cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pan-cancer evaluation of gene expression and somatic alteration data for cancer prognosis prediction.

Background Over the past decades, approaches for diagnosing and treating cancer have seen significant improvement. However, the variability of patient and tumor characteristics has limited progress on methods for prognosis prediction. The development of high-throughput omics technologies now provides multiple approaches for characterizing tumors. Although a large number of published studies have focused on integration of multi-omics data and use of pathway-level models for cancer prognosis prediction, there still exists a gap of knowledge regarding the prognostic landscape across multi-omics data for multiple cancer types using both gene-level and pathway-level predictors. Methods In this study, we systematically evaluated three often available types of omics data (gene expression, copy number variation and somatic point mutation) covering both DNA-level and RNA-level features. We evaluated the landscape of predictive performance of these three omics modalities for 33 cancer types in the TCGA using a Lasso or Group Lasso-penalized Cox model and either gene or pathway level predictors. Results We constructed the prognostic landscape using three types of omics data for 33 cancer types on both the gene and pathway levels. Based on this landscape, we found that predictive performance is cancer type dependent and we also highlighted the cancer types and omics modalities that support the most accurate prognostic models. In general, models estimated on gene expression data provide the best predictive performance on either gene or pathway level and adding copy number variation or somatic point mutation data to gene expression data does not improve predictive performance, with some exceptional cohorts including low grade glioma and thyroid cancer. In general, pathway-level models have better interpretative performance, higher stability and smaller model size across multiple cancer types and omics data types relative to gene-level models. Conclusions Based on this landscape and comprehensively comparison, models estimated on gene expression data provide the best predictive performance on either gene or pathway level. Pathway-level models have better interpretative performance, higher stability and smaller model size relative to gene-level models.
The Price of Progress: Cost, Access, and Adoption of Novel Cardiovascular Drugs in Clinical Practice

Purpose of review The launch of new effective and safe cardiovascular drugs has produced large gains in health outcomes for several cardiovascular conditions. But this innovation comes at the cost of rapidly increasing pharmaceutical spending and high out-of-pocket costs. Recent findings In the USA, manufacturers are able to set prices according to what the market will bear rather than value to patients or society, with a complicated system of discounts and rebates obscuring the final price borne by payors. Some of these costs are passed on to patients in the form of co-payments or co-insurance, making these effective but high-cost medications unaffordable for many patients. Orphan drugs developed to treat rare diseases-for which manufactures are presented substantial financial and regulatory benefits-are particularly problematic, as they typically enter the market at very high prices compared with drugs for other indications. Systematic cost-effectiveness analyses from the healthcare sector or societal perspectives can help identify the value-based price of a medication at market entry as well as later in the lifecycle of the drug when more data on effectiveness and safety becomes available. Despite bipartisan support, legislative progress on drug pricing has been slow. Clinicians should know the cost of the drugs they prescribe frequently, use generics where feasible, and regularly discuss out-of-pocket costs with patients to pre-empt cost-related non-adherence.
Gastrointestinal Myeloid Sarcoma a Case Presentation and Review of the Literature

Myeloid sarcomas can be detected in up to 30% of acute myeloid leukemia cases or occur de-novo without bone marrow involvement. The most frequent localization of myeloid sarcomas in the abdominal cavity is the small intestine, and gastric presentations are infrequent, frequently misdiagnosed, and a high level of suspicion should exist when the characteristic histomorphology features are present. The current review features a case report with gastric presentation of myeloid sarcoma in a patient with a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia with trisomy 8. In addition, a review of the literature of intestinal-type myeloid sarcomas shows that less than 15% of these cases have been reported in the stomach. The most common molecular aberrancy detected in intestinal myeloid sarcomas is the fusion protein CBFB-MYH11. A review of several large studies demonstrates that the presence of myeloid sarcoma does not constitute an independent prognostic factor. The therapeutic approach will be tailored to the specific genetic abnormalities present, and systemic chemotherapy with hematopoietic stem cell transplant is the most efficient strategy.
Preventing Bullying and Harassment of Sexual Minority Students in Schools.

Abstract Sexual minority students (most often gay, lesbian, or bisexual, but including anyone who does not or is perceived to not fit the common heterosexual stereotype) often face ongoing bullying and harassment in schools that goes unstopped by faculty or administration. These students suffer academically, emotionally, and physically as a direct result of the constant harassment. Students in rural areas with theologically conservative values tend to be at the greatest risk of homophobic retaliation with little to no recourse by the school district. More and more sexual minority students are finding help in court to enforce their right of equal protection under the Constitution. School districts can avoid litigation and help protect students by enforcing stricter policies against bullying and harassment specifically aimed at sexual orientation. Educating the faculty, staff, and students about sexual orientation and starting clubs such as gay-straight alliances are other methods to create a positive schoo...
Case Analysis in Euclidean Geometry: An Overview

This paper gives a brief overview of FG, a formal system for doing Euclidean geometry whose basic syntactic elements are geometric diagrams, and which has been implimentented as the computer system CDEG. The computational complexity of determining whether or not a given diagram is satisfiable is also briefly discussed.
Bestimmung der Quantität und Qualität der Röntgenstrahlen

Nach der Entdeckung der Rontgenstrahlen wurde die Strahlenmenge und die Durchdringungsfahigkeit meist an der Helligkeit der Lumineszenz auf dem Leuchtschirm oder an der Schwarzung der photographischen Platte gemessen. Als Testobjekt fur die Durchdringungsfahigkeit der Strahlen diente gewohnlich die menschliche Hand, ein Verfahren, das verantwortlich war fur die grose Anzahl von Verbrennungen der Hande der alten Rontgenpioniere. Die Literatur des Jahres 1896 wies aber auch eine Reihe von Versuchen auf, die Schwarzungen der photographischen Platte zu schatzen oder die Helligkeit des Leuchtschirmes zu messen, um damit ein genaueres Mas fur die Strahlenintensitat zu bekommen Auch die feineren Mesmethoden, die heutzutage allgemein zur Messung der Strahlenquantitat und -qualitat dienen, wurden schon im Jahre 1896 teilweise ausgearbeitet. Nachdem Rontgen selbst und zu gleicher Zeit J. J. Thomson und andere Physiker die Eigenschaft der Rontgenstrahlen, elektrisch geladene Korper zu entladen, entdeckt hatten, lag es, wie schon gesagt, nahe, diese Eigenschaft zur Untersuchung der Durchlassigkeit verschiedener Substanzen fur die Strahlen, und damit auch der Strahlenintensitat selbst, zu benutzen. Mit diesen Versuchen war das grundlegende Prinzip der modernen Intensitatsmessungen gegeben. In der Aprilnummer 1896 von „Science“ 1 ist eine Entladungskurve eines „Nalder—Micro — Farad“— Kondensators mit Rontgenstrahlen gegeben, die durchaus an die jetzt allgemein gebrauchlichen Entladungskurven erinnert (Abb. 78). W. L. Robb, der diese Kurve bestimmte, bemerkte dazu: „Diese Methode scheint weit quantitativere Resultate zu liefern als irgendeine der pho- tographischen Methoden.“Auf dieselbe Art wurde, o i.o wie schon fruher bemerkt,von PERRIN mit Hilfe einer grosen Ionisationskammer die Rontgenstrahleninten-sitat bestimmt. In ahnlicher Weise versuchten die Professoren R. A. Fessenden und J. Keeler von der Western University, Pittsburgh die Strahlenintensitat dadurch zu messen, das sie die Enden eines Stromkreises in 1/2 Zoll Abstand in Paraffin einschmolzen und dieses Paraffin dann bestrahlten. Dadurch bekam es eine gewisse Leitfahigkeit, die dann an einem Mesinstrument abgelesen wurde.
Mental situation calculus

The situation calculus of (McCarthy and Hayes 1969) has mainly been used to reason about states of the physical world, taking into account the locations and physical properties of objects and admitting such events as moving them. Analogously we can consider a mental situation calculus (MSC) in which the situations include beliefs, goals, intentions and other mental qualities, and the events include inferring, observing, establishing goals and discharging them. MSC has several motivations: 1. MSC involves reifying beliefs, and one of its basic forms will be believes( , ss) standing for the assertion that the proposition is believed in mental situation ss. The formalism allows for belief not to be closed under inference. In fact one of the possible mental actions is to make an inference. Therefore, we can describe in detail the circumstances under which we want our system to make inferences. 2. Non-monotonic reasoning requires closer control over inference than deduction, because of its tentative character. Some problems that have recently arisen with blocks world axiomatizations may require that circumscription be controlled in accordance with the pedigree of the system's objective beliefs and not merely being determined by what the beliefs are. 3. It looks like several useful methods of control of reasoning can be accomplished by hill-climbing in mental situation space. Besides reifying beliefs, MSC involves reifying goals and partial plans for achieving them. Depending on progress the paper to be presented will include both general discussion of MSC and specific formalizations.
Vitamin D deficiency among older women with and without disability

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with bone loss and bone fractures, and the identification of vulnerable populations is important to clinical practice and public health. Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and to examine associated risk factors for vitamin D deficiency in older women. Design: We measured serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH) 2 D], intact parathyroid hormone (PTH), osteocalcin, and ionized calcium in women aged ≥ 65 y who were participating in the Women's Health and Aging Study I, an observational study of women representing the approximately one-third most disabled women living in the community, and women aged 70-80 y who were participating in the Women's Health and Aging Study It, an observational study of women among the two-thirds least disabled women living in the community in Baltimore. Results: The women were classified into 4 domains of physical disability. Among 371 women with 0 or I domain of disability and 682 women with ≥ 2 domains of disability, 6.2% and 12.6%, respectively, had vitamin D deficiency [serum concentrations of 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L]. In univariate analyses, risk factors for vitamin D deficiency included increasing age, black race, low educational level, high body mass index, high triceps skinfold thickness, increasing level of disability, winter season, and elevated creatinine concentration. In multivariate models, black race had a strong association with vitamin D deficiency when other risk factors were adjusted for. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency, a preventable disorder, is a common and important public health problem for older disabled women living in the community; black women are at higher risk than are white women.
Organic chemistry students' ideas about nucleophiles and electrophiles: the role of charges and mechanisms

Organic chemistry students struggle with reaction mechanisms and the electron-pushing formalism (EPF) used by practicing organic chemists. Faculty have identified an understanding of nucleophiles and electrophiles as one conceptual prerequisite to mastery of the EPF, but little is known about organic chemistry students' knowledge of nucleophiles and electrophiles. This research explored the ideas held by second-semester organic chemistry students about nucleophiles and electrophiles, finding that these students prioritize structure over function, relying primarily on charges to define and identify such species, both in general and in the context of specific chemical reactions. Contrary to faculty who view knowledge of nucleophiles and electrophiles as prerequisite to learning mechanisms and EPF, students demonstrated that they needed to know the mechanism of a reaction before they were able to assess whether the reaction involved nucleophiles and electrophiles or not.
LIPIDS IN BLUE‐GREEN ALGAL MATS (MODERN STROMATOLITES) FROM ANTARCTIC OASIS LAKES1

Lipids comprising the stenols, stanols, polar lipid fatty acids, alkanes and alkenes of blue-green algal-(diatomaceous)-microbial mats and cores (modern cold water stromatolites) collected from three Antarctic lakes were identified and compared with those of other algae. The major stenols were: (cholesta-5, 22-dien-3β-ol, cholest-5-en-3β-ol, 24-methylcholesta-5, 22-dien-3β-ol, 24-methyl-cholest-5-en-3β-ol, 24-ethylcholesta-5, 22-dien-3β-ol, and 24-ethylcholest-5-en-3β-ol). The presence of C28 Δ3, 22 stenols, as well as other C28 stenols, was suggestive of diatom input. C29 stenols may have originated from blue-grern algae. However, the high concentrations of stenols present and the lack of Δ7 stenols was atypical for known stenol components of several blue-green algal species previously reported. The occurrence of these stenols and other lipid markers strongls implicate diatoms as well as blue-green algae as important biogenetic sources of lipids and has established the potential for studies of lipid diagenesis in these unique cold, freshwater stromatolites.
Gender differences in turnover among U.S. army reservists

Gender differences in the retention of enlisted Army Reserve members are investigated using turnover models for part‐time employment. The turnover models incorporate external market, personal, and work‐related factors. Separate logistic regressions for men and women reveal that the retention of male reservists is explained by a wide range of factors similar to the determinants for full‐time job turnover. In contrast, only a few factors (most notably retirement benefits) exert a significant influence on women's retention in this part‐time job. After accounting for race, gender differences remain important in explaining retention in the reserves.
The normal score transformation applied to a multi-univariate method of global optimization

Nonparametric global optimization methods have been developed that determine the location of their next guess based on the rank-transformed objective function evaluations rather than the actual function values themselves. Another commonly-used transformation in nonparametric statistics is the normal score transformation. This paper applies the normal score transformation to the multi-univariate method of global optimization. The benefits of the new method are shown by its performance on a standard set of global optimization test problems. The normal score transformation yields a method that gives equivalent searches for any monotonic transformation of the objective function.
Selection and Socialization Effects in Early Adolescent Alcohol Use: A Propensity Score Analysis.

The robust correlation between peer and adolescent alcohol use (AU) has been taken as evidence for both socialization and selection processes in the etiology of adolescent AU. Accumulating evidence from studies using a diverse range of methodological and statistical approaches suggests that both processes are involved. A major challenge in testing whether peer AU predicts an adolescent’s drinking (socialization) or whether an adolescent’s drinking predicts peer AU (selection) is the myriad of potentially confounding factors that might lead to an overestimation of socialization and selection effects. After creating AU transition groups based on peer and adolescent AU across two waves (N = 765; age = 10–15; 53 % female), we test whether transitions into AU by adolescents and peers predict later peer and adolescent AU respectively, using (1) propensity score analysis to balance transition groups on 26 potential confounds, (2) a longitudinal design with three waves to establish temporal precedence, and (3) both adolescent (target) and peer self-report of peer AU to disentangle effects attributable to shared reporter bias. Both selection and socialization were supported using both peer self-report of AU and adolescent-report of peer AU. Although cross-sectional analyses suggested peer self-reported models were associated with smaller effects than perceived peer AU, longitudinal analyses suggest a similar sized effect across reporter of peer AU for both selection and socialization. The implications of these findings for the etiology and treatment of adolescent AU are discussed.
Synthesis of stoichiometric nickel aluminate spinel nanoparticles

Nickel aluminate is a transition metal oxide with spinel structure with potential applications as catalysts and sensors. Both applications benefit from high specific surface areas as well as chemical stoichiometry control. However, a systematic approach to understand synthetic parameters affecting stoichiometry and agglomeration of nickel aluminate nanoparticles is still lacking. In this work, co-precipitation using direct and reverse strikes and polymeric precursor techniques were comparatively studied to address this problem. While the polymeric method could deliver stoichiometric spinel, the samples were highly agglomerated exhibiting low surface area. Both co-precipitation procedures produced smaller sizes and less agglomerated nanoparticles as compared to the polymeric precursor, but for the reverse-strike, Ni 2+ preferentially formed a soluble complex with ammonia and led to nickel deficient nanoparticles. Stoichiometric (1 mol NiO:1 mol Al 2 O 3 ) nanocrystalline nickel aluminate was only achieved when using controlled excess Ni 2+ . The normal-strike lead to more stoichiometric compositions without need for excess cations, but the obtained nanoparticles were less homogeneous and showed smaller surface areas as compared to the reverse-strike method.
Structurally divergent human T cell receptor. gamma. proteins encoded by distinct C. gamma. genes

The human T cell receptor (TCR) gamma polypeptide occurs in structurally distinct forms on certain peripheral blood T lymphocytes. Complementary DNA clones representing the transcripts of functionally rearranged TCR gamma genes in these cells have been analyzed. The expression of a disulfide-linked and a nondisulfide-linked form of TCR gamma correlates with the use of the C gamma 1 and C gamma 2 constant-region gene segments, respectively. Variability in TCR gamma polypeptide size and disulfide linkage is determined by the number of copies and the sequence of a repeated segment of the constant region. Thus C gamma 1 and C gamma 2 are used to generate structurally distinct, yet functional, T3-associated receptor complexes on peripheral blood lymphocytes. Tryptic peptide mapping suggests that the T3-associated TCR gamma and delta peptides in the nondisulfide-linked form are distinct.
Primary large-cell lymphoma of the central nervous system

Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare disease. Seven patients were seen and treated at the University of Michigan Medical Center between January 1969 and December 1983. All patients had histologically proven diagnoses of large cell lymphoma with clinical and radiologic evidence of involvement limited to the CNS. Five of seven patients received postoperative radiation therapy, two of whom have had apparent local control at 1- and 2-year follow-up. The two patients without postoperative radiation died of local recurrence 2 and 3 months following subtotal resection. These poor results suggest that adjuvant therapy may be required for improved control of this type of extranodal lymphoma.
Acceptability of Online Degrees as Criteria for Admission to Graduate Programs

THIS PAPER PRESENTS the results of a nationwide survey of deans, associate deans, and directors who make recommendations concerning the admission of applicants to graduate programs in their colleges and universities. A questionnaire was sent to a sample of academic officers in public and private institutions describing three different types of applicants. Each of the three applicants had a bachelor’s degree in the relevant subject, good grades, similar GRE scores, and strong letters of recommendation. However, one applicant had studied in the traditional classroom and laboratory settings on campus. A second applicant had taken half of the required courses for the bachelor’s degree online and half on campus. The third applicant had taken all courses for the degree over the Internet. The question addressed by the project is whether a bachelor’s degree earned partially or fully online is equally acceptable to those who recommend students for graduate admissions. The findings indicate clearly that they are not.
Mobile robot task allocation in hybrid wireless sensor networks

Hybrid sensor networks consisting of both in-expensive static wireless sensors and highly capable mobile robots have the potential to monitor large environments at a low cost. To do so, an algorithm is needed to assign tasks to mobile robots which minimizes communication among the static sensors in order to extend the lifetime of the network. We present three algorithms to solve this task allocation problem: a centralized algorithm, an auction-based algorithm, and a novel distributed algorithm utilizing a spanning tree over the static sensors to assign tasks. We compare the assignment quality and communication costs of these algorithms experimentally. Our experiments show that at a small cost in assignment quality, the distributed tree-based algorithm significantly extends the lifetime of the static sensor network.
Nonlinear Multichannel Algorithms for Estimating Sea Surface Temperature with AVHRR Satellite Data

Abstract The familiar linear multichannel sea surface temperature algorithms (MCSST) for estimating sea surface temperature with AVHRR satellite data describe the solution in terms of a constant gamma parameter multiplied by the measured brightness temperature difference of two of the window channels. A nonlinear algorithm is developed in this paper which is similar in form to the MCSST algorithm but with the gamma parameter having a specific two- or three-channel temperature dependence. Simulation studies show that the linear and nonlinear algorithms provide nearly identical accuracies for a wide range of atmospheric conditions if the satellite data are error free. When random or noncorrelative error sources are present in the multichannel AVHRR data, it is found that the nonlinear algorithms significantly reduce their effect upon the final solution relative to the linear MCSST solution. These results are verified with actual AVHRR data obtained in January-March 1982 and 1983. The algorithm estimates of ...
Frequency and associated factors of hair loss among patients with inflammatory bowel disease

AIM: To identify the frequency of hair loss among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and associated clinical and disease related factors. METHODS: We performed a cross sectional study in a tertiary referral adult IBD clinic. Self-reported history and characteristics of hair loss as well as clinical and demographic information were collected. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Two hundred and ten consecutive IBD patients were recruited; one hundred and fifty patients met predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thirty-three percent of patients reported a history of hair loss. Age, gender, IBD type and disease duration were not associated with hair loss. Hair loss was reported less frequently among patients with use of mesalamine (54% vs 73%, P = 0.03) and anti-tumor necrosis factor medications (anti-TNF) (14% vs 40%, P = 0.001). In multivariate analyses adjusting for gender, IBD type and duration of disease, these associations with mesalamine and anti-TNF remained significant [(adjusted values for mesalamine (OR = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.19-0.86) and anti-TNFs (OR = 0.28, 95%CI: 0.08-0.98)]. CONCLUSION: Hair loss is common among patients with IBD. Mesalamine and anti-TNF medications were associated with lower odds of hair loss. Further studies are required to assess the mechanism of hair loss among patients with IBD.
Artificial Protein Hydrogel Materials

Recombinant DNA methods were used to create a new class of artificial proteins that undergo reversible gelation in response to changes in pH or temperature. These proteins consist of terminal a-helical "leucine zipper" domains flanking a central, water-soluble polyelectrolyte segment. The formation of coiled-coil aggregates of the terminal domains in near-neutral pH solution triggers formation of a polymer hydrogel, with the central polyelectrolyte segment retaining solvent and preventing precipitation of the chains. Dissociation of the coiled-coil aggregates through elevation of pH or temperature causes dissolution of the gel and a return to the viscous behavior characteristic of a polymer solution. The pH and temperature range of the hydrogel state and its viscoelastic properties may be systematically varied through precise changes of the length, composition and charge density of the terminal and central blocks. Such control is of value in designing hydrogels with predetermined physical properties and makes these biosynthetic triblock copolymer systems attractive candidates for use in molecular and cellular encapsulation and in controlled reagent delivery.
Influence of geometry on light harvesting in dendrimeric systems. II. nth-nearest neighbor effects and the onset of percolation

We explore the effect of imposing different constraints (biases, boundary conditions) on the mean time to trapping (or mean walklength) for a particle (excitation) migrating on a finite dendrimer lattice with a centrally positioned trap. By mobilizing the theory of finite Markov processes, we are able to obtain exact analytic expressions for site-specific walklengths as well as the overall walklength for both nearest-neighbor and second-nearest-neighbor displacements. This allows the comparison with and generalization of earlier results [A. Bar-Haim, J. Klafter, J. Phys. Chem. B 102 (1998) 1662; A. Bar-Haim, J. Klafter, J. Lumin. 76, 77 (1998) 197; O. Flomenbom, R.J. Amir, D. Shabat, J. Klafter, J. Lumin. 111 (2005) 315; J.L. Bentz, F.N. Hosseini, J.J. Kozak, Chem. Phys. Lett. 370 (2003) 319]. A novel feature of this work is the establishment of a connection between the random walk models studied here and percolation theory. The full dynamical behavior was also determined via solution of the stochastic master equation, and the results obtained compared with recent spectroscopic experiments.
Ring Deformation and π-Electron Redistribution of Methylbenzenes Induced by Metal Coordination

Scandium (Sc) complexes of p-xylene, mesitylene, and hexamethylbenzene were produced in a laser-vaporization molecular beam source and studied with pulsed-field-ionization zero-electron-kinetic-energy spectroscopy, and density functional theory. In addition, infrared−ultraviolet resonant two-photon ionization spectra were recorded for Sc(hexamethylbenzene) in the C−H stretching region. Adiabatic ionization energies and several vibrational frequencies of these complexes were obtained from the spectroscopic measurements, and electronic transitions were determined by combining the spectra with the theoretical data. The ionization energies of the three complexes decrease with increasing number of the methyl groups, whereas the metal−ligand stretching frequencies of the p-xylene and mesitylene complexes are essentially the same and slightly smaller than that of the hexamethylbenzene species. Unlike benzene, the arene ring of the methylbenzene molecules is bent and the π-electrons are localized in a 1,4-diene f...
Chronic iridocyclitis in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

During a 10-year period, chronic iridocyclitis occurred in 8 of 100 patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. It was an initial manifestation in 1 patient and occurred 1–8 years after onset in 7. Three patients had a recurrence. Children at greatest risk have the least arthritis. For early detection of the frequently insidious and recurrent iridocyclitis, regular slit lamp examinations are recommended to help prevent blindness due to band keratopathy and/or cataract.
Characteristics of the NASA Lewis Bumpy Torus Plasma Generated with Positive Applied Potentials

Experimental observations have been made during steady-state operation of the NASA Lewis Bumpy Torus experiment at input powers up to 150 kW in deuterium and helium gas, and with positive potentials applied to the midplane electrodes. This steady-state ion heating method utilizes a modified Penning discharge operated in a bumpy torus confinement geometry such that the plasma is acted upon by a combination of strong electric and magnetic fields. Experimental investigation of a deuterium plasma revealed electron temperatures from 14 to 140 eV and ion kinetic temperatures from 160 to 1785 eV. At least two distinct modes of operation exist, each of which is associated with a characteristic range of background pressure and electron temperature. Experimental data show that the average ion residence time in the plasma is virtually independent of the magnetic field strength.
Beyond the Interpretive: The Way of Awareness

Thought by itself is incapable of arriving at truth. In fact, thought of the discursive form is a source of our incapacity to know. Knowledge-including interpretation-is conditioned by the limitations of the thought of Western rationality. However, within the esoteric or perennial tradition there is the possibility of an awareness that goes beyond the conditionality of thought. The path to awareness involves a transformation in our being, a transformation which allows a healing of the separation between the observer and the observed. To enter into this realm requires a mind that is unattached and compassionate. In mindfulness-in attention to our oneness with all things-we become aware of things as they really are, here and now.
When in rome, do like the Romans: certifying stroke centers with the rod of aesculapius or the medical caduceus of hermes?

One of the first hospitals in the Western world was the Aesculapium which was built in Rome along the Tiber Island in 293 bc and included a long-term recovery center. When the emperor Claudius granted freedom to slaves who had been there for years, it was probably aimed more at disposition of the
The Human Actin-Regulatory Protein Cap G: Gene Structure and Chromosome Location

Cap G (formerly called macrophage capping protein or gCap39) is a member of the gelsolin/villin family of actin-regulatory proteins. Unlike all other members of this family, Cap G caps the barbed ends of actin filaments, but does not sever them. This protein is half the molecular weight and contains half the number of repeat subunits (3 vs 6) of gelsolin and villin, suggesting that these two proteins may have arisen by gene duplication of the Cap G gene. To investigate this possibility we have cloned and sequenced the human Cap G gene (gene symbol CAPG). The gene is 16.6 kb in size, contains 10 exons and 9 introns, and is located on the proximal short arm of chromosome 2. The open reading frame is 6.9 kb, having 9 exons and 8 introns. This region contains 3 splice sites that are nearly identical to the human gelsolin gene, but shares only one with villin, indicating that CAPG is more closely related to gelsolin. Further comparisons of these three genes, however, indicate that the evolutionary steps resulting in human gelsolin and villin are likely to have been more complex than a simple tandem duplication of the Cap G gene.
context dependent neuroprotective properties of prion protein (PrP)

Although it has been known for more than twenty years that an aberrant conformation of the prion protein (PrP) is the causative agent in prion diseases, the role of PrP in normal biology is undetermined. Numerous studies have suggested a protective function for PrP, including protection from ischemic and excitotoxic lesions and several apoptotic insults. On the other hand, many observations have suggested the contrary, linking changes in PrP localization or domain structure--independent of infectious prion conformation--to severe neuronal damage. Surprisingly, a recent report suggests that PrP is a receptor for toxic oligomeric species of a-beta, a pathogenic fragment of the amyloid precursor protein, and likely contributes to disease pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. We sought to access the role of PrP in diverse neurological disorders. First, we confirmed that PrP confers protection against ischemic damage using an acute stroke model, a well characterized association. After ischemic insult, PrP knockouts had dramatically increased infarct volumes and decreased behavioral performance compared to controls. To examine the potential of PrP's neuroprotective or neurotoxic properties in the context of other pathologies, we deleted PrP from several transgenic models of neurodegenerative disease. Deletion of PrP did not substantially alter the disease phenotypes of mouse models of Parkinson disease or tauopathy. Deletion of PrP in one of two Huntington disease models tested, R6/2, modestly slowed motor deterioration as measured on an accelerating rotarod but otherwise did not alter other major features of the disease. Finally, transgenic overexpression of PrP did not exacerbate the Huntington motor phenotype. These results suggest that PrP has a context-dependent neuroprotective function and does not broadly contribute to the disease models tested herein.
The 21-Hydroxylase Activity in the Glomerulosa and Fasciculata of the Adrenal Cortex in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia*

In the two clinical syndromes of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to a 21-hydroxylation defect of adrenal steroidogenesis, the simple virilizing and the salt-wasting forms, the 21-hydroxylase activity was studied considering the zona fasciculata and the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex as two separate glands under different regulation. To test this hypothesis, we stimulated adrenal steroidogenesis by ACTH infusion or dietary sodium restriction in eight patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (four patients with the simple virilizing form and four with the salt-wasting form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia) and in six normal children. Both the 17-hydroxy and 17-deoxy pathways of adrenocortical steroid biosynthesis were examined by measuring serum concentrations of 17-hydroxyprogesterone, cortisol, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, and aldosterone and the excretion of free deoxycorticosterone, 18-hydroxydeoxycorticosterone, corticosterone, 18-hydroxycorticosterone, cortisol, and aldosterone. We considered the steroids 18-hydroxycorticosterone and aldosterone to be primarily of zona glomerulosa origin. These studies indicated that the zona fasciculata of both the salt-wasting and the simple virilizing forms is defective in 21-hydroxylation of 17-hydroxy and 17-deoxy steroids. The zona glomerulosa demonstrated deficient 21-hydroxylation only in the salt-wasting form, whereas in the simple virilizing form, the glomerulosa was spared this defect.
Friends or Strangers? Examining the Theoretical and Empirical Evidence on Immigration

In 1990, the federal government of the United States passed a bill to allow an increase in legal immigration by 1.2 million until 1994. Many questions concerning immigration have been detailed in the economics literature. They concern the effects of immigration on the earnings of the native born, immigration as a form of worker‐sorting, and the allocation schemes concerning the immigration of skilled and non‐skilled workers. Examines the theoretical and empirical answers to these questions. Points out that an examination of immigrant earnings over time often depends on the type of model selected, cohort or cross‐sectional analysis. Also, many immigrants seek a political and economic environment that promotes self‐employment as a form of worker‐sorting. Also of interest, theoretical debate is provided on the nature of immigration, being either political or economic. The debate over immigration has many policy implications for the 1990s, because of the first changes in immigration restrictions since Simpson...
Control of a process with unmeasured disturbances that change its steady-state gain sign

Abstract Because the sign of the steady-state gain of an industrial NOx reduction unit changes according to the magnitude of the main external disturbance (hydrogen flow rate), designing an appropriate controller is particularly challenging. To address this issue, theoretical analysis suggested that a simple linear controller can provide adequate control for this process. Interestingly, tuning of this controller deviates from well known guidelines of linear control theory, which dictate that closed-loop stability is maintained by sluggish enough control of a stable linear process. It turns out, that for this nonlinear process, controller tuning must be neither too sluggish nor too aggressive, in an intermediate range suggested by a variant of the small-gain theorem proven here for corresponding nonlinear operators. The operator-based analysis was confirmed via computer simulation on a simple first-principles model, calibrated on real plant data. It is expected that control performance and robustness may improve if a number of ideas suggested in the text are explored further.
The purification and immunocharacterisation of N-methylputrescine oxidase from transformed root cultures of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv SC58

The enzyme N-methylputrescine oxidase which catalyses the conversion of N-methylputrescine to N-methylpyrrolinium salt has been purified to homogeneity from transformed roots of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv SC58. The enzyme has an apparent sub-unit molecular weight of 53 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with gel-filtration studies, indicating that the native form is a dimer. The K m of the enzyme for N-methylputrescine has been estimated to be 0.1 mM. Polyclonal antibodies raised to the purified protein recognise one product in an immunoblot of a crude extract of transformed root tissue and will immunoprecipitate N-methylputrescine oxidase activity from such an extract. The antibodies also show a high degree of specificity in immunoblots of crude extracts of transformed root cultures from a range of other solanaceous and non-solanaceous species but do not cross-react with a partially purified preparation of pea-seedling diamine oxidase.
Antiepileptic Drug Treatment Following Status Epilepticus Secondary to Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in the Pediatric Population (P04.175)

Objective: Studies on antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment following status epilepticus (SE) related to posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in the pediatric population are lacking. We report two cases of SE in teenage girls with PRES secondary to hypertension from post-infectious glomerulonephritis treated with a course of levetiracetam. Background PRES is a clinical syndrome of headache, altered mental status, seizures, and vision loss associated with brain MRI characteristics of symmetrical white matter edema in the posterior cerebral hemispheres. Design/Methods: Initial presentation, clinical course, diagnostic test results, and AED management from two teenage girls with SE secondary to PRES and post-infectious glomerulonephritis are described. Results: Two teenage girls were treated with antibiotics for pharyngitis as outpatients. Both girls developed headache, vomiting, and presented in SE. The thirteen (13) year old girl also experienced vision loss and hypertensive urgency while the fourteen (14) year old girl had a retropharyngeal abscess and subsequently developed hypertension. Labs revealed hematuria, elevated creatinine, hyperkalemia, and low C3 consistent with poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Infection was established by elevated DNase B and ASO in the former case and culture in the latter. CSF studies were benign. Brain MRI studies showed cortical and subcortical T2/FLAIR prolongation in the occipital, parietal, and temporal lobes bilaterally. Acute SE resolved with benzodiazepines and hypertension controlled with amlodipine. In follow up, the 14 year old patient had a recurrent seizure four weeks following the initial SE, but complete imaging resolution at six weeks. Both patients were managed with a 3-6 month course of levetiracetam. Conclusions: Guidelines on continued AED treatment following PRES are unclear. This case of a breakthrough seizure following initial presentation of SE and PRES reflects the potential need for continued AED treatment. SE as the first presentation of PRES may dictate future risk of seizures and larger studies are needed to follow outcomes of these children. Disclosure: Dr. Avallone has nothing to disclose. Dr. Maski has nothing to disclose.
Fecal coliform export from four coastal North Carolina areas.

: Fecal coliform (FC) bacteria in coastal waters impair the use of these waters for shellfish harvesting and recreation. This study was designed to quantify and compare FC levels and export in two coastal watersheds with different land uses. Continuous monitoring of rainfall and discharge at three sites in the Jumping Run Creek watershed and one site in the Pettiford Creek watershed were conducted during a 4.5-year period. Primary land use in the drainage area of one of the three Jumping Run Creek sites is low density industrial, while the other two are residential. Land use in the Pettiford Creek watershed is managed national forest. Nonstorm or base-flow grab and flow-proportional storm-event samples were collected and analyzed for turbidity, conductivity, suspended sediment, nitrogen, phosphorus, and FC. Geometric mean FC levels for the Jumping Run Creek monitoring sites ranged from 593 to 2,096 mpn/100 ml, while the mean level at the Pettiford Creek site was 191 mpn/100 ml. Levels of most other parameters were greater in storm discharge from the Jumping Run Creek sites as compared to Pettiford Creek indicating that pollutant export from a watershed increases with development. Statistical analysis of the monitoring data suggested that FC levels in stormwater samples consistently increased with storm rainfall, but were not consistently correlated with any other parameter, including total suspended solids. Multivariate analysis indicated that the weekly FC export for each of the four sites was lowest during the December-February quarter. Export was highest during the spring and summer at the Jumping Run Creek sites, while for the Pettiford Creek site, FC export was highest during September-November. The cause of the seasonal variability was unknown but was thought to be associated with human activity in the watersheds.
Molecular characterization of the α-subunit of Trichomonas vaginalis hydrogenosomal succinyl CoA synthetase

The anaerobic, parasitic protist, Trichomonas vaginalis, is characterized by the absence of mitochondria and the presence of double membrane bound organelles called hydrogenosomes. Succinyl-coenzyme A synthetase is a hydrogenosomal enzyme which catalyzes the formation of ATP via substrate-level phosphorylation. We have characterized genes encoding the alpha subunit of the hydrogenosomal protein succinyl-coenzyme A synthetase (SCS). The alpha-SCS of T. vaginalis is encoded by a multigene family composed of 3 similar genes that do not appear allelic. These 3 alpha-SCS genes encode a protein with a calculated molecular mass of approximately 32.5 kDa that has > 50% identity (> 70% similarity with alpha-SCSs from Escherichia coli, Thermus flavus, and rat liver mitochondria. Antibodies raised against recombinant T vaginalis alpha-SCS expressed in bacteria were used to isolate alpha-SCS proteins from purified hydrogenosomes. These proteins partition into the soluble fraction of hydrogenosomes treated with sodium carbonate at high pH, consistent with a matrix localization in the organelle. Amino-terminal sequencing of purified alpha-SCS proteins shows that mature proteins lack a short, leader sequence of 9 amino acids. These amino terminal sequences which are cleaved from T. vaginalis alpha-SCSs are similar to each other and to all other leader sequences identifed on hydrogenosomal proteins.
Quasi‐periodic climatic changes on Mars and Earth

Evidence of climatic changes on Mars and the earth due to geologic and astronomical variations is discussed. Finely striped ice-free bands in the Martian polar caps have been taken to indicate that long term variations in the orbit and axial tilt of Mars have precipitated these features at the rate of a mm/yr. Photogrammetric and photometric methods have contributed to measurements of the composition and depth of the Martian caps (14-46 m), and observations of higher solar energy absorption in the northern ice cap implies greater dust deposition in that region than on the south cap; however, the transport mechanisms are not well understood. Comparisons of earth and Martian climatic variations data are made, noting a lack of information on the age intervals of marine and nonmarine sediments on the earth. The possibilities of using quantitative data other than layer thickness to constrain climate models are discussed, and the slope or albedo of layers, or the spacing of polar undulations are suggested.
North Pacific Radiolarian assemblages and their relationship to oceanographic parameters

Abstract A quantitative study of the distribution of Radiolaria in surface sediments of the North Pacific has demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing complete radiolarian thanatocoenoses as indicators of past oceanographic conditions. In samples from 36 core tops from the region 33° N-54° N, 148° E-140° W, 87–96% of all radiolarians encountered could be assigned to one of 120 taxa recognized. Q-mode factor analysis of distributional data for the 57 most abundant species yields four independent assemblages. Three of these reflect near-surface oceanographic conditions, and the fourth responds to bottom conditions. Regression-developed transfer functions describe the relationship between the assemblages and oceanographic parameters.