cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A plasmid that improves the efficiency of foreign gene expression by intracellular T7 RNA polymerase

To facilitate the construction of recombinant plasmids for expressing cloned genes with T7 RNA polymerase supplied by recombinant vaccinia virus, a plasmid expression vector was designed by combining parts of plasmids pTZ18R, pBluescript II KS+, and pAR2529. The 3043-bp plasmid pTF1 has a T7 RNA polymerase promoter, multiple cloning site for insertion of foreign genes, and a T7-specific transcription termination signal. Plasmid pTF1 had several advantages compared with the reference plasmid pAR2529, including more efficient replication in bacteria, greater flexibility in the insertion and subcloning of foreign genes, and increased efficiency of liposome-mediated introduction into cultured cells for expression of the foreign gene.
Marine aerosols: A review

The background aerosol in the boundary layer over the remote oceans is not aged continental aerosol but, rather, is largely of marine origin. Total particle concentrations are quite uniform throughout the tropical trade wind regions and normally are in the range of 100–300 cm−3. Precipitation reduces particle concentrations, but there is apparently an in situ source of small particles which allows particle concentrations to recover to their normal background level. The fine particle mode (r < 0.3 μm), which comprises 90–95% of the particles but only about 5% of the total mass, cosists primarily of non-sea-salt sulfate (nss-sulfate). There is considerable evidence that nss-sulfate, which is present in concentrations ranging from about 0.2 to 1.5 μg m−3, is formed by gas-to-particle conversion of the oxidation products of organosulfur gases (principally DMS) emitted by the ocean. The principal gas-to-particle conversion mechanisms are particle formation by homogeneous nucleation of low-volatility gas-phase reaction products, condensation of these products on existing particles, and SO2-to-sulfate conversion in cloud droplets. The submicron portion of the particle size distribution is bimodal with peaks at 0.03 μm and 0.1 μm radius. The peak at 0.1 μm is believed to be due to the growth of CCN-sized particles as a result of incloud SO2-to-sulfate conversion. It has been speculated that the sea-to-air flux of DMS affects the number of CCN and thereby affects cloud droplet size, cloud albedo and, consequently, climate. Coarse particles (r > 0.5 μm) are composed primarily of sea salt. The concentration of sea salt shows a strong dependence of wind speed and ranges from about 2 μg m−3 to as much as 50 μg m−3 or more at wind speeds in excess of 15 m s−1. The background coarse mode also contains smaller amounts of nitrate and mineral dust. The concentration of each of these components is normally less than 5% of the mass of sea salt, although dust concentrations can occasionally equal the sea salt loading during fresh intrusions of continental dust. Nitrate is formed by gas-to-particle conversion but the relative importance of the ocean, the stratosphere and lightning as a source of the nitrogen-containing precursor gases remains uncertain. Since nitrate is not found on the fine mode particles, it probably does not result from condensation of gas-phase reaction products or from aqueous-phase oxidation of NOx in cloud droplets.
Optical Investigations of Film Formation and Removal on Gold Anodes in Acidic Oxalate Solutions

RECENT investigations of the oxidation of oxalate ions in acidic solutions using gold anodes have provided electrochemical evidence for the formation of a film on this anode during steady-state electrolysis at potentials well below that for Au2O3 formation, 1.36 V normal hydrogen electrode1. The determination of the nature of the film on gold at potentials below 1.36 V using electrochemical techniques has introduced uncertainties as to whether the film is a ‘three dimensional’ oxide film or a ‘two dimensional’ chemisorbed oxygen film. Some investigators2–5 using charging curves as their basis conclude that the formation of an oxide occurs only above 1.36 V, the formation of a chemisorbed oxygen film being the process occurring below this potential. The formation of this chemisorbed oxygen film begins at potentials as low as 1 15 V (ref. 6). Other work, however, also based on electrochemical evidence, indicates that the formation of an oxide film does occur below 1.36 V (ref. 7).
Babble: A Theater in Justice and Discourse

The world studied by empirical criminal justice research is babble—a congeries of voices whose meanings represent many normative worlds. Our research designs provide a frame for the babble, and our statistics codify and simplify it. We provide analytic portraits of it and, using the substantive language of crime control, give those portraits meaning. Yet, those meanings are located in a crime control discourse that de-legitimizes and destroys those normative worlds. This paper, an interpretive montage, is a collection of fractured narratives assembled to show that interpretation has something to offer the way we think about knowledge production in the field of criminal justice. It is also a cautionary tale to students in criminal justice, to remember that our scientific abstractions are an abstraction from the underlying realities of human life, not a “deeper” or in some way more real understanding. Our aim is to move the babble—the humanity from which the voices emerge—back into the foreground of justice research.
Observation of arginyl-deoxyoligonucleotide interactions in TaqI endonuclease by detection of specific 1H NMR signals from 140kD [Nη1, Nη2, 15N Arg]TaqI/oligomer complexes

Abstract Proton and nitrogen signals of the guanidinium amines in [Nη1, Nη2 15 N Arg] Taq I endonuclease were observed using isotope filtered experiments and proton detected 1 H{ 15 N} heterocorrelated two dimensional NMR spectroscopy. These rapidly exchanging protons could be detected in the free enzyme only at pH 4.5; at pH 8.5, no signals were measured after extensive signal averaging. Addition of deoxyribonucleotide oligomers resulted in the appearance of two groups of signals at about 6.8 and 7.5 ppm. Since these signals are independent of the presence of cognate sequence or Mg 2+ , it is assumed they represent nonspecific arginyl-DNA interactions. This labeling/NMR approach provides a new method for investigating the role of arginine in protein-DNA interactions.
Dynamics of the G protein-coupled vasopressin V2 receptor signaling network revealed by quantitative phosphoproteomics

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate diverse physiological processes, and many human diseases are due to defects in GPCR signaling. To identify the dynamic response of a signaling network downstream from a prototypical G(s)-coupled GPCR, the vasopressin V2 receptor, we have carried out multireplicate, quantitative phosphoproteomics with iTRAQ labeling at four time points following vasopressin exposure at a physiological concentration in cells isolated from rat kidney. A total of 12,167 phosphopeptides were identified from 2,783 proteins, with 273 changing significantly in abundance with vasopressin. Two-dimensional clustering of phosphopeptide time courses and Gene Ontology terms revealed that ligand binding to the V2 receptor affects more than simply the canonical cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A and arrestin pathways under physiological conditions. The regulated proteins included key components of actin cytoskeleton remodeling, cell-cell adhesion, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and apoptosis pathways. These data suggest that vasopressin can regulate an array of cellular functions well beyond its classical role in regulating water and solute transport. These results greatly expand the current view of GPCR signaling in a physiological context and shed new light on potential roles for this signaling network in disorders such as polycystic kidney disease. Finally, we provide an online resource of physiologically regulated phosphorylation sites with dynamic quantitative data (http://helixweb.nih.gov/ESBL/Database/TiPD/index.html).
Adenotonsillar pathology in post-transplant patients.

Summary Objective/hypothesis The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of adenotonsillar hypertrophy, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) titers, and flow cytometry in the evaluation of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) in an at-risk pediatric population and to propose flow cytometry is the most effective means of diagnosis and directed treatment. Study design/methods The authors conducted a retrospective chart review of all pediatric transplant patients referred for adenotonsillectomy at a tertiary care center between May 2000 and May 2003. Thirteen patients were identified. All tonsils were evaluated for follicular lymphoid hyperplasia and atypical lymphoid cells. Seven of thirteen samples were stained for EBV RNA, and twelve of thirteen samples were tested using flow cytometry. Positive flow cytometry diagnosis was based on the presence of atypical lymphocytes, gene arrangement, or both. Results Seven of thirteen (7/13) examined patients were found to have adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Ten of thirteen (10/13) patients had elevated EBV serum titers. Four of thirteen (4/13) patients were found PTLD positive by flow cytometry. Of the four positive patients, all four patients were found to have elevated EBV titers and only two patients had adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Conclusions Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is not a sensitive indicator of PTLD. EBV serum titers are sensitive but nonspecific. Flow cytometry is the most effective diagnostic modality and allows physicians to tailor treatment to specific forms of PTLD.
Fire detection, location and heat release rate through inverse problem solution. Part II: Experiment

Abstract The design and fabrication of a prototype video fire detection system, which can locate a fire and determine its heat release rate, is described. The operation of the prototype system is demonstrated in a series of small-scale tests. The system utilizes a video camera to monitor an array of passive sensors distributed around the compartment to be protected. Each of the sensors is made up of a temperature-sensitive sheet that changes color at a prescribed temperature. In the event of an accidental fire, the plume of hot combustion gases rising from the fire will cause the temperature-sensitive sensors to be activated and change color. The times and locations of sensors changing color are used as data for an inverse problem solution algorithm, which determines the location and the heat release rate of the fire. A small-scale evaluation of the prototype video system is presented in which the prototype system is used to detect, locate and determine the heat release rate of a 2·4 kW burner placed in a 2·75 m wide by 2·75 m deep by 1·5 m high test enclosure. The accuracy of the prototype system in locating and determining the heat release rate of the small flame source placed in the reduced-scale enclosure is reported. In addition, the ability of the prototype system to make approximate measurements of the optical thickness of smoke in the enclosure, along camera-sensor lines-of-sight and then to use these measurements to locate and track the growth of a smoke plume is demonstrated.
Pseudo-isoenzyme forms of liver prenyl transferase☆

Abstract Prenyl transferase of pig liver exists in two forms, A and B, the latter being more acidic than form A. The ratio of these two forms in initial extracts of the organ varies according to the presence or absence of a thiol reducing agent in the extraction medium. In the presence of 10 mM β-mercaptoethanol the two forms exist as an equilibrium mixture of ca. 70% form A and 30% form B. The latter, when separated and rechromatographed with β-mercaptoethanol reverts to approximate the same 7:3 ratio of forms A and B. In the absence of a thiol reducing agent form B does not change, but form A may be converted almost completely to form B after treatment with oxidized glutathione.
Efficient estimation of Class A noise parameters via the EM algorithm

The Class A Middleton noise model is a commonly used statistical-physical, parametric model for non-Gaussian interference superimposed on a Gaussian background. In this study, the problem of efficient estimation of the Class A parameters for small sample sizes is considered. The proposed estimator is based on the EM algorithm, a two-step iterative estimation technique that is ideally suited for the Class A estimation problem since the observations can be readily treated as incomplete data. For the single-parameter estimation problem, a closed-form expression for the estimator is obtained. Furthermore, for the single-parameter estimation problem, it is shown that the sequence of estimates obtained via the EM algorithm converges, and a characterization of the point to which the sequence converges is given. In particular, it is shown that if the limit point of this convergent sequence is an interior point of the parameter set of interest, then it must be a stationary point of the traditional likelihood function. In addition, for both the single-parameter and two-parameter estimation problems, the small-sample-size performance of the proposed EM algorithm is examined via an extensive simulation study. >
Phenotypic and functional characteristics of lymphocytes isolated from liver biopsy specimens from patients with active liver disease

Liver-derived lymphocytes were isolated from 73 liver biopsy specimens obtained from patients with chronic active liver disease and from six samples of normal liver. Mean absolute numbers (±S.E.M) of liver-derived lymphocytes recovered from needle biopsy specimens by mild enzymatic digestion of the liver tissue varied from 0.7 ± 0.3 × 10/mm in allografts being rejected to 8.9 ± 0.9 × 10/mm in chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis. By two-color flow cytometry, T lymphocytes (CD3+) were the major liver-derived lymphocyte population in all biopsy specimens. The mean CD4/CD8 ratio (0.6 ± 0.2) was similar for liver-derived lymphocytes obtained from samples of normal or diseased liver. However, activated (human leukocyte antigen DR+) T cells were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in liver-derived lymphocytes obtained from liver disease specimens than they were in samples from normal livers. Natural killer cells were less numerous than T cells in specimens obtained from diseased livers, with the mean natural killer/T cell ratio ranging from a low of 0.1 in allograft rejection to a high of 0.8 ± 0.3 in primary sclerosing cholangitis. Liver-derived lymphocytes isolated from diseased liver contained significantly fewer (p < 0.05) CD3−CD56+ or CD56+CD16−natural killer cells than did those obtained from normal liver samples. Natural killer activity was consistently detectable in liver-derived lymphocytes obtained from specimens of normal or diseased livers. Moreover, natural killer activity in the liver did not differ significantly from that in either normal or patient peripheral blood. Spontaneous cytotoxic activity against natural killer-resistant targets, Daudi cells, was detectable but low in liver-derived lymphocytes obtained from specimens of both normal and diseased livers. In liver-derived lymphocytes obtained from livers with chronic active liver disease, the proportion of natural killer cells was reduced; T lymphocytes were more prominent and displayed human leukocyte antigen DR antigens more frequently than in end-stage liver disease. (HEPATOLOGY 1992;15:816–823).
A subquadratic algorithm for approximate regular expression matching

Abstract The main result of this paper is an algorithm for approximate matching of a regular expression of size m in a text of size n in time O ( nm /log d +2 n ), where d is the number of allowed errors. This algorithm is the first o ( mn ) algorithm for approximate matching to regular expressions.
Fever of Unknown Origin: Clinical Overview of Classic and Current Concepts

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) refers to disorders that present with prolonged and perplexing fevers that are difficult to diagnose. This article presents a clinical overview of classic and current causes of FUOs, which may be due to infectious, rheumatic/inflammatory, neoplastic, or miscellaneous disorders. Comprehensive but nonfocused diagnostic testing is ineffective and should be avoided. The FUO workup should be directed by the key history, physical, and laboratory findings in clinical presentation. The clinical syndromic approach in the differential diagnosis of FUOs is emphasized, and the diagnostic importance and significance of fever patterns are discussed.
Automatic scanning of solid state nuclear track detectors at low track density

A device for scanning large areas of Kimfol fission track detectors is described. It is being used in photofission experiments where ∼ 104 cm2 of film per run have to handled. The tracks are first enlarged by etching and sparking. The film is then scanned by a high resolution Vidicon camera and the x and y coordinates of each track are stored in a computer. A typical scanning speed is 10 cm2/s. The counting efficiency is close to 100%.
Sulfanilamide Therapy of Friedländer-Bacillus Infections of Mice

ConclusionsSulfanilamide has no significant therapeutic activity in mice infected with less than 10 M.L.D. of 2 strains of Friedlander bacillus.No therapeutic effect was observed with sulfanilamide, 4,4′-di-(acetylamino)-diphenylsulfone, or 4,4′-diaminobenzenesulofnanilide in mice injected with one M.L.D. of killed Friedlander bacilli.
The Do's and Do Not's of a 100 Million Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulation

The ever so growing prowess of petascale computing resources has pushed the envelope of biomolecular modeling, simulation, and analysis into the regime of hundred million atom systems. To bring a very challenging organelle-scale system under simulation control often involves substantial modifications of existing computational tools. Using two ongoing simulations of a bacterial chromatophore and the influenza virion coat, we demonstrate VMD-, NAMD-, MDFF-, and python-based innovations that enable large-scale biomolecular simulations. The protocol involves new semi-automated, yet high throughput, ways of large-scale atomic model construction, including in disordered membrane environments, their solvation, ionization, and equilibration, particularly for system sizes in excess of tens of million atoms. Discussions will extend to tools for characterizing the physical properties of a hundred million atom system, such as long-range electrostatics. Finally, the scientific purpose of performing such simulations will be justified in the light of results obtained from whole-chromatophore and whole-virion-coat simulations.
Research on planning

This section of the newsletter contains a collection of summaries of current research on planning. Although the number of projects described is modest, the variety of topics and institutions represented illustrates a healthy and growing interest in this area. In contrast with early research, much of which dealt with "blocks-world" problems, a significant portion of the research described here is confronting so-called "real-world" problems, such as planning with incomplete information, planning with large numbers of constraints, and planning in a non-cooperative environment. The role of planning in communication is also an important topic. Furthermore, in addition to covering a broad range of topics, the research covers the spectrum from quite theoretical to fairly practical.
Phenanthrene mineralization along a natural salinity gradient in an Urban Estuary, Boston Harbor, Massachusetts

The effect of varying salinity on phenanthrene and glutamate mineralization was examined in sediments along a natural salinity gradient in an urban tidal river. Mineralization was measured by trapping14CO2 from sediment slurries dosed with trace levels of [14C]phenanthrene or [14C]glutamate. Sediments from three sites representing three salinity regimes (0, 15, and 30%.) were mixed with filtered column water from each site. Ambient phenanthrene concentrations were also determined to calculate phenanthrene mineralization rates. Rates of phenanthrene mineralization related significantly to increasing salinity along the transect as determined by linear regression analysis. Rates ranged from 1 ng/hour/g dry sediment at the freshwater site to > 16 ng/hour/g dry sediment at the 30‰ salinity site. Glutamate mineralization also increased from the freshwater to the marine site; however, the relationship to salinity was not statistically significant. To examine the effect of salinity on mineralizing activities, individual sediments were mixed with filtered water of the other two sites. Slurries were also made with artificial seawater composed of 0, 15, or 30 g NaCl/ liter to substitute for overlying water. Rates of phenanthrene mineralization in the 0‰ ambient salinity sediments were not affected by higher salinity waters. Activities in the 15 and 30‰ ambient salinity sediments, however, were significantly inhibited by incubation with 0‰ salinity water. The inhibition, in large part, appears to be due to the decreased NaCl concentration of the water phase. Glutamate mineralization was affected in a similar manner, but not as dramatically as phenanthrene mineralization. The results suggest that phenanthrene degraders in low salinity estuarine sediments subject to salt water intrusion are tolerant to a wide range of salinities but phenanthrene degradation in brackish waters is mainly a function of obligate marine microorganisms.
Rigid sternal fixation in the cardiac transplant population.

Infections delay posttransplantation recovery and are present in the majority of early complications causing transplantation failure. Deep sternal wound infections and mediastinitis result in multiple surgical procedures for the patient and have been shown to increase hospital stay and expenses. Risk factors for development of sternal dehiscence and subsequent mediastinitis include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, reoperation, off-midline sternotomy, renal failure, diabetes, chronic steroid use, morbid obesity, concurrent infection, and acquired or iatrogenic immunosuppression. Many patients undergoing cardiac transplantation have 3 or more of these risk factors, designating them as at high risk for sternal dehiscence. Recognizing instability as the antecedent event to poststernotomy mediastinitis, multiple methods of sternal closure have been proposed. However, these methods have all revolved around different circlage techniques or other nonrigid means of fixation. We offer the use of rigid fixation in the patient undergoing cardiac transplantation both as a method of sternal fixation after the development of early dehiscence and as a means to prevent sternal infection at the time of initial sternal closure.
Possible relationship between nonvolcanic tremor and the 1998–2001 slow slip event, south central Alaska

[1] We document the occurrence of nonvolcanic tremor (NVT) in south central Alaska for 3 months of each year between 1999 and 2001 to provide a first-order attempt to understand the relationship between NVT and a large slow slip event that occurred over a 2 to 3 year period between 1998 and 2001. The majority of the NVT signals observed after the onset of the slow slip event are bursts lasting between 10 and 15 min with frequencies ranging from 1 to 6 Hz. By the summer of 2001 the quantity of NVT has decreased dramatically from the previous summers, and episodes rarely last up to 10 min. The decrease in NVT activity in the summer of 2001 is coincident with the end of the slow slip event. There is a clear spatial correlation between the observed NVT and the slow slip event, with most of the NVT events located on the downdip edge of the region of highest slip. Depth estimates range widely over the region, with approximately half concentrated near the interpreted North America-Yakutat/Pacific plate interface and the remainder located above the plate interface. However, owing to inadequate station coverage and poor knowledge of the local structure, determining accurate depths is difficult and thus the relationship between the NVT and the plate interface is problematic. This is the first study giving evidence that the relationship between slow slip events and NVT seen in Cascadia and southwest Japan may also exist in Alaska.
Polylog depth circuits for integer factoring and discrete logarithms

Abstract In this paper, we develop parallel algorithms for integer factoring and for computing discrete logarithms. In particular, we give polylog depth probabilistic boolean circuits of subexponential size for both of these problems, thereby solving an open problem of Adleman and Kompella. Existing sequential algorithms for integer factoring and discrete logarithms use a prime base which is the set of all primes up to a bound B. We use a much smaller value for B for our parallel algorithms than is typical for sequential algorithms. In particular, for inputs of length n, by setting B = nlogdn with d a positive constant, we construct • Probabilistic boolean circuits of depth (log) and size exp[(/log)] for completely factoring a positive integer with probability 1−(1), and • Probabilistic boolean circuits of depth (log + log) and size exp[(/log)] for computing discrete logarithms in the finite field () for a prime with probability 1−(1). These are the first results of this type for both problems.
Seasonal and Spatial Distribution of the Carolina Marsh Clam Polymesoda caroliniana (Bosc) in a Mississippi Tidal Marsh

The abundance of the marsh clamPolymesoda caroliniana at four stations on a Mississippi tidal marsh was followed from February 1977 through April 1978. The stations varied with respect to inundation time and vegetative cover. The largest population was found in an area flooded 12% of the year (136 individuals per m2) and in an area flooded 3.2% of the year (126 individuals per m2). However, the latter area contained no large clams (>25.5 mm). Smaller populations were found in the upper reaches of a tidal creek draining the marsh (68 individuals per m2) and in an area flooded 5.8% of the year (73 individuals per m2). The average abundance of the clams on the marsh was 100 per m2. At least three recruitment periods were apparent. In laboratory studies, clams larger than 15 mm survived longer than 30 days without water. Clams smaller than 12 mm survived less than 6 days without water. Several decapods (Callinectes sapidus, Uca longisignalis, andSesarma reticulatum) consumed clams smaller than 10 mm but were unable to eat larger clams under laboratory conditions.Polymesoda caroliniana may be important to the functioning of the marsh by removing large quantities of particulate matter from flooding water.
Assessing Planning School Performance: Multiple Paths, Multiple Measures

To grow and prosper in an era when university departments are increasingly assessed comparatively and critically by national systems of accountability and ranking, planning schools need data that reflect the wide range of activities undertaken by planning educators. Recent developments surrounding planning school assessment in U.S. planning schools are considered in light of the history of university unit performance measurement internationally, and suggestions are made for development of a robust system of planning school assessment that includes the breadth of academic planners' work.
Kinetics and efficiency of aqueous electropolymerization of pyrrole onto low‐carbon steel

The effect of process parameters on the conversion, P, and current efficiency, η, for the aqueous electropolymerization of pyrrole on low-carbon steel has been investigated. The amount of polypyrrole coatings formed on steel, W p , increased with the charge passed, Q, and the initial pyrrole concentration [M], but was unaffected by the electrolyte concentration. The conversion of pyrrole into polypyrrole, P = W p / W M , increased with electropolymerization time, and the applied current, and decreased with the initial monomer concentration. The oxalic acid concentration had no significant effect on conversion. The current efficiency for the electropolymerization of pyrrole performed by using high applied current, I(I ≥ 40 mA), and high pyrrole concentration, [M] ≥ 0.5M, rose to its highest value at short polymerization times, t < 300 sec. It then decreased and leveled off at longer times, t ≥ 1,000 sec. At low applied current, I ≤ 20 mA, and low pyrrole concentration, [M] < 0.25M, the current efficiency increased gradually with increased reaction parameters ([M], I, and t) and reached a maximum value at t = 1,000 sec. A retrogression of the current efficiency occurred at t ≥ 1,000 sec, for the reaction performed by using applied current of 10 mA. Overall, the current efficiency varied between 39 and 130%, with the higher values occurring at high pyrrole concentration and high applied current. The current efficiency was determined from the ratio of the experimental and theoretical electrochemical equivalents for polypyrrole.
Late effects of childhood cancer therapy

Abstract One in every 900 young adults is a survivor of childhood cancer. Survivors may experience a wide variety of late effects stemming from the treatment they received. It is estimated that a significant portion of adult survivors of childhood cancer are not followed regularly in a center familiar with the late effects of their specific therapy. Therefore it is important for health care professionals in any setting to have an understanding of these possible late effects and encourage the survivor to seek appropriate follow-up. This article will provide a general overview of the potential late effects of childhood cancer therapy. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Somatic mutation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors in juvenile hemangioma

Juvenile hemangiomas are the most common tumors of infancy, occurring in as many as 10% of all births. These benign vascular lesions enlarge rapidly during the first year of life by hyperplasia of endothelial cells and attendant pericytes and then spontaneously involute over a period of years, leaving loose fibrofatty tissue. Several hypotheses have been put forth concerning hemangiogenesis, including the possibility that the tumor is the result of somatic mutation in one or more components of critical vascular growth-regulatory pathways. To test this hypothesis, we obtained 15 proliferative-phase hemangiomas after surgical resection and dissected them to enrich for the lesional (endothelial and pericytic) components of each specimen. To determine whether hemangiomas represent a clonal expansion from a single progenitor cell, we assayed X-inactivation patterns for each lesion by using the polymorphic X-linked human androgen receptor gene. Twelve of 14 informative hemangiomas showed a significant degree of allelic loss after methylation-based and transcription-based polymerase chain reaction clonality assays, suggesting a nonrandom X-inactivation pattern and, thus, a monoclonal origin. We then sequenced genes encoding the receptors of the vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) as candidates for potential somatic mutation. Mutations were found in two of the 15 hemangioma specimens: a missense mutation (P1147S) in the kinase domain of the VEGFR2 (FLK1/KDR) gene in one specimen and a missense mutation (P954S) in the kinase insert of the VEGFR3 (FLT4) gene in another specimen. In each case, the mutation was detected in tumor tissue but not in adjacent normal tissue. These results suggest that one potential mechanism involved in hemangioma formation is the alteration of the VEGF signaling pathway in endothelial and/or pericytic cells.
Optimizing LZSS compression on GPGPUs

In this paper, we present an algorithm and provide design improvements needed to port the serial Lempel-Ziv-Storer-Szymanski (LZSS), lossless data compression algorithm, to a parallelized version suitable for general purpose graphic processor units (GPGPU), specifically for NVIDIA's CUDA Framework. The two main stages of the algorithm, substring matching and encoding, are studied in detail to fit into the GPU architecture. We conducted detailed analysis of our performance results and compared them to serial and parallel CPU implementations of LZSS algorithm. We also benchmarked our algorithm in comparison with well known, widely used programs: GZIP and ZLIB. We achieved up to 34i? better throughput than the serial CPU implementation of LZSS algorithm and up to 2.21i? better than the parallelized version.
A Fully Integrated Auto-Calibrated SuperRegenerative Receiver

A fully integrated super-regenerative receiver in 0.13mum CMOS with on-chip quench generation is described. Auto-calibration improves the selectivity of a Q-enhanced filter and the sensitivity of super-regeneration. The prototype consumes 2.8mW, or 5.6nJ per received bit, at 500kb/s, and has a turn-on time of 83.6mus, a channel spacing of 10MHz, and a sensitivity of -90dBm
Adrenal medulla grafts enhance recovery of striatal dopaminergic fibers

The drug, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), depletes striatal dopamine levels in primates and certain rodents, including mice, and produces parkinsonian-like symptoms in humans and nonhuman primates. To investigate the consequences of grafting adrenal medullary tissue into the brain of a rodent model of Parkinson's disease, a piece of adult mouse adrenal medulla was grafted unilaterally into mouse striatum 1 week after MPTP treatment. This MPTP treatment resulted in the virtual disappearance of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive fibers and severely depleted striatal dopamine levels. At 2, 4, and 6 weeks after grafting, dense tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive fibers were observed in the grafted striatum, while only sparse fibers were seen in the contralateral striatum. In all cases, tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive fibers appeared to be from the host rather than from the grafts, which survived poorly. These observations suggest that, in mice, adrenal medullary grafts exert a neurotrophic action in the host brain to enhance recovery of dopaminergic neurons. This effect may be relevant to the symptomatic recovery in Parkinson's disease patients who have received adrenal medullary grafts.
Behavior of hearing or vision impaired and normal hearing and vision dogs (Canis lupis familiaris): Not the same, but not that different

The article compared behavioral characteristics of dogs (Canis lupis familiaris) labeled as hearing and/or vision impaired by their owners with cohort dogs labeled as having normal hearing and vision (NHV) by their owners. The Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire, developed by Hsu and Serpell (2003), was used to survey owners. Four hundred sixty-one dog owners completed the online survey, with 183 of these being owners of hearing and/or vision impaired (HVI) dogs. Data analysis revealed that HVI dogs were reported by owners to show less aggression, less excitement, and were less likely to engage in behaviors, such as chasing of rabbits and rolling in feces than their normally hearing/seeing (NHV) cohorts. HVI dogs, however, were reported to be more likely to chew inappropriate objects, consume feces, bark excessively, and engage in greater licking behavior. When owners were surveyed about the type of training method used, owners of HVI dogs were found to be more likely to use hand signs, physical prompts, or combination of these training methods. Owners of NHV dogs reported being more likely than owners of HVI dogs to use gestures or report no formal training with their dogs. The data provide evidence that HVI dogs are as trainable as NHV dogs, can make excellent pets, and show behavior that is well within the parameters of NHV dog behavior. Still, because of their sensory limitations, specialized training methods and adaptations should be implemented with these dogs. This may limit HVI dogs to owners who are motivated, understand the sensory deficits, and are willing to engage in the modified training.
Working Interest Optimization in the Transport and Burial of Hazardous Wastes

One of the major concerns decision makers face in deciding whetherto accept a contract for transport and burial of hazardous wastesis whether there will be spillage during transportation and/orleakage after burial, both of which could significantly impactcorporate profitability. To mitigate the possible negative impactof such events, two avenues of damage control are commonly invoked.First, some predetermined risk tolerance is usually establishedthat will not be exceeded for involvement in a project withoutextremely good reason. Second, potential exposure to the negativeaspects (spillage and/or leakage) of a project is limited byassuming<100% working interest in a contract. Although suchfractional involvement lowers potential gains, it also mitigatespotential liabilities, thus preserving corporate fiscal integrity. The present study illustrates how such decisions can be madedependent on a level of tolerance to risk and subject to theestimated probabilities of success and failure (spillage and/orleakage), together with the associated costs of various probableevents. Exponential and parabolic utility models are employedto demonstrate how decision makers can evaluate a project andassess, for a given contract price, whether involvement in theproject is warranted, what fraction of a contract maximizesthe return to a company, what is the range of financially viableworking interests, and how acceptance of a project, under uncertainconditions and with variable potential expenditures, could influencecorporate profits.
Algodones Dunes of Southeastern California

The Algodones dune belt, which is 40 miles long in a northwesterly direction, 3–6 miles wide, and has individual dunes 200-300 feet high, lies along the southeastern border of the Cahuilla Basin, a structural depression in southeastern California. Much of the basin is below sea level and includes Imperial and Coachella valleys. The lowest portion of the basin is now occupied by the Salton Sea. Most detritus enters the basin from the high mountains to the west and northwest; little material is contributed by the lower, drier desert ranges to the east. The dunes appear unsystematic from the ground, but as seen from the air they consist of long northwest-trending ridges on the west which individually curve eastward and disappear in a complex of prominent south-facing slip faces. In the central and southern part of the dune area some of the slip faces are 200–300 feet high and overlook large flat-floored, sand-free depressions which are interpreted as exposed parts of the desert floor over which a succession of large, closely spaced complex barchans is advancing. Present conditions favor destruction of the depressions by encroachment of sand in the form of small linear ridges and barchan dunes from the transverse dunes. Color and degree of rounding of the sand grains indicate that the dunes are now less active than in the past and that the amount of sand is not increasing significantly. The dunes were probably produced by wind transport of sand inshore from the beaches of Lake Cahuilla, a much larger forerunner of the Salton Sea. The large volume of material in these ancient beaches indicates vigorous wave and current action along the northeastern shore of the lake.
Organizing Our Thoughts: “Global Systems” and the Challenge of Writing a More Complex History

WITH A DEEP REVERENCE for science and at a high level of generalization, Alan Wood advocates writing what he calls “global systems history”—an account of events that draws on the work of complex systems theorists and, in its best realization, “balances unity with diversity, the general with the particular, the whole with the parts, the macrocosmic with the microscopic, the synthetic with the analytic.” Professor Wood identifies five characteristics of complex systems that he finds most valuable for global history scholars: emergence, feedback, interconnectivity, self-organization, and cooperation. These attributes “grew out of the observation of physical, chemical, and biological processes in the natural realm.” He believes that “a new [global systems] view” of history is needed because our problems today “are systemic, interdependent, interdisciplinary, and interconnected,” though, presumably, so were the problems of the past. Whether our understanding of “the commonalities that unite us” will promote a more global civil society, I leave to others to debate. Rather, I would like to bring the conversation down from the lofty level Professor Wood leaves it on, and
Using Emerging Technologies to Meet the Requirements of State Source Protection Initiatives

A Source Assessment Survey (SAS) conducted for Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL), provided an opportunity to combine geographic information system (GIS), global positioning system (GPS), and georeferenced digital aerial photographic technologies to meet California's source assessment requirements. Source protection is rapidly becoming the preferred method of ensuring the production of safe drinking water throughout the United States. These innovative technologies were applied to delineate FHL's water sources; identify possibly contaminating activities (PCAs) that could threaten source water quality; analyze the PCAs to identify those that represent a significant threat; and recommend mitigation strategies. In the future, combining GIS, GPS, and digital aerial photographic technologies will continue to improve analysis of the threats PCAs pose with respect to a myriad of hydrogeologic, hydraulic, and topographic considerations. Specific GIS functions enable data to be manipulated to conduct a spatial threat analysis of PCAs. The most important application of these innovative technologies is the attention-grabbing, easily interpreted graphics that visually communicate to individuals and the command structure the consequences of specific activities. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Bright CD38 expression is an indicator of MYC rearrangement

The MYC gene (at 8q24, previously referred to as C-MYC) rearrangement (R) with immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IGH) [t(8;14)(q24;q32)] or light chain genes [t(2;8)(p12;q24) or t(8;22)(q24;q11.2)] ...
Experiments with Correlation Representations for Objective Analysis

Abstract The Gandin optimal analysis scheme leaves open the problem of determining the covariance matrix on which it depends. The choice of an autocorrelation function for geopotential, from which geostrophically consistent cross-correlations—and thus covariances—for heights and winds may be derived, influences the performance of the analysis. Four related functions are considered for representation of height field autocorrelations. They are compared on the basis of spectral behavior, capacity to conform with geostrophy, and accuracy of analyses employing them. A multivariate objective analysis test, with both regular and irregular configurations of predictor stations, compares performance of analyses based on modeled covariances with performance of an analysis using observed sample covariances.
Anomeric Bond-Character in the Pyranose Sugars

Evidence from determinations of crystal structure relating to the shortening of carbon-oxygen bonds in the anomeric position in pyranose sugars is presented. There is a high degree of probability that the C(1)-O(1) bond is shortened by about 0.04 A relative to the other C-O single-bond lengths, except in the case of an axially oriented glycosidic group where there is evidence of a distinction between the two ring C-O bonds.
Electrochemical Oxidation of Methyl-Substituted Chrysenes

Abstract Differential pulse voltammetry at a platinum electrode has been employed to measure oxidation potentials of all of six monomethyl-substituted chrysenes including the highly carcinogenic 5-methylchrysene in order to correlate their biological activities with their chemical redox properties. The oxidation potential of the 5-methyl isomer was found to be 1.300 V (vs Ag/AgCl reference electrode), which is about 50 mV more negative than those for many of the noncarcinogenic isomers. The results appear to support the general hypothesis that compounds with lower oxidation potentials are likely to be more biologically active than those with higher oxidation potentials as far as carcinogenesis with PAH is concerned.
THE POLLS—REVIEW POLL-BASED FORECASTS OF MIDTERM CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION OUTCOMES: DO THE POLLSTERS GET IT RIGHT?

Pollsters greet the approach of each new national election campaign with an ambivalence born of exhilaration and trepidation, for elections are great opportunities not only to display their wares to an admiring public but also to go horribly wrong in public. Do the pollsters get it right when they forecast elections? Here we focus on one highly visible aspect of poll-based election forecasting. When, at various points during a midterm (i.e., "off-year" or nonpresidential election year) congressional campaign, national polling firms pose the so-called generic vote question to random samples of hundreds or even thousands of Americans ("If the elections for Congress were being held today, which party's candidate would you like to see win in your congressional district?' '),1 do the aggregated responses bear any perceptible resemblance to the actual election outcome? Why should we be so concerned about the accuracy of midterm election forecasts? Largely because pollsters themselves are so concerned about the accuracy of midterm election forecasts. Pollsters are, as we have already noted, generally uneasy about election forecast-
Technical advance: stringent control of transgene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana using the Top10 promoter system

We show that the tightly regulated tetracycline-sensitive Top10 promoter system (Weinmann et al. Plant J. 1994, 5, 559-569) is functional in Arabidopsis thaliana. A pure breeding A. thaliana line (JL-tTA/8) was generated which expressed a chimeric fusion of the tetracycline repressor and the activation domain of Herpes simplex virus (tTA), from a single transgenic locus. Plants from this line were crossed with transgenics carrying the ER-targeted green fluorescent protein coding sequence (mGFP5) under control of the Top10 promoter sequence. Progeny from this cross displayed ER-targeted GFP fluorescence throughout the plant, indicating that the tTA-Top10 promoter interaction was functional in A. thaliana. GFP expression was repressed by 100 ng ml-1 tetracycline, an order of magnitude lower than the concentration used previously to repress expression in Nicotiana tabacum. Moreover, the level of GFP expression was controlled by varying the concentration of tetracycline in the medium, allowing a titred regulation of transgenic activity that was previously unavailable in A. thaliana. The kinetics of GFP activity were determined following de-repression of the Top10:mGFP5 transgene, with a visible ER-targeted GFP signal appearing from 24 to 48 h after de-repression.
Novel de novo SCN2A mutation in a child with migrating focal seizures of infancy.

Abstract Background Migrating focal seizures of infancy are characterized by seizure onset within 7 months of age, migrating focal motor seizures with multifocal ictal electroencephalography discharges intractable to conventional antiepileptic drugs, and poor prognosis. Reported genetic etiologies include SCN1A and KCNT1 mutations and homozygous deletion of the PLCB1 gene. Here we report a novel SCN2A mutation in a child with this syndrome. Patient A 7-week-old girl was admitted to our hospital for management of status epilepticus. She was the product of a full-term unremarkable pregnancy. Seizures started around 5 weeks of age and remained medically refractory. Electroencephalography showed multifocal epileptiform discharges as well as seizures arising from multifocal regions in both cerebral hemispheres. Based on her phenotype, a diagnosis of migrating focal seizures of infancy was made. Result A novel de novo missense mutation was identified in the SCN2A gene, exon 22 (coding for voltage-gated sodium channel type II): c.3977T>A (p.V1326D). This mutation affects a highly evolutionarily conserved area of the gene and replaces hydrophobic nonpolar valine with polar aspartic acid; thus, it is predicted to affect protein function and is presumed pathogenic. Discussion This report expands our knowledge of the genetic basis of migrating focal seizures of infancy to include mutations in SCN2A gene.