment addresses near-term biofuels based on starch, sugar, and cellulosic feedstocks and considers some longer-term options, such as oil-crop and algal technologies. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The level of shareholder participation in the determination of executive compensation has emerged, in recent years, as one of the most intensively debated fields in the area of modern corporate governance. A say-on-pay regime was implemented, for the first time, in the UK in 2002, but a decisive tipping point may well have been reached in July 2010 when the US Congress adopted a new set of rules under which all US listed companies are required, starting in the 2011 proxy season, to put a vote with respect to executive compensation on the agenda of their annual meetings. The recent financial crisis also prompted the enactment of a say-on-pay vote requirement in Germany. By contrast, in Switzerland, the principle of such a shareholder vote is still being debated among experts and laymen alike. In all likelihood, Swiss voters will be consulted in 2012 or 2013 on whether or not a say-on-pay regime, whose terms are rather stringent in international comparison, should be carved into the Swiss Constitution. After a review of the rules implemented or discussed in the four jurisdictions mentioned above, the authors will argue that say-on-pay votes are, by and large, a convincing concept to enhance the corporate governance of the large public firm. It is crucial however that the modalities of such a shareholder vote be tailored to the different corporate governance structures prevailing in various jurisdictions. Finally, the authors comment on, and recommend a series of improvements with respect to, the say-on-pay provisions that have been implemented or discussed in the four jurisdictions which are addressed in this contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the impact of acamprosate on the central glutamate levels in alcohol-addicted people as estimated through magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). The study conducted a 4-week random medical experiment involving 33 alcohol-dependent patients at the U.S. National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. The study concluded that the MRS measures of central glutamate decline as time passes when acamprostate therapy is performed during the process of patients avoiding alcohol intake.

A chronic noncancer toxicity assessment for 1,3-butadiene (BD) has been conducted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) using information not available to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) in 2002. The TCEQ developed a chronic reference value (ReV) of 33 μg/m3 (15 ppb). The chronic ReV is based on the same animal study and critical endpoint used by U.S. EPA for ovarian atrophy in B6C3F1 mice, but uses mode of action (MOA) information that indicates the diepoxide metabolite is responsible for ovarian atrophy. In addition, diepoxide-specific hemoglobin adduct data in mice, rats, and humans and other experimental data that became available after 2002 were used to support a conservative data-derived toxicokinetic animal-to-human uncertainty factor (UFA) of 0.3. The default toxicodynamic UFA of 3 was used, together with the data-derived toxicokinetic UFA of 0.3, resulting in a total UFA of 1. The necessary experimental data were not available to calculate a chemical-specific adjustment factor, although supporting data suggest the toxicokinetic UFA may range from 0.01 to 0.2. The chronic ReV value, along with a unit risk factor developed by the TCEQ, will be used to evaluate ambient air monitoring data so that the general public is protected against adverse health effects from chronic exposure to BD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A list of the topics discussed at the 2009 North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology Annual Meeting held from September 21-26, 2009 in San Antonio, Texas is presented including a paper on rattlesnake bites in the U.S., trends in teen opoid abuse and a case study on lionfish sting induced paralysis.

The article presents abstracts of the 2009 North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology which includes research on the communication patterns for serious poison center calls, the importance of poison center data in predicting poisoning trends and the number of rattlesnake bites in the U.S. from 2000-2007.

A list of U.S. and Canadian dissertations by subject matter is presented. In the category of African Art "In-Visible Colonies: Modern Architecture and Its Representation in Colonial Eritrea, 1890-1941," by Sean Anderson is listed. "Gothic Revival Architecture in Atlantic Canada," by Peter Goffsman is presented under the Architectural History heading. In the Art of the U.S. group is "American Artists' Frames: Paintings, Environments, and Viewers 1869-1920," by Caroline Older.

The aims of this study were to optimize image quality for indirect CT venography (sequential versus spiral), and to evaluate different image reconstruction parameters for patients with suspected deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Fifty-one patients (26/25 with/without DVT) were prospectively evaluated for pulmonary embolism (PE) with standard multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) protocols. Retrospective image reconstruction was done with different slice thicknesses and reconstruction increments in sequential and spiral modes. All reconstructions were read for depiction of DVT and to evaluate best reconstruction parameters in comparison with the thinnest reconstruction ("gold standard"). Image noise and venous enhancement were measured as objective criteria for image quality. Subjective image quality was rated on a four-point scale. Effective dose was estimated for all reconstructions. In sequential 10/50 reconstruction DVT was completely detected in 13/26 cases, partially in 10/26 cases and was not detected at all in 3/26 cases, and 15/26, 9/26 and 2/26 cases for the 10/20 reconstruction, respectively. DVT was completely detected in all spiral reconstructions. Image noise ranged between 14.8-29.1 HU. Median image quality was 2. Estimated effective dose ranged between 2.3 mSv and 11.8 mSv. Gaps in sequential protocols may lead to false negative results. Therefore, spiral scanning protocols for complete depiction of DVT are mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a list of U.S. and Canadian dissertations on the topic of art and architecture, which are in progress in 2004.

Presents a list of U.S. dissertations in 2003. "In-Visible Colonies: Modern Architecture and Its Representation in Colonial Eritrea From 1890 to 1941," by Sean S. Anderson; "Negotiating Masculinity: Male Initiation and Associated Arts of the Makonde Peoples," by Alexander Bortolot; "A Social Architectonics of Science Fiction Film Design," by Marcia Blackburn.

Presents a list of U.S. and Canadian dissertations on arts from December 1, 2001 to November 30, 2002.

Investigates the interrelationship of technology, concepts of progress, the sense of the sublime and the death penalty in nineteenth-century America. Shift in the concept of the sublime in the nineteenth century; Developments in the technology field; Importance of electricity in the field of natural forces destined for subjugation by technological progress and for the alleged perfection of civilization; Emergence of electric execution during the period.

U–Pb geochronology, palynology, and lithostratigraphy were employed on the Late Cretaceous rocks in southern Alberta and Montana to solve litho- and chronostratigraphic correlation problems. In the outcrop area around Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park, southern Alberta, the Milk River Formation has a Santonian to possibly very earliest Campanian age and was deposited between ~84.5 Ma and 83.5 Ma. In southern Montana, the Eagle Formation was deposited from ~83.5 Ma to 81.2 Ma, and contains different lithologies and depositional environments as opposed to southern Alberta. In north-central Montana, the Telegraph Creek Formation and Virgelle and Deadhorse Coulee members are equivalent in depositional environments and time to those of the Milk River Formation in southern Alberta. The upper Eagle member, however, has no time- or facies-equivalent rocks around Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park, but is time equivalent to the Alderson Member of the Lea Park Formation in southeastern Alberta. A hiatus of ~2.5 Ma is present between the top of the Milk River Formation in the outcrop area and the basal beds of the Pakowki Formation. The Pakowki transgression occurred at around 81.0 Ma based on a U–Pb zircon age of 80.7 ± 0.2 Ma from bentonite beds just above the bottom of the Pakowki Formation in southern Alberta. This age agrees with previous ages of 80.7 ± 0.6 Ma for the Ardmore Bentonite Beds and ~81.0 Ma for the Claggett transgression in southern Montana.Afin de résoudre des problèmes de corrélations lithostratigraphiques et chronostratigraphiques, on s'est servi de géochronologie U–Pb, de palynologie et de lithostratigraphie sur des roches du Crétacé tardif du sud de l'Alberta et du Montana. Dans la région des affleurements autour du parc provincial de Writing-On-Stone, au sud de l'Alberta, la Formation de Milk River date possiblement du Santonien au Campanien très précoce et aurait été déposée il y a environ 84,5 à 83,5 Ma. Dans le sud du Montana, la Formation Eagle a été déposée il y a environ 83,5 à 81,2 Ma; elle présente des lithologies et des milieux de déposition différents de ceux du sud de l'Alberta. Dans le centre-nord du Montana, la Formation de Telegraph Creek et les membres Virgelle et Deadhorse Coulee ont des milieux et des temps de déposition équivalents à ceux de la Formation de Milk River du sud de l'Alberta. Toutefois, le membre supérieur de Eagle n'a d'équivalent ni dans le temps ni dans les faciès dans les roches autour du parc provincial de Writing-On-Stone, mais il est équivalent dans le temps au membre Alderson de la Formation de Lea Park dans le sud-est de l'Alberta. Il existe un hiatus d'environ 2,5 Ma entre le sommet de la Formation de Milk River dans la région des affleurements et les lits à la base de la Formation de Pakowki. La transgression de Pakowki a eu lieu vers 81,0 Ma selon une détermination d'âge U–Pb de 80,7 ± 0,2 Ma sur un échantillon de zircon provenant de lits de bentonite juste au-dessus de la base de la Formation de Pakowki dans le sud de l'Alberta. Cet âge concorde avec des âges obtenus antérieurement de 80,7 ± 0,6 Ma pour les lits de bentonite Ardmore et d'environ 81,0 Ma pour la transgression de Claggett dans le sud du Montana.[Traduit par la Rédaction] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the list of college fraternities and sororities in the U.S.

Examines the pricing of innovations of the agricultural biotechnology industry in the U.S. Effect of the pricing of innovations on the magnitude and distribution of resulting welfare gains; Impact of competition across production systems on the exercise of power by suppliers; Evaluation of producer's returns to planting patented seed innovations.

This article analyzes the effects of foreign patent rights on U.S. bilateral exports. The empirical analysis covers three highly disaggregated drug industries over three decades. We estimate bilateral trade equations for each industry using cross-country data on the strength of national patent rights. The findings show that strong foreign patent rights enhance the market power of U.S. drug exporters across countries with weak imitative abilities. Alternatively, strong foreign patent rights stimulate the market expansion of U.S. drug exports across countries with strong imitative abilities. These effects are larger in magnitude during the 1980–90s relative to the 1970s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which described a flap gate design developed by the Irrigation Training and Research Center in California Polytechnic State University for automatic upstream canal water level control. Description of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program used in the flap gate design procedure; Factors which were considered in the design; Discussion.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of cardiac development and regeneration will improve diagnostic and therapeutic interventions against heart disease. In this direction, zebrafish is an excellent model because several processes of zebrafish heart development are largely conserved in humans, and zebrafish has several advantages as a model organism. Zebrafish transcriptomic profiles undergo alterations during different stages of cardiac development and regeneration which are revealed by RNA-sequencing. ChIP-sequencing has detected genome-wide occupancy of histone post-translational modifications that epigenetically regulate gene expression and identified a locus with enhancer-like characteristics. ATAC-sequencing has identified active enhancers in cardiac progenitor cells during early developmental stages which overlap with occupancy of histone modifications of active transcription as determined by ChIP-sequencing. CRISPR-mediated editing of the zebrafish genome shows how chromatin modifiers and DNA-binding proteins regulate heart development, in association with crucial signaling pathways. Hence, more studies in this direction are essential to improve human health because they answer fundamental questions on cardiac development and regeneration, their differences, and why zebrafish hearts regenerate upon injury, unlike humans. This review focuses on some of the latest studies using state-of-the-art technology enabled by the elegant yet simple zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on topics related to chemical physics in the United States. Vibration-rotation laser spectroscopy of negative ions; Role of vibrational motion on chemical reactions and structural phase transitions; Dynamics of surface rate processes.

Presents an index on the names of various authors published in the November 2003 issue of the journal Evolution and Development in the U.S.

The author discusses oral histories in meteoritics and planetary science in the U.S. He is critical on the role of an oral history which is to obtain perspectives and perceptions through documenting record. He also mentions the programs of scientific organizations in obtaining and archiving oral histories such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the American Institute of Physics.

Focuses on the applications of contact x-ray microscopy in the United States. Use of x-ray sources and high magnification of an electron microscope; Procedure on contact x-ray microscopy; Availability of synchrotron as source for soft x rays.