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Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Frequently Asked Questions The depository institution you're looking for may not be examined for CRA performance by the Federal Reserve. For CRA information on additional institutions, go to the FDIC site, the OCC site or the OTS site. You may need to try a different form of the bank's name. Banks are listed by abbreviated names, and you may need to try several name variations before you find the one you're looking for. For best results, start your search by entering only the most significant part of the bank's name, for example, Citizens. For names with obvious abbreviations, use the abbreviation; for example, try AMER before AMERICAN and BK (or B&TC, for Bank and Trust Co.) before BANK. (However, the word STATE is not usually abbreviated.) Enter all abbreviations in sequence. For example, if the bank you are looking for is named First State Bank, enter STATE before BK. Try the other approach: Instead of searching on the bank name, select criteria to narrow your search to a particular state and then look for the bank on the list that appears. A single bank may be listed under more than one name because bank names (and the way a single name is entered in the database) may change over time. Bank ID numbers stay the same, however. The bank you're looking for may in fact be listed under more than one name. By matching ID numbers, you can determine which banks with slightly different names (or slightly different abbreviated names) are in reality the same bank. The listed city is the location of the head office of the bank; branches may be located in other cities. Probably not. Not all banks are evaluated every year.

Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Frequently Asked Questions The depository institution you're looking for may not be examined for CRA performance by the Federal Reserve. For CRA information on additional institutions, go to the FDIC site, the OCC site or the OTS site. You may need to try a different form of the bank's name. Banks are listed by abbreviated names, and you may need to try several nam

A Perspective from Main Street: Long-Term Unemployment and Workforce - Part I: Developing the Labor Force Supply The Federal Reserve's Community Development function promotes economic growth and financial stability for low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities and individuals through a range of activities including convening stakeholders, conducting and sharing research, and identifying emerging issues. Given the attenuating effects of long-term unemployment on the broader economic recovery and the particular issues facing LMI communities, in the fall of 2011, the Community Development function at the Reserve Banks of Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond, San Francisco, and St. Louis worked with the Board of Governors to design an initiative to explore regional perspectives on this issue through a series of forums held throughout the country. Some of these regional forums consisted of small focus groups or listening sessions; others were larger in scope, with more formal agendas focusing on a particular demographic or employment sector. In most cases, forum participants represented either intermediary organizations that are involved in the delivery of workforce development services, local employers, or both. The objective of this initiative was to better understand the complex factors creating long-term unemployment conditions particularly in LMI communities and to identify promising workforce development strategies.1 This paper reports the key topics that emerged from the forums and offers examples of how those issues were reflected in different parts of the country and for different populations.2 Where noted, the paper provides context for the comments using secondary data sources or research findings. This paper does not attempt to be a comprehensive compilation of all the ideas and views that were expressed at the regional forums. Part I of this paper discusses labor force supply chain issues; part II discusses barriers; and part III discusses considerations and further research to address these issues. Appendixes to this paper provide a list of the forums and a sampling of related activities occurring within the Federal Reserve's Community Development function in 2012. Since the 2007-09 recession, the national unemployment picture has been unfamiliar relative to historical trends in several ways. First, long-term unemployment rates are higher than at any time since 1948 and, second, unemployment remains high despite increasing job vacancy rates.3 As a result, the U.S. economy is struggling to grow under the weight of an overwhelming level of unproductive human capital. Workforce development is, generally, a wide range of activities, policies, and programs employed by educational institutions, public and private social service providers, communities, economic developers, and employers to educate and organize a workforce and to support business and industry. The provision of workforce development can take many forms: - Individual-centric: a combination of social services, community supports, job training and education that positions an individual for success in the workforce, the community or region, or the organization - Societal- or sector-centric: initiatives that educate and train individuals to meet the needs of current and future business and industry in order to maintain a sustainable competitive economic environment in the community or region - Organizational-centric: training programs that provide existing and potential workers with the skills to complete tasks needed by employers to let the organizations stay competitive in a global marketplace4 Due to the many possible stakeholders and broad scope of services, it is difficult to create a narrow definition of workforce development. Nevertheless, workforce development is an essential component of community economic development, particularly in the wake of the recent financial crisis. 1. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) defines "long-term unemployment" as joblessness for 27 weeks and longer. During the forums, Community Development staff used "chronic unemployment" and "long-term unemployment" interchangeably. Return to text 2. The challenges and recommendations contained in this report are recompiled from the regional forums, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Reserve System. Return to text 3. Ben S. Bernanke, Federal Reserve Board Chairman (2012), "Recent Developments in the Labor Market," speech delivered at the National Association for Business Economics Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., March 26 (www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/bernanke20120326a.htm ). Jeffrey Lacker, President, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (2012), "Technology, Unemployment and Workforce Development in a Rapidly Changing World," speech delivered in Greensboro, North Carolina, May 7 (www.richmondfed.org/press_room/speeches/president_jeff_lacker/2012/lacker_speech_20120507.cfm ). Return to text 4. Lyn E. Haralson (2010), "What is Workforce Development?" Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Bridges, (Spring), www.stlouisfed.org/publications/br/articles/?id=1953 (accessed December 18, 2012). Return to text A Perspective from Main Street: Long-Term Unemployment and Workforce Development Errata On 1/31/13, this report was revised. Appendix A: List of Federal Reserve System Local Forums and Appendix B: Reserve Bank Community Development-Related Activities and Next Steps were removed. They were replaced with Appendix A: Reserve Bank Community Development-Related Activities and Next Steps and Appendix B: List of Forums and Forum Summary Notes.

A Perspective from Main Street: Long-Term Unemployment and Workforce - Part I: Developing the Labor Force Supply The Federal Reserve's Community Development function promotes economic growth and financial stability for low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities and individuals through a range of activities including convening stakeholders, conducting and sharing research, and identifying emerging

Seeking: charismatic scientists, engineers A group photo of mentees from 2008. Near Valentine's Day every year Roger Dixon and Erik Ramberg play matchmakers at Fermilab. They put out a call to laboratory employees: Seeking successful scientists and engineers who must love sharing knowledge for a 10-week relationship. The annual February round up of participants for the laboratory's mentorship programs create a great opportunity for scientists to meet and educate prospective future colleagues. Typically about 200 student suitors vie for a chance to spend time with the mentors. "Young people are the future of the field," Dixon said. "It's important to turn them onto science." Dixon, head of the Accelerator Division, and experimental physicist Erik Ramberg manage two of the Fermilab internship programs: the Internship for Physics Majors (IPM), for foreign students; and the DOE-sponsored Summer Undergraduate Laboratory Internship program (SULI), for U.S. students. They need a dozen mentors at Fermilab to work with the group of interns they intend to select by the end of March. Volunteers should have projects with goals that can be reached during the 10-week internship. The idea is to give the interns, who are mostly undergraduates, laboratory experience and an introduction to a field many of them may pursue. Ramberg got his start in particle physics as an intern at SLAC, and he's been a long-standing mentor at Fermilab. He says the interns are very bright and self-starting and often do excellent work for their mentors. The mentorship program has been successful at recruiting students for scientific careers. About one-third of the interns go on to pursue careers in particle physics, and more than half end up working in a scientific field. Some students have even ended up back working at Fermilab. "I've had a number of students who have done very significant work on the projects," Ramberg said. "I wish more could stay on." A meeting for people interested in becoming mentors for one of the internship programs will take place on Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. in Curia II. -- Kristine Crane

Seeking: charismatic scientists, engineers A group photo of mentees from 2008. Near Valentine's Day every year Roger Dixon and Erik Ramberg play matchmakers at Fermilab. They put out a call to laboratory employees: Seeking successful scientists and engineers who must love sharing knowledge for a 10-week relationship. The annual February round up of participants for the laboratory's mentorship prog

Keep School Lunches Safe By Diane Van, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service As children head back to school this fall, parents and caretakers may wonder, “What’s the most important thing that the kids should take to school with them?” From my perspective as a food safety specialist, I’d recommend an insulated lunch box as the best investment of the school year. For a few dollars, an insulated lunch box can keep children healthy and engaged to learn by protecting them from foodborne illness. If you pack perishable food in an old-fashioned brown paper bag, it can be unsafe to eat by lunchtime. When children are sent home sick or stay home because of illness, it’s difficult for them to succeed in their school work. Insulated lunch boxes help maintain food at a safe temperature until lunchtime. Perishable lunch foods, such as cold cut sandwiches and yogurt, can be left out at room temperature for only 2 hours before they may become unsafe to eat. But, with an insulated lunch box and a chilled freezer gel pack, perishable food can stay cold and safe to eat until lunch. Why keep food cold? Harmful bacteria multiply rapidly in the "Danger Zone" — the temperatures between 40 and 140 °F. So, perishable food transported without a cold source won't stay safe long. Here are some other tips to keep food safe until lunchtime: - Clean Hands: Always make sure your hands are clean before preparing lunches. And, make sure your children understand that they need to wash their hands thoroughly before eating lunch or snacks. “Washing hands thoroughly” means using soap and warm water, and rubbing hands for 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice). If water is not available, provide moist towelettes or hand sanitizing gels in the lunch box. - Freeze your juice box: You can freeze juice boxes and use them as freezer packs. By lunchtime, the juice should be thawed and ready to drink. - Hot Foods: To keep hot foods hot, use an insulated bottle like a thermos for foods such as soup, chili, or stew. - Non-Perishable Food: Some food is safe without a cold source. Lunch items that don't need to be refrigerated include whole fruits and vegetables, hard cheese, canned meat and fish, chips, breads, crackers, peanut butter, jelly, mustard, and pickles. If the lunch box comes home with food in it, make sure to throw away any perishable food items, because they have been unrefrigerated too long! If you have any other questions about packing lunches safely or have other food safety questions, feel free to contact us at the Hotline (1-888-674-6854 toll-free) or online at AskKaren.gov. Time and temperature abuse are the primary causes of foods becoming unsafe for consumption. People who typically "brown bag" their lunches consume foods that may not be safe to eat. In schools or the work place; the use of refrigeration should be a requirement and provided by the employer. This would avoid food born illness and reduce sick time, a conciderable cost to all employers. The articles is excellent. It does not give fun alone but also some good points. I am sure a lot of readers would love to keep on coming back in this site for some updates. Thank you for sharing good ideas. Helo, thank forthe information. This is a good idea. I want to intoduce it in the schools. Greeting from the green heart of germany. The best way to keep children's food safe is to allow them to eat a school prepared meal. School nutrition employees in our state have been trained in food safety and sanitation as well as personal cleanliness as it pertains to handling food. The employees in our kitchens keep temperatures at proper levels and know the procedures for handling food that is not at the correct temperature. The environmental specialist inspect our schools twice per year and considering our kitchens receive closer scrutiny than restaurants we receive excellant scores. So when you consider food safety for your children, consider allowing them to eat a school prepared meal.

Keep School Lunches Safe By Diane Van, USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service As children head back to school this fall, parents and caretakers may wonder, “What’s the most important thing that the kids should take to school with them?” From my perspective as a food safety specialist, I’d recommend an insulated lunch box as the best investment of the school year. For a few dollars, an insulated

To ensure your safety and enjoyment while hunting on the refuge, please read all of the information on this page and abide by all rules and regulations. For a printer friendly version, click here. Hunting is permitted in accordance with all applicable State and Federal regulations and is subject to special regulations. Hunters should also consult the current New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Digest. To hunt Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, hunters MUST apply for the appropriate Zone 56, 57, 58, and/or 70 permit through the State lottery. There will be no sale of leftover permits. Permits are issued only through the lottery; no exceptions. Only designated sections of the Edwin B. Forsythe NWR are open for deer hunting; all other areas are closed. Purchasing a Zone 22, 42 or 51 permit does not allow hunters to hunt anywhere on the refuge. Links to Detailed Zone Information This information will be mailed to all hunters who were awarded permits to hunt in zones on the refuge. (All files are in .pdf format and require Adobe Reader to view.) Zone 56 (1.13MB) Hunters with validated DMZ permit may scout the refuge. Scouting is permitted on the two Sundays prior to the opening day from sunrise to sunset, as well as all Sundays during the respective season. Hunters must carry their hunting license and valid zone permit. The permittee is the only person authorized to scout the refuge. State mandated safety zone regulations apply to all refuge hunting. Deer hunters, hunting on the refuge during the Firearm season, must wear, at all times, in a conspicuous manner on HEAD, CHEST, and BACK a minimum of 400 square inches of SOLID-COLORED HUNTER ORANGE clothing or material. Requirements to hunt on a national wildlife refuges are double the amount required by New Jersey regulations. Only portable tree stands may be used and must be removed from the refuge by the last day of the season. Harvested deer must be taken to an official State operated check station. A check station is not available at the refuge. Please remember to indicate which DMZ you are hunting in. Sunday hunting is NOT permitted on refuge lands. If you wound a deer and it goes off the refuge, follow state and local laws. If you shoot a deer and it runs outside your hunting zone or into a closed area of the refuge, mark the location and contact the refuge office at (609) 652-1665. Refuge staff may either give you permission to enter the closed area or other hunting zone with your weapon, or accompany you to retrieve the deer. Failure to do so may result in prosecution. Refuge hunting areas may change each year. Hunters are encouraged to read the hunt maps provided. Please respect adjacent landowners, DO NOT TRESPASS! Have a safe and enjoyable hunting experience!

To ensure your safety and enjoyment while hunting on the refuge, please read all of the information on this page and abide by all rules and regulations. For a printer friendly version, click here. Hunting is permitted in accordance with all applicable State and Federal regulations and is subject to special regulations. Hunters should also consult the current New Jersey Fish and Wildlife Digest. To

Department of the Interior: Year 2000 Computing Crisis Presents Risk of Disruption to Key Operations T-AIMD-98-149, Apr 22, 1998 GAO discussed where the federal government stands in its efforts to lessen Year 2000 risks and GAO's preliminary observations on Year 2000 activities at the Department of the Interior. GAO noted that: (1) the federal government is extremely vulnerable to the Year 2000 issue due to its widespread dependence on computer systems; (2) its reviews of federal agency Year 2000 programs have found uneven progress, and its reports contain numerous recommendations, which the agencies have almost universally agreed to implement; (3) one of the largest, and largely unknown, risks relates to the global nature of the Year 2000 problem; (4) with electronic dependence and massive exchange of data comes increasing risk that uncorrected Year 2000 problems in other countries will adversely affect the United States; (5) setting priorities for Year 2000 conversion is essential, with the focus being on systems most critical to health and safety, financial well being, national security, or the economy; (6) agencies must start business continuity and contingency planning now to safeguard their ability to deliver a minimum acceptable level of services in the event of Year 2000-induced failures; (7) agencies must have strategies for independently verifying the status of their Year 2000 efforts; (8) no nationwide assessment, including the private and public sectors, has been undertaken of Year 2000 risks and readiness; (9) Interior estimates that correcting its 95 mission-critical systems will cost $17.3 million; (10) Interior is also assessing its communications systems and embedded chip technologies to determine whether they will be affected by the century change; and (11) Interior's Year 2000 coordinator does not have the ability to verify the accuracy of reported information on the bureaus' and offices' mission-critical systems.

Department of the Interior: Year 2000 Computing Crisis Presents Risk of Disruption to Key Operations T-AIMD-98-149, Apr 22, 1998 GAO discussed where the federal government stands in its efforts to lessen Year 2000 risks and GAO's preliminary observations on Year 2000 activities at the Department of the Interior. GAO noted that: (1) the federal government is extremely vulnerable to the Year 2000 is

Note: This message is displayed if (1) your browser is not standards-compliant or (2) you have you disabled CSS. Read our Policies for more information. EPA provides tax credits and incentives for various projects involving efficiency and efficiency measures for both consumers, home-owners and businesses. These are provided by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Homeowners and Home Builders Tax Credits for Appliance Manufacturers Tax Deductions for Commercial Buildings Federal Income Tax Credits exist for the installation of alternative fuel systems. The infrastructure development provision was part of the 2005 Energy Policy Act and provides a 30% federal income tax credit, up to $30,000 per property, to install alternative fuel dispensing systems. The Indiana Department of Revenue provides the forms for E85 and Biodiesel tax credits. Indiana offers a state property tax deduction for the installation of geothermal technologies. A form is required that is available here (look for the DLGF section "Deduction Forms" at the bottom of the page). For more information please contact your county tax office, or the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, http://www.in.gov/dlgf. Property tax exemption information for the installation of solar and wind technologies can be found by contacting your local county auditor or county assessor. Additional tax credit programs can be found by visiting the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

Note: This message is displayed if (1) your browser is not standards-compliant or (2) you have you disabled CSS. Read our Policies for more information. EPA provides tax credits and incentives for various projects involving efficiency and efficiency measures for both consumers, home-owners and businesses. These are provided by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Homeowners and Home Builders Tax Credits

Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), incoming Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, said context is needed in today’s Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) report that the economy added 166,000 private sector payroll jobs in January and the unemployment rate rose to 7.9%. “This is Obama’s new normal: a run-in-place jobs report and unemployment stuck near 8 percent," says Brady. "America is missing nearly four million jobs that should have already been created if President Obama's economic leadership had merely been average." The White House now boasts it has added six million private payroll jobs over the past 35 months. But according to Joint Economic Committee staff analysis using the president's own metrics, an average economic recovery would have added 10 million private payroll jobs over the same period - and a Reagan-style recovery would have added more than 13 million new jobs. "Bottom line: over 22 million Americans still can't find a full-time job. The job market should have fully recovered by now, but it hasn't due in large measure to President Obama's failed economic leadership," added Brady. According to the BLS, America has nearly three million fewer private payroll jobs today than in January 2008 when private sector employment peaked. 12 million people remain unemployed, 8.0 million can only find get part-time work, and another 2.4 million have quit looking for work. Brady also noted the irony that today’s jobs report comes one day after the termination of the President’s “Jobs Council.” “Apparently he believes their work is done. Twenty two million Americans without full-time jobs might disagree."

Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), incoming Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, said context is needed in today’s Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) report that the economy added 166,000 private sector payroll jobs in January and the unemployment rate rose to 7.9%. “This is Obama’s new normal: a run-in-place jobs report and unemployment stuck near 8 percent," says Brady. "America is missing nearly four

Evidence is in that could help explain the variety of complex shapes that RNA--ribonucleic acid--assumes to carry out its many biological functions. RNA is the workhorse of the genetic world, transcribing the coded instructions of DNA and assembling amino acids into proteins. It has been shown that chains of RNA can fold back on themselves and assume complex formations that enable them to perform their tasks. Until now, however, there has been little or no detailed information to explain RNA's amazing versatility. Stephen Holbrook, a chemist in the Structural Biology Division, has found that uracil, one of the four types of nitrogenous "bases" that represent the letters of the genetic code, can pair off with any other letter, including itself. This contradicts the exclusive two-letter base-pairing pattern in DNA, which was first discovered by Nobel laureates Francis Crick and James Watson. "Uracil can now be called the universal partner in RNA structure," says Holbrook. "That it can pair with any other base helps explain why RNA is so flexible in terms of how it interacts with itself and why, unlike DNA, it can take on so many different shapes." DNA has only one form--the double helix. Determining the structure of biological macromolecules such as RNA requires that the material first be crystallized so that its atoms are firmly fixed in an orderly pattern. This pattern can then be identified by sending a beam of x-rays through the crystal (the x-rays are diffracted or scattered by the atoms). Whereas other researchers have used x-ray crystallography to determine protein structural shapes, Holbrook is one of the few to use it to study the structural shapes of RNA. He attributes this in part to the difficulty in synthesizing, purifying, and, ultimately, crystallizing RNA. "Virtually all crystallizations of DNA have resulted from similar conditions of salt, buffer, precipitant, and additives, but these standard conditions are not successful for many of the different forms of RNA," says Holbrook. He and his research group have been experimenting with novel ways of crystallizing RNA, focusing on sequences of base-pairs that form structures known as "internal loops." One of the first results of Holbrook's crystallization research was the direct observation of an RNA double helix formation that incorporated four unconventional base-pairs. Watson and Crick demonstrated that DNA's double helix is held together by chemical bonds formed between complementary pairs of bases. These complementary base-pairs are cytosine (C) and guanine (G), and adenine (A) and thymine (T). RNA has a similar structure, except that thymine is represented by uracil (U). Watson-Crick base-pairs--C-G and A-T (or A-U in RNA)--were once thought to be the only arrangement possible in nature. Holbrook's crystals however, showed two uracil-guanine (U-G) and two uracil-cytosine (U-C) base pairs in the middle of the sequence. This mismatched pairing resulted in the formation of a stable RNA double helix in the crystal with just a slight shape distortion. "The U-C base pairs were joined by only a single hydrogen bond (conventional base-pairs are joined by two or three bonds)," says Holbrook, "but were stabilized by the presence of numerous, tightly bound water molecules." Holbrook subsequently determined the three-dimensional structure of an RNA molecule containing U-U base pairs. Unlike the U-G and U-C base pairs, the U-U partners formed two hydrogen bonds that were stable without the presence of tightly bound water molecules. "Non-standard base pairs such as the U-G, U-C, and U-U partners we have observed are common in ribosomal RNA, viroids, messenger RNA, and retroviruses," says Holbrook. "Runs of these mismatched pairs in the middle of double helical RNA form internal loops." To date, Holbrook's best x-ray crystallography images have come when using the facilities at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory. Although SSRL's resolution of about two angstroms provided him with "the clearest views ever obtained of RNA structures," it was still not as high as he would have liked. When the x-ray crystallography beamline opens at the Advanced Light Source, he will probably be one of its first users. "The availability, proximity, and unique facilities for measurement of x-ray diffraction data at the ALS crystallography beam will allow us to collect data much faster and determine molecular structures which would not otherwise be feasible," Holbrook says. With the improved resolution and other advantages of the ALS, Holbrook says he would like to tackle longer and more complex stretches of RNA. "If we know the shape of an RNA structure and can design molecules that will bind to it," he says, "we can then study and possibly control the function of that structure." Base pairs--Two nucleotides (i.e., cytosine and guanine, or adenine and thymine) that are joined by weak bonds. The bonds between base pairs hold together DNA's two strands into the shape of the double-helix. DNA--Deoxyribonucleic acid, the double-stranded molecule in the shape of a double-helix that encodes the genetic information which determines the sequence of amino acids in protein synthesis. Protein--A large molecule composed of chains of amino acids arranged in a specific sequence according to the instructions in the genetic code. Proteins are responsible for the structure, function, and regulation of living cells. RNA--Ribonucleic acid, a molecule similar in structure to DNA that is found in the nucleus and cytoplasm of cells and plays an important role in protein synthesis and other vital chemical activities. X-ray crystallography--A technique for determining the location of atoms in a crystal, based on the diffraction pattern created when a beam of x-rays is passed through the crystal.

Evidence is in that could help explain the variety of complex shapes that RNA--ribonucleic acid--assumes to carry out its many biological functions. RNA is the workhorse of the genetic world, transcribing the coded instructions of DNA and assembling amino acids into proteins. It has been shown that chains of RNA can fold back on themselves and assume complex formations that enable them to perform

Today in History: March 3 The Weeping Time Former Slave Quarters of Hermitage Plantation, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1907. Touring Turn-of-the-Century: Photographs from the Detroit Publishing Company, 1880-1920 On March 3, 1859, journalist Q. K. Philander Doesticks (Mortimer Thomson) attended an auction of 436 men, women, and children formerly held by Pierce M. Butler. Butler's slaves were auctioned in order to pay debts incurred in gambling and the financial crash of 1857-58. Doesticks' account, What Became of the Slaves on a Georgia Plantation?, includes vivid descriptions of the largest recorded slave auction in U.S. history. The grim sale, which took place over two rainy days on the eve of the Civil War, was referred to as "The Weeping Time." Many of the slave families described in Doesticks' report were the subject of a series of letters, written twenty years earlier, by famous British actress and author Frances Ann Kemble. Her Journal of a Residence on a Georgia Plantation, 1838-1839, published in 1863 to galvanize English support of the North during the Civil War, is an unusual account of Southern planter culture from the perspective of an outspoken outsider who considered herself an abolitionist. Kemble married Butler in 1834, retired from the stage, and spent time with him on Butler Island, the Georgia estate that he inherited from his father. She recorded her impressions of life on a large plantation, including her efforts to improve conditions endured by the slaves who lived there, in correspondence with her friend Elizabeth Whitlock. Frances Ann Kemble, photograph of a portrait by Peter Frederick Rothermel Theodor Horydczak, photographer, circa 1920-1950. Washington As It Was: Photographs by Theodor Horydczak, 1923-1959 Kemble made a successful return to the London stage in 1847 and was divorced from Butler in 1849. Pierce Butler was awarded custody of the couple's two daughters and Kemble was granted visiting rights. One daughter, Frances Leigh Butler, later wrote an account of her attempts during the Reconstruction period to establish a relationship with her father's former slaves. Although her mother was a sharp critic of the Georgia planter culture, Frances Leigh Butler penned a sympathetic defense of it. - Find more primary source material on the history of slavery, as well as many other aspects of the African American experience, in African American Odyssey. Included in the section on slavery is a mid-eighteenth-century map of West Africa, from whence came more than two-thirds of the African captives imported to the Americas. This section also features several items that document the Amistad mutiny. - Thirty Years a Slave, the autobiography of former slave Louis Hughes, tells of the institution of slavery as seen on the plantation and in the home of the planter. It may be found by searching on the terms slave or slavery in Pioneering the Upper Midwest. Other items retrieved by this search will include the 1878 Narrative of Sojourner Truth. - Search First-Person Narratives of the American South, 1860 to 1920. This print collection from the University of North Carolina documents the culture of the American South. Search on the terms Butler Island, Pierce Butler, slave, plantation or a similar term to learn more from these diaries, autobiographies, memoirs, travel accounts, and ex-slave narratives. - For an online overview of America's journey through slavery, see Africans in America (external link) presented by WGBH Interactive for PBS Online. This presentation contains a section, Antebellum Slavery (external link), with material on Frances Ann Kemble, Pierce Butler, life on Butler Island and "The Weeping Time."

Today in History: March 3 The Weeping Time Former Slave Quarters of Hermitage Plantation, Savannah, Georgia, circa 1907. Touring Turn-of-the-Century: Photographs from the Detroit Publishing Company, 1880-1920 On March 3, 1859, journalist Q. K. Philander Doesticks (Mortimer Thomson) attended an auction of 436 men, women, and children formerly held by Pierce M. Butler. Butler's slaves were auctioned

Protecting water quality and estuarine habitats in the Chesapeake Bay are central components of MPA's environmental programs. The following are a few examples of how MPA protects water quality. Sediment in some areas of the Baltimore Harbor contains chemical contaminants. When this sediment is dredged from the bottom, Maryland law requires placing it within a "confined disposal facility."This usually consists of a diked area constructed in open water, along a shoreline, or at an upland site. The dikes prevent the dredged material from mixing with the open aquatic environment. Spillways, which release excess water back to the Bay or river, are constantly monitored to ensure that the released water meets both health and environmental standards. As part of the state's Dredged Material Monitoring Program, MPA and its partners monitor water quality, bottom sediments, and aquatic life to ensure that these facilities are successfully containing the contaminants. Ongoing monitoring has demonstrated success-for example, water discharged from the Port's facilities is typically less acidic than rain. Stormwater washes across hard surfaces like roads and parking lots, and carries pollutants into local waterways. Typical stormwater pollutants include sediment, oil, fertilizers, pesticides, heavy metals, and other toxic materials. Stormwater runoff is a major source of water pollution in urban areas. MPA has developed and implemented a number of plans to control stormwater runoff and requires Port tenants to have storm water management plans in place for their own operations. When developing new facilities, MPA offsets its stormwater impact by conducting restoration projects in other parts of the city. Project locations include schoolyards, parks, universities, highway medians, and public housing developments. As of 2009, the Schoolyard Greening Program has replaced nearly seven acres of schoolyard blacktop with grass, trees, and gardens. MPA's Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures Plans require the use of containment techniques and counter measures to prevent oil spills from reaching navigable waters. MPA has assisted Port tenants in developing and/or upgrading plans for their own facilities. MPA also funds a navigation system designed to ensure ship safety and protect coastal marine resources from spills. The Upper Chesapeake Bay Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®) provides ship masters and pilots with accurate, real-time information required for safe vessel loading and transit. The system prevents ship groundings and collisions that could potentially result in catastrophic environmental harm. MPA developed Best Management Practices for Port tenants that outline environmentally sound practices for washing vehicles and equipment. These BMP help reduce the environmental impacts associated with discharges from washing the exterior surfaces of vehicles and equipment, and they provide for the collection, treatment, and disposal of waste water generated by washing operations.

Protecting water quality and estuarine habitats in the Chesapeake Bay are central components of MPA's environmental programs. The following are a few examples of how MPA protects water quality. Sediment in some areas of the Baltimore Harbor contains chemical contaminants. When this sediment is dredged from the bottom, Maryland law requires placing it within a "confined disposal facility."This usua

The new PBS documentary, The Great Famine, will finally acquaint American television viewers with an important, yet little-known episode in the history of American relations with the former Soviet Union. The film dramatically documents the story of the American Relief Administration’s (ARA) aid to starving Russians in the early 1920s, and shows how this magnanimous effort became an early indicator of the tensions that would characterize the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union, until the latter’s collapse at the end of the twentieth century. Written and produced by Austin Hoyt, coproduced by Melissa S. Martin and edited by Jon Neuburger, the film covers the events during and immediately after the Russian Civil War. Fighting between the Bolsheviks and their White Russian opponents resulted in a collapse of the economy, producing both scarcity in the cities and impoverishment in the countryside. Mass requisitions of grain by the Bolsheviks also meant that the peasants could not feed themselves. A severe drought in 1921 compounded the situation, culminating in a famine that the filmmakers declare was the worst natural disaster to strike Europe since the Black Death in the Middle Ages. Based on the thorough scholarly book by Bertrand M. Patenaude, The Big Show in Bololand: The American Relief Expedition to Soviet Russia in the Famine of 1921 (Stanford University Press, 2002), the film powerfully conveys through photographs, films, and recreations, the depth of the crisis and the importance of the American response to the suffering--a response that saved millions of lives, particularly of young children. The film successfully dramatizes the story with first-rate reenactments of critical episodes, artfully delivered by actors in period costume. In most documentaries, this technique falls flat; here, the producers limit the use to key events, and integrate the actors into the story, combining their reenactments with the testimony of scholars as well as descendants of many of the original figures discussed in the film. Before American aid arrived, an estimated five million Russians had already died of starvation. Once aid started getting to the Russian citizens, some eleven million people were fed each day out of nineteen thousand kitchens. Bread, which had disappeared because of the collapse of grain production, was supplied by ARA-supported bakeries. Children were fed soup, condensed milk, as well as meals that survivors shown in the film remember to this day. It was to be the largest relief effort in the world up to that point, surpassing even the relief work during World War I. Some of the most interesting stories in the film focus on the ARA workers, who tended to be well-educated World War I veterans in their twenties. Will Shafroth fits this profile. His father had been the governor of Colorado, and he had graduated from the University of Michigan in 1914, earning a law degree from the University of California in 1916. The film opens with a dramatic excerpt from his diary. When the twenty-nine-year-old Shafroth arrived in Samara on the Volga, he found men digging mass graves for their neighbors whom they expected to die soon from starvation. They explained to him that they had to dig the graves while they still had the strength, knowing that they were probably digging their own graves as well. This scene was bad enough, but nothing had prepared Shafroth for the skeletal children he met, with distended stomachs known as “hunger bellies,” with legs that looked like toothpicks and faces that made them appear to be old men and women. When he visited typical orphanages, the scenes of the dying children filled him with horror. In one, 283 children were living in three rooms, where they all slept on the floor. When these pathetic children sang for him it was so painful to watch he had to turn away. Walter Bell, another American relief worker, found people eating leaves mixed with bark and clay. There were reports of people digging up corpses to eat, butchers selling human flesh, and parents actually killing and then consuming their older starving children in order to feed their younger children and infants. Press reports in the United States reported, mistakenly, that Shafroth himself had been murdered and then eaten. The American relief effort got its start in July 1921, when famed Soviet writer Maxim Gorky issued a plea to Americans and Europeans for help to save millions of Russian lives by providing food and medicine. Gorky’s appeal did not mention the Revolution or the Soviet government, emphasizing instead the plight of the Russian people. President Warren Harding’s newly appointed secretary of commerce, Herbert Hoover, read Gorky’s statement in the newspaper. A former international mining engineer who had experience moving men and material, Hoover had been America’s chief WWI relief administrator for Europe and head of the ARA. Called the “master of emergencies,” Hoover was already credited with saving more lives than anyone throughout history. Viewers whose image of Hoover is that of a skinflint who precipitated and prolonged the Great Depression and who did little to help suffering Americans, will be stunned to find that in the 1920s he was known as “The Great Humanitarian.” Hoover had orchestrated the vast war relief program in Europe, particularly bringing food relief to millions of French and Belgian citizens during the wartime occupation. Then, after the Armistice, Hoover continued to fund and administer food relief for the needy children of war-torn Europe. Now he believed it was his and America’s duty to answer Gorky’s desperate call, and to once again mount a massive relief effort to save the Russian people, whose future lay in doubt. As a confirmed opponent of the Bolsheviks, Hoover used the occasion to play a dual game. He looked to create goodwill for the United States, while striking a blow against the new Bolshevik regime and its credo of international Communist revolution. There was also an opportunity to help American farmers who, after WWI, were suffering from deflated prices and a precipitous drop in the value of farmland. The Russian crisis was a chance to expand America’s agricultural exports and thus help American tillers of the land unload their huge surplus of corn and other produce. The first American ships arrived in Russia on September 1, 1921, carrying seven hundred tons of food, mostly corn, which was used to feed children in the cities. But reports from ARA supervisors quickly convinced Hoover that the program needed to be greatly expanded and that adults also needed to be fed. He proposed to Congress that $20 million be appropriated to buy excess corn and wheat seed from American farmers. Although Hoover had President Harding’s support, he knew it would be difficult to obtain the approval of Congress for the amount of aid needed. Gaining the support of the powerful Congressional farm bloc was crucial. To Hoover’s credit, he insisted that part of the relief be made up of wheat seed to be planted, ensuring that the famine did not continue for another year, and that at the end of the aid, Russian farmers could again be self-sufficient. Many were skeptical that Hoover, a known anti-Bolshevik, was the man to administer Russian relief. How, critics asked, would he be able to work with the very regime he detested? Opponents on the Left feared the aid would be a subterfuge for a covert anti-Bolshevik program, while those on the Right believed that giving help to the Russian people would inadvertently help the Soviet regime to survive. Hoover, it seemed, was caught in the middle. It was indeed accurate to view Hoover as a man who wanted to “stem the tide of Bolshevism.” The way he hoped that could be accomplished was to use food as a weapon—not as Lenin and the Bolsheviks thought, by withholding it unless the Soviet government bent to the U.S.’s will—but rather, by gaining control of the food supply within Bolshevik Russia so that the credit for relief would be given to the United States and to the American people. By contrast, he hoped, the American model of efficiency, competence, and humanitarianism would turn the Russians away from the Bolsheviks, who had helped produce the crisis and who were helpless to remedy it. In one sense, Hoover was successful; people interviewed in the film remembered that their parents gave the name “America” to the life-giving food they received. One Russian recalls how his grandmother and parents told him never to forget how they were saved by the American people. Another relates how his own family escaped starvation, and, as a result, he went on to become one of the most famous ballet dancers in the Soviet Union. Hoover indeed had a political agenda, but for him this presented no moral conflict. He, Woodrow Wilson, and Warren Harding all viewed Bolshevism as a utopian and fanatical movement that would end up causing great distress for the common people. Thus, for Hoover, to oppose and to fight Bolshevism was the very heart of humanitarianism. Finally, an agreement was reached between the American government and the Soviets. The Americans, ostensibly steering clear of politics, vowed to feed the Russian population impartially, while the Soviets agreed to allow the ARA the freedom to organize its relief efforts. Prolonged negotiations at Riga led to this highly controversial settlement, which negotiators on both sides worried contained too many loopholes. In the end, both sides fudged the agreement. The Soviet leaders, including Lenin, still suspected that espionage was the real aim of the ARA workers, and the Bolsheviks continually tried to gain control of administering the food supplies for the regime’s benefit. The ARA workers complained accurately about constant interference by Cheka, the notorious secret police that was the predecessor of the NKVD and KGB. The ARA began its work by dividing Russia into ten districts with about nine million people each. ARA supervisors were charged with finding locations to set up warehouses and then identifying starving adults who needed relief. The aid also became a way to hire otherwise unemployed Russians; 120,000 Russian citizens were hired, supervised by some three hundred ARA employees. The American effort also led to a sustained attempt by the Bolsheviks to assure their own political control. The Cheka saw to it that the ARA would be purged of “undesirable” Russians who they suspected of harboring anti-Soviet tendencies. They constantly watched over the employees, fearing they would use their contact with Americans for counterrevolutionary purposes. Moreover, they sought to undermine the authority of American supervisors by finding and exploiting their weaknesses. An example was David Kinne, a twenty-nine-year-old district supervisor of Saratov, who had a severe alcohol problem. The Cheka immediately took advantage of his apparent weakness by plying him with drink and providing women for his comfort. His absences from work became a major problem for the relief effort. The Bolsheviks used his drunkenness as the excuse to take control; to withhold food from their adversaries and give it only to their supporters among the populace. Eventually, Kinne was sent home in disgrace. Other ARA workers, like Harold Blandy, met a worse fate. He died from typhus spread by the ubiquitous lice. The Soviets gave him a public funeral in Moscow to honor the sacrifice he made for the Russian people; the Americans saw him as someone who became too close to starving children, and whose exposure to typhus was his own fault. When American relief supplies were held up in ports due to the dysfunction of the Soviet railroads, the American Left accused Hoover of manufacturing the crisis to withhold relief in order to harm the Soviet government. Even Walter Lippmann, the most famous columnist in America, joined in public criticism. In fact, Hoover went out of his way to steer clear of such obvious propagandistic efforts, even though a lot of the corn was being siphoned off by Russian railroad workers. The trains, which were under the administration of the Cheka, were logjammed for three weeks while tens of thousands died of starvation. The Cheka allowed loyal railroad workers to take the corn for themselves, instead of shipping the trains out to ARA centers. In addition, thousands of trains lay broken and in such poor condition that they could not be used for transporting corn and wheat. While 80 percent of the railroads were not in working condition, even those that could run took twenty-one days to travel 1,300 miles. Moreover, some 60,000 tons of supplies lay in waiting for trains that never arrived. The result was that in some provinces 25,000 Russians died of starvation each week. By March of 1922, William N. Haskell, head of the ARA in Russia, was so frustrated by the Bolsheviks’ inability and unwillingness to get the railroads moving that he wrote an uncoded letter directly to Hoover, which he knew the Soviet authorities would read. In it, he documented attempted interference of the relief program by the Bolsheviks and protested their lack of cooperation with the ARA, terming it “obstructionist.” He recommended that food supplies be held up at port until the Soviet authorities began to cooperate. This produced immediate results; the trains began to move. Haskell went to the Cheka’s top representative to the ARA, who immediately issued the order to send out the supplies by the previously stalled trains. Had Hoover made Haskell’s protest public, it would have created political havoc at home, and led to the collapse of the program, while also vindicating Hoover’s skepticism about the Bolshevik regime. But Hoover did not release the Haskell telegram, because he did not want to stir up anti-Soviet propaganda back in the United States. By emphasizing such nuanced behavior, the film does a lot to restore Hoover’s image, usually seen through the lens of his discredited presidency, a focus that ignores the many years of his previous government service, all of which made him an extremely popular and highly regarded national political leader. Logistics of how to get the food to the people continued to be an obstacle even after the trains began to function. One of the most dramatic scenes in the movie is of a caravan of 2,500 wagons of food being pulled by camels, the only pack animals hardy enough to endure the harsh Russian winter. The famine of 1921 was the worst in Russian history, until the regime’s manmade Ukrainian famine of 1932–33. The 1921 famine was a result of bad weather and poor methods of working the land combined with the effects of the Great War, in which eleven million men and two million horses were taken from the countryside and from agricultural production. When the civil war between the Reds and the White Russians broke out in 1918, it was fought on the most fertile agricultural areas. Put together with the harsh policies of the Bolshevik’s war communism, which produced a peasant strike in protest against confiscation, the result was a reduction of land cultivation to a bare minimum. This presented a crisis of unprecedented proportions. What Hoover actually desired, Patenaude explains thoroughly in his book, was to use food as a means to undermine Bolshevik power, by saving the victims of communism. He believed alleviating hunger would allow the Russian people to gain the strength needed to overthrow the Bolsheviks on their own. Hoover understood that starving people do not rebel, and that for an internal opposition to even develop, the first step was putting an end to constant hunger. The irony, as the documentary notes, is that the ARA relief did not produce such a result. Instead, it had the momentary effect of strengthening a regime that was teetering at the edge of collapse, allowing the Bolshevik leaders to cement their control. As scholars in the film point out, Hoover’s relief effort did alleviate starvation, but the aid also worked to save the regime, rather than destroy it. There were other consequences. Many of the Russians that worked with the ARA supervisors were educated women who could speak English. When the effort ended in 1922, twenty-six U.S. supervisors came home with Russian brides. Hoover and the ARA’s efforts in Russia were the vanguard of America’s policy to act as the chief organizer of aid in world crises. In this way, The Great Famine reacquaints a new generation with a largely forgotten story of how our ancestors generously came to the aid of a starving people. Our country’s work in that era is similar to the efforts we know of today in countries like Indonesia and Haiti. Nevertheless, over the years, the Soviets would use this episode as part and parcel of a stream of regular anti-American propaganda. Along with the U.S. intervention in Siberia by the Wilson administration in 1918 (the so-called Siberian expedition), the USSR ideologists would argue that during their first great famine, Herbert Hoover used American aid to try to topple the Bolshevik government. They skillfully ignored the fact that this very aid prevented a crisis of even greater magnitude. Instead, they claimed it was simply more proof that from the very start, the United States perceived the Soviet Union as an enemy and sought to destroy it. The implication was that it was America, and not their own country, that was the main impediment to peace between the two powers. As Elmer Burland, one of the ARA men commented after the final banquet before the American relief workers left Russia, “the innate and complete antagonism between Russian Communism . . . and American individualism . . . remains an unsolved and unsettled conflict, and was in no way affected by the relief experience.” When Nikita Khrushchev came to America on his famous trip in 1959, he told a press conference that “we remember [the ARA Relief] well, and we thank you.” But he then raised a “but.” He went on to say that “our people remember not only the fact that America helped us through ARA. . . . They also remember that in the hard time after the October Revolution, U.S. troops, led by their generals, landed on Soviet soil to help the White Guards fight our Soviet system.” Had this not taken place, Khrushchev argued, there would have been “no ruin and no famine. And you wouldn’t have had to help Soviet people through ARA.” In other words, the U.S. provided help for a famine it created. Perhaps it was too great a hope to think that the Soviets would praise the ARA without ideological spin. Yet, the real truth is that the ARA relief to Russia is a legacy we can be proud of.

The new PBS documentary, The Great Famine, will finally acquaint American television viewers with an important, yet little-known episode in the history of American relations with the former Soviet Union. The film dramatically documents the story of the American Relief Administration’s (ARA) aid to starving Russians in the early 1920s, and shows how this magnanimous effort became an early indicator

NIHERST/NGC National Science Centre The overarching goal of our science popularisation initiative is to be the advocate for a society that recognises and embraces the fact that Science & Technology impacts upon and is a part of their everyday existence, and is empowered by this knowledge to effect improvements in their quality of life. The NIHERST/NGC National Science Centre (NSC) aims to advance the levels of scientific and technological literacy in both the children and adults of Trinidad & Tobago and the wider Caribbean, by presenting knowledge and experiences of Science and Technology in their most palatable forms. In so doing, we hope to support the formal science curriculum with our own informal brand of learning and in the process stimulate our young people to pursue careers in these fields. NSC uses a variety of media and tools to achieve these goals. They include educational workshops and seminars for students, teachers and the general public, science and technology competitions, vacation science camps for children, travelling exhibitions, the NIHERST Children’s Science Magazine, Sci-TechKnoFest, and a hands-on science exhibition housed at the Centre. To promote understanding and appreciation of the relevance of Science and Technology in everyday living and to foster a culture of creativity and innovation in a manner that is stimulating, equitable and sustainable. From Travelling Exhibition to Science Centre In 1990, the Science & Technology Popularisation System (SATPOS) launched YAPOLLO (an Amerindian word meaning to “discover”). This travelling group of exhibits, (manufactured by workshop staff of the John Donaldson Technical Institute and NIHERST), found phenomenal success wherever it went. Whether at malls, auditoriums or outdoor activities, YAPOLLO was sure to attract attention of visitors both young and old. It was this ability to engender in persons this sense of discovery and accomplishment through the manipulation of exciting exhibits that enhanced YAPOLLO ’s general appeal. Visitors were encouraged to observe, to think, and to investigate, all in an environment of fun and excitement. In essence, science through informal methods made the subject all the more appealing and in the process has been revolutionising science education in Trinidad & Tobago. Since the establishment of the National Science Centre in 1997 with the support of the NGC, there has been tremendous growth in the type of programmes offered. This speaks volumes of the centre’s commitment to making science and technology a part of Trinidad & Tobago’s culture. In addition to our flagship YAPOLLO interactive exhibits, the staff have been hard at work developing many exciting science workshops, competitions and various Sci-TechKnoFest, Community Weeks, Science Whizz and the Caribbean Youth Science Forum have all played an integral role in stimulating and engrossing the minds of students and the general populace. Even today, YAPOLLO continues to travel, participating in activities such as Emancipation Day Celebrations, the annual KidsFest hosted by KIND (Kids in Need of Direction) and many others upon request. The exhibition has also made its way to some of the other Caribbean countries including Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the British Virgin Islands. In 2001, the first step towards acquiring a permanent home for the Science Centre was put into motion by way of a feasibility study. Though land acquisition has been a constraint to the realisation of the permanent science centre, tremendous growth and development have taken place over the years. As a result the current centre has expanded to 60,000 square feet and now has nearly 200 interactive exhibits on themes such as Animation, Energy, the Environment, Disaster Awareness, the Human Body, Sports and Wellness, Creativity and Innovation, Physical Disabilities, and Robotics. And indeed, we are on our way to bigger and better things. Visit the Science Centre: (we are not open to the public on Mondays & Public Holidays) General Admission Fees (All prices quoted in TT dollars) One (1) adult free with every group of ten (10) children. Please call 642-6112 to make group bookings. Special fees apply for workshops and camps Partners in Science: “NIHERST and NGC, A Winning Combination” In 1997 a long-standing partnership with the National Gas Company of Trinidad & Tobago Limited (NGC) began with an NGG grant to assist the Centre in meeting its operational expenses. NGC also funds the annual Science Whizz Competition, the Kidiplay (under 7s) area of the Science Centre, and a special exhibition on Natural Gas which currently focuses on Plastics as a derivative. NGC is also a major sponsor and exhibitor at Sci-TechKnoFest, our fun-filled science and technology festival. Such is the partnership that the NGC Corporate Communications Department lends its expertise to the Centre when needed in the area of marketing and promotions. Through its representation on the Advisory Board of the Science Centre, NGC helps to formulate and implement the strategic direction for the Centre. The Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) ASTC is an organisation of science centres and museums dedicated to furthering the public understanding of science among increasingly diverse audiences. The NIHERST/NGC National Science Centre (NSC) is included in its membership of over 550 organisations from 43 countries. The Association encourages excellence and innovation in informal science learning by serving and linking its members world-wide and advancing their common goals. One of the major activities of the Association from which NSC has benefited as a member is their Annual Conference. This has allowed the NSC staff the opportunity to:

NIHERST/NGC National Science Centre The overarching goal of our science popularisation initiative is to be the advocate for a society that recognises and embraces the fact that Science & Technology impacts upon and is a part of their everyday existence, and is empowered by this knowledge to effect improvements in their quality of life. The NIHERST/NGC National Science Centre (NSC) aims to advance

Blidworth Colliery opened in 1924, built on farmland between the villages of Rainworth and Blidworth. The current location of Tippings Wood LNR was one of the colliery spoil tips. In 1989 with the closure of the colliery reclamation of the site began, and thousands of trees were planted to form Tippings Wood. A variety of other habitats, including wetlands and grasslands were also created on the former spoil tip. As the habitats have developed and matured over the last fifteen years careful management has been required to ensure we make the most of the site for both people and wildlife. Much of the work is done on a voluntary basis by the Friends of Tippings Wood in conjunction with the Sherwood Forest Community Rangers. Contact us to find out more about volunteering. Tippings Wood includes a number of important habitats. The largest area is broadleaved woodland, which contains a variety of species in particular oak and birch. Alongside the woodland there is a wetland area consisting of open water and marsh and there are a number of grassland areas. These habitats are home to many different species, for example, the wetland is inhabited by many plants including Reedmace and is frequented by many different damselflies and dragonflies. The Bee Orchid, a flower typical of post-industrial sites, and Painted Lady butterflies are among the other species to be seen at Tippings Wood LNR during the summer months. In 2000 the remainder of the former colliery site was restored. This wider area (that includes Tippings Wood LNR) is known as Boundary Wood. This means that a much larger area is developing as a place to visit and enjoy nature. Also, National Cycle Route 6 crosses Boundary Wood immediately adjacent to Tippings Wood. This means that an even wider area is available to explore. In particular the route supplies a link to nearby Sherwood Pines and Vicar Water Country Park.

Blidworth Colliery opened in 1924, built on farmland between the villages of Rainworth and Blidworth. The current location of Tippings Wood LNR was one of the colliery spoil tips. In 1989 with the closure of the colliery reclamation of the site began, and thousands of trees were planted to form Tippings Wood. A variety of other habitats, including wetlands and grasslands were also created on the f

NSSL Hot Item NSSL scientists to look inside storms using balloons NSSL scientists will be launching instrumented balloons into thunderstorms this spring to learn more about storm electricity and how it relates to different kinds of precipitation. The project runs from May 15–June 30, 2011. Potential target storms will be within the 3-D coverage of the Oklahoma Lightning Mapping Array, within about 100 miles of Norman, Okla. The "High Definition Videosonde Particle Imager" (HDVPI), built in NSSL's machine shop, is designed to capture high-definition images of raindrops and ice particles. Other instruments attached to the balloon measure the surrounding electrical field and other atmospheric variables. Data will also collected simultaneously from the 3-D Oklahoma Lightning Mapping Array (OK-LMA), the National Weather Radar Testbed Phased Array Radar, and the University of Oklahoma Polarimetric Radar for Innovations in Meteorology and Engineering (OU-PRIME) for analysis and comparison. This microphysical data will be used in thunderstorm modeling, warn-on-forecast studies, and for evaluating and refining radar precipitation classification schemes used by WSR-88D and other polarimetric radars. The prototype HDVPI was successfully launched into a thunderstorm complex in October, 2010. It was the first time HD video was recorded inside a thunderstorm. Researchers believe the HDVPI will likely be a useful and potentially important research tool that would contribute to fulfilling aspects of the NOAA/NSSL mission.

NSSL Hot Item NSSL scientists to look inside storms using balloons NSSL scientists will be launching instrumented balloons into thunderstorms this spring to learn more about storm electricity and how it relates to different kinds of precipitation. The project runs from May 15–June 30, 2011. Potential target storms will be within the 3-D coverage of the Oklahoma Lightning Mapping Array, within abou

The No FEAR Act On May 15, 2002, President Bush signed legislation called the No FEAR Act (Notification and Federal Anti-Discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002). This act, which took effect on October 1, 2003, makes Federal agencies individually accountable for violations of anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws. Requirements and agency responsibilities under the No FEAR Act include: - Payments of Settlements and Judgments - Agencies that lose or settle discrimination and whistleblower cases must pay judgments out of their individual budgets. - Employee Information and Education - Agencies must give their employees, former employees and applicants for employment written notification of discrimination and whistleblower protection laws. This written notification must include posting the information on the agency’s web site. Agencies are also required to provide their employees with training regarding the rights and remedies applicable to them under these laws. - Annual reports to Congress - Each agency must file an annual report with Congress, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Attorney General providing information about discrimination and whistleblower cases filed against the agency, including details on how cases were resolved and any disciplinary actions against agency employees resulting from violations of discrimination and whistleblower protection laws. - Posting of EEO complaint data on the Internet - Each Federal agency must post on its public web site summary statistical data relating to equal opportunity complaints filed against the agency.

The No FEAR Act On May 15, 2002, President Bush signed legislation called the No FEAR Act (Notification and Federal Anti-Discrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002). This act, which took effect on October 1, 2003, makes Federal agencies individually accountable for violations of anti-discrimination and whistleblower protection laws. Requirements and agency responsibilities under the No FEAR Act in

On May 16, 2002, about 1020 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 170B airplane, N4669C, sustained substantial damage when the right main landing gear separated from the airplane during landing at Bradley Sky-Ranch Airport, North Pole, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. The flight originated at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska, about 0945. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. Use your browsers 'back' function to return to synopsisReturn to Query Page During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on May 16, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector who responded to the accident site said the pilot told him that during the landing roll on the gravel airstrip, the right main landing gear separated from the airplane, resulting in damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot also told the inspector the main landing gear had recently been rebuilt, and this was the second landing since the work was completed. An on-site inspection by the FAA aviation safety inspector revealed that the retaining nut on the right main landing gear attaching bolt was missing. The right main landing gear attaching bolt remained attached to the separated gear leg. The AN7-20A bolt was bent, and the threads were damaged. The bolt's retaining nut was found inside the landing gear bulkhead assembly. The nut was longitudinally fractured in the center of one of its hex flats. The nut was identified as an MS21044C stainless steel self-locking nut. The Cessna illustrated parts catalog indicates the proper replacement nut for the main landing gear attachment is an AN365-720C nut. The AN365-720C is an all steel self-locking nut. The AN365 series steel nuts, with the exception of the AN365-720C size, have been superceded by MS20365 steel nuts, which incorporate some alloys such as copper and aluminum in their makeup, but are considered essentially steel nuts. The stainless steel nut was installed by a mechanic from Smith Aero Service, Inc., Fairbanks, during the recent rebuild of the airplane's main landing gear. The mechanic told the IIC he went to his supplier, Tamarack Air, Ltd., Fairbanks, and requested the appropriate replacement nut for the main landing gear assembly on the Cessna 170B airplane. He said he was given the MS21044C nut, which he installed on both main landing gear of the accident airplane. He said he relied on the supplier that the stainless steel nut was a suitable replacement. The NTSB IIC contacted a representative of Tamarack Air, Ltd., and inquired why they provided the mechanic with the MS21044C stainless steel nut instead of the AN365-720C steel nut. The representative said the MS21044C nut was provided by their supplier, Aviall Aircraft Parts, of Anchorage, Alaska, as a suitable replacement for the AN365-720C. During a telephone conversation with the IIC on July 9, a representative for Aviall Aircraft Parts stated they substituted the MS21044C for the AN365-720C pursuant to a military standard substitution chart which states, in part: "MS21044 nuts can universally replace AN365, MS20365 and NA31021 nuts of like material, plating and thread size." The representative sent a copy of the military standard substitution chart to the IIC. The chart reflected the same information as given by the Aviall representative, but also noted that the AN365 and MS20365 in the 7/16" diameter 20 threads per inch size were excluded from the universal replacement. The fractured nut and the bolt were sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for examination by a specialist. According to a metallurgical report prepared by the specialist, the fracture mechanism for the nut was circumferential overstress tension separation. The report also notes that the all steel MS21044N is the appropriate replacement nut, and that steel and stainless steel are not considered "like materials" as specified in the military specification substitution chart. Examination of the bolt revealed fractured threads in the region adjacent to the bolt grip. The fractured threads included a portion of the starter thread adjacent to the bolt grip. The remaining threads nearest the end of the bolt were heavily deformed but not fractured. Remnants of the fractured threads were found embedded between areas of the intact threads moving from the head toward the end of the bolt. A "Locknut Selection Chart" provided by the Genuine Aircraft Hardware Company also states that the replacement nut for the AN365-720C is the MS21044N, which is a full height, all steel nut. The chart indicates the rated tensile strength of the AN365, MS21044C, and MS21044N series nuts are all 125 ksi. During the 1930's the Department of Defense (DOD) created a standard (military specification) for aircraft hardware based on the needs of military aircraft. Nuts and bolts were matched so that the corresponding nut was stronger than the bolt, and the bolt would break off in an over-torque situation. The designation (AN) as in AN365, referred to the Army/Navy standard. Subsequently, civil and military aircraft manufacturers adopted the AN standard for aircraft hardware. As an example of the metamorphosis of hardware, the AN365 nut specification was superseded in 1988 by the MS20365 nut specification, but the design specification remained the property of the Department of Defense, and its manufacture and testing subject to DOD standards. In 1994, the DOD sold the AN365/MS20365 specifications to the Automotive Society of Engineers (ASE). Once the specification was sold, there was no requirement for the hardware to meet the old AN standard, and the hardware was no longer inspected by the federal government.

On May 16, 2002, about 1020 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 170B airplane, N4669C, sustained substantial damage when the right main landing gear separated from the airplane during landing at Bradley Sky-Ranch Airport, North Pole, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was

On June 19, 2009, about 1915 Pacific daylight time, an experimental weight-shift-control aircraft (trike) Paul Antares, N729YF, lost control during landing and impacted the runway in a nose down attitude at the Petaluma Municipal Airport (O69), Petaluma, California. The owner/pilot operated the trike under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot received serious injuries, and the trike sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed. Use your browsers 'back' function to return to synopsisReturn to Query Page The pilot reported that on the descent to enter the pattern, at 1,500 feet above ground level (agl), she encountered turbulence that worsened as she entered the pattern. On final approach the trike had extra airspeed and power because of the weather conditions, and she planned on landing about halfway down the runway to avoid "rotor" from the hangars on the upwind side of the first half of the runway. The pilot stated that she decided to descend more rapidly once past the runway numbers in the hope the air would be smoother, but it was not. She felt that she had retained aircraft control during final approach; however, at 50 feet, a gust of wind pushed the trike off runway centerline. As she corrected back to the runway, the trike became uncontrollable and impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the trike. The pilot also stated that had she stayed at the higher altitude and attempted the landing, like her fellow pilots, she would not have experienced the "unmanageable downdraft," that she encountered.

On June 19, 2009, about 1915 Pacific daylight time, an experimental weight-shift-control aircraft (trike) Paul Antares, N729YF, lost control during landing and impacted the runway in a nose down attitude at the Petaluma Municipal Airport (O69), Petaluma, California. The owner/pilot operated the trike under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pil

The following are State, Federal, and utility resources that offer energy management tips and best practices. The Federal Energy Management Program offers the following fact sheets (PDFs open in new window): The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Savers homepage provides a personalized energy assessment tool, and advice for saving energy around your home, workplace, and vehicle. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Greener Products portal allows tailored searches linking consumers to detailed information about WaterSense, Energy Star and other green products and services that “can help reduce air pollution, conserve water and energy, minimize waste and protect their children and families from exposure to toxic chemicals, while also creating green jobs.” The Energy Star homepage allows you to explore Energy STAR products (electronics and appliances) and read energy savings tips related to home improvement, new homes, and buildings and plants. Energy Star also offers a list of 15 O&M Best Practices (PDF opens in new window) for energy efficient buildings. NYSERDA provides energy saving tips for HVAC, appliances, consumer electronics, lighting, exterior and bath. Con Edison provides tips for saving energy in the winter and around the house.

The following are State, Federal, and utility resources that offer energy management tips and best practices. The Federal Energy Management Program offers the following fact sheets (PDFs open in new window): The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Savers homepage provides a personalized energy assessment tool, and advice for saving energy around your home, workplace, and vehicle. The Environmental

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 11, 2005 MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION TO TRACK DEATHS OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws "The first bill before me is Introductory Number 127-B, sponsored by Council Members Quinn, DeBlasio, Reyna, Palma, Avella, Boyland, Brewer, Fidler, Gioia, Jackson, James, Martinez, Reed, Sanders, Gennaro, Liu, Clarke, Sears, Stewart, Weprin, Moskowitz, Seabrook, and Public Advocate, Betsy Gotbaum. This bill requires the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to track and report the deaths of homeless persons in New York City. "In June 2004, the Administration released a comprehensive plan for reducing homelessness by two-thirds by 2009. This plan contains over 60 initiatives to increase prevention services, the supply of rental assistance and the amount of supportive housing. These initiatives are designed to reduce the amount of time individuals and families remain homeless and to prevent them from becoming homeless in the first place. Meeting these goals requires us to strive to understand the problems homeless individuals face and to precisely target our resources. "Introductory Number 127-B provides another mechanism for gathering information by requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to generate quarterly reports detailing the cause and location of death for individuals residing in City homeless shelters, or determined to be homeless following an investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. "Our hope is that the information generated by this report can be used to better focus our outreach and intervention strategies. I would like to thank the City Council, Commissioner Tom Frieden, Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Linda Gibbs, Chief Medical Examiner Charles Hirsch, and Human Resources Administration Commissioner Verna Eggleston for their hard work and leadership on this issue." Edward Skyler / Jordan Barowitz (212) 788-2958 Watch the video in 56k or 300k

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 11, 2005 MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION TO TRACK DEATHS OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws "The first bill before me is Introductory Number 127-B, sponsored by Council Members Quinn, DeBlasio, Reyna, Palma, Avella, Boyland, Brewer, Fidler, Gioia, Jackson, James, Martinez, Reed, Sanders, Gennaro, Liu, Clarke,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 23, 2008 MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES HOW NEW YORK CITY IS PROTECTING HOMEOWNERS FROM BEING OVERCHARGED FOR HOME HEATING OIL THIS WINTER IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS The following is the text of Mayor Bloomberg's weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, November 23, 2008 "Good morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg. "Today, I'd like to talk to you about something that hits close to home for many New Yorkers: the cost of home heating oil. More than a million buildings and residences in our city are heated by oil every winter, and as the weather gets colder and demand increases, the price generally does as well. In these tough economic times, we're committed to helping families stretch their dollars further. And even though City government doesn't have any control over the price of oil, we can make sure that consumers are getting every drop they pay for - and that's exactly what we're doing. The steps we're taking don't cost the City much, but they will save you money. "The City's Department of Consumer Affairs currently oversees a team of inspectors who annually check every one of the more than 1,000 trucks that deliver home heating oil. As part of these inspections, the City makes sure that the meters on the trucks accurately register how much oil they're dispensing. Sometimes when the equipment on the truck is faulty - or has been tampered with - too much air flows through the meter. And when that happens, the air is registered as fuel and you get charged for it! That shouldn't be. "To help heating oil customers receive the full value they're paying for, last year the Department of Consumer Affairs raised its metering standards to more accurately reflect the amount of oil that is delivered to each home. If we find a truck that does not meet the new standard, we take it off the road until it does. This year, we've suspended 64 trucks. "More and more truck operators are complying with the new standards because they would rather upgrade their equipment than risk failing inspections and losing business. 80 percent of the trucks checked by Consumer Affairs passed their inspections this year - that's up from only 73 percent that passed last year. So when the heating oil truck pulls up to your home, be sure to look for the City sticker on the outside - that signifies the equipment on the inside has been inspected, passed and sealed. If you don't see a sticker, or see one that is more than a year old, contact the Department of Consumer Affairs by calling 311. "We're looking out for New Yorkers - but there are also a number of steps you can take to protect yourselves and save some money along the way. First, always use a reputable supplier. You can check a retailer's history by calling 311 and connecting to the Department of Consumer Affairs. Second, make sure you get a written contract - and make sure the sales person signs it. Third, check for any hidden fees before you sign a contract - and consider how firmly your agreement locks you in if the price of oil changes. If you don't like what you see, don't be afraid to renegotiate or look for another distributor. Fourth and finally, do a walkthrough of your home: seal up drafty areas and repair any broken windows. "Our Administration is committed to doing everything possible to help New Yorkers get through these tough times - and by taking these kinds of practical steps, we'll pull through stronger than ever. For more energy-saving tips call 311 or visit us online at nyc.gov. "This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Thanks for listening." Stu Loeser (212) 788-2958

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 23, 2008 MAYOR BLOOMBERG DISCUSSES HOW NEW YORK CITY IS PROTECTING HOMEOWNERS FROM BEING OVERCHARGED FOR HOME HEATING OIL THIS WINTER IN WEEKLY RADIO ADDRESS The following is the text of Mayor Bloomberg's weekly radio address as prepared for delivery on 1010 WINS News Radio for Sunday, November 23, 2008 "Good morning. This is Mayor Mike Bloomberg. "Today, I'd like to

Geertje Vandenbergh Vandenbergh Geertje Vandenbergh (Geertruy) was born in December 1691. She was the daughter of Cornelis Gysbertse and his second wife, Cornelia Wynants Vandenbergh. By the time of her birth, her father had moved his family from New York to Albany where he sought to compete in the fur trade. He was living across the river in Rensselaerswyck when he named "Geertie" among his nine living children in the will he filed in March 1714. In October 1716, Geertje married Albany native Wilhelmus Vandenbergh at the Albany Dutch church. By 1731, seven children had been christened in Albany where she was a member, pewholder, and regular baptism sponsor. These Vandenberghs raised their family in the third ward while Wilhelmus worked as a mason - sometimes for the Albany government. In 1761, her church pew was transferred to Catharina Lieverse. Geertje Vandenbergh Vandenbergh probably died about that time. Sources: The life of Geertje Vandenbergh Vandenbergh is CAP biography number 5780. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. first posted: 7/20/08

Geertje Vandenbergh Vandenbergh Geertje Vandenbergh (Geertruy) was born in December 1691. She was the daughter of Cornelis Gysbertse and his second wife, Cornelia Wynants Vandenbergh. By the time of her birth, her father had moved his family from New York to Albany where he sought to compete in the fur trade. He was living across the river in Rensselaerswyck when he named "Geertie" among his nine

Revisions to Official Statistics Statistics are most often revised for one of two reasons: 1. For certain statistics such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), migration statistics, and Retail Sales Index (RSI), initial estimates are released with the expectation that these may be revised and updated as further data becomes available. This type of planned revision should not be confused with errors in released statistics, which are genuine mistakes. Despite our best efforts and quality control procedures, mistakes can happen. When they do, corrections are made in a timely manner, announced and clearly explained to users in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics (principle 2, practice 7). 2. Revisions may also be made when methods or systems are changed. Further information about these and other reasons why revisions are made is outlined below. Revisions made due to further data being made available Many of the regular economic statistics are first released as initial estimates, enabling timely political and commercial decisions to be made based on the most up-to-date data available at the time. One of the most common reasons for revising statistics is therefore to replace previously released initial estimates. It should always be clear from the announcement of a first release of statistics (this is usually in the form of a Statistical Bulletin) whether the figures are initial estimates and possibly subject to revision later. Initial estimates are often released before all data has been collected but you can be sure that, whenever we publish a statistical output, it draws on all the relevant source information available at the time of release. For example, the first monthly release of the latest Retail Sales Index is based on about 65 per cent of respondents to the relevant survey, which is all that is available in the first 10 days after the end of any given month. The figures are either confirmed or revised when we receive more responses. If we subsequently make revisions, they are generally small and increase the precision of the initial estimates; although, very occasionally, new information may lead to unexpectedly large revisions. Benchmarking also refines the precision of statistics and is a longer-term reason for revising a statistical series. Some short-term, in-year statistics may be produced using data sources that are readily available but of a lower quality than other sources, or they may be based on smaller sample sizes than would be the case for a large annual survey. When more reliable data sources become available, short-term statistics can be benchmarked against them and appropriate adjustments made. For example, estimates of employee jobs are compiled from quarterly business surveys and revised when they are benchmarked to estimates from an annual business survey. The annual estimates are more detailed and accurate, but less timely. All statistics retain an element of statistical uncertainty. Statistics are often based on samples and approximations of the 'true' value of the activity being measured. As a consequence of this normal statistical process, all statistics are subject to statistical errors. The International Passenger Survey, for example, is a sample survey and therefore the results are subject to sampling errors and non-sampling errors. The terms 'statistical error' or 'sampling error' should not be confused with errors arising from human mistakes or system failures. Statistical sampling errors are inherent in the processes of sampling and estimation. Non-sampling errors may also arise. These may be because of problems with coverage, non-response, respondent error (for example, failure to understand questions), or the use of proxy measures when direct measurement is not possible. Human error and system failures may also lead to non-sampling errors. When new information becomes known, revisions are incorporated to reduce statistical errors in previous figures. Revisions due to methods or systems New methods, techniques or systems While users naturally want statistics to be comparable over time, the things we measure and our sources of information are continually changing. The methods, techniques and systems we use must keep pace. For example, new methodology on measuring drinking habits introduced in 2007 reflected the fact that the average glass of wine now contains more alcohol (a glass of wine is now considered to be 2 units rather than 1). If we simply went on assuming that the alcoholic strength of wines never changes, or that the popularity of a large glass of wine hasn't grown over the years, then statistics on drinking habits would become inaccurate. While stable methods, systems and techniques ensure comparability over the life of a statistical series, revisions ensure that the statistics more accurately reflect reality in a rapidly changing world. Before we make changes that affect, for example, coverage, definitions or methods, we consult users in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics (protocol 1, practice 7). If a proposed revision affects time series data, we make consistent historical data available where possible (principle 4, practice 7). When a statistical index is rebased it can be because the relative importance of the individual component items have been re-evaluated and the 'weight' attributed to each has changed. It can also be because the index reference period or price reference period has been updated. The Producer Prices Index (PPI), for example, has 2005 as its base year (2005=100) from which movements in the index are measured. The previous base year was 2000. The 2005 rebasing exercise also included changes to the relative weights allocated to each industrial sector that contributes to the index, taking account of changes in the preceding five years. Rebasing does not mean that the underlying data from which the re-referenced index is calculated have been revised. It simply means that the previously published statistical series will be made available on the new basis. Rebasing allows an index to remain relevant and accurate. Unlike corrections, most revisions are planned. For those outputs that are subject to scheduled revisions, we publish revisions policies, in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics (principle 2, practice 6). These policies describe how we will communicate to users the nature of the revised data and the reasons for revisions, the internal documentation required, and the circumstances in which historical data will be revised. When we publish revised statistics, we include an explanation of the nature and extent of the revisions.

Revisions to Official Statistics Statistics are most often revised for one of two reasons: 1. For certain statistics such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), migration statistics, and Retail Sales Index (RSI), initial estimates are released with the expectation that these may be revised and updated as further data becomes available. This type of planned revision should not be confused with errors in

Media Contact: Mike Bradley ()| Communications and External Relations Secondary Contact: Cassandra Stuart (email@example.com) Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory to host DOE student competition OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Oct. 30, 2008 The U.S. Department of Energy is sponsoring the inaugural Science & Energy Research Challenge (SERCh), Nov. 9-10, 2008, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which is partnering with Oak Ridge Associated Universities to host the event. SERCh is a national poster competition which will showcase high level research projects from 84 of the nation's top undergraduate students. The students will compete for research internship and scholarship prizes by presenting abstracts, posters and oral presentations detailing scientific research they have completed as DOE undergraduate research interns. Student mentors and faculty also are scheduled to participate in informational workshops and lectures about how to work with DOE. Local high school students will visit ORNL during the event and learn more about scientific fields of study through special guest speakers, poster viewing, and interaction with scientists and competitors. SERCh student projects focus primarily on energy solutions, with competition categories in biological sciences, materials science and engineering, chemistry, physics, and environmental science. Student researchers will vie for scholarship awards in each of the five categories; 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place, for $3,000, $1,500, and $1,000 scholarships, respectively. One overall winner will receive a grand prize scholarship of $10,000. For more information on SERCh, please visit: http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/serch/default.html. NOTE TO EDITORS: You may read other press releases from Oak Ridge National Laboratory or learn more about the lab at http://www.ornl.gov/news.

Media Contact: Mike Bradley ()| Communications and External Relations Secondary Contact: Cassandra Stuart (email@example.com) Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory to host DOE student competition OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Oct. 30, 2008 The U.S. Department of Energy is sponsoring the inaugural Science & Energy Research Challenge (SERCh), Nov. 9-10, 2008, at Oak Ridge National Laborato

Mapping and Resources abstracts from the Maria de Fatima Bonaldo, Greg Lennon and Marcelo Bento Soares The methods we originally developed to normalize directionally cloned cDNA libraries (Soares et al., 1994; Bonaldo, Lennon & Soares, 1996) have been successfully utilized to generate a number of human, mouse and rat cDNA libraries. All human and mouse libraries (and soon the rat libraries as well) have been contributed to the I.M.A.G.E. consortium and they have been extensively used for large scale generation of expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Both the ESTs and their respective clones are publicly available. Although the use of normalized libraries has proven most advantageous to minimize the redundant identification of the mRNAs of the super-prevalent and intermediate frequency classes within a particular tissue, it cannot prevent the redundant identification of mRNAs (of any frequency class) that are expressed in multiple tissues. In other words, normalization alone cannot avoid the redundant identification of ESTs that have been obtained previously from other libraries. This problem is becoming increasingly more relevant as we approach completion of the ongoing human and mouse gene discovery efforts. Hence, we proposed to take advantage of subtractive hybridization strategies that we developed, to generate libraries enriched for novel cDNAs. Briefly, pools of I.M.A.G.E. clones from which ESTs have been derived, are used as drivers in hybridizations with single or multiple normalized libraries thus generating subtracted libraries enriched for cDNAs not yet represented in public databases. Subtracted libraries are characterized by Southern hybridization to assess reduction in representation of clones of the driver population and then contributed to the I.M.A.G.E. consortium for large-scale arraying and sequencing. Sequence analysis of two subtracted libraries that we have generated indicated a four-fold reduction in representation of the driver population. It is anticipated that the use of subtracted libraries will become increasingly advantageous as we strive towards the ultimate goal of identifying all human and mouse genes. This project has two major goals: (1) to optimize the method for construction of subtracted libraries, and (2) to generate subtracted libraries to facilitate the ongoing human and mouse EST programs. Auffray, C.1, Devignes, M.D.1, Pietu, G.1, Ansorge, W.2, Schwager, C.2, Ballabio, A.3, Borsani, G.3, Banfi, S.3, Estivill, X.4, Lynch, Gibson, K.5, Mundy, C.5, Lehrach, H.6, Poustka, A.7, Wiemann, S.7, Korn, B.7, O'Brien, J.7, M.8, Lundeberg, J.8 The general objectives of the European IMAGE Consortium are: The European IMAGE Consortium will devote 20% of the resources to the assembly of the physical resources (cDNA and CpG island arrays characterized by end sequencing and fingerprinting, minimal sets of clones selected after comprehensive sequence, clone and functional clustering, master set of 3,000 full-length clones). These resources will be available throughout the European Union for the user community in both academy and industry. The Consortium will serve the future needs of the scientific community in the systematic identification of all human genes and their regulatory sequences by deciphering in an efficient and economic manner 6 Mb of complete, finished sequence for 3,000 transcripts of average size 2 kb: 50% of the resources will be devoted to the sequencing of full-length cDNAs and CpG islands selected by Consortium on the basis of their map position, similarity to known families or expression profiles. In order to ensure that advances in basic genetic knowledge is used to further enhance human health, the Consortium will seek to contribute to the identification of genes involved in human biology and diseases by correlating precise map location and phenotypic expression data, exploiting various comparative approaches for 1,000 of the genes represented in the master set: 10% of the resources will be devoted to high-resolution and comparative functional mapping in close interaction with the mapping consortia in order to obtain the most precise and evolutionary relevant map location. Last but not least, 20% of the resources will be devoted to the IMAGE Consortium Data Base. This will provide the community with up to date, integrated sequence, mapping and expression data related to the IMAGE consortium arrays, as they are collected by IMAGE Consortium members in Europe, the United States and Japan, and will help in sharing and harmonizing such data. Supported by the participating institutions and the European Union BIOMED 2 Program. Dabney Johnson, Monica Justice, Ken Beattie, Michelle Buchanan, Michael Ramsey, Rose Ramsey, Michael Paulus, Nance Ericson, David Allison, Reid Kress, Richard Mural, Ed Uberbacher, Reinhold Mann The Functional Genomics Initiative at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory integrates outstanding capabilities in mouse genetics, bioinformatics, and instrumentation. The 50 year investment by the DoE in mouse genetics/mutagenesis has created a one-of-a-kind resource for generating mutations and understanding their biological consequences. It is generally accepted that, through the mouse as a surrogate for human biology, we will come to understand the function of human genes. In addition to this world class program in mammalian genetics, ORNL has also been a world leader in developing bioinformatics tools for the analysis, management and visualization of genomic data. Combining this expertise with new instrumentation technologies will provide a unique capability to understand the consequences of mutations in the mouse at both the organism and molecular levels. The goal of the Functional Genomics Initiative is to develop the technology and methodology necessary to understand gene function on a genomic scale and apply these technologies to megabase regions of the human genome. The effort is scoped so as to create an effective and powerful resource for functional genomics. ORNL is partnering with the Joint Genome Institute and other large scale sequencing centers to sequence several multimegabase regions of both human and mouse genomic DNA, to identify all the genes in these regions, and to conduct fundamental surveys to examine gene function at the molecular and organism level. The Initiative is designed to be a pilot for larger scale deployment in the post-genome era. Technologies will be applied to the examination of gene expression and regulation, metabolism, gene networks, physiology and development. The initiative was launched in 1996 and is comprised of the following component efforts: Directed High-Efficiency Mouse Mutagenesis (Monica Justice) - We have established a comprehensive high-efficiency mouse germline mutagenesis program to examine mammalian gene function. N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) is currently the mutagen of choice because it induces point mutations that reflect single gene function. Large genomic regions can be scanned for mutations that may reflect loss of function, gain of function, or partial loss of function. In parallel, we are developing sequence-ready BAC contigs of a region that we are mutagenizing. Allelic series for loci will be obtained that will complement other mutagenesis approaches, such as gene disruptions. Our program incorporates many different methods of genetic screening to isolate mutations, and the mutations will serve as a resource to the mouse and human genome communities. The Mouse Screenotyping Center (Dabney Johnson) - We have established a mouse phenotype-screening center to complement and extend current mouse mutational analyses by developing screening protocols for biochemical and behavioral abnormalities. High-throughput methodologies are being developed to efficiently screen for induced aberrations in behaviors, in locomotor and neuromuscular function, and in biochemical and hematological parameters. The screens are designed to detect mouse models of a variety of human diseases from among large populations of potentially mutant mice. Comprehensive Cellular Protein Analysis using Microfluidic Devices (Rose Ramsey) - ORNL's unique lab-on-a-chip technology is being combined with mass spectrometric methods to provide uniquely powerful methods for comprehensive cellular protein analysis using microfluidic devices. The microchips will integrate on a single structure, elements that enable multidimensional separations of protein mixtures with electrospray ionization of the analytes for direct, on-line interfacing with mass spectrometry. This system will provide unparalleled throughput and sensitivity, allowing robust protein identification in small samples. Gene Expression Studies using Genosensor Microchip Technology (Ken Beattie) - Porous glass flowthrough Genosensor chip technology provides unique hybridization surface area and sensitivity for use in large-scale gene expression studies, mapping, and mutational surveillance. Genome Lab-on-a-Chip (Michael Ramsey) - Microfluidic and microinstrumentation capabilities are being applied to labor intensive assays used in gene mapping and analysis of genetic mutations and polymorphisms. "Laboratory-on-a-chip" technology is being used to automate assay procedures, increase analysis rates, eliminate the use of radioactive isotopes, and reduce the consumption of limited DNA samples. Current efforts are focused on development of multiplexed microdevices for PCR-based analysis of simple tandem repeat markers used in the genetic and physical mapping of the mouse genome. Mouse Physiological Monitoring Microchip (Nance Ericson) - Unique integrated circuitry is being created to provide a capability for large scale monitoring of mouse physiological parameters related to physiological or behavioral abnormalities due to mouse mutations. Application of this new technology to genome studies will accelerate mass specimen screening by providing automated detailed observation and reporting of multiple key physiological parameters, such as body temperature, heart rate, physical activity level, location and motion patterns using a microscale implanted device. High-Throughput Tomographic Imaging of Mouse Phenotypes (Michael Paulus) - A new high-resolution high-throughput automated 3D mouse imaging and screening methodology is being created which will rapidly identify, quantify and record subtle phenotypes in mutagenized mice, based on a novel x-ray imaging technology with 50 micron spatial resolution and a 3D dataset acquisition time of <1 minute per mouse. Development of DNA Sequencing and Automated Genotyping Infrastructure (Richard Mural) Basic capabilities for DNA sequencing and automated genotyping are being developed to support mouse genetics and molecular biology. Not only are these capabilities necessary for addressing basic problems in genetic and molecular biology but they will also and flexibility to the program for initiating new projects. Having the DNA sequence of regions which are being mutagenized will also be important to mutation detection. Event-Based Flexible Automated DNA Sequencing (Reid Kress) - By moving automated DNA sequencing from a sequential, batch-mode process to a continuous mode hands off process we will be able to maximize the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of our limited DNA sequencing resources at ORNL. Bioinformatics Support for Gene Function (Ed Uberbacher) - A comprehensive system to collect and assemble information relevant to the function of newly discovered genes is being constructed for application to sequenced human and mouse regions in the Functional Genomics Initiative. This includes support for initial gene finding and informatics-based characterization, and compilation of experimental information generated related to mouse mutations, gene and protein expression studies, and computational and experimental information derived from numerous external databases and other model organisms. The resulting catalog of gene function information will be linked to genome-wide browsing being produced by the Genome Annotation Consortium. Direct Visualization of Regulatory Protein-DNA complexes and Mutations using AFM (David Allison) - High-throughput atomic force microscopy will be used to precisely locate and visualize proteins bound to individual DNA molecules or genes, including complexes related to regulation of gene expression and repair enzymes site-specifically bound to lesion sites. Automated image analysis and interpretation systems are being applied to locate and characterize the protein-DNA complexes. Mass Spectrometry for DNA Analysis (Michelle Buchanan) - To complement the genome-wide mutation screening efforts, we are examining parameters in mass spectroscopy-based DNA analysis. Our initial efforts have focused on optical imaging and diagnostics of the matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) plume, and investigations of the crystallization of DNA for the MALDI matrix. In parallel, we are examining methods for higher-throughput DNA analysis necessary for large-scale genome-wide polymorphism analysis. Sandra L. McCutchen-Maloney, Mark Shannon, Jane Lamerdin and Michael P. Thelen The human XPF gene is required for the cellular response to DNA damage caused by ultraviolet radiation and mutagenic chemicals. Mutation in this gene leads to one form of the disease syndrome xeroderma pigmentosum. Homologs of the XPF protein are present in fly, worm, plant, yeast and archea, indicating conservation of an essential function throughout all of evolution. The expression of mouse XPF in pachytene spermatocytes corroborates other indications that XPF has an additional role in genetic recombination during meiosis. Information from all of the homologs has been valuable in directing experiments to determine the specific characteristics of the XPF protein. We have demonstrated the predicted endonuclease activity, protein-protein interactions, and DNA binding in the recombinant XPF protein that was overexpressed and purified from E. coli. Fragments of XPF obtained during purification retain endonuclease activity. This result, together with the sequence analysis of homologous proteins, has lead us to produce a series of deletion fragments of XPF in order to identify functional domains. The use of comparative genomics coupled with protein chemistry has thus enabled us to begin defining the function of this protein that is crucial to human health. Work was funded by NIH grants to SLM-M and MPT; research was performed under the auspices of the U.S. DOE by LLNL under contract No. W-7405-ENG-48. Natalay Kouprina*, Lois Annab**, Michael A. Resnick*, J. Carl Barrett** and Vladimir Recently we demonstrated that transformation- associated recombination (TAR) in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be used to selectively isolate single copy genes, BRCA2 and BRCA1, from total human DNA as large circular YACs (1). The TAR cloning method is based on co-penetration into yeast spheroplasts of gently isolated genomic DNA along with the vector DNA that contains 5' and 3' sequences specific for gene of interest, followed by recombination between the vector and the human DNA to establish a YAC (2). We investigated whether a single copy gene could be isolated directly from total human DNA by TAR cloning using only one piece of its sequence information. A TAR cloning vector was constructed that contained a small amount of 3' HPRT sequence and an Alu repeat. Transformation with the vector along with human DNA led to the selective isolation of large circular YACs containing the entire HPRT gene. YACs up to 400 kb were generated that extended from the unique position of 3' HPRT to various Alu's similar to "genome walking". Based on transfection of the NeoR-retrofitted YAC clones into mouse cells, the YACs contained the functional HPRT. Use of the common Alu repeat as a second targeting sequence greatly expends utility of TAR cloning. We propose that a new TAR cloning approach is readily applicable to direct isolation of single copy genes from mammalian genomes. (1) Larionov, V., Kouprina, N., Solomon, G, Barrett, J. C. and Resnick, M. A. Direct isolation of human BRCA2 gene by transformation-associated recombination in yeast. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 94, p.7384-7387, 1997. (2) Larionov, V., Kouprina, N., Graves, J., X.-N., Chen, Julie R. Korenberg and Resnick, M. A. Specific cloning of human DNA as YACs by transformation-associated recombination. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 93, p. 491-496, 1996. During the last two years or so, our DOE-sponsored research led to the discovery and characterization of DNA targets for retroposon integration (1,2). These targets are most likely recognized and cut by L1-ORF2 enzymes already existing in mammalian cells and have been postulated to be hot spots for homologous recombination (3). Recently, our team in collaboration with Dr. Sun-Yu Ng, has demonstrated that the preferred integration targets are also hot spots for homologous recombination which is increased by up to two orders of magnitude in test cancer cell lines (4). In another collaborative effort, we have discovered that mobile elements integrate primarily at kinkable DNA sites (5). We continued our repeat annotation service to the community (6), as well as, discovery and analysis of new repetitive families (7,8). 1. Jurka, J., Klonowski, P. J. Mol. Evol. 43, 685-689 (1996) 2. Jurka, J. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 94, 1872-1877 (1997) 3. Jurka, J. Site-Directed Recombination. U.S. Patent No. 08/643,886 4. Ng, S.-Y., Ma, J., Jurka, J. (in preparation) 5. Jurka, J., Klonowski, P., Trifonov, E.N. Mammalian Retroposons Integrate at Kinkable DNA sites (submitted) 6. CENSOR server: http://www.girinst.org 7. Jurka, J.,Kapitonov, V.V., Klonowski, P., Walichiewicz, J. and Smit, A.F.A. Genetica 98, 235-247 (1996) 8. Kapitonov, V.V. and Jurka, J. DNA Sequence (in press) Alexander Boitsov1,2, Boris Oskin1, Pieter J. de Construction of large-insert libraries in bacterial hosts, such as those using PAC/BAC vectors and DH10B cells, has been limited by the inefficient transformation of Escherichia coli with large DNA molecules by electroporation. The goal of this project was to elucidate the mechanism and kinetics of the entrance of large DNA molecules into DH10B cells on exposure to electric fields and to exploit this information to increase the efficiency of PAC/BAC library construction. The essence of the approach used is the independent optimization of the three distinct stages of electrotransformation (ET): i) electrophoretic movement of DNA towards cells in cell-DNA suspension, ii) permeabilization of cell wall (production of electric pores) and iii) electrophoretic permeation of DNA molecules into the cells through electric pores. This was feasible due to the apparatus constructed in Saint Petersburg State Technical University that can generate multiple independently-regulated electric pulses. The results obtained previously with different Escherichia coli strains, other than DH10B, have revealed that the optimal time of electrophoretic permeation of DNA molecules into the cells through electric pores is proportional to the square root of the molecular length of supercoiled plasmids in the range from 7 up to 250 kb. This explains the failure of previous large DNA ET work that had been based on results with smaller DNA. To more fully characterize the ET process of DH10B cells with large DNA, we have determined the effects of each of the electric field parameters on transformation with respect to plasmid size (and topology). Plasmids ranging in size up to 250 kb have been used, and the resulting transformed molecules have been examined to verify their fidelity. The data which will be presented shall show that kinetics of DNA penetration into DH10B cells on exposure of electric field differ drastically from those obtained for other used E. coli cells (C600, HB101, K802, DH5a). First of all no clear dependence on molecule size of supercoiled plasmids was observed. The preliminary interpretation of the results is: the size of appearing electropores in DH10B is much bigger than that in other E. coli cells. It explains high ET efficiency of DH10B cells with large supercoiled plasmids which can be achieved (up to 108 transformants per mg of 250 kb plasmid) and which is, on a molar basis, only several times lower than the highest ET efficiency with small pUC18 plasmid. Acknowledgment: This work has been sponsored in part by a DOE humanitarian grant OR0033-93CIS015 awarded to A.B. (firstname.lastname@example.org) and by DE-FC03-96ER62294 to PdJ (email@example.com) Jonathan L. Longmire, Nancy C. Brown, Evelyn W. Campbell, Mary L. Campbell, John J. Fawcett, Phil Jewett, Mary Maltbie, and Larry L. Deaven Because of the advantages of large insert size and stability associated with BAC cloning systems, we have attempted to adapt the pBelloBAC vector for use with flow sorted human chromosomes. Compared to making genomic libraries (where DNA mass is not limited) the cloning of chromosomes into the BAC vector is very challenging due to the fact that only microgram quantities of DNA can be obtained even after extensive periods of sorting (months). The technical challenges involved in making chromosome-specific BAC libraries include developing methodologies to 1) allow efficient recovery of flow sorted chromosomes into agarose plugs; 2) predictable partial digestion of small masses of chromosomal DNA embedded in agarose; and 3) improving BAC cloning efficiencies to allow construction of multiple representation libraries from microgram quantities of chromosomal DNA. We have found that partial digestions using HindIII can be performed in a predictable and reliable manner on microgram quantities of genomic DNA by carefully controlling incubation time and enzyme concentration-to-DNA mass ratios. In addition, these small amounts of partially digested genomic DNA can be size selected using PFG electrophoresis and cloned into the BAC vector with efficiencies that are sufficient for producing multiple representation chromosome libraries (103-104 cfu per mg starting DNA; average insert size approximately 90 kb). Improvements have also been made in the collection of flow sorted chromosomes prior to DNA isolation. The previously used method for collecting chromosomes involved sorting into an agarose-coated tube until the tube was full of sheath fluid and then harvesting the relatively small number of chromosomes by centrifugation. We have developed a new method that allows larger numbers of chromosomes to be sorted into a single agarose coated tube. This is accomplished by using a series of centrifugation, decanting, and re-sorting steps to 'stack' chromosome pellets within the tube. A final spin followed by brief melting and regelling of the agarose is used to embed the chromosomes within the agarose plug. Higher DNA yields have resulted from using the stacked pellet method. However, chromosomes were lost during this process because the yield of chromosomal DNA was not directly proportional to the number of chromosomes that were originally sorted. This loss of chromosomes during the embedding step represents the single major problem that remains to be solved in order to allow the production of chromosome-specific BAC libraries. This work was supported by the US DOE under contract W-7405-ENG-36. N. Kouprina, M. Campbell, J. Graves, E. Campbell, L. Meincke, J. Tesmer, N. Brown, J. Fawcett, P. Jewett, R. K. Moyzis, N. Doggett, L. Deaven, and V. Larionov Transformation-associated recombination (TAR) was exploited in yeast to the selective isolation of human DNAs as circular YACs from monochromosomal mouse/human hybrid cell lines. Chromosome 5 and 16 specific YAC libraries were produced from the hybrid cell lines Q826-20 and CY18, respectively, using the F-factor based TAR vectors containing human Alu repeats. The presence of an F-factor origin in the TAR vectors provides the opportunity for transfer of generated YACs to E. coli to produce BACs. Although <2% of the DNA in the hybrid cells was human as many as 80% of the transformants had human DNA YACs based on colony hybridization of a representative number of clones with both human and mouse probes. Thus, the level of enrichment of human DNA to mouse was nearly 3,000-fold. The YAC libraries of chromosome 5 and 16 consist of 299 and 1320 clones, respectively, with an average size of 150 kb. Approximately 266 chromosome 5 and 748 chromosome 16 specific BACs were obtained after electroporation of YACs into E. coli. Based on the size of the clones generated from chromosome 5, the YAC and BAC libraries are ~0.24X and ~0.21X, respectively, in chromosomal coverage. Based on the size of the clones generated from chromosome 16, the YAC and BAC libraries are ~2.4X and ~1.2X, respectively, in chromosomal coverage. The chromosomal distribution of 41 TAR BACs each from chromosomes 5 and 16 was evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The distribution of FISH signals was random along the length of each chromosome. We concluded that TAR cloning may provide an efficient means for generating YAC/BACs from specific chromosomes. Steve C. Mitchell, Diana Bocskai, Yicheng Cao2, Robert Xuequn Xu, Mei Wang, Troy Moore3, So Hee Dho4, Enrique Colayco2, Christie Gomez, Gabriella Rodriguez, Annabel Echeverria, Melvin I. Simon2, and Ung-Jin Kim2 The goal of the human genome project is to characterize and sequence entire genomes of human and several model organisms, thus providing complete sets of information on the entire structure of transcribed, regulatory and other functional regions for these organisms. In the past years, a number of useful genetic and physical markers on human and mouse genomes have been made available along with the advent of BAC library resources for these organisms. The advances in technology and resource development made it feasible to efficiently construct genome-wide physical BAC contigs for human and other genomes. Currently, over 30,000 mapped STSs and 27,000 mapped Unigenes are available for human genome mapping. ESTs and cDNAs are excellent resources for building contig maps for two reasons. Firstly, they exist in two alternative forms - as both sequence information for PCR primer pairs, and cDNA clones - thus making library screening by colony hybridization as well as pooled library PCR possible. We are now able to screen genomic libraries efficiently for large number of DNA probes by combining over 100 cDNA probes in each hybridization. Second, the linkage and order of genes are rather conserved among human, mouse and other model organisms. Therefore, gene markers have advantages over random anonymous STSs in building maps for comparative genomic studies. As a preliminary work for the ongoing "BAC-EST" project, we are currently screening our human BAC libraries with thousands of cDNA probes. We have thus far used over 3,000 Unigene probes and the number will increase to 7,000 in this year. Our goal is to screen the library with at least 27,000 markers, most of which are in the form of cDNA probes. This represents at least 1 marker per every 100 kb of euchromatin regions. We plan to deconvolute the positive BACs to each marker by sorting the library into groups of BACs that are positive to specific pools, arraying each group on small hybridization filters, then hybridizing the filters with individual probes. We are also determining the end sequences for the positive BACs. BAC end sequence (BES) information can be extremely useful to precisely align these mapped BAC clones against any known sequence contigs by means of sequence match. Putative contigs or clone overlaps identified by markers or sequence match are verified via restriction fingerprint analysis. The BAC clone resources integrated with physical mapping information will be useful for building sequence-ready contigs on any chromosomal region. N. A. Doggett, L. A. Goodwin, J. G. Tesmer, L. J. Meincke, D. C. Bruce, M. R. Altherr, R. D. Sutherland, U.-J. Kim, and L. L. Deaven We have previously reported on the construction of an integrated physical map of human chromosome 16 (Doggett et al., Nature 377:Suppl:335-365, 1995). This map was constructed against a framework somatic cell hybrid breakpoint map which divides the chromosome into 90 intervals. The physical map consists of both a low resolution YAC contig map and a high resolution cosmid/P1/BAC contig map. The low resolution YAC contig map is now comprised of 900 CEPH megaYACs, and 300 flow-sorted 16-specific miniYACs that are localized to and ordered within the breakpoint intervals with 1150 STSs. (These include 200 megaYACs and 300 STSs which were incorporated from the Whitehead Institute's total genome mapping effort.) The YAC/STS map provides practically complete coverage of the euchromatic arms of the chromosome and provides STS markers on average every 78 kb. The integrated map also includes 470 genes/ESTs/exons and 400 genetic markers--as part of an ongoing effort to incorporate all available loci into a single map of this chromosome. A high resolution 'sequence ready' cosmid contig map consisting of 4000 fingerprinted cosmids assembled into contigs covering 60% of the chromosome is anchored to the YAC and cytogenetic breakpoint maps via STSs developed from cosmid contigs and by hybridizations between YACs and cosmids. Current work is focused on completing the 'sequence ready' map using a combination of cosmids and BACs. IRS-bubble PCR products from a minimally tiling set of YACs are being hybridized to the chromosome 16 cosmid library to localize cosmids to gaps in the existing map; and over 200 BACs, identified by library screening are now linked to the cosmid map. Several large contigs have been completed across disease gene regions in collaboration with several other investigators by supplying the available map resources (YACs, STSs, and cosmid contigs) and high density cosmid filter arrays for cosmid walking and YAC to cosmid hybridization experiments. The largest of these is a 4 Mb restriction mapped 'sequence ready' cosmid contig extending proximally from the p telomere. A 3.0 Mb region of this contig, extending proximally from the PKD1 locus is the substrate for a finished sequencing effort underway at Los Alamos. Supported by the US DOE, OBER under contract W-7405-ENG-36. Yicheng Cao, Diana Bocskai, Steve C. Mitchell, Robert Xuequn Xu, So Hee Dho#, Jun-Ryul Huh#, Byeong-Jae Lee#, Anna Glodek*, Mei Wang, Enrique Colayco, Gony H. Kim, Christie Gomez, Gabriella Rodriguez, Judith G. Tesmer**, Annabel Echeverria, Robin Hua Li, Melvin I. Simon, Norman A. Doggett**, Mark D. Adams*, and Extensive physical mapping efforts and advances in automated sequencing technology have resulted in the initiation of genomic sequencing of large human chromosomal regions. Currently, both NIH and DOE are supporting several centers in the U.S. to begin sequencing the genomes of human and model organisms systematically and in massive scale. In the past 1.5 years, Caltech has been building physical contig maps on the 20 Mbp region of the human chromosome 16p arm (16p13.1-11.2) jointly with TIGR and LANL as a pilot experiment to generate sequence-ready physical map using large insert human BAC libraries (A, B and C) that have been constructed at Caltech. First, the pooled library A (with 3.5 X genomic coverage) was screened with 98 ordered STS primer pairs taken from the integrated chromosome 16 YAC-STS map constructed by LANL. In this initial screening, 77 STS markers successfully identified 184 positive BACs. Positive BACs were characterized by checking multiple single colonies per clone, and restriction fingerprint analysis. For the clones to be sequenced, FISH mapping and genomic Southern hybridization steps were added for the verification of the chromosomal localization and genomic colinearity. Inserts from these positive BACs were used for screening library B and C (approximately 10X genomic coverage) by colony hybridization. The libraries were also screened with approximately 90 Unigene cDNA probes that have been localized to the 20 Mb region, and with approximately 250 Unigene cDNA probes mapped to the other regions on chromosome 16. Shotgun clones derived from the ends of completely sequenced BACs were used as probes to efficiently identify BACs that overlap minimally with the sequenced BACs. We have thus far identified nearly 1,000 putative BACs belonging to the 20 Mb region, and more than 2,000 BACs over the entire chromosome 16. End sequences were determined from all of these BACs. The BES (BAC end sequence) have been used to align these clones against the sequenced BACs by sequence match, thus allowing rapid and precise determination of the extent of overlaps between clones. The putative overlaps from the sequence match are verified by restriction fingerprint analysis. Currently we are building BacDB database, a modified version of ACeDB.4_1, by entering and organizing all information related to human BAC clones and physical mapping data that are available from Caltech, LANL, TIGR, as well as public resources. The database contains available BAC related data and mapping information, STSs, ESTs, BES, and completed BAC sequences. BacDB will not only serve as an integrated database for mapping and sequencing, but will be a tool for the efficient identification of sequence-ready clones. Mark D. Adams, Steve Rounsley, Casey Field, Jenny Kelley, Steve Bass, Brook Craven, and J. Craig Venter Libraries constructed in BAC vectors have become the choice for clone sets in high throughput genomic sequencing projects because of their higher stability as compared to their YAC or cosmid counterparts. We have proposed the use of BAC end sequences as a primary means of selecting minimally overlapping clones for sequencing large genomic regions. A necessary prerequisite of this is the collection of end sequences from all the clones in deep coverage BAC libraries. This is now being pursued for both the human and Arabidopsis genomes. BAC vectors are based on the E. coli F-factor replicon and offer strict copy number control limiting the number of BACs to 1-2 copies per cell. However, in addition to minimizing the chances of chromosomal rearrangements, the low copy number also poses a challenge for high throughput direct sequencing of the BAC clone ends because of the difficulty in obtaining sufficient quantities of high quality template from standard minipreps. We have developed reliable approaches for both a multiprep for BAC DNA purification and a protocol for the direct sequencing of BAC DNA using Dye Terminator chemistry. The combination of these two methods allows us to produce daily about 400 high quality BAC end sequences with an average edited length of 400 bases using 4 ABD 377 sequencers and a small team of personnel. To aid in sample tracking and high throughput processing, the prep is processed completely in a 96 well format, from clone storage and growth through DNA purification, isopropanol precipitation, and final resuspension. Sequencing reactions are also processed in a 96 well format, including the removal of excess dyes before loading onto the sequencers. Both high throughput methods are amenable to future automation. Our methods will be presented along with discussion regarding the advantages and disadvantages of various methods we tried. Gregory G. Mahairas, Keith D. Zackrone, Stephanie Tipton, Sarah Schmidt, Alan Blanchard, Anne West, Joe Slagel and Leroy Hood The STC approach has been proposed as an attractive strategy to provide a sequence ready scaffolding for the efficient and directed sequencing of the complete human genome (1). This effort has been undertaken through a collaborative effort between the California Institute of technology, TIGR and the University of Washington, and funded through the U. S. Department of Energy. The approach entails the sequencing of the ends of 300,000 Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (BACs) that constitute a 20X deep Human DNA library to construct a sequence ready scaffold of the human genome. At the Univ. of Washington we have assembled a high throughput automated end sequencing and fingerprinting process with its associated informatics. BAC clones are robotically inoculated from 384 well plates into 4 ml 96 well culture format, grown and the BAC DNA robotically extracted using AutoGen 740 robots. BAC template DNA from the AutoGen is then robotically transferred into 96 well microtiter plates from which DNA sequencing and fingerprinting reactions are setup. DNA fingerprinting is performed using conventional agarose electrophoresis, digestion with a single restriction enzyme (EcoRV) followed by automated imaging and analysis. DNA sequencing is performed using PE-ABD High Sensitivity dye primers and ABI 377 DNA sequencers. Laboratory protocols, automated data production, data processing, quality control measures and LIMS will be described in detail. During a 50 day period the STC laboratory sequenced 23317 BAC ends (STCs). 19224 (82.4%) where greater than 100 bp non trimmed and the average nontrimmed read length was 388 bp for a total of 7.46 Mb (.25%) of the genome. 29 % of the STCs contained repetitive DNA but less than 11% where entirely repeat. 12% of the repetitive DNA were LINE sequence, 4.6% LTR, 6.7% SINE sequence and 1.3% of the STCs contain a microsatellite or simple sequence repeat. The total G + C content was 40% and the average CpG content was .28, both expected numbers for human genomic DNA. 224 STCs had CpG scores of 1 representing CpG islands. 3103 STCs (16.8%) hit the EST, non-redundant nucleotide or Sixframe database. 1103 STCs hit the EST database (DB), 517 of which hit only the EST; 1087 STCs hit the nr nucleotide DB, 471 of which hit the nr nucleotide DB only, and 913 STCs hit the nr protein DB, 500 of which hit only the nr protein DB. 181 STCs (1%) hit all three databases, 131 hit nr nuc. and nr protein DBs, 101 hit the EST and nr prot. DBs, and 304 hit EST and nr nucleotide DBs, i.e., 4% hit more than one of these DBs and probably represent genes. 1. Venter, J. C., Smith, H. O., and Hood, L. (1996) Nature 381: 364-366 Joomyeong Kim, Ethan A. Carver, and Lisa PCR-based methods have provided invaluable tools for the analysis of large genomic clones, such as YACs and BACs, that comprise the bulk of most existing and emerging genomic physical maps. However, applications of the available methods are often limited, or made more difficult to apply, because of the need for significant identity between primers and sequences located on both sides of a targeted site. We have developed a method that permits target sequences to be exponentially amplified, with a high degree of purity and specificity, from low-complexity templates when only a single sequence-specific anchor primer is present in the mixture. Amplification is efficiently driven by specific binding of the primer to one end of the target locus, with reverse priming initiated at nearby regions containing only a 5-6 bp sequence match with the anchor oligonucleotide. Using standard vector-derived primers, we have applied the single-primer protocol to amplify end-fragments directly from a number of different BAC-containing colonies, and have generated high quality DNA sequence information from the PCR mixtures without the need for further purification. This work introduces single-primer PCR as a simple, efficient and convenient alternative to existing methods for isolation of sequence-ready end fragments and other sequences from within BACs and other large-insert genomic clones. Ze Peng, Steve Lowry, Duncan Scott, Yiwen Zhu, Eddy Rubin and Jan-Fang Cheng One of the JGI genomic sequencing targets is the distal 45 Mb of the long arm of human chromosome 5. This region was chosen because it contains a cluster of cytokine growth factor (IL3, IL4, IL5, IL9, IL12, IL13, GM-CSF, FGFA, M-CSF) and receptor genes (GRL, ADRB2, M-CSFR, PDGFR) and is likely to yield new and functionally related genes through long range sequence analysis. This region is relatively rich in disease-associated genes including susceptibility to asthma, several autosomal dominant corneal dystrophies, low-frequency hearing loss, dominant limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, Treacher Collins syndrome, and myeloid disorders associated with the 5q- syndrome. The mapping strategy is based on a combination of both hybridization and PCR approaches. Inter-Alu fragments generated from non-chimeric YACs covering 3-5 Mb of DNA were used to isolate regionally specific P1/PAC/BAC clones. These clones were sized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and their map locations were confirmed using fluorescent in situ hybridization. We estimated that approximately 60% of the clones representing a targeted region in the P1, PAC or BAC libraries were identified by this approach. Overlaps between P1s, PACs and BACs were mainly established by PCR using STSs generated from ends of clones. Contigs were further oriented using STSs developed from known genes, ordered markers, and ends of P1s, PACs, BACs and YACs. The STS content mapping also allowed us to identify new clones to fill gaps. We have used this strategy to map 198 P1s, 60 PACs and 1,407 BACs so far in the region of 5q23-q35. These clones were linked by 1,321 STSs to form 74 contigs. The contigs are approximately 0.2-4 Mb in size. The average density of STSs is about 3.7 per 100 Kb in the proximal 20 Mb and about 2.3 per 100 Kb in the distal 25 Mb. Most STSs were derived from the ends of BACs which allowed detection of 3.4% chimeras by PCR analysis. The clone coverage of the proximal 20 Mb is over 95% and the coverage of the distal 25 Mb is between 70-80% at different locations. To date, 121 P1/PAC/BAC clones spanning the proximal 10 Mb were in the pipeline for production sequencing. This clone map with STS information is distributed through our Web site (http://www-hgc.lbl.gov/sequence-archive.html) and is being updated periodically. L.A. Gordon, A. Georgescu, M. Christensen, S. Ross, L. Woo, L.K. Ashworth, H. W. Mohrenweiser, A.V. Carrano and A. S. Olsen. We have developed an integrated genetic and physical map for human chromosome 19 consisting of metrically ordered, well-annotated cosmid/BAC contigs that provide a critical resource for sequencing. At approximately 65 Mb, chromosome 19 represents 2% of the haploid genome; it is the most GC-rich human chromosome, suggesting an especially high gene density. The current map consists of 185 ordered cosmid/BAC contigs of average size 225 kb (range 40 kb to 3.3 Mb) spanning a total of 42 Mb, i.e. over 75% of the non-centromeric portion of chromosome 19. An additional 8 Mb of small EcoRI mapped cosmid contigs, average size 80 kb, have not yet been incorporated into the ordered map. The order of the constituent contigs have been determined by standard FISH techniques applied to a series of chromatin targets with increasing resolution. High-resolution FISH to decondensed human sperm pronuclei establishes genomic distances between 286 ordered FISH markers in 19p and q, thereby providing a "metric" framework that links the ordered contigs to the cytogenetic map. Complete digest EcoRI maps have been constructed for all contigs, which provide validation of the contig assembly and constituent clones, as well as an indication of contig size and extent of clone overlap. The map currently includes 15 Mb of restriction mapped contigs greater than 500 kb (average size 1 Mb), which provide ideal substrates for large-scale genomic sequencing of this chromosome. About 7.5 Mb have been sequenced or are currently in the sequencing pipeline. The high depth of coverage (average 5X) and mix of cosmid and BAC clones enables selection of an optimum set of spanning clones with minimum overlap for sequencing. The map is extensively annotated, with over 300 genes/cDNAs and 180 polymorphic markers that have been localized at the clone, and occasionally restriction fragment, level. Placement of the genetic markers in the physical map demonstrates excellent correspondence with existing genetic maps and provides relative order of many markers that cannot be distinguished by recombination. This map provides a unique resource for identification of disease genes mapped to this chromosome. Work performed under the auspices of the US DOE by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract No. W-7405 Cliff S. Han, Mark O. Mundt, Linda J. Meincke, Judy G. Tesmer, Robert K. Moyzis, Larry L. Deaven and Norman A. Doggett The framework genome-wide physical maps have largely been constructed with YAC clones. YACs however, are often unstable and chimeric, and because of the difficulty to isolate cloned YAC DNA in a pure form, are unsuitable for DNA sequencing. Therefore, BAC libraries, which retain the advantages of large insert size, are stable, and easy to manipulate, were constructed. Physical mapping with these libraries is now underway and is a critical component to large scale genomic sequencing. Clone based physical maps have been constructed by many methods, including clone fingerprinting and STS content mapping. We are developing an alternative method which is applicable to small to moderate complexity clone libraries such as chromosome specific cosmid and BAC libraries and plasmid subclone libraries of BACs. This two-dimensional hybridization method is based on clone hybridization with pooled clone DNA as probes. The principal experimental design is as follows: First, several grids of the library are made. Second, DNA of the clones are pooled by a two-dimensional strategy (rows and columns) and purified by subtractive hybridization to remove both low abundance and high abundance repetitive elements. Third, the grids are hybridized separately with the row and column pooled DNAs. Positive hybridizing clones that are in common between the row and column pool probes will overlap with the clone that is in the intersection point with these pools. We are using the program MAP (written by Mark Mundt) to construct contigs from the two-dimensional hybridization results. This method was tested with 350 cosmids, chosen from the chromosome 16 specific cosmid library by grid hybridization with 3 YACs. Overlaps identified by two-dimensional hybridization were confirmed by restriction fingerprinting. We are currently implementing this approach for rapid construction of contigs from a chromosome 16 specific BAC library and for the ordering of plasmid subclones of cosmids and BACs into minimal tiling sets prior to their sequencing. Supported by the US DOE, OBER under contract W-7405-ENG-36. Norman A. Doggett, Robert D. Sutherland and David C. Torney ISCN 1995 established a new set of Human chromosome ideograms that comprise 850 metaphase-chromosome bands, differentiated by five shades of staining intensity [ISCN (1995), Mitelman, F. (ed), S. Karger, Basel; and Francke, U. Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 65 206-219 (1994)]. The five band shades are referred to as white, light gray, medium gray, dark gray, and black. These shades, presumably, reflect different underlying states of chromatin. The publication of the mapping of 16,000 partially sequenced genes, or cDNAs, to a framework radiation hybrid map of the Human genome has established the chromosome assignment for as much as 20% of all Human genes [Schuler et al., Science 274 540-546 (1996)]. In this work, the genes were observed to be distributed non-uniformly along the chromosomes. Because none of these cDNAs were localized to a specific chromosome band, no conclusions were drawn about gene densities in the different types of bands. To establish a relationship between gene density and band type we have used the proportion of each type of band on each chromosome to estimate the respective gene densities, by optimizing the consistency of the model with the numbers of cDNAs on the 22 autosomes. In detail, the theoretical prediction for the number of genes on chromosome number j equals â5=1 aipij, in which the ai are gene density parameters for band type I and the pij are the proportions for the five types of bands on this chromosome. The statistical analysis used involves integrating over the posterior joint distribution for the parameters, given the linear model and the cDNA data. In one data-analysis we grouped the white and light gray bands together, assigning them a shared gene-density, and also grouped the two darkest bands together, thereby reducing the number of gene-density parameters to three. The inferred gene density for the white & light gray bands equaled 7.3/Mb, with a standard deviation of 0.3, the inferred gene density in gray bands equaled 1.45/Mb, with a standard deviation of 1.1, and the inferred gene density in gene density in dark gray and black bands equaled 0.45/Mb, with a standard deviation of 0.4. If we knew the total number, T, of genes in the Human genome, the expected gene densities are, of course, our estimates multiplied by T/16,000. Reasonable choices for T range from 60,000 to 100,000. We will present the gene density estimates for all types of bands, plus confidence intervals. It is reasonable to conclude that the expected gene density decreases with band darkness. These results have practical implications for large scale sequencing of the Human genome and have ramifications for the study of the evolution of genomes. Dabney K. Johnson, Edward J. Michaud, and Monica J. Justice As sequencing of the human genome progresses, the role of the mouse as proxy mammal for functional studies will become crucial. We at ORNL have designed a comprehensive program that will combine the power of our unparalleled mouse 'mutation machine' with our massive computational capability in bioinformatics and our integrated technology development effort in detection and analysis of new mutant mouse phenotypes. Our goal is to assign function to all the genes that reside in defined segments of the mouse genome, via efficient identification of phenotypic changes in behavior, biochemistry, and gene expression that accompany induced genetic changes. The creation of functional maps of the mammalian genome must keep pace with the rapidly expanding physical and transcriptional maps. High-efficiency mutagenesis in mouse spermatogonial stem cells, using the supermutagen N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) to induce point mutations in single genes, will provide the functional information for given segments of DNA sequence within the physical map. Other mutagens, for made-to-order mutagenesis, are also being tested, as are DNA-repair deficient mouse strains as mutagenesis targets. For an immediate target, we propose to 'saturate' a long and well-characterized chromosomal deletion with ENU-induced mutations to develop a gene-by-gene phenotype map of the region uncovered by the deletion. This efficient experimental protocol will generate phenotypes evident in deletion hemizygotes after only the second generation post-treatment, and all progeny in that generation will be 'color-coded' for instant genotyping. Submapping of phenotypes will be quite efficient because we have existing mutant stocks that carry many additional deletions whose endpoints nest within the large deletion. Physical and transcriptional mapping within this set of nested deletions are well under way. We will also create similar deletion reagents in the mouse cognate for a human chromosomal region already being sequenced; good choices would be mouse chr 16/human chr 21, or mouse chr 8/ human chrs 16 and 19. A complex of nested deletions will be generated molecularly using the Cre/loxP approach, or via radiation-induced mutations in ES cells. Pilot experiments conducted here at ORNL demonstrated that high-efficiency ENU mutagenesis generated numerous visible and lethal mutations that fall within a large deletion encompassing the p locus in mouse chr 7. These experiments resulted in the isolation and fine localization of at least seven new loci in 1244 gametes tested; since only lethal and visible phenotypes were under scrutiny, more subtle mutations/alterations were missed. We propose to extend this analysis to a second p-region deletion, p30PUb, that has been shown to contain multiple interesting phenotypes. These phenotypes have been submapped to specific intervals between deletion breakpoints, but we now must create the necessary intragenic mutant alleles for any genes in the deletion. We expect also to generate new phenotypes as we disable additional genes within the large deletion. DNA sequence of the deleted region will be determined in conjunction with the JGI to facilitate gene identification and mutational analysis. Additional crucial components of our strategy are automation of phenotype screening by microfabrication of subdermal sensors, computer-aided imaging of both skeletal and soft tissues, and improvements in through-put for behavior-testing paradigms and GC/MS analysis of blood, urine, and breath for biochemical alterations. Changes in gene expression will be detected by the use of chip-based DNA/RNA analysis, and mass-spectrometry-based protein analysis from mutant vs normal cell populations. We are also developing sperm-freezing protocols for mutation preservation and distribution, and efficient artificial insemination for recovery. This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy FWP ERKP260 under contract no. DE-AC05-96OR22464 with Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation. M.J. Justice1, E.M. Rinchik2, D.A. S.E. Thomas1, and D.K. Johnson1 The mouse, with its powerful genetic tools and its extensive comparative molecular linkage map with the human, is a useful model organism to study mammalian gene function. Multiple mutant alleles of genes can be derived by mutagenesis that may reflect loss of function, partial loss of function, or gain of function. The entire series of alleles must be studied together to dissect the function of the gene. Overlapping deletions obtained at albino (c) are useful genetic reagents for functional genomics. Saturation mutagenesis with ethylnitrosourea (ENU) utilizing the deletions at the c region on mouse Chromosome 7 revealed many new functional units that reflect single gene changes (Rinchik et al. 1990; Rinchik et al. 1995). The region is homologous to human Chromosome 11q13-q21, and is linked to the mouse homologue of human oculocutaneous albinism, type 1A. Because of the nature of the phenotypic screen, many of the new mutants die as embryos. The region is particularly valuable for functional studies because of the variety of genetic reagents, including overlapping deletions and point mutations, that are available. Our focus is a group of alleles isolated at a locus (axis) that affects the development of the body axis. The homozygous phenotypes of six alleles at axis that are likely to be point mutations range from early prenatal lethality to adult viability. The baseline function of axis is demonstrated by two alleles that arrest during formation of the primitive streak. However, two other alleles have a severely disorganized body axis later in development. One allele exhibits a variety of neural tube defects, including exencephaly. Together, these observations suggest that the axis locus functions in the formation of the rostral-caudal body axis and neurulation. Intriguingly, homozygotes of one allele of axis survive to adulthood, and have axial skeletal abnormalities. Complete complementation studies of these six alleles reveal complex genetic characteristics such as intragenic complementation among two of the lethal alleles and a maternal effect of the viable allele. The maternal effect is a phenotype of severe neural kinking, accompanied by somite abnormalities, suggesting again, a role in the determination or maintenance of the integrity of the body axis. The varied features of axis will provide important insights into the mechanism of gene function at this complex locus. The chromosomal region that includes axis contains other genes that affect body axis and skeletal development. Predictions of the potential role of a gene or genes at axis will be presented, as well as a view of the functional organization and possible interactions of other loci in the region. These analyses will give us essential data for subsequent large-scale expansions of the functional map of the mouse genome in parallel with human gene maps using additional induced and targeted deletions combined with chemical mutagenesis. E.M. Rinchik, D.A. Carpenter & P.B. Selby. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87, 896-900 (1990). E.M. Rinchik, D.A. Carpenter & M.A. Handel. Genetics 92, 6394-6398 (1995). This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy FWP ERKP260 under contract with Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation. Joomyeong Kim, Mark Shannon, Linda Ashworth, Elbert Branscomb, and Lisa Stubbs One of the larger syntenically homologous blocks of human and mouse genomes includes the long arm of human chromosome 19 and the proximal portion of mouse chromosome 7. As part of an extensive comparative genome mapping of human chromosome 19, we have targeted a region spanning approximately 2.5 Mb near the telomere of H19q. As a first step for characterization of this region, we have assigned several known genes and cDNA sequences to the 19q13.4 physical map. Most genes assigned to this region are C2H2-type, zinc finger (ZNF)-containing genes, which include ZNF134, ZNF154, ZIK1, C2H2-25, and one EST (T26651). These genes are all localized to a centrally-located contig (577/1514) and KRAB (Kruppel-associated box)-type ZNFs. To provide clues for the potential role of these genes, the expression-patterns of these ZNFs have been determined; most genes are expressed ubiquitously in all tissues examined but the highest expression level for each gene has been observed in different tissues. Using an interspecific backcross system, we have mapped ZNF134-related sequences in the mouse and confirmed that the mouse genome has similar zinc-finger genes clusters in proximal Mmu 7. We are currently constructing mouse BAC contigs and, at the same time, isolating the mouse homologs or related genes for the human ZNFs from these contigs. Recently, we have also assigned the human homolog of a mouse imprinted gene, Peg3 (paternally expressed gene 3), to a contig (174) located approximately 1Mb proximal of a ZNF134 contig. Studies of several imprinted domains, including Prader-Willi and Angelman syndrome-region (H15q11-13)/central Mmu 7 and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome-region (11p15.5)/distal Mmu7, indicated that genomic imprinting is generally conserved among mammalian species and also that imprinted domains are large--spanning distances ranging from several hundred kilobases to two megabases. Due to these observations, we have decided to characterize PEG3/Peg3-containing regions in both human and mouse. In human, the adjacent contig to a PEG3-contig appears to have numerous ZNFs. In mouse, we have isolated two zinc finger genes located very close to Peg3 and are currently investigating the imprinting status and genomic organization of these genes relative to Peg3. Julie R. Korenberg, Xiao-Ning Chen, Steve Mitchell, Rajesh Puri, Zheng-Yang Shi and Dean Chromosome duplication is a force that drives evolution. We now suggest that this may also be true of the primates and that the resulting duplications in part determine the spectrum of human chromosomal rearrangements. To investigate the existence and origin of duplications in the human genome, and their consequences, 5,000 bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) were mapped at 2-5 Mb resolution on human high resolution chromosomes by using fluorescence in situ hybridization. A subset of 469 of these was defined that generated two or more signals, excluding those located in regions of known repeated sequences, viz., the regions of centromeres, telomeres and ribosomal genes. Although a subset of these multiple site BACs represent the chimeric artifacts of cloning, derived from two different chromosomal regions, others reflect regions of true homology in the human genome. Two questions were considered; first, the extent to which the multiple sites of hybridization of single BACs within single chromosomes reflected the breakpoints of naturally occurring human inversions, and second, the extent to which these same multiple hybridization points reflected the chromosomal inversion points in primate evolution. For human inversions, the results of the analyses revealed a total of 124 BACs (2.5%) mapping to two or more sites on the same chromosome, of which 81 (65%) mapped to one of 27 distinct human inversion sites, the largest share of which recognized the well-established pericentromeric inversions of chromosomes 1, 2, 9, and 18, as well as the paracentric inverted region of chromosome 7q11/q22. From this, we infer that meiotic mispairing involving the homologous regions may be responsible for the inversions. With respect to primate evolution, a significant proportion of inversion breakpoints that characterize the chromosomal changes seen in the evolution of the great apes through man, are also reflected in the distribution of BAC multiple intrachromosomal sites. Further analyses of the 29 independent BACs recognizing the pericentromeric region of human chromosome 9 suggest at least three classes, two of which recognize only single sites in Pan troglodytes. These data suggest that inversions occurring through primate evolution may generate small duplications that, although they can cause chromosomal imbalance in single individuals, they also provide the additional genetic material for speciation. Marion D. Johnson and Jacques R. Fresco An in situ methodology employing solution conditions has been developed for binding oligodeoxyribonucleotide 'third-strands' to chromosomal DNA targets in non-denatured protein-depleted metaphase spreads and interphase nuclei. Third-strand in situ hybridization (TISH) was performed on slides at pH 6.0 using a dual psoralen-and biotin-modified 17-nt pyrimidine-rich third strand to target a unique multicopy sequence in human chromosome 17 alpha-satellite (D17Z1 locus). UVA photofixed third strands, rendered fluorescent by FITC-labeled avidin, are reproducibly centromere-specific for chromosome 17, and visible without amplification in human lymphocyte and somatic cell hybrid spreads and interphase nuclei. Two D17Z1 haplotypes, one positive and the other negative for third-strand binding, were identified in three combinations (+/+, +/-, and -/-). Third-strand probes specific for unique multicopy alpha-satellite targets in human chromosome X and 16 have also been developed. Similar alpha-satellite target sequences have been identified in 22 of the 24 human chromosomes, making centromere-specific chromosome identification by TISH applicable to virtually to all human chromosomes. The technology is presently being applied to chromosomes of other eukaryotes. TISH has potential diagnostic, biochemical, and flow cytometric applicability to native metaphase and interphase chromatin. P. Scott White1, Owatha L. Tatum1,2, Larry Deaven1, Jonathan L. Longmire1 Human genetic polymorphisms are valuable for extracting information about population structure and evolutionary histories. Clonally inherited DNA such as mitochondrial or Y chromosome-specific DNA is of particular use due to lack of recombination. Microsatellites have been used to reconstruct human evolutionary histories. Until recently, only six male-specific tetranucleotide repeats have been publicly available as PCR markers. We have developed six additional microsatellite markers using a cosmid library of flow-sorted human Y-chromosomes. These microsatellites are tetranucleotide (GATA)n repeats of nine to twelve repeat units each, and are polymorphic among unrelated individuals. All markers were analyzed using Applied Biosystems Genescan fluorescent fragment sizing. At least three alleles were identified for each marker when diverse genomic DNAs were used as PCR template. The allele sizes range from 162 to 372 nucleotides. An additional marker was identified, having polymorphic alleles in both males and females of sizes 217-237. These markers fall into sets of non-overlapping alleles that allow for efficient gel multiplexing with fluorescent dyes. Because six of these markers are male-specific or have male-specific alleles, they are valuable for evolutionary and population studies where non-recombining DNA is desired. Rubin, E.M., Zhu, Y., Fraser, K., Ueda, Y., Smith, D.J., Symula, D., Cheng, J.F. Libraries of all or part of the mammalian genome have been propagated in single cells and have been used as tools in gene discovery through in vitro analyses. We have expanded upon this concept by the creation of panels of YAC and P1 transgenic mice containing defined contiguous regions of the mouse or human genome. Since each library member contains a large (80-700 kb) transgene, together several megabases of contiguous DNA from a defined region of the genome can be propagated using the mouse as a host. We have successfully used such libraries to sift through large genomic regions and to localize and clone genes based on phenotyping members of the library. Examples of our use of these libraries to link sequence with function include: (1) Biological annotation of human 5q31 genomic sequence data. Computational analysis of 1.2 Mb of sequence from human 5q31 generated as part of the JGI sequencing program has revealed multiple putative genes and exons. As a tool to validate the computationally predicted novel genes in this region, and to determine their site and timing of expression, we have created and analyzed a 1.5 Mb in vivo library of human 5q31 and documented the expression patterns of the newly identified genes in the YAC transgenics. (2) Fine mapping a 5q31 QTL for asthma. Several human studies have mapped a major QTL determining IgE levels in asthmatics to 5q31. Through analysis of IgE levels in members of the 5q31 in vivo library following an airway irritant we have identified a single YAC noted in two separate founder lines to be associated with a marked decrease in IgE levels. We are in the process of looking at mice containing fragments of this YAC to move from this disease associated 5q31 QTL to the causative gene. (1) In vivo complementation for cloning mouse mutations. We developed an in vivo library of the 550 kb region to which the mouse recessive neurological mutation vibrator had been localized by meiotic mapping. Through the in vivo complementation of the phenotype with a member of the library, we have been able to fine map and than clone the gene (PITP-N) responsible for the disorder. (2) Identifying genes contributing to defects in cognition on chromosome 21. We have created a 1.8 megabase in vivo library of human chromosome 21q22.2 in a panel of YAC transgenic mice. Analysis of these animals with regard to learning and behavior identified a 550 kb YAC responsible for specific deficits. Through fragmentation of the YAC we have been able to identifying a gene (GIRK) whose altered level of expression is responsible for behavioral abnormalities in mice, a gene whose altered expression has also been linked to learning defects in Drosophila. These studies on panels of transgenic mice containing large inserts have effectively enabled phenotypic assays at the organismal level to be performed on many genes at once. This, in essence, constitutes a multiplex analysis that permits increased throughput of data collection relating sequence to phenotype. Y. Ding, M. Johnson, Y. Chen, J. Colayco, J. Melnyk, S. Khan, D. Gilbert, and H. Shizuya Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (BACs) are extensively used for large-scale mapping and sequencing. In order to identify and characterize BAC clones for contig assembly, we have developed a rapid fingerprinting method using fluorescently labeled dideoxyadenosine triphosphates ([F]ddATP). Taq FS incorporates [F]ddATP at the first nucleotide of a 5' overhang generated by Hind III digestion. The labeled fragments are further digested by four-base cutters to generate even smaller fragments (less than 500 bp) for visualization on sequencing gel. The reaction uses [F]ddATP labeled with one of three mobility-matched fluorescent dyes for fragments of each four-base cutter. They allow to multiplex the analysis in a single gel lane. The fourth color in the same lane is used to identify the location of the fragments of known molecular weights and then to calculate the size of each fragments based on that result. Fragment size data assigned by Genescan (ABI) are converted into FPC (Fingerprinted Contigs, Sanger Center, UK) format and then electronically transferred to FPC for automatic contig assembly. We have tested the system on one of the most well characterized BAC contigs of human chromosome 22; 96 BACs from the chromosome 22 regions where large-scale sequencing is underway. Without manual intervention, the system did not produce false overlap in all 96 BAC clones, and assembled 16 contigs and 31 singletons. The accuracy of overlaps constructed by the method is comparable to that established using BAC end sequence, and compared with completely sequenced BACs. Fragments patterns determined by this method provide each BAC with digital fingerprint, and may be stored for searching clones with minimal overlap, and for identification of clones. Y. Sheng, Y-J. Chen, C. Neal, and H. Shizuya Human BAC clones have been extensively used in a variety of research areas of Human Genome Project because of their stability in E. coli, easy handling of BAC DNA, and relatively large insert size. Over the past four years, we have generated over 400,000 BAC clones from two individuals, and arrayed them in 384-well microtiter plates to organize these clones. Recently we initiated a new round of construction of BAC libraries for the community involved in the high throughput sequencing efforts. In order to build high quality libraries, we have implemented many checks and extensive experiments to test for the degree of representation and the degree to which BACs accurately reflect the human genome. We extend our improved quality control procedures to the new library making endeavor. For these libraries, we made a new generation BAC vector, pIndigoBAC45 which gives much darker blue colored colonies on the X-gal plates. This feature enables us to identify clones with inserts more accurately, resulting low percentage of empty clones, and to shorten the time required for library construction. To estimate the number of empty wells and the number of clones that lack inserts, we stamp all the clones from each 384-well microtiter plates onto LB agar-plates. This detects mistakes made during colony picking procedure. To check for chimerism, co-habitation of wells by multiple clones, and representation of the human genome, we end-sequence BACs and carry out RH mapping based on PCR using primers designed by the sequences. In collaboration with Mark Adams at TIGR, we have sequenced thus far both ends about 1,000 BAC clones in the newly constructed BAC library. Furthermore, we plan to compare new libraries with previously constructed BAC libraries by testing with the same probes used for these libraries. We will report the progress of these library construction and discuss quality of these BAC clones. Holger Schmitt, Mitzi Shpak, Yan Ding, Melvin Simon, and Hiroaki Shizuya The major goals of the Human Genome Project are the identification and the localization of 50,000-100,000 genes expected in the human genome, the generation of physical maps for each individual chromosome, and finally, the determination of the nucleotide sequence for the entire 30,000 megabase pairs of DNA. There is a clear need to develop reliable clone resources which are accurately mapped and at the same time can provide templates for direct use in large scale sequencing. A new generation of cloning system, the Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes (BACs), has been developed in our lab and is now extensively used throughout the community in a variety of research areas. To initially demonstrate the usefulness of the BAC system for long range physical mapping, a scaffold integrated contig map of the entire long arm of chromosome 22 was constructed. Individual clones were ordered into contigs by fingerprint analysis and placed along the genomic stretch according to their content of genetic anchorpoints. The map consists of more than 700 BAC clones and spans the length of approximately 45 megabase pairs. Each BAC clone is further characterized by fluorescence fingerprinting and end-sequencing the inserts. Sequence information of the clone ends is presently used to select new clones from the 15x coverage BAC library, which extend contigs and close the gaps. Our ultimate goal is to generate a well characterized collection of BACs, which provides complete physical coverage of the entire long arm of chromosome 22 with minimal overlaps. This map will serve as an excellent resource to discover all of the transcripts mapped on the chromosome, and can readily be used for cost-efficient genomic DNA sequencing with minimal redundancy. Collaborators in our current mapping project are Dr. N. Blin, Univ. of Tuebingen, and Dr. E. Meese, Univ. of Saarland. M. N. Ericson, D. K. Johnson, R. S. Burlage, T. L. Ferrell, D. E. McMillan, K. G. Falter, A. D. McMillan, S. F. Smith, G. E. Jellison, and C. L. Researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory are developing a highly automated integrated-circuit based research tool for subdermal monitoring of physiological parameters in mice used for gene expression studies. Application of this new instrumentation capability to genome studies will accelerate mass specimen screening by providing automated detailed observation and reporting of multiple key physiological parameters of interest. Body temperature, heart rate, physical activity level, movement trajectory, and possibly blood pressure will be measured by an implanted integrated-circuit based instrument containing multiple integrated sensors. Measured data will be transmitted periodically via wireless techniques for subsequent data processing, visualization, fusion, and storage. The integrated sensor/telemetry package will be low-cost, reusable, and sufficiently miniaturized to be directly injectable. The system will provide detailed parameter measurement and analysis capabilities not presently available to genomics researchers. Advanced multi-parametric data presentation will permit improved detail and accuracy in high-volume phenotype screening and increased detectability of subtle genetic defects. This paper will present preliminary information on parameter measurement methods, sensor selection, instrument and system architectures, instrument miniaturization techniques, and data processing methods. P. Scott White, Michelle Petrovic, Owatha L. Tatum, Nancy Lehnert, Usha S-Nair, Zaolin Wang, Larry L. Deaven, and Babetta Marrone Beryllium alloys are used in several industrial processes and products, including the synthesis of components of nuclear weapons. Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) affects a percentage of human individuals exposed to airborne particles of beryllium. CBD is an autoimmune disease affecting the lungs of susceptible individuals. Antigen-presenting cell surface proteins have been the focus of investigation into possible genetic susceptibility to this disease. It was discovered previously that certain HLA-DPß1 alleles correlated with the development of CBD. Because the suspected allele is also found in normal populations at frequencies of over 40% it was necessary to collect sequence information from more individuals. In order to determine if the implicated genotype, with a Glu-69 mutation, was the sole contributing mutation we sequenced over 30 individuals for exon II of this locus. More than 90% of disease individuals possessed the Glu-69 mutation, although most of these were in the heterozygous state. This larger data set supports previous results, but because of the high frequency of this mutation in normal individuals it will require more extensive investigation to determine if other contributing genetic factors are present. In addition to this locus, we are sequencing two other MHC Class II HLA loci, HLA-DQß1 and HLA-DRß1 for CBD correlating genotypes. Screening for susceptibility to CBD will require robust assays, and the development of a genetic screen is one goal of this research. M.J. Paulus, H. Sari-Sarraf, D.K. Johnson, D.H. Lowndes, M. L. Simpson, C.L. Britton, Jr., F.F. Knapp, Jr., J.S. Hicks The Oak Ridge National Laboratory has recently begun the development of a new high-resolution, high-throughput 3-D mouse imaging and computer-aided screening methodology to rapidly identify, quantify and record subtle phenotypes in mutagenized mice. The research goals for this program are to develop a novel x-ray imaging technology with <50 mm spatial resolution, a 3-D data acquisition time of <1 minute per mouse and an estimated cost of a few dollars per image. A key element of this new system will be a novel cadmium zinc telluride detector operating in pulse counting mode. This new detector technology provides spatial resolutions and x-ray energy discrimination capabilities unattainable with traditional x-ray computed tomography detectors. Due to its high atomic number, the new detector is also suitable for traditional nuclear medicine studies. Additionally, new image processing and pattern recognition algorithms will be developed for the system to assist researchers in identifying phenotypes. In this paper we present the objectives and approach for this research program and some preliminary data. Jeff G. Hall, Andrea L. Mast, Victor Lyamichev, James R. Prudent, Michael W. Kaiser, Tsetska Takova, Bob Kwiatkowski, Bruce Neri, and Mary Ann D. Brow We have developed an enzymatic assay for direct, sensitive and quantitative nucleic acid detection. This assay is based on cleavage of a unique secondary structure that can be formed between two DNA probe oligonucleotides and a target nucleic acid of interest. The assay depends on the coordinate action between the two synthetic oligonucleotides. By the extent of their complementarity to the target strand, each of these oligonucleotides defines a specific region of the target strand. These regions are oriented such that when the two oligonucleotides are hybridized to the target strand, the 3' end of the upstream oligonucleotide overlaps with the 5' end of the labeled downstream "signal" oligonucleotide. The resulting structure is recognized by a structure-specific nuclease, which cuts the signal oligonucleotide to release a labeled fragment. When the reaction contains an excess of the signal molecules and is performed at elevated temperature to promote rapid dissociation and association of these molecules, the cleaved signal oligonucleotide is readily replaced by an intact copy so that the process can be repeated. In this way many signal molecules are cleaved for each copy of the target nucleic acid. The amount of target present may then be calculated from the yield of cleavage product, the rate of product accumulation and the time of incubation. We have found that the accumulation of cleaved product is linear over both time and target concentration, with the rate of accumulation dependent on the turnover rate of the enzyme. With a turnover rate of about 35 cleavage events per minute, our current system permits signal to be amplified by more than 1000-fold, compared to single round hybridization, in 30 minutes, thus allowing the quantitative detection of sub-attomole levels of target nucleic acid. Quantitative detection of nucleic acids in this fashion has several advantages over other methods of oligonucleotide-based detection. Foremost, because the cleavage requires the precise coordination and hybridization of two oligonucleotides, this reaction has a high level of specificity for the intended target sequence. The specificity of the detection is further enhanced because the investigator can select the site of cleavage in the signal molecule by designing the appropriate amount of overlap with the upstream oligonucleotide. The production of a discrete cleavage product of expected size allows that product to be more easily distinguished from the products of oligonucleotide destruction that may arise from thermal degradation or from nuclease contaminants in diagnostic test samples. Further, the use of oligonucleotides that are mostly or completely composed of DNA, rather than RNA, eliminates background that could arise from target-independent degradation by ribonucleases. Finally, because each cleavage event is dependent on the presence of the actual target material, and not on the products of the cleavage reaction, contamination by material carried over from completed detection reactions cannot induce additional signal in subsequent reactions. We have applied this method to direct detection of DNA targets such as DNA viral genomes, and to the detection of mRNA for monitoring of gene expression. Judicious placement of the oligonucleotide pair around splice junctions allows mRNA detection without prior destruction of genomic DNA. The products of the cleavage reaction can be analyzed by gel electrophoresis, or by non-gel methods such as capture to solid support. We will show how additional post-cleavage manipulation of the products can lower the limit of detection by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude when compared to gel-based readout. Heinz-Ulrich G. Weier, Stanislav Volik, Jenny Wu, Thomas Duell, Mei Wang, Ung-Jin Kim1, Jan-Fang Cheng and Joe W. Gray The construction of high resolution physical maps and definition of a minimal tiling path are indispensable for directed approaches to large scale DNA sequencing. Similarly, closure of gaps and completion of shot-gun sequencing projects depends on knowledge of the physical location and size of gaps. We applied 'Quantitative DNA Fiber Mapping (QDFM)', an optical procedure for mapping based on hybridization of fluorescently labeled probes on to individual stretched DNA molecules, for construction of high resolution physical maps and definition of minimal tiling paths as well as for quality control of sequencing templates derived from human chromosome 20. Digital image analysis allowed localization of probes with near kilobase(kb)-resolution in intervals of several hundred kb(1,2). When the technique was applied to construct physical maps for regions on the proximal long arms of human chromosomes 11 and 22 (3), respectively, we encountered numerous unstable yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones. Deletions in these YACs prohibited their use for map construction. We therefore modified our mapping scheme and prepared DNA fibers comprised of genomic DNA. This proved to be a rapid method for determination of clone overlap and genomic distances between genes or markers. Furthermore, the genomic fibers provide a 'gold standard' for validation of clones and their contigs as well as the delineation of deletions in large clones. Compared to mapping on to fibers that were prepared from cloned fragments and purified by pulsed field gel electrophoresis, genomic DNA fibers are expected to significantly shorten the mapping cycle time, because slides carrying these fibers can be prepared in large batches and stored. The use of genomic fiber slides for mapping will also facilitate the implementation of standardized protocols that are amenable to automation and increase the mapping throughput. Using clones derived from selected regions on human chromosomes 5 and 16, respectively, we are presently evaluating the utility of genomic fibers for clone/contig validation. *Supported by a grant from the Director, Office of Energy Research, Office of Health and Environmental Research, Department of Energy, under contract DE-AC-03-76SF00098. 1 H.-U.G. Weier et al. Human Molecular Genetics 4, 1903-1910 (1995). 2 M. Wang et al. Bioimaging 4, 73-83 (1996). 3 T. Duell et al. Genomics (in press). D. G. Albertson1, R. Segraves2, D. Sudar1, S. Clark2, C. Collins1, C. Chen2, W.-L. Kuo2, D. Kowbel1, S. H. Dairkee3, I. Poole4, M. Dürst5, J. W. Gray1,2 , D. Pinkel1,2 Gene dosage alterations underlie many diseases. For example, variations in DNA sequence copy number are associated with a significant proportion of the genetic aberrations involved in cancers, and also with certain developmental abnormalities. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) has proven to be an effective method for detecting and mapping these genetic alterations. In CGH total genomic DNA from a test specimen and a normal genomic reference DNA are labeled with different fluorochromes and hybridized to normal metaphase chromosomes. The ratio of the fluorescence intensities at a location on the chromosomes is approximately proportional to the ratio of sequences in the test and reference genomes that bind there. The use of metaphase chromosomes as the hybridization target has previously limited the resolution of CGH to 10-20 Mb. However, we have now implemented a new form of high resolution CGH by replacing the normal metaphase spread with an array of genomic cosmid, P1, and BAC clones (Sudar et al., these Abstracts). This approach provides a resolution at least a factor of 100 better than standard CGH, as it is determined only by the size and spacing of the target genomic clones. Thus, measurements of copy number can be made at low resolution on clones spaced at several Mb, or at high resolution using closely spaced or overlapping clones. We have performed both low and high resolution analyses of the DNA sequence copy number variation occurring on chromosome 20 in breast cancer and in pre-cancerous models. A low resolution, 'scanning' array of the entire chromosome was constructed from genomic clones spaced at ~1-3 Mb intervals on human chromosome 20. The analysis of breast tumors and breast tumor cell lines revealed at least five independent regions of copy number increase and a region of decrease on 20q that were present in various combinations. Thus, multiple, interacting genes involved in breast and perhaps other cancers may be located on 20q. Two of these regions were also recurrently present at elevated copy number in HPV-immortalized keratinocytes, suggesting that the processes of tumorigenesis in vivo and immortalization of cells in culture may proceed through common pathways of amplification and overexpression of certain genes mapping to these two loci. High resolution analysis was also performed on breast tumors with elevated copy number occurring within a ~1 Mb region at 20q13.2. The array was composed of contiguous and overlapping clones from a contig that has been constructed spanning this region (Collins et al., these Abstracts). For some tumors, a constant level of elevated copy number was observed across the region. However, in others, an abrupt variation in copy number was recorded, which mapped the boundaries of different levels of amplification to within a fraction of a BAC or P1 clone. These copy number alterations measured with array CGH are concordant with data obtained by using the array target clones as probes for interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization. However array CGH appeared to be both more quantitative and substantially faster, since only one hybridization was required to obtain the data at all loci. The increasing availability of genomic resources and the technology to print arrays with more than 104 elements/cm2 (Sudar et al., these Abstracts) make it reasonable to consider performing genome-wide analyses of copy number variation using arrays that would provide 1 Mb or better resolution for the entire human genome. C. Collins1, J. Rommens2, D. Kowbel1, G. Nonet1, L. Stubbs3, M. Shannon3, M. Wernick1, J. Froula1, G. Hutchinson4, T. Godfrey5, D. Polikoff1, T. Cloutier1, K. Myambo1, C. Martin1, M. Dan Pinkel1,5, D. Albertson1,5, and J.W. Gray1,5 High level amplification of chromosome 20 band 13.2 occurs in 10% of primary breast tumors and correlates with poor prognosis in node negative patients. This amplification is also detected in numerous other solid tumors including bladder, brain, colon, head and neck and melanoma. We hypothesize that selection for overexpression of one or more genes encoded within this amplicon drives the 20q13.2 amplification event. To fine map the amplicon and identify the hypothesized oncogene(s) a 1.0 Mb interval spanning the amplicon was cloned in contiguous BAC, PAC, and P1 clones. To fully explore the genomics of the 20q13.2 amplicon we have sequenced ~ 80% of the 1 Mb contig and analyzed it extensively for genes using a suite of bioinformatics tools. This combined with exon trapping and cDNA direct selection has led to the discovery of four genes ZABC1, ZABC2, NABC1, PIC1-related and a new cyclophilin pseudogene. ZABC2 may be the ortholog of the Drosophila melanogaster homeotic gene tea shirt. PIC1-related is ~ 93% identical to PIC1 or sentrin, a gene that encodes a ubiquitin-homology domain protein. NABC1 encodes a novel cytoplasmic protein of unknown function. ZABC1 is especially interesting. The cDNA sequence of ZABC1 is predicted to encode a putative transcription factor containing eight C2H2 zinc finger domains. To manage this data and make it available to collaborators we have developed a tailored ACEDB database accessible via the World-Wide Web (Davy et al, these abstracts). A ~260 kb "minimum common amplicon" was defined by performing interphase FISH using P1 and BAC probes from the sequence-ready contig on ~300 primary tumors. ZABC1 is centrally located in the 260 kb critical region. Quantitative PCR and Northern analysis were employed to analyze the expression of this gene in breast cancer cell lines and primary tumors. Expression of ZABC1 is elevated in all cell lines and tumors in which it is amplified. High level expression of ZABC1 was found in the breast cancer cell line 600MPE, a notable finding because 600MPE is not amplified at the ZABC1 locus. This suggests alternative mechanisms may elevate ZABC1 transcripts in some tumors. ZABC1 is the only transcribed sequence identified that maps in the 260 kb critical region with a pattern of expression so strongly correlated with copy number. The murine ortholog of ZABC1 has been cloned to study its expression in murine mammary tumors and its normal spatial and temporal pattern of expression. We have now constructed a BAC contig across the mouse ZABC1 locus. It is our goal to sequence this contig and identify conserved noncoding regulatory elements through comparative sequence analysis. BACs from the contig will also be used to determine if ZABC1 is amplified in murine mammary tumors. It is anticipated that the combination of comparative and functional genomics will elucidate key regulatory elements of the ZABC1 gene and lead to insights regarding the mechanism of amplification at 20q13.2. In addition, comparative genomic hybridization to DNA microarrays is being used to map this amplicon at unprecedented resolution revealing new regions of consistent copy number abnormalities and suggesting additional co-selected and counter-selected genes involved in the evolution breast tumors (Albertson et al., these abstracts). Supported by grants from US DOE contract DEAC0376SF00098, USPHS grants CA44768, CA45919, CA52807 and Vysis. SJ Lockett+, C Ortiz de Solorzano+, A Rodriguez+, K Chino, C Fernandezo, D Pinkel+o, JW Gray+o The Resource for Molecular Cytogenetics is developing computer assisted microscopy and image analysis techniques to allow combined genotypic and phenotypic analysis of intact cells in tissue. The long range goal is to obtain quantitative information about the copy number of DNA sequences, levels of expression of RNA and proteins and their distributions in cells; to morphologically characterize cells, nuclei and other organelles, and to analyze the cellular organization of tissue. This information will contribute to our understanding of functional processes in normal and diseased tissue involving candidate genes. Some of these genes will have been discovered using genome-wide surveillance techniques, such as array-based comparative genomic hybridization(CGH). The technical procedure we have adopted for this project, which is at an early stage, is as follows: Adjacent thin (4 micron) and thick (30 micron) sections are cut from cancer specimens. The thin sections are used for standard histological staging, while the thick sections are used for quantifying the specific molecular species of interest in the individual cells. Thick sections are employed, because they contain intact cells, thus permitting accurate quantification at the individual cell level, and the cellular organization of the tissue is preserved. However, such sections require careful optimization of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunocytochemical procedures for labeling the particular molecular species, followed by 3D (confocal) microscopic image acquisition and 3D image analysis. We have developed several image analysis programs for this project. The first interactively enumerates punctate FISH signals in the individual intact nuclei of thick sections, and the second registers adjacent thick and thin sections. It is thus now possible to use this procedure to study the relationship between the copy number of specific genomic sequences in individual cells and histological stage of the tissue. In a preliminary application to a breast biopsy specimen, we demonstrated that histologically benign regions contained cells with two copies of a chromosome 1 alpha-satellite probe, whereas invasive cancer regions had variable copy numbers per cell of the probe. We are continuing these experiments in order to determine the degree of genetic heterogeneity in tumor cells and surrounding histologically normal tissue. The image analysis programs mentioned above limit the procedure to the enumeration of punctate FISH signals in each cell. In order to expand the range of applications, we have developed algorithms for segmenting individual cell nuclei within thick sections. This enables quantification of diffuse molecular markers inside nuclei, the size and shape of nuclei, the spatial positions of FISH signals inside the nuclei, and the spatial relationships of cells to each other in the tissue. The input to the algorithms is a 3D image of nuclei labeled with a DNA counterstain. The first of the algorithms automatically thresholds the image into regions of background and nuclei. The next algorithm is a custom-designed, interactive 3D rendering program, which the analyst uses to inspect each nuclear region and indicate if each region is a single nucleus or a cluster of nuclei. Clusters are then divided by an automatic algorithm, which employs a variant of the Hough transform to shrink nuclei and consequently separate them. The resulting divided regions are presented to the analyst, who indicates if they are nuclei, are still clusters, or have been incorrectly divided and should be rejoined. The alternating steps of automatic cluster division and human inspection are repeated as many times as necessary to correctly segment all nuclei in the image. This work was supported by the US DOE contract DEAC0376SF00098, NIH grant CA67412 and a contract with Carl Zeiss Inc. David C. Schwartz, Thomas Anantharaman, Christopher Aston, Ginger Clarke, Stephanie Delobette, Eileen Dimalanta, Joanne Edington, Ariella Evenzahav, Veronica Gibaja, Yuzhi Gao, Joe Giacalone, Catharina Hiort, Edward Huff, Junping Jing, John Lai, Ernest Lee, Jieyi Lin, Bud Mishra, Lei Ni, Brett Porter, Rong Qi, Arvind Ramanathan, Jason Reed, Akhtar Samad, Alex Shenker, Yianni Skiadas, Hui Wang, Jonathan J. Vafai, Weining Wang, Hongjuan Current molecular biology techniques were developed primarily for characterization of single genes, not entire genomes, and, as such, are not ideally suited to high resolution analysis of complex traits and the molecular genetics of very large populations. Despite rapid progress in the human genome project effort, there is little doubt that radically new conceptual approaches are needed before routine whole genome-based analyses can be undertaken by both basic research and clinical laboratories. Physical mapping of genomes, using restriction endonucleases, has played a major role in the identification and characterizing various loci, for example, by aiding clone contig formation and by characterizing genetic lesions. Restriction maps provide precise genomic distances, unlike ordered sequence-based landmarks such as Sequence Tagged Sites (STSs), that are essential for optimizing the efficiency of sequencing efforts, and for determining the spatial relationships of specific loci. When compared to tedious hybridization-based fingerprinting approaches, ordered restriction maps offer relatively unambiguous clone characterization that is useful in contig formation, establishment of minimal tiling paths for sequencing, and preliminary characterization of sequence lesions. In addition, such maps provide a useful scaffold for sequence assembly, often critical in the final sequence finishing stage. Despite the broad applications of restriction maps, the associated techniques for their generation have changed little over the last ten years, primarily because they still utilize electrophoretic analysis. To help overcome these shortcomings, our laboratory developed the first practical non-electrophoretic genomic mapping approach, Optical Mapping, to meet this need. Optical Mapping is a single molecule methodology for the rapid production of ordered restriction maps from single DNA molecules. Ordered restriction maps were constructed originally from yeast chromosomes by imaging restriction endonuclease cutting events on single, stained DNA molecules with fluorescence microscopy. Cut sites appeared as gaps that widened as the DNA fragments relaxed. Maps were then constructed by measuring fragment sizes via relative fluorescence intensity or apparent length measurements. Modern Optical Mapping technology uses aminosilane treated surfaces to adhere molecules prior to digestion. In this way, multiple samples can be robotically gridded onto a single surface and digested in parallel. Deposition techniques developed in our laboratory elongate and fix molecules to these surfaces, while retaining biochemical accessibility of samples. Following staining with a fluorochrome, cleaved molecules are imaged by a fully-automated microscope system, developed in our laboratory. Importantly, cleaved molecule fragments retain their order, facilitating fragment sizing and obviating complicated schemes to re-establish fragment order. The final map is of course, a very informative ordered restriction map instead of a mere fingerprint. Intensive effort in our laboratory have been directed to the development of machine vision systems, and map construction algorithms to automatically construct maps from images of digested molecules. This analysis is based on Bayesian inference techniques and enables the construction of maps from noisy data. For example, the map construction algorithms can produce maps from a population of partially digested clone molecules, (BACs, cosmids, phage) having a digestion rate as low as 15%. Using the approaches discussed above, this laboratory has generated ordered restriction maps for the Beckwith-Wiedeman locus in humans (in collaboration with Dr. D. Housman's group at MIT), the Brca2 locus (in collaboration with Dr. S. Fisher's group at Columbia University), and the mouse olfactory locus (in collaboration with Dr. R. Axel's group at Columbia University). Optical Maps are currently being generated from phage, cosmid, YAC and Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) clones. Our laboratory has been extensively mapping BAC contigs derived from the human Y chromosome, in collaboration with Dr. David Page's group at MIT. The aims are to disambiguate clones and markers to provide the basis from which to critically understand the functionality of many loci, and provide a scaffold for sequence assembly. The detailed analysis of the Y chromosome requires such detailed maps, since it is highly punctuated with repeated sequences, that frequently confound traditional techniques of characterization. More recent efforts have been directed at the high resolution mapping of bacterial (in collaboration with Dr. O. White, TIGR) and parasite genomes (in collaboration with Drs. M. Gardner, D. Carucci; TIGR, Naval Medical Research Institute) to provide high resolution scaffolds for facilitated sequence assembly and verification. Here, we have been using high molecular weight DNA gently extracted from cells, entirely obviating the need for the mapping of clonal material. We have used Optical Mapping to generate physical maps of two microbial genomes. Nhe I maps of the E. coli (4.6Mb) and Deinococcus radiodurans (3.1Mb) genomes were generated from chromosomal DNA, obviating the use of clones for the construction of primary maps. DNA samples, prepared from gel inserts, were fixed onto derivatized glass surfaces and molecules as large as 2.4 Mb were measured. Co-mounted lambda bacteriophage DNA was used as a sizing standard and to estimate cutting efficiency. Contig maps were created by aligning maps from multiple molecules. To benchmark our system, we compared the E. coli Nhe I optical map with the map predicted from the published sequence. The 150 fragment optical map had average fragment size 30 kb and a relative sizing error of 5 per cent for fragments >5 kb. We then generated a whole genome Nhe I map of the D. radiodurans genome. The final map was assembled without gaps at an average depth of 35X, using 157 molecules with an average restriction fragment size of 29 kb. This map will significantly aid sequence assembly and verification to collaborators at TIGR, sequencing this microorganism. Full automation of Optical Mapping holds enormous promise for miniaturization, with expected increases in throughput and reductions in cost. Thus, advantages of Optical Mapping include high throughput and resolution, safety, and low cost. Compared with traditional electrophoresis-based methods, Optical Mapping produces information rich physical maps for whole genomes with much higher a resolution. High throughput and the obviation of clones makes Optical Mapping ideally suited for population-based genomic studies.We expect that the advantages of Optical Mapping will facilitate closure of the initial objectives of the human genome project, and aid in reducing costs associated with the sequencing of microbial genomes.

Mapping and Resources abstracts from the Maria de Fatima Bonaldo, Greg Lennon and Marcelo Bento Soares The methods we originally developed to normalize directionally cloned cDNA libraries (Soares et al., 1994; Bonaldo, Lennon & Soares, 1996) have been successfully utilized to generate a number of human, mouse and rat cDNA libraries. All human and mouse libraries (and soon the rat libraries as well

Summary: The Satisfiability Problem for Probabilistic Ordered Branching Programs Dept. of Computer Science Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur 208016, India Abt. Theoretische Informatik 89069 Ulm, Germany We show that the satisfiability problem for bounded-error proba- bilistic ordered branching programs is NP-complete. If the error is very small, however (more precisely, if the error is bounded by the reciprocal of the width of the branching program), then we have a polynomial-time algorithm for the satisfiability problem. Branching programs are an interesting computational model to investigate. One reason for this is the tight relationship of the size of a branching program to the space needed by (nonuniform) Turing machines [Mas76] (see [BS90]).

Summary: The Satisfiability Problem for Probabilistic Ordered Branching Programs Dept. of Computer Science Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur 208016, India Abt. Theoretische Informatik 89069 Ulm, Germany We show that the satisfiability problem for bounded-error proba- bilistic ordered branching programs is NP-complete. If the error is very small, however (more precisely, if the error is bounded

‘KINDNESS AS AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE' - A TALK BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR GEORGE ABELA, PRESIDENT OF MALTA DURING THE BOOK LAUNCH ‘LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS' BY FORMER AMERICAN AMBASSADOR DOUGLAS W KMIEC. AULA MAGNA, VALLETTA CAMPUS, UNIVERSITY OF MALTA. THURSDAY 19 APRIL 2012. That day in late August 2010 was a sad one indeed for me, not only because I was deeply concerned at the seriousness of the injuries suffered in the car accident by my friend Ambassador Douglas Kmiec- he was the driver of the car - but also because, knowing the man, I could well imagine his terrible anguish at the harm sustained by his close friend Monsignor John Sheridan (who later succumbed to his injuries) and the death on the spot of Sister Mary Campbell. When it was decent to do so, I called Kmiec and confirmed my worst fears. The accident was one of those events that leave an indelible imprint on the victim. I think that Kmiec divides his life into two parts - before and after the accident. In fact, the subtitle of his book "Lift Up Your Hearts" is "A true story of loving your enemies, tragically killing your friends, and the life that remains". Though the tragedy has been officially declared an accident and hence the injuries and deaths too are accidental, and their causes may have been multiple, Kmiec still feels that "yet, in this kind of thing, you hold yourself fully accountable in heart and mind". It seems clear to me that Kmiec wrote the book as a fitting tribute to Monsignor Sheridan. In it, he aligns his arguments with the thought and teaching of the Monsignor and quite modestly states "in the present task, I am more scrivener and messenger than author". His efforts were not made for his own profit as the net proceeds from the book will go to "support, in memory of John Sheridan, his former parish and school, Our Lady of Malibu, and in memory of Sister Mary Campbell, the socially indispensable outreach of the Sisters of St. Louis" Following the tragic accident, Kmiec states that he was "left with a daily anxiety and burden" heavier than he could carry [p.136]. To my mind, the writing and publication of the book represent, in some way, a catharsis for Kmiec. I have been asked to speak on the subject "Kindness as an essential aspect of political discourse". I shall take as my point of departure an inspiration on kindness as expounded by Kmiec but I shall share with you my own reflections on kindness and charity in the wider political field. The way I understand it, Kmiec's notion of kindness, which in a religious context he calls "the theology of kindness", and which he bases on Monsignor Sheridan's teaching, is really the same as Christian charity or Christian love. In other words, it is that sort of love we call "agape" in Greek, that unconditional love which transcends all barriers and knows no limits because it is applicable in all circumstances, be they private or public life. As His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI observes in his encyclical Deus Caritas Est: "of the three Greek words for love, eros, philia (the love of friendship) and agape, New Testament writers prefer the last". He goes on to teach about Christian love as expressed in the New Testament: "The tendency to avoid the word eros, together with the new vision of love expressed through the word agape, clearly point to something new and distinct about the Christian understanding of love". Writing about the "First Letter of John" in the New Testament, His Holiness states: "The unbreakable bond between love of God and love of neighbour is emphasized. One is so closely connected to the other that to say that we love God becomes a lie if we are closed to our neighbour or hate him altogether. Saint John's words should rather be interpreted to mean that love of neighbour is a path that leads to the encounter with God, and that closing our eyes to our neighbour also blinds us to God." Christian love is wonderfully described by St. Paul in his first Epistle to the Corinthians: If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails...... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. This love is all-embracing and all-inclusive - none are left out of its warmth, neither friend nor foe. Always basing his thoughts on Monsignor Sheridan's, Kmiec writes: [quote] "The theology of kindness is a theology of inclusion; lifting our hearts to the Lord means standing with the wounded, misled, and gravely mistaken hearts" [p.94] [unquote]. Christianity's innovation is that the believer is not enjoined simply to love his friend or even simply to forgive his enemy. The true Christian believer must also love his enemy. Can we apply this in the public forum, the political market-place? Can we love, can we apply kindness to our political adversaries? My reply is that we can... but not only can...we must. It is easy to love our relatives and our friends, be it in private or in public, but our test is to love our adversaries and be seen to do so publicly. There is nothing more public than loving or being kind to our political antagonists for politics is a most public thing. Indeed, the very word "politics" means the affairs of the polis, the State, that which belongs to all and in which all participate. We must apply the essential element of kindness in politics by being charitable in speech, in writing and in deed. It is not always easy to concern ourselves with "love of neighbour" in the middle of a debate. We may feel slighted, we may be certain that the arguments against us are unfair or untrue or even defamatory but we must reply with our most convincing counter-arguments in a spirit of kindness towards our opponents. There is no room for harsh words or insults and impoliteness. Our arguments should not be ad hominem but ad rem, that is, we attack the argument not the arguer. We need to respond to disrespect shown in our regard not "in kind" but "in kindness". As Kmiec writes, we must "distinguish the sin from the sinner" [p.335]. Today, with the ever-growing proliferation of the media, the opportunity for debate abounds. We no longer depend on face-to-face debate. The media are open not only to politicians and celebrities but to all and sundry. Anyone who knows how to connect to the internet may find himself or herself (whatever applies to the male also applies to the female) suddenly in the public square either showing his identity or even anonymously. The temptation and opportunity to be unkind is greater than it ever was in human history and hence the responsibility and the obligation to use kindness and Christian charity are greater too. The common good should be at the heart of political discourse. Politics is not an end in itself. Its purpose is that of achieving the good of the community as a whole, that of addressing the different needs of different members of that community and the final goal is justice. In the realm of politics, kindness must not only be employed during discussion time. It needs to be used even more assiduously when it comes to the exercise of power. Those who enjoy political authority, usually bestowed on them by their electors directly or indirectly, have a serious responsibility to use that power with charity and Christian love. Short of this, political power becomes autocracy. Kindness in the exercise of political authority implies absolute fairness, honesty, truthfulness, concern, respect, justice. It implies impartiality but not indifference. Dialogue and the understanding of the opponent's points of view are an essential component of kindness. By this, I do not mean only political opinions. Religious affiliation too is a point of view and this must be respected. There is much good in every religion. There is common ground between religions too. It is that which is common not that which differs that should be stressed. Kmiec feels it is his mission to work for inter-faith dialogue, the bringing together of people of different faiths. In a world where mono-religious communities have become a thing of the past because of the growing phenomenon of immigration, dialogue and understanding between faiths has assumed greater relevance. Indeed, if harmony is to reign in European and other regions, people of different religions must not only co-exist but also learn to appreciate each other's religious beliefs. There is no other way. Pope John Paul II was a fervent exponent of interreligious encounters. To the interfaith task he brought a practical, hands-on approach and a tireless capacity for travel. Pope John Paul II sought to heal the rifts which had become deeper during the history of religious intolerance. He was willing to admit the historical mistakes of Catholics, particularly when those mistakes involved the mistreatment of adherents of other faiths. Malta is at the centre of a sea which is the meeting place of the three great monotheistic faiths: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. If in prehistoric times, as some believe, our islands were a point of pilgrimage of peoples from the Mediterranean - hence the large concentration of Neolithic and bronze-age shrines - so today it could be a centre of dialogue for different religions if we approach this notion with an open mind and a spirit of kindness. For it is kindness to appreciate the good in other people's beliefs and to honour their human dignity in exercising free will in their choice of faith. This reminds me of a proposal made to me some time ago by Prof. Richard England the internationally acclaimed architect for the construction of a sacred triangular building housing at each point respectively a chapel, a mosque and a synagogue. He calls this building "The Triangle of Peace", designed as a "triptych of religious unity... conceived as a bridge of reconciliation between these faiths, in the hope of an eventual unification". Kmiec quotes Monsignor Sheridan's words in this regard: [quote] "Christians do not expect non-Christians to accept or celebrate the mystery of the incarnation. It is supremely comforting belief that God himself entered into human history, that God is so interested in us as to take on our human nature, that God, who man rejected, became man to reunite man to himself" [unquote]. It is often the case that different faiths are associated with different peoples or ethnic groups. Ethnic origin is often a pretext for political and social discrimination too. It is another case where kindness and Christian charity are of the essence. There is but one human race and we are all participants in it. The last century shall remain notorious in history for the horrors perpetrated in the name of so-called "racial superiority" which culminated in that most horrific of all crimes - genocide. Discrimination of all kinds is the antithesis of kindness and Christian charity. In the modern multi-ethnic and multi-religious communities, society may not prosper and social harmony cannot exist if justice and equality of treatment are not universally observed. This is the only way how we can truly lift our hearts. I thank you for your attention.

‘KINDNESS AS AN ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE' - A TALK BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR GEORGE ABELA, PRESIDENT OF MALTA DURING THE BOOK LAUNCH ‘LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS' BY FORMER AMERICAN AMBASSADOR DOUGLAS W KMIEC. AULA MAGNA, VALLETTA CAMPUS, UNIVERSITY OF MALTA. THURSDAY 19 APRIL 2012. That day in late August 2010 was a sad one indeed for me, not only because I was deeply concerned at the seriousne

Deployable Pan-flavivirus and Pan-alphavirus Assays for Screening Pools of Medically Relevant Arthropod CustomArray produces a field-deployable electrochemical microarray platform that is ideally suited to the multiplexed detection of pathogenic organisms. In this proposal, we will build a complete detection process that will include: Probe design, sample prep, multiplexed PCR amplification, hybridization, detection and data analysis. We have developed a bioinformatic pipeline called GenoTyper that is able to design primers and probes for the simultaneous amplification, detection, interrogation and typing of families of related, rapidly evolving sequence families. We have successfully used this system in the past to detect and type many viral families including, among many others: influenza, alpha-virus, and 16S. In this proposal we will use this bioinformatic system to create an updated pan-flavivirus and pan-alphavirus detection system. This is a proven detection system that relies on primer design that generates broad amplification followed by hybridization probe design and data analysis that is able to interrogate and accurately type the amplified material. Because we can use up to 2240 probes per assay, we are able to offer a resolution and redundancy that is unprecedented in a compact, field-deployable device. We will use our expertise and know-how in sample prep to create a simple method for harvesting viral DNA from arthropod samples. We will incorporate a novel multiplex PCR amplification system that will allow multiple independent PCR amplification reactions to take place in a single-injection device. Hybridization will be performed on our customizable semiconductor-based microarray platform. Hybridization detection will be performed using our electrochemical detection system. The detection device itself is a hand-held product that requires a USB connection, and uses that connection as its sole power source. It can read an entire array in 20 sec. This platform is the only electrochemical detection system of its kind that is as sensitive as fluorescence detection. No other system exists that has such potential to revolutionize the breadth, accuracy and robustness of field-deployable pathogen detection. Small Business Information at Submission: 6500 Harbour Heights Pkwy Suite 202 Mukilteo, WA - Number of Employees:

Deployable Pan-flavivirus and Pan-alphavirus Assays for Screening Pools of Medically Relevant Arthropod CustomArray produces a field-deployable electrochemical microarray platform that is ideally suited to the multiplexed detection of pathogenic organisms. In this proposal, we will build a complete detection process that will include: Probe design, sample prep, multiplexed PCR amplification, hybri

|Monday, 22 February 2010 15:45| Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) are geographically, ecologically, sociologically and economically diverse. The region is home to an estimated 9.5 million people on islands with a land area of 550,000 km2 surrounded by the largest ocean in the world. Five of SPC’s 22 member PICTs (Fiji Islands, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu) account for 90 per cent of this total land area and more than 85 per cent of the population. The region is also home to some of the world’s smallest island states and territories, such as Nauru, Tuvalu and Tokelau. The importance of the agriculture and forestry sector in sustaining livelihoods varies greatly. These sectors remain the mainstay of the economy and employment in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and contribute significantly to household income and increasingly, export earnings. In contrast, in some of the smaller PICTs, agriculture is mainly based on subsistence farming and activities in the forest and trees sector involve management of watersheds and coastal forests, and agroforestry development. PICTs face numerous social and physical challenges in maintaining and improving the productivity of their agriculture and forestry sectors and protecting their biological diversity. They are prone to natural disasters and their size and geographical isolation result in a narrow genetic and production base with limited opportunities to develop their economies by scaling-up production. In the forestrich countries, unsustainable logging in response to shortterm economic needs is destroying valuable forest resources with negative economic, social and environmental impacts on rural communities. Additionally, the drift of youth to urban centres in many PICTs has resulted in shortages of labour in rural areas and increased social problems in towns. Many PICTs also face significant challenges associated with rapidly growing populations. For example, in the smaller PICTs, growing numbers of humans and animals live in close proximity, increasing the risk of zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted by animals) and pollution caused by agricultural activities (fertiliser run-off, animal waste). Increased regional and global trade and travel and associated movement of people (tourists, travelling residents, fishers) have also heightened the risk of introducing unwanted plant and animal pests, weeds, diseases and other alien invasive species, threatening the fragile ecosystems and resource base of PICTs. More broadly, PICTs face a number of social challenges that also impact on the land resources sector. For example, rural to urban migration has the potential to reduce agricultural production and increase reliance on imports; and there are strong links between the rising incidence of ‘life-style’ diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, and increased consumption of processed foods rather than staple food crops. Climate change will exacerbate many of these challenges. Related disasters such as tropical cyclones, flash floods and droughts impose serious constraints on development in the islands, so much so that some PICTs seem to be in constant ‘recovery-mode’. Food availability and people’s access to food are among the first essentials to be affected following such disasters. LRD faces the challenge of ensuring its activities support the needs of all of our member countries despite their diversity. The division is keenly aware of the need to address transboundary issues and commonalities and ensure that each member can benefit from lessons learnt in others. We also recognise the need to tailor our approach to the specific concerns of individual member countries and territories, especially when addressing the needs of small island states.

|Monday, 22 February 2010 15:45| Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) are geographically, ecologically, sociologically and economically diverse. The region is home to an estimated 9.5 million people on islands with a land area of 550,000 km2 surrounded by the largest ocean in the world. Five of SPC’s 22 member PICTs (Fiji Islands, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Va

Summary Report Released The Summary Report has been released as Southern Research Station General Technical Report 168. Major Findings Unveiled The U.S. Forest Service and Southern Group of State Foresters unveiled findings of the Southern Forest Futures Project on May 17, 2011. The project is a multi-year research effort that forecasts changes in southern forests between 2010 and 2060. - Read the News Release Video of News Conference - Jennifer Plyler, Assistant Director of SRS - Liz Agpaoa, Regional Forester - Dave Wear, Project Co-Lead - Rob Doudrick, Director of SRS - Charlie Morgan, Mississippi State Forester - John Greis, Project Co-Lead - Ken Arney, Deputy Regional Forester News conference transcript Please click here to download a copy of the transcript. Project Leader Biographies - David Wear, co-project lead, economist, Southern Research Station - John Greis, co-project lead, forester, Southern Region Over the next 50 years, multiple forces will interact to determine the future of southern forests. - Over the next 50 years, multiple forces will interact to determine the future of southern forests. - Urbanization could reduce the amount of forests—up to 23 million acres, roughly the size of South Carolina—and change their character. - More people means more demands for additional goods and services from a declining forest base. - Population growth will bring more runoff from roads, buildings, and parking lots as well as increased pollution, impacting supplies of clean drinking water and the quality of aquatic habitats. - Wildfire potential increases; more numerous and more severe fires are forecasted. - More frequent and intense wildfires will pose additional challenges to community and forestry wildfire organizations. - The spread of plant, insect, and disease pests could severely affect native species, forest productivity, and wildlife. - More than 1,000 plant and wildlife species of conservation concern could be threatened by urbanization, climate change, and invasive species. - Forests could support higher levels of timber harvest than present, but demands are uncertain, especially for bioenergy. The following documents provide details on the project’s findings: For more information, click here to visit the News page. About the Southern Forest Futures Project The Southern Forest Futures Project (SFFP) is a multi-year research effort that analyzes and forecasts probable changes in southern forests between 2010 and 2060. It builds from the Southern Forest Resource Assessment completed in 2002 and addresses a set of contemporary issues surrounding forests in the South. Using computer modeling and cutting-edge scientific analysis, SFFP presents a range of plausible futures or scenarios of the South’s forests based on a variety of influences such as urbanization, bioenergy, climate change, land ownership changes, and invasive species. Forecasts provide a foundation for examining several broad “meta-issues” affecting southern forests, including fire, bioenergy, water supply, and wildlife. The overall goal of SFFP is to inform land management strategies, policy discussions, and program decisions with the clearest understanding of the potential long-term implications of changes in forests of the 13 southern states. The research project was chartered by the USDA Forest Service Southern Region, the Forest Service’s Southern Research Station, and the Southern Group of State Foresters. SFFP will release findings in two phases: Phase 1: Two reports that examine issues across the South: - A 17-chapter technical report containing detailed findings; - A summary report that provides a synthesis of the most critical findings Phase 2: Separate reports that detail the implications for forest management and conservation in the five subregions of the South. Project organizers will release Phase 1 draft findings in early 2011 and issue the five subregional reports in the subsequent months. Last Modified: April 24, 2013

Summary Report Released The Summary Report has been released as Southern Research Station General Technical Report 168. Major Findings Unveiled The U.S. Forest Service and Southern Group of State Foresters unveiled findings of the Southern Forest Futures Project on May 17, 2011. The project is a multi-year research effort that forecasts changes in southern forests between 2010 and 2060. - Read the

THIS MONTH IN SOCIAL SECURITY HISTORY February 14, 1936 The Social Security Board approved twelve regional areas and twelve regional offices for its field office setup. February 8, 1937 The First Annual Report of the Social Security Board submitted to Congress. February 27, 1937 The first claims under Title II of the Social Security Act were adjudicated and forwarded to the Social Security Board on February 27. The first claims were actually paid in March. February 13, 1940 An Appeals Council, consisting of three members, was appointed by the Social Security Board to direct and supervise the holding of hearings on claims for old-age and survivors insurance benefits and to review decisions of referees, subject to review by the courts. Joseph McElvain was appointed the director. The staff of the Appeals Council included a Consulting Referee for the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance program as a whole and a Hearing Referee for each of the twelve regions. February 20, 1947 Arthur J. Altmeyer was elected Executive Secretary of the Reparatory Commission for the International Refugee Organization. February 2, 1953 President Eisenhower, in his State of the Union Message, recommended that the "old-age and survivors insurance law should promptly be extended to cover millions of citizens who have been left out of the Social Security system." February 1955 By this date, old-age and survivors insurance beneficiaries numbered seven million. February 27, 1956 SSA's new electronic computer system, an IBM 705, began operation in the Candler Building under the watchful eyes of technicians from IBM. The first computer application consisted of posting earnings records, benefit computations and reinstating incorrectly reported earnings. February 3, 1967 With the mailing of the benefit checks, the Social Security Administration became the first large Federal agency to implement mass ZIP code mailing. February 1972 The Bureau of Data Processing announced it would be issuing new Social Security cards and mailing them directly from central office, thereby shifting issuance from the field to the central office. February 1982 SSA's Systems Modernization Plan is published. February 9, 1996 First meeting of the new Social Security Advisory Board was held in Baltimore. Among their other activities, the Board members took a tour of the SSA History Room. February 11, 1997 SSA's proposed final regulations for cycling of benefit payments were published. February 15, 2000 SSA launched its Electronic Newsletter (e-News) through which visitors are able to subscribe to Social Security e-news, a monthly electronic newsletter providing brief items on the latest Social Security information of public interest. February 5, 2002 James B. Lockhart, IIII, formally sworn-in to be Deputy Commissioner of Social Security. February 5, 2002 The "Ticket to Work" program was officially launched in the first 13 States (it is expected to be in operation nationwide in 2004). February 19, 2004 Jo Anne Barnhart, Commissioner of Social Security, signed a "totalization" agreement today with Japanese Ambassador Ryozo Kato that will remove from U.S. citizens working for U.S. companies in Japan the burden of paying social security taxes to both countries. The agreement also will remove the double taxation requirement for Japanese citizens working for Japanese companies in the United States. February 12, 2007 Michael J. Astrue was sworn in as the Commissioner of Social Security at the agency’s national headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. He will serve a six-year term that expires on January 19, 2013. February 26, 2008 Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced that the agency has begun making offers to 144 of the 175 new Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) it will hire this fiscal year. Due to litigation and budget cuts, the agency has about ten percent fewer ALJs than it did a decade ago. During that same time, the number of cases waiting for a hearing decision has more than doubled. February 3, 2009 Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, in a letter today to Governor Edward G. Rendell, Chair of the National Governors Association, urged states to exempt their Disability Determination Services (DDSs) from hiring restrictions and furloughs. February 12, 2008 Kathleen Casey-Kirschling, the nation's first Baby Boomer, today made history as the first of her generation to receive a Social Security retirement benefit. Having applied online for benefits Ms. Casey-Kirschling, who was born at one second after midnight on January 1, 1946, today received her first payment by direct deposit. February 12, 2009 SSA ’s online services have earned the highest overall score in the most recent e-Government Satisfaction Index. The Index, which is administered by ForeSee Results in conjunction with the University of Michigan's American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), also gave three of SSA’s applications the highest scores in government. February 1, 2010 SSA announced that 15 healthcare providers and networks have received $17.4 million in contract awards to provide electronic medical records to the agency. These electronic medical records, which will be sent through the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN), will significantly shorten the time it takes to make a disability decision and will improve the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of the disability program. February 4, 2011 SSA dedicated the Robert M. Ball Federal Building at SSA headquarters in Baltimore. This renaming of the Operations building at SSA was mandated by an act of Congress.

THIS MONTH IN SOCIAL SECURITY HISTORY February 14, 1936 The Social Security Board approved twelve regional areas and twelve regional offices for its field office setup. February 8, 1937 The First Annual Report of the Social Security Board submitted to Congress. February 27, 1937 The first claims under Title II of the Social Security Act were adjudicated and forwarded to the Social Security Board o

For the most current version of this Note, see Background Notes A-Z. Republic of Malta Area: 316 sq. km. (122 sq. mi.); about one-tenth the size of Rhode Island. Major cities: Valletta (capital), Sliema. Terrain: Low hills. Climate: Subtropical summer; other seasons temperate. Mediterranean: hot dry summers, cool wet winters. Nationality: Noun and adjective--Maltese. Population (2003): 399,867. Annual growth rate (2003 est.): 0.65%. Ethnic divisions: Mixture of Arab, Sicilian, Norman, Spanish, Italian, English. Religion (2003): Roman Catholic, 98%. Languages: Maltese, English. Education (2003): Years compulsory--until age 16. Attendance--96%. Literacy--93%. Health (2003): Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)--5.9. Life expectancy at birth--Males 76.4, Females 80.4. Labor force (1st quarter 2004): 160,183; Public sector 27.1%; Services 43.3%; Manufacturing 19.4%; Construction & Quarrying 7.5%; Agriculture and fisheries 2.7%. Independence: September 1964. Constitution: 1964; revised 1974; revised 1987. Branches: Executive--president (chief of state), prime minister (head of government), cabinet. Legislative--unicameral House of Representatives. Judicial--Constitutional Court. Administrative subdivisions: 13 electoral districts. Political parties: Nationalist Party, Malta Labor Party, Alternattiva Demokratika (Green Party). Suffrage: Universal at 18. GDP (2003): $4.85 billion. Annual growth rate (2003): 1.6%. Per capita income: $12,173. National resources: Limestone, salt. GDP composition by sector, 2002: Services (74.6% of GDP). Industry (22.9% of GDP); Types--clothing, semiconductors, shipbuilding and repair, furniture, leather, rubber and plastic products, footwear, spectacle frames, toys, jewelry, food, beverages, tobacco products. Agriculture (2.5% GDP); Products--fodder crops, potatoes, onions, Mediterranean fruits and vegetables. Trade (2003): Exports--$2.63 billion. Types--Machinery and transport equipment, semi-conductors, clothing, furniture, leather, rubber and plastic products, footwear, bunker fuel. Major markets--U.S., Germany, France, U.K., Italy. Imports--$3.62 billion: finished and semi-finished goods, food and beverages, industrial supplies, petroleum and related products. Major suppliers--Italy, France, U.S., U.K., Germany. Trade balance (2003): $990 million. Budget (2003): revenues $2.47 billion; expenditures $2.42 billion, including capital expenditures of $224.3 million. Average exchange rate (2003): $1 = Lm 0.434 (rate fluctuates) Malta is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with about 1,160 inhabitants per square kilometer (3,000 per sq. mi.). This compares with about 21 per square kilometer (55 per sq. mi.) for the United States. Inhabited since prehistoric times, Malta was first colonized by the Phoenicians. Subsequently, Romans, Arabs, Normans, the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, and the British have influenced Maltese life and culture to varying degrees. Most of the foreign community in Malta, predominantly active or retired British nationals and their dependents, centers around Sliema and surrounding modern suburbs. There is also a growing North African Muslim community of about 3,000 (2003), many of whom are married to Maltese nationals. There have also been a number of Maltese nationals converting to Islam. Roman Catholicism is established by law as the religion of Malta; however, full liberty of conscience and freedom of worship is guaranteed, and a number of faiths have places of worship on the island. Malta has two official languages--Maltese (a Semitic-based language) and English. The literacy rate has reached 93%, compared to 63% in 1946. Schooling is compulsory until age 16. Malta was an important cultic center for earth-mother worship in the 4th millennium B.C. Recent archeological work shows a developed religious center there long before those of Sumer and Egypt. Malta's written history began well before the Christian era. Originally the Phoenicians, and later the Carthaginians, established ports and trading settlements on the island. During the second Punic War (218 B.C.), Malta became part of the Roman Empire. During Roman rule, in A.D. 60, Saint Paul was shipwrecked on Malta at a place now called St. Paul's Bay. In 533 A.D. Malta became part of the Byzantine Empire and in 870 came under Arab control. Arab occupation and rule left a strong imprint on Maltese life, customs, and language. The Arabs were driven out in 1090 by a band of Norman adventurers under Count Roger of Normandy, who had established a kingdom in southern Italy and Sicily. Malta thus became an appendage of Sicily for 440 years. During this period, Malta was sold and resold to various feudal lords and barons and was dominated successively by the rulers of Swabia, Aquitaine, Aragon, Castile, and Spain. In 1522 Suleiman II drove the Knights of St. John out of Rhodes. They dispersed to their commanderies in Europe and after repeated requests for territory to Charles V, in 1530 the Knights were given sovereignty of Malta under the suzerainty of the Kings of Sicily. In 1523, a key date in Maltese history, the islands were ceded by Charles V of Spain to the Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. For the next 275 years, these famous "Knights of Malta" made the island their domain. They built towns, palaces, churches, gardens, and fortifications and embellished the island with numerous works of art and enhanced cultural heritage. In 1565 Suleiman the Magnificent laid siege to Malta. After several months the strength of the Knights and the Maltese population prevailed and the Turks were defeated. Over the years, the power of the Knights declined, however, and their rule of Malta ended with their peaceful surrender to Napoleon in 1798. The people of Malta rose against French rule, which lasted two years, and with the help of the British evicted them in 1800. In 1814, Malta voluntarily became part of the British Empire. Under the United Kingdom, the island became a military and naval fortress, the headquarters of the British Mediterranean fleet. During World War II, Malta survived relentless raids from German and Italian military forces (1940-43). In recognition, King George VI in 1942 awarded the George Cross "to the island fortress of Malta--its people and defenders." President Franklin Roosevelt, describing the wartime period, called Malta "one tiny bright flame in the darkness." Malta obtained independence on September 21, 1964, became a Republic on December 13, 1974, and a member of the European Union on May 1, 2004. The last British forces left in March 1979. Under its 1964 constitution, Malta became a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth II was sovereign of Malta, and a governor general exercised executive authority on her behalf, while the actual direction and control of the government and the nation's affairs were in the hands of the cabinet under the leadership of a Maltese prime minister. On December 13, 1974, the constitution was revised, and Malta became a republic within the Commonwealth, with executive authority vested in a Maltese president. The president is appointed by parliament. In turn, he appoints as prime minister the leader of the party with a majority of seats in the unicameral House of Representatives. The president also nominally appoints, upon recommendation of the prime minister, the individual ministers to head each of the government departments. The cabinet is selected from among the members of the House of Representatives, which consists of between 65 and 69 members elected on the basis of proportional representation. Elections must be held at least every five years. Candidates for any vacancies are determined by the majority of votes obtained by a candidate during the previous elections. Malta's judiciary is independent. The chief justice and sixteen judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister. Their mandatory retirement age is 65. There is a civil court, a commercial court, a family court, and a criminal court. In the latter, the presiding judge sits with a jury of nine. The court of appeal hears appeals from decisions of the civil court and of the commercial court. The court of criminal appeal hears appeals from judgments of conviction by the criminal court. The highest court, the Constitutional Court, hears appeals in cases involving violations of human rights, interpretation of the constitution, and invalidity of laws. It also has jurisdiction in cases concerning disputed parliamentary elections and electoral corrupt practices. There also are inferior courts presided over by a magistrate. The Local Councils Act, 1993 (Act XV of 1993) was published on 30 June 1993 subdividing Malta into 54 local councils and 14 in the small island of Gozo. Councils are elected every three years by inhabitants who are registered as voters in the Electoral Register. Elections are held by means of the system of proportional representation using the single transferable vote. The Mayor is the head of the Local Council and the representative of the Council for all effects under the Act. The Executive Secretary, who is appointed by the Council, is the executive, administrative, and financial head of the Council. All decisions are taken collectively with the other members of the Council. Local Councils are responsible for the general upkeep and embellishment of the locality, local wardens, and refuse collection; they carry out general administrative duties for the Central Government, such as collection of Government rents and funds and answering Government-related public inquiries. Principal Government Officials President--Eddie Fenech Adami Prime Minister--Lawrence Gonzi Minister of Foreign Affairs--Michael Frendo Ambassador to the United States--John Lowell Ambassador to the United Nations--Victor Camilleri Malta maintains an embassy in the United States at 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 (202-462-3611). Two parties dominate Malta's polarized and evenly divided politics--the Nationalist Party, led by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, and the Malta Labor Party, led by Alfred Sant. Elections invariably generate a widespread voter turnout exceeding 96%. The margin between the two parties is so narrow that a 52% share of the votes can still be considered a "landslide" for the winning party. Alternattiva Demokratika (Green Party) is the smallest political party. It has not managed to secure a parliamentary seat since its inception in 1989. A 2003 referendum resulted in a 54% majority popular vote in favor of membership in the European Union. The Prime Minister called an early election in April 2003 for a definite mandate from the electorate. The Nationalists returned to power with 51.8% and 35 seats for a second term, and EU membership was confirmed. The Labor party earned 47.5% and 30 seats, Alternattiva Demokratika had 0.7%, and independent candidates were negligible. Voter turnout was 97%. On February 10, 2004, the prime minister and long-time leader of the Nationalist Party, Eddie Fenech Adami, resigned. Following his election as Nationalist Party leader, Lawrence Gonzi officially became the Prime Minister of Malta on March 22, 2004. Eddie Fenech Adami assumed the Presidency of Malta on April 4, 2004. The next general elections must take place before October 2008 at the latest. The first elections of European Parliament MPs were held on June 12, 2004 and resulted in the election of two candidates from the governing Nationalist Party and three from the Opposition Malta Labor Party. In 1987, the Maltese constitution was amended to ensure that the party that obtained more than 50% of the popular vote would have a majority of seats in parliament and would thereby form the government. Other amendments made at that time stipulate Malta's neutrality status and policy of nonalignment and prohibit foreign interference in Malta's elections. Possessing few indigenous raw materials and a very small domestic market, Malta has based its economic development on the promotion of tourism, accounting for roughly 30% of GDP, and exports of manufactured goods, mainly semi-conductors, which account for some 75% of total Maltese exports. Since the beginning of the 1990s, expansion in these activities has been the principal engine for strong growth in the Maltese economy. Tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings derived from tourism have steadily increased since the late 1970s. Following the September 11 attacks, the tourist industry has suffered some setbacks worldwide. Maltese tourist arrivals fell by a cumulative 7% during 2001 and 2002. At the same time, the bursting of the high tech bubble dampened exports and private investments. Despite these adverse developments, the relatively flexible labor markets kept unemployment fairly steady at 7.2% (Labor Force Survey Jan - March 2004). Following a decline in GDP in 2001, a modest recovery began in 2002, with some improvements in the tourist sector in the second half of the year. Employment growth, however, remained weak. The recent low economic growth coupled with corporate bond preference by the private sector has contributed to a weak demand for bank loans. Combined with the strong growth in deposits in the past couple of years, this has led to a rapid buildup of liquidity in the banking system and pressures to reduce interest rates that are fully liberalized. The banking system remains highly concentrated with two of the four local banks accounting for about 90% of total loans and deposits. The Maltese Government has pursued a policy of gradual economic liberalization, taking some steps to shift the emphasis in trade and financial policies from reliance on direct government intervention and control to policy regimes that allow a greater role for market mechanisms. Malta's accession into the EU will mark the total dismantling of protective import levies on industrial products, increasing the outward orientation of the economy. Malta maintains a long-standing exchange rate peg to a basket of currencies--currently composed of the euro, pound sterling and dollar. The peg has delivered low inflation and served Malta well, especially during the period of liberalization. The fiscal situation remains difficult despite some progress in consolidating public finances. The budget deficit was brought down from 10.7% of GDP in 1998 to 9.7% of GDP in 2003 (still high by EU standards), mainly through increases in tax rates and improved collection of taxes due. Current expenditures were reduced in the late 1990s but have crawled back up. The public sector wage bill and subsidies to public enterprises were mainly responsible for this increase. Substantial privatization proceeds have limited the increase in public debt, which grew from 24% of GDP in 1990 to almost 72.01% in 2003. The Maltese Government is expected to shortly announce reforms to the pension and welfare system and reduce the public sector involvement in the economy as part of the medium- term fiscal consolidation plan. According to the Maltese government plans, the fiscal deficit is expected to go down to 3.5% of GDP by the end of 2005. Economic growth was 1.6% in 2003. Malta's diplomatic and consular representation includes accreditation to 88 foreign countries and international organizations. Malta is host to 18 resident diplomatic missions, and 89 countries have non-resident diplomatic representation. With its central location in the Mediterranean, Malta has long portrayed itself as a bridge between Europe and North Africa, particularly Libya, with whom it has enjoyed positive diplomatic and commercial ties. Malta now constitutes the southernmost flank of the European Union. Malta continues to be an active participant in the United Nations, the Commonwealth (in 2005 Malta will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting), the Council of Europe, OSCE, the Non-Aligned Movement, and various other international organizations. In these fora, Malta has frequently expressed its concern for the peace and economic development of the Mediterranean region. The Nationalist Party government is continuing a policy of neutrality and nonalignment but in a Western context. The government desires close relations with the United States, with an emphasis on increased trade and private investment. U.S. Navy ships resumed liberty calls in 1992 and currently visit on a regular basis. Malta and the United States established full diplomatic relations upon Malta's independence in 1964; overall relations are currently active and cordial. The United States has been sympathetic to Malta's campaign to attract private investment, and some firms operating in Malta have U.S. ownership or investment. These include major hotels, manufacturing and repair facilities, and some offices servicing local and regional operations. Principal U.S. Embassy Officials Deputy Chief of Mission--William Grant Consul General--Michael Troje Public Affairs Officer/Director, The American Center--Jeff Anderson Political Counselor--Matthew Kurlinski Economic Counselor--Timothy Briscoe Information Management Officer--Christian Jones Management Officer--Jonathan Schools Regional Security Officer--Richard Ober General Services Officer--Isobel Miller Defense Attache--Philip Munaco Community Liaison Officer--Cindy Belnomi Customs Officer--Leonard Freedman

For the most current version of this Note, see Background Notes A-Z. Republic of Malta Area: 316 sq. km. (122 sq. mi.); about one-tenth the size of Rhode Island. Major cities: Valletta (capital), Sliema. Terrain: Low hills. Climate: Subtropical summer; other seasons temperate. Mediterranean: hot dry summers, cool wet winters. Nationality: Noun and adjective--Maltese. Population (2003): 399,867. An

Professional fireworks displays and pyrotechnic permit Fireworks displays and pyrotechnic special effects must be under the direct supervision of a licensed pyrotechnic operator who is employed by a licensed fireworks/pyrotechnic company along with a certificate of insurance which must be approved by the City’s Risk Manager. Permits and approval from the Fire Prevention Office and the City's Special Events Task Force are also required. Permit application. Fireworks and pyrotechnic special effects must comply with Chapter 33 of the 2006 International Fire Code and NFPA standards. Fireworks for use by the general public are illegal in the State of Arizona. Please fax the permit to 480-858-7243, email it to email@example.com or drop it off at Fire Admin. located at 1400 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe, Mon- Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To contact the Special Events Task Force call (480) 350-5180. For more information contact the Tempe Fire Prevention Office at (480) 858-7230. Retail Sales: Application for retail sales of fireworks. Tempe approved "fireworks" sign. Please fax the form to 480-858-7243, email it to firstname.lastname@example.org or drop it off at Fire Admin. located at 1400 E. Apache Boulevard, Tempe, Mon- Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. What fireworks are you permitted to use in Tempe? All fireworks except sparklers and confetti poppers are illegal in the Tempe. A state law that took effect in 2010 allows for the sale of consumer fireworks at retail and temporary locations. The Tempe City Council banned the use of consumer fireworks to prevent injuries and fires. Tempe Fireworks Ordinance Novelty fireworks are still allowed to be used in Tempe; they include handheld sparklers, smoke devices, party poppers, snappers and snakes. Consumer fireworks are illegal to use within city limits. They include ground-based sparklers in cylindrical, square, cone or rocket shapes, as well as aerial fireworks like roman candles, firecrackers, sky rockets and bottle rockets. View types of sparklers and novelties for sale in Tempe and what is and isn't permitted for use in Tempe. Tempe’s ban applies only to consumer fireworks. It was undertaken in response to Arizona Revised Statute 36-1601, a state law that makes it legal for people 16 years and older to buy some types of consumer fireworks in Arizona. The ban does not apply to Maricopa County islands within Tempe city limits. The penalty for violating the city’s ordinance is a minimum fine of $250. The ordinance also allows Tempe to recoup expenses if emergency services are needed in conjunction with the use of consumer fireworks. If you have an emergency call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, call the Tempe Fire Department at 480-858-7200. Adobe Reader is required for some of the attached documents and forms. It can be downloaded at: http://get.adobe.com/reader/

Professional fireworks displays and pyrotechnic permit Fireworks displays and pyrotechnic special effects must be under the direct supervision of a licensed pyrotechnic operator who is employed by a licensed fireworks/pyrotechnic company along with a certificate of insurance which must be approved by the City’s Risk Manager. Permits and approval from the Fire Prevention Office and the City's Speci

Design classicsIntroducing Harry Beck... The striking Tube map that is recognised across the globe was the brainchild of Underground electrical draughtsman, Harry Beck, who produced this imaginative yet stunningly simple design back in 1933. Beck based the map on the circuit diagrams he drew for his day job, stripping the sprawling Tube network down to basics. The result was an instantly clear and comprehensible chart that would become an essential guide to London - and a template for transport maps the world over. Beck's revolutionary design, with certain modifications and additions, survives to the present day and is set to serve London Underground and its millions of customers for many years to come. To discover more about Harry Beck and his world famous map please visit the London Transport Museum.

Design classicsIntroducing Harry Beck... The striking Tube map that is recognised across the globe was the brainchild of Underground electrical draughtsman, Harry Beck, who produced this imaginative yet stunningly simple design back in 1933. Beck based the map on the circuit diagrams he drew for his day job, stripping the sprawling Tube network down to basics. The result was an instantly clear and

Recent news from WHO - WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan announced a number of changes to the structure of the organization to take effect from November 1. The Communicable Diseases cluster of departments is renamed Health Security and Environment. The HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria cluster is renamed HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases cluster and will include the department for Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases. The Information, Evidence and Research cluster includes the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases as well as a new department on Ethics, Equity, Trade and Human Rights. - On 8 October, the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility and UNITAID announced they are to provide 19 countries with anti-tuberculosis drugs and direct technical assistance. UNITAID had committed US$ 26.8 million to the new initiative, which will cover countries for the remainder of 2007, and all of 2008. - Anna Cataldi, a former UN Messenger of Peace, has been appointed as an Ambassador of the Stop TB Partnership. Ms Cataldi, who is from Italy, is the author of the book Letters from Sarajevo, which chronicled the effect of the 1992–95 war on Bosnia’s children. She will raise awareness worldwide about the unfair burden of tuberculosis on refugees, migrants, people living in poverty and other disadvantaged groups. - On 5 October, WHO released its first guide on planning palliative care services for people living with advanced stages of cancer. Palliative care: cancer control knowledge into action, WHO guide for effective programmes is based on consultations with more than 70 of the world’s leading cancer experts. The guide, aimed primarily at public health planners, identifies highly effective low-cost public health models to care for terminally ill cancer patients, especially in developing countries. The guide can be found at: www.who.int/cancer/media/FINAL-PalliativeCareModule.pdf - On 1 October, WHO released the first guide on age-friendly cities following consultations with older people in 33 cities in 22 countries. Global age-friendly cities: a guide is aimed primarily at urban planners and includes a checklist of age-friendly features such as sufficient public benches and well-maintained and well-lit sidewalks. The guide can be found at: http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Global_age_friendly_cities_Guide_English.pdf - On 21 September, WHO launched Promoting safety of medicines for children, which examines how best to reduce side-effects from medicines in children. The report calls for strengthened safety monitoring and vigilance of medicinal products. The publication is part of a new drive to improve children’s access to quality-assured, safe and effective medicines. The report can be found at:http://www.who.int/medicines/publications/essentialmedicines/Promotion_safe_med_childrens.pdf - The Bloomberg Family Foundation has contributed US$ 9 million to WHO to further international road safety efforts. The new funding will support the development of a global road safety report and implementation of intensive road safety activities in Mexico and Viet Nam. - At a conference in Porto, Portugal, on 24 September WHO and its partners called for increased research to improve patient safety. - On 18 September, UN health partners appealed for US$ 84.8 million to help an estimated 2.2 million displaced Iraqis who have fled the ongoing violence and instability to neighbouring countries. - WHO is to expand its basic surgery training programme for health-care staff in low- and middle-income countries. For more about these and other WHO news items please see: http://www.who.int/mediacentre

Recent news from WHO - WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan announced a number of changes to the structure of the organization to take effect from November 1. The Communicable Diseases cluster of departments is renamed Health Security and Environment. The HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria cluster is renamed HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases cluster and will include the department for Cont

On 23 May 2013, the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, released the National Career Development Strategy. Latest NewsView all news items Each year, the Australian Government appoints a young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Representative to be part of the National Planning Group for National Youth Week. A guide, New energy, ideas and perspectives – How young people are creating change across the Commonwealth, written by the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition has been released at the Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting. It showcases a collection of youth engagement approaches from across the Commonwealth.

On 23 May 2013, the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, released the National Career Development Strategy. Latest NewsView all news items Each year, the Australian Government appoints a young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Representative to be part of the National Planning Group for National Youth Week. A guide, New energy, ideas and perspe

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) into law on February 17, 2009. The Recovery Act provided DOE several billion dollars in funds to accelerate research, development, demonstration, and deployment activities that support jumpstarting our economy, promoting green jobs, and focusing on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the twenty-first century. The Recovery Act has presented considerable opportunities for the advancement of biomass technologies by providing more than $1 billion in funds across the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office as well as several other DOE programs and offices. These funds enabled the Office to expand and diversify its portfolio – providing nearly $600 million in funds for integrated biorefineries to demonstrate and deploy new technologies and more than $70 million for research and development in advanced biofuels, including algae. For more information on Office investments, see the Bioenergy Technologies Office ARRA fact sheet; see the DOE Recovery Act Investment in Biomass Technologies fact sheet for projects across the Department. Below are the initial announcements related to the Recovery Act projects. Department of Energy to Invest Nearly $18 Million for Advanced Biofuels User Facility – March 31, 2010 U.S. Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Cathy Zoi today announced that the Department's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will build an advanced biofuels process development facility aimed at speeding the commercialization of advanced biofuels by allowing researchers and the private sector to test and integrate innovative technologies. The facility—funded with nearly $18 million from the Recovery Act—will be a publicly available facility where researchers can integrate process steps and test innovative technology pathways, such as those being developed at DOE's Office of Science Bioenergy Research Centers. This facility will be the only one of its kind available for public use. Secretary Chu Announces Nearly $80 Million Investment for Advanced Biofuels Research and Fueling Infrastructure – January 13, 2010 The U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the investment of nearly $80 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for advanced biofuels research and fueling infrastructure that will help support the development of a clean sustainable transportation sector. Secretaries Chu and Vilsack Announce More Than $600 Million Investment in Advanced Biorefinery Projects – December 4, 2009 U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of 19 integrated biorefinery projects to receive up to $564 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate the construction and operation of pilot, demonstration, and commercial scale facilities. DOE Announces Recovery Act Funding of up to $5.5 million for Ethanol Blends Infrastructure and Outreach – August 5, 2009 As part of the ongoing effort to support the development of domestic renewable fuels, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the availability of up to $5.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to increase the use of higher ethanol blends up to E85 (85% ethanol/15% gasoline) by expanding refueling infrastructure and launching targeted outreach to promote public awareness. DOE Announces Recovery Act Funding of up to $85 million for Algal and Advanced Biofuels – July 16, 2009 The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the availability of up to $85 mllion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the development of algae-based biofuels and advanced, infrastructure-compatible biofuels. DOE to Invest $786.5 million in Recovery Act Funds in Biofuels – May 6, 2009 President Barack Obama announced on May 5 that DOE plans to invest $786.5 million from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to accelerate advanced biofuels research and development and to provide additional funding for biorefinery demonstration projects. President Obama Takes Action to Advance Biofuels Production – May 6, 2009 President Barack Obama announced on May 5 that his administration is taking several steps to advance biofuels research and commercialization. The president signed a Presidential Directive to help preserve biofuel industry jobs and to establish the Biofuels Interagency Working Group, which will develop the nation's first comprehensive program for growing the biofuels market. Secretary Chu Announces Nearly $800 Million from Recovery Act to Accelerate Biofuels Research and Commercialization – May 5, 2009 As part of the ongoing effort to increase the use of domestic renewable fuels, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced plans to provide $786.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate advanced biofuels research and development and to provide additional funding for commercial-scale biorefinery demonstration projects. Recovery Act Financial Opportunities for Biomass Projects Recovery Act – Expansion of Ethanol Infrastructure The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) through the Office of the Bioenergy Technologies Office announces a notice of funding of up to $5.5 million for efforts to enhance the availability and use of potential gasoline/ethanol blends up to E85 (85% ethanol/15% gasoline) through two topic areas: Refueling Infrastructure for Ethanol Blends, and Outreach for Ethanol Blends. Recovery Act – Development of Algal/Advanced Biofuels The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) through the Office of the Bioenergy Technologies Office announces a notice of funding of up to $85 million for establishing Consortia for two primary topic areas: the development of Algae-Based Biofuels, and the development of Advanced Cellulosic Biofuels. Recovery Act – Demonstration of Integrated Biorefinery Operations DOE's Office of the Bioenergy Technologies Office (OBP) has made a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) with a total funding estimate of up to $480 million to select integrated biorefinery projects that have the necessary technical and economic performance data that validates their readiness for the next level of scale-up. In general, integrated biorefineries employ various combinations of feedstocks and conversion technologies to produce a variety of products, with the main focus on producing biofuels and bioproducts. Co- or by-products can include additional fuels, chemicals (or other materials), and heat and power. To learn more about the Recovery act, visit the following sites:

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) into law on February 17, 2009. The Recovery Act provided DOE several billion dollars in funds to accelerate research, development, demonstration, and deployment activities that support jumpstarting our economy, promoting green jobs, and focusing on addressing long-neglect

Three NASA Airborne Earth Science Missions Focus of Jan. 25 Media Day WASHINGTON -- NASA is inviting media to look behind-the-scenes at several active Earth science missions that will take to the air next month to study climate change and air pollution. These airborne missions are all based at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Southern California. On Jan. 25, journalists will have the opportunity to meet with mission scientists to find out how they are using airborne instruments in conjunction with satellite observations to advance our understanding of complex Earth systems. Tours of mission operations and NASA research aircraft will be provided at the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., and at Dryden's main campus on Edwards Air Force Base. The three major Earth Science missions highlighted during the day-long media opportunity will be probing air pollution across central California and key climate change unknowns high over the tropical Pacific Ocean. Two of NASA's high-altitude aircraft, the unmanned Global Hawk and the ER-2, are among the planes that will fly during these missions. The multi-year DISCOVER-AQ campaign will fly NASA's P3B and B200 King Air planes over California's San Joaquin Valley to measure air pollution this winter. The mission seeks to improve the monitoring of pollution from satellites so that scientists can produce better air-quality forecasts and more accurately identify pollution sources. The Airborne Tropical Tropopause Experiment campaign focuses on the region of the upper atmosphere where pollutants and other gases enter the stratosphere and potentially influence our climate. A key focus of the mission is water vapor, which can significantly impact Earth's energy budget, ozone layer and climate. The Polarimeter Definition Experiment campaign will fly several of a new breed of instruments that scientists plan to fly in space one day to improve our measurements of aerosols and clouds. Aerosols, tiny particles produced across the world from many different sources, influence Earth's climate and can affect human health. Scientists and aircraft from two other NASA Earth science missions preparing for flights later this year also will be available for interviews and tours. The Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar, flying aboard a NASA C-20A piloted aircraft, is used to study earthquakes, volcanoes, oil spills, landslides and glacier movements. The Air Surface Water Ocean Topography campaign is testing instruments for a future spacecraft mission that will make the first-ever global survey of Earth's surface water. Media requests for event credentials should be submitted via email to NASA Dryden's public affairs office at DrydenPAO@nasa.gov or by phone to 661-276-3449 no later than Dec. 17 for foreign nationals and Jan. 11 for U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens. Media representatives wishing to participate must be on assignment with a verifiable media organization. No substitutions of non-credentialed personnel will be allowed. U.S. citizens must provide full name, date and place of birth, media organization, the last six digits of their social security number and their driver's license number and state of issue. In addition, foreign nationals must list their country of citizenship and visa or passport number with the country of issue and expiration date. For more information about NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, visit: For more information about NASA's Airborne Science Program, visit: For more information about NASA's Earth Science Program, visit: - end - text-only version of this release NASA press releases and other information are available automatically by sending a blank e-mail message to To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a blank e-mail message to Back to NASA Newsroom | Back to NASA Homepage

Three NASA Airborne Earth Science Missions Focus of Jan. 25 Media Day WASHINGTON -- NASA is inviting media to look behind-the-scenes at several active Earth science missions that will take to the air next month to study climate change and air pollution. These airborne missions are all based at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Southern California. On Jan. 25, journalists will have the opport

President Bush Requests $53.1 billion for the Department of Education for FY 2004. The FY 2004 Education Budget Summary and Background Information provides program information and detailed budget tables. Note: The tables included in the Budget Summary were prepared when the FY 2004 President's Budget was transmitted to Congress on February 3, 2003, prior to enactment of the FY 2003 appropriation. These have been superceded by tables in PDF and EXCEL showing enacted FY 2003 appropriations. The FY 2004 President's Budget remains the same as requested on February 3. What does the President's Education budget request mean for your State? See State tables showing how funds will be distributed under State formula-allocated and selected student aid programs.(These State tables also have been revised to reflect enacted FY 2003 appropriations.) Secretary Paige spoke at the FY 2004 Budget Rollout Press Conference. President's FY 2004 Budget for the U.S. Government The President's FY 2004 Budget for the United States Government is available online.

President Bush Requests $53.1 billion for the Department of Education for FY 2004. The FY 2004 Education Budget Summary and Background Information provides program information and detailed budget tables. Note: The tables included in the Budget Summary were prepared when the FY 2004 President's Budget was transmitted to Congress on February 3, 2003, prior to enactment of the FY 2003 appropriation.

ED's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the main federal organization responsible for collecting and analyzing data related to education. The NCES FastFacts page provides quick statistical answers to basic questions about education, such as Are American students performing better in reading now than in the past? and How many educational institutions exist in the U.S.? The Nation's Report Card presents the results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which measures student achievement in the U.S. in various subjects over time. The Tables and Figures search lets you search from one location all the tables, figures, and charts published in a number of large data collections and publications.

ED's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the main federal organization responsible for collecting and analyzing data related to education. The NCES FastFacts page provides quick statistical answers to basic questions about education, such as Are American students performing better in reading now than in the past? and How many educational institutions exist in the U.S.? The Nation's

Maintenance of Non Illuminated Traffic Signs 1.1 This policy covers non illuminated traffic signs which may be regulatory, warning, direction signs or advice and information signs placed by the Highway Authority for highway purposes. 2. Relevant Legislation 2.1 Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 imposes a duty on the Highway Authority (Hampshire County Council) to maintain those roads which are maintainable at public expense. 2.2 Well-maintained Highways: Code of Practice for Maintenance Management. 3.1 The County Council shall clean all signs on A roads and at junctions with A roads every year. Other signs requiring cleaning shall be identified using a system of regular highway inspections. 3.2 The County Council shall maintain sign posts as required . 3.3 Condition of important warning and regulatory signs, signs and bollards in a dangerous condition and missing traffic cylinders across gaps in central reservations shall be prioritised. 3.4 Signs shall be kept clear of vegetation obscuring the sign face. Version No: 1.1 Effective from: 14/10/2010 If copied or printed, this document should be treated as uncontrolled and correct only at the date it was copied or printed.

Maintenance of Non Illuminated Traffic Signs 1.1 This policy covers non illuminated traffic signs which may be regulatory, warning, direction signs or advice and information signs placed by the Highway Authority for highway purposes. 2. Relevant Legislation 2.1 Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 imposes a duty on the Highway Authority (Hampshire County Council) to maintain those roads which are m

Appendix Figure 2. Exposure and disease events for each member of the family cluster in Eastern Turkey. Dark boxes, period of illness; white boxes without text, recovery period; thick dark vertical line, death; *Exposed to corpses of potentially diseased poultry. **Most of the members of houses 2 and 3 attended. The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.

Appendix Figure 2. Exposure and disease events for each member of the family cluster in Eastern Turkey. Dark boxes, period of illness; white boxes without text, recovery period; thick dark vertical line, death; *Exposed to corpses of potentially diseased poultry. **Most of the members of houses 2 and 3 attended. The opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily refl

The Office of Sign Language Interpreting Services (OSLIS), a departmentunder D75, provides sign language interpreting services to Deaf parents, students and staff for all programs, activities and events sponsored by the NYC Department of Education. Our staff of 22 nationally certified interpreters provide more than 1200 hours a month of interpreting services in settings such as (but not limited to) CSE reviews, IEP meetings, parent-teacher conferences, impartial hearings, professional staff development, Chancellor presentations and graduations. OSLIS is responsible for the placement of all educational interpreters providing sign language interpreting services to Deaf students attending schools within the DOE. All educational interpreters are screened by our office and placed at schools based on skill level and student need. Other services include sign language proficiency assessments for Deaf students to determine their interpreting needs, performed by staff CDI’s (Certified Deaf Interpreters). OSLIS also offers monthly workshops for educational interpreters on a variety of topics including skills development, ethics, DOE policies and other areas of interest. Starting in January of 2013, OSLIS instituted an interpreter mentoring program to provide support to those educational interpreters working in the school system. In addition to the above mentioned services, OSLIS maintains a comprehensive listing of resource information on sign language interpreting and services for Deaf parents and their children in the NYC Metropolitan area. District 75 | 400 First Avenue, New York, NY 10010 | (212) 802-1500 | Contact

The Office of Sign Language Interpreting Services (OSLIS), a departmentunder D75, provides sign language interpreting services to Deaf parents, students and staff for all programs, activities and events sponsored by the NYC Department of Education. Our staff of 22 nationally certified interpreters provide more than 1200 hours a month of interpreting services in settings such as (but not limited to

Calcium Requirements May Be Overestimated By Rosalie Marion Bliss December 6, 2007 People who want healthy bones have long been told to get plenty of calcium. After all, the body compensates for an inadequate calcium intake by drawing calcium out of bones and putting it into the blood stream. Now, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have reported study findings that suggest calcium's current recommended amount, called "adequate intake" or AI, for American adults aged 19 or older may be greater than necessary. The study was led by ARS biologist Hunt with statistician Johnson, both based at the agency's Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research in Grand Forks, ND. Hunt is trying to fill in knowledge gaps about calcium's estimated average requirement for adults. Today's AI for calcium is 1,000 mg per day for those aged 19 to 50 years, and 1,200 mg per day for those aged 51 The findings were published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency. The body's skeleton needs adequate dietary calcium to reach its full potential in terms of bone mass. Yet calcium alone does not protect against bone loss, especially during menopause. The researchers analyzed data collected from 155 male and female volunteers, aged 19 to 75 years, who participated in at least one in a series of 19 controlled feeding studies conducted at the GFHNRC. The modeling of those data suggests that the average amount of dietary calcium needed to maintain a neutral calcium balance is about 741 mg per day. Calcium balance is the condition wherein the amount of calcium consumed equals the amount of calcium lost through elimination. The body tries to maintain a relatively stable amount of calcium within a broad range of typical daily calcium intakes fed to volunteers415 mg on the low end to 1,740 mg on the high end. When fed the lower amounts, for example, the body was more efficient in keeping calcium. When fed the higher amounts, the extra calcium was simply eliminated. The work is of interest to researchers and to nutrition experts who update nutrient intake recommendations for must-have nutrients.

Calcium Requirements May Be Overestimated By Rosalie Marion Bliss December 6, 2007 People who want healthy bones have long been told to get plenty of calcium. After all, the body compensates for an inadequate calcium intake by drawing calcium out of bones and putting it into the blood stream. Now, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have reported study findings that suggest calcium's cu

Addressing the Global Challenge of Cancer The global burden of cancer is large and projected to grow larger. Each year there are approximately 10 million new cancer cases and more than 6 million deaths worldwide. In many developed countries, including the United States, cancer accounts for more than 20 percent of all deaths. In less developed countries, all-site cancer rates are generally lower and cancer accounts for a lower percentage of deaths. However, it is within developing countries that cancer is projected to increase most rapidly over the next few decades. Unless current trends change, cancer in developing countries is expected to represent 70 percent of the global cancer burden by the year 2030, a statistic driven by demographic shifts toward more elderly populations and the movement toward more Western lifestyles, most notably increased per capita tobacco consumption and higher fat/lower fiber diets. In developing countries, up to 25 percent of cancers are currently linked to infectious agents, including hepatitis viruses and human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer. Approximately 80 percent of the women who die from cervical cancer live in developing countries. Cancer prevention activities in these countries are scant, and screening and early detection programs are rare. Compounding this problem are limited financial resources available for cancer treatment and fewer highly trained and skilled providers of cancer care. Read more Middle East Cancer Consortium Expanding in Size and Influence With the addition of Turkey earlier this year, the Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC) continues to grow and influence cancer prevention and care in its member countries. In June, Turkey, with a population of about 70 million, officially joined MECC at a signing ceremony in Ankara, Turkey. Other member countries include Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority. Turkey's addition brings the population represented by MECC to more than 160 million. "Even in a part of the world where strife and violence are a regular part of life, cancer is a reality that we must do our best to address," said National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach. "After more than 8 years, MECC has proven that despite political and social differences, people can come together and do the work of trying to improve other people's lives." Read more

Addressing the Global Challenge of Cancer The global burden of cancer is large and projected to grow larger. Each year there are approximately 10 million new cancer cases and more than 6 million deaths worldwide. In many developed countries, including the United States, cancer accounts for more than 20 percent of all deaths. In less developed countries, all-site cancer rates are generally lower an

New Studies Highlight the Value and Timing of Colonoscopy Two studies of colonoscopy screening reported in the May 24 and 31 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) fortified evidence of the test's value, and "address two very important and unresolved questions," according to an accompanying editorial. Is 10 years the right amount of time to wait for a second colonoscopy after a negative initial colonoscopy exam? Absolutely, according to researchers at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, who conducted a retrospective population-based analysis using a cohort of 35,975 patients screened over a period of 15 years from 1989 to 2003. The second question is whether people 80 years of age and older will increase their life expectancy by colonoscopy screening. The answer here, according to researchers who followed 1,244 individuals after colonoscopy screening at the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, is yes, but not by much: Those over age 79 gained only 0.13 years by screening, which is just 15 percent of the 0.85 years gained by those aged 50 to 54. "Very elderly patients and their physicians are using individual judgment to decide whether to undergo screening" with colonoscopy, explains lead author Dr. Otto S. Lin. While studies show that high rates of colorectal neoplasia are likely to be detected, he adds, the slow rate at which these cancers progress means they are much less likely to be the cause of death in the elderly. And those considerations must be weighed against the risks associated with screening, including bowel perforation and gastrointestinal bleeding. The Canadian study, led by Dr. Harminder Singh, examined how risk changes over time in those whose index colonoscopy detected no polyps. Researchers compared the incidence of colorectal cancer among the cohort with that of the general population of the province of Manitoba. Colonoscopy screening reduced cohort members' risk by 31 percent 6 months after the initial exam. Over the next 10 years, their risk of colorectal cancer actually decreased because any cancers that were missed by the initial screening presented themselves sooner rather than later, thus leaving truly cancer-free people in the cohort. At 1 year, risk is down to 66 percent compared with the general population; at 2 years, 59 percent; at 5 years, 55 percent; and at 10 years, risk falls to 28 percent. These results reinforce the current recommendation by the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), which is based on observational studies: By age 50, individuals should undergo a colonoscopy every 10 years. Since the cost of screening 1 in 10 Americans over age 50 each year is more than $4 billion, reasoned Dr. Timothy R. Church of the University of Minnesota in the editorial, "it may well be time" for a randomized controlled trial to definitively assess the efficacy of colonoscopy. Although colonoscopy is preferred by ACG, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Cancer Society, each recommends slightly different guidelines for different populations, including at least four other tests that are routinely available: the fecal occult blood test (FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy, digital rectal exam, and double contrast barium enema. What is clear, said Dr. Asad Umar, acting chief of the Gastrointestinal and Other Cancers Research Group in NCI's Division of Cancer Prevention, "is that the majority of Americans over 50 are not getting screened every 10 years via colonoscopy. Following alternative recommendations, everyone should be screened by FOBT annually, or by flexible sigmoidoscopy or double contrast barium enema every 5 years because three out of four colorectal cancers strike people with no family history or other known risk factors, and are very treatable when detected early." While colorectal cancer is expected to kill 55,170 Americans in 2006, it's estimated that 33,000 of these deaths could be prevented if people aged 50 years or older underwent regular screenings. By Addison Greenwood

New Studies Highlight the Value and Timing of Colonoscopy Two studies of colonoscopy screening reported in the May 24 and 31 Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) fortified evidence of the test's value, and "address two very important and unresolved questions," according to an accompanying editorial. Is 10 years the right amount of time to wait for a second colonoscopy after a negativ

The First Climate Model - Ocean & Atmosphere Interactions - Testing the Notion of Global Warming - The First Climate Model - Modern Model Descendants Climate models are systems of differential equations based on the basic laws of physics, fluid motion, and chemistry. To “run” a model, scientists divide the planet into a 3-dimensional grid, apply the basic equations, and evaluate the results. Atmospheric models calculate winds, heat transfer, radiation, relative humidity, and surface hydrology within each grid and evaluate interactions with neighboring points. Click image for larger view. In the late 1960s, NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, New Jersey, developed the first-of-its-kind general circulation climate model that combined both oceanic and atmospheric processes. Scientists were now able to understand how the ocean and atmosphere interacted with each other to influence climate. The model also predicted how changes in the natural factors that control climate such as ocean and atmospheric currents and temperature could lead to climate change. The model still stands today as a breakthrough of enormous importance for climate science and weather forecasting. Earlier knowledge of the oceanic and atmospheric circulation, and their interactions, was based purely on theory and observation. Climate models are computer-based simulations that use mathematical formulas to re-create the chemical and physical processes that drive Earth’s climate. This pioneering model included all the basic components of climatic factors (atmosphere, ocean, land, and sea ice), but covered only one-sixth of the earth’s surface, from the North Pole to the equator and 120 degrees of longitude east to west. Climate models are the primary means to estimate the effects of increasing greenhouse gases on future global climate. Here a model projects a substantial decrease in the 10-year average of Arctic sea ice thickness (in centimeters) during the decade starting in 2050 compared to a century earlier. Click image for larger view. Two scientists from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Drs. Syukuro Manabe and Kirk Bryan, published the model results in 1969. By the 1970s, general circulation models emerged as a central tool in climate research. Dr. Manabe and Mr. Dick Wetherald later used this original model to simulate the first three-dimensional experiment to test the notion of global warming. Their groundbreaking results were published in 1975. To accommodate growth in the size of model outputs, NOAA has invested in a computing infrastructure that can hold 2,000 terabytes (or two million gigabytes) of data. With this capacity, scientists now have the ability to store global climate data on a weekly or even daily basis to investigate climate change. Click image for larger view. The development of this first climate model was based on Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory founder Joseph Smagorinsky’s belief that only a completely new approach to scientific endeavor that departed from the independent, individual mode of inquiry would produce answers to extremely complex problems. He realized that it would take large-scale numerical modeling, with teams of scientists using commonly shared high-speed computers for experiments, to achieve such an important breakthrough. The computer used to develop and run the first model was a Univac 1108 with half a megabyte of memory—not enough to store a song or a high-resolution picture today. Most watches, cell phones, MP3 players, and other electronic gadgets now have computer chips that process faster than the Univac 1108. It took 20 minutes to run one model-day for just the atmosphere. The modern supercomputer at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) currently provides more than 100,000 times the computing power of that early computer.The journal Nature, volume 440, 2006, in a paper titled “Milestones in Scientific Computing,” cited GFDL’s original climate model among other breakthroughs, which have had a profound effect on our lives. Others cited were the first CT scanner, the first hand-held scientific calculator, and the Internet. Computer models have long predicted that the climate change will affect Arctic and subarctic regions earlier and more dramatically than other parts of the world. Recent studies show marked increases in temperature and many other climate variables across much of the far north. Observed trends in surface air temperature from 1960-1990 (shown above in degrees centigrade) demonstrate "polar amplification,” with largest temperature increases (shown in red and magenta) occurring near the North Pole. Click image for larger view. Thirty-seven years (2006) and tens of models later, GFDL recently developed the next generation in modeling infrastructure–the Flexible Modeling System, which provides a common platform for diverse research activities, from weather to seasonal prediction to anthropogenic (man-made) climate change. With this new system, GFDL scientists developed, and now are using, two world-class climate models that have significantly enhanced capabilities relative to the world’s first revolutionary climate model that GFDL scientists ran over three decades ago. Recently, GFDL scientists have used a “descendant” from the very first climate model to examine possible climate changes over the next several centuries that may be induced by increasing atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide. Earlier studies had focused on shorter time horizons. In model results, carbon dioxide quadruples over a period of 140 years, then no longer increases. This perturbation is enough to cause the ocean's global thermohaline circulation to almost disappear in the model. This circulation is important because the ocean is responsible for a large portion of the heat transport from the tropics to higher latitudes in the present climate.In addition, according to model results, sea level continues rising steadily for centuries after the carbon dioxide increase halts. From this perspective, the model, using the best available data and understanding of how climatic factors interact, predicts that a steadily warming planet will be with us for generations to come. The first climate model continues to exert its far-reaching influence through its improved and refined model descendants that scientists apply to help understand and predict the most challenging climate issue of our time.

The First Climate Model - Ocean & Atmosphere Interactions - Testing the Notion of Global Warming - The First Climate Model - Modern Model Descendants Climate models are systems of differential equations based on the basic laws of physics, fluid motion, and chemistry. To “run” a model, scientists divide the planet into a 3-dimensional grid, apply the basic equations, and evaluate the results. Atmos

Amy Knaup (2004) "Characteristics of Survival: Longevity of Business Establishments in the Business Employment Dynamics Data." An examination of the U.S. economy reveals that about 60% of business establishments which opened in second quarter of 1998 were still in existence 24 months later. The largest drop in surviving businesses occurs within the first six months, when 13% of establishments are no longer operating. This paper uses the data from the new Business Employment Dynamics series to characterize opening establishments for the period of 1998-2000 according to two-digit NAICS sector, location, employment levels, ownership status, and survival rates based upon these characteristics. Survival rates across two-digit NAICS sectors vary from 53% in the educational services sector to 74% in the utilities sector. Contributions to the number of opening establishments, however, vary more widely, from one percent to nearly 50% of establishments. Both survival rates and employment depend heavily on location and ownership status, while time to peak employment seems unaffected by either. Last Modified Date: July 19, 2008

Amy Knaup (2004) "Characteristics of Survival: Longevity of Business Establishments in the Business Employment Dynamics Data." An examination of the U.S. economy reveals that about 60% of business establishments which opened in second quarter of 1998 were still in existence 24 months later. The largest drop in surviving businesses occurs within the first six months, when 13% of establishments are

|Title||Modeling transport and deposition of level 1 substances to the great lakes| |Year of Publication||2005| |Authors||Macleod, Matthew, William J. Riley, and Thomas E. McKone| |Publisher||Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory| Mass balance modeling of 18 chemicals that are representative of Level I substances identified under the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy and targeted for virtual elimination from the Great Lakes has been carried out using a suite of models. The goals of this work are to assess the potential of each substance for transport from local and distant sources and subsequent deposition to the surface of the Great Lakes, and to make estimates of the contribution to total atmospheric loading attributable to emissions at different locations in North America and globally. Models are applied to analyze the efficiency of long-range transport and deposition of Level I substances to the Great Lakes (the Great Lakes transfer efficiency, GLTE). The GLTE is the percentage of chemical released to air in a source region that is expected to be deposited from the atmosphere to the surface waters of the Great Lakes.Modeling at the North American and global scale is carried out using two models based on the Berkeley-Trent (BETR) contaminant fate modeling framework: BETR North America and BETR Global. Model-based assessments of Great Lakes transfer efficiency are used to group the substances according to the spatial scale of emission likely to impact the Lakes: (1) Local or regional scale substances: Dieldrin, Aldrin and benzo[a]pyrene, (2) Continental scale: chlordane, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlordibenzodioxin, p,p-DDT, toxaphene, octachlorostyrene and mirex, (3) Hemispheric scale: PCBs, (4) Global scale: hexachlorobenzene and a-HCH.Using available emissions estimates and the models, the contribution of emissions of Level I substances in different regions of North America and globally to the total atmospheric loading to the Lakes has been estimated. These estimates are subject to large uncertainties, most notably because of uncertainties in emission scenarios, degradation rates of the substances in environmental media. However, model uncertainties due to simplified descriptions of exchange processes between environmental media and environmental conditions also contribute to overall uncertainty in the assessment. Mass balance calculations are presented for seven PCB congeners and toxaphene at the North American spatial scale and for the PCBs and a-HCH at the global scale. Comparison of cumulative historical emissions scenarios with estimated emissions in the year 2000 indicates that relative contributions from sources outside North America are increasing as sources are curtailed in the United States and Canada. In particular, Eastern Europe appears to be becoming a relatively more important source to the Lakes. However, under all emission scenarios considered, the majority of PCB deposition to the Lakes from the atmosphere is attributable to sources in North America. The mass balance models presented in this report provide a quantitative framework for assembling the best available information about properties, sources, partitioning, degradation, transport, and the ultimate fate of persistent organic substances. The uncertainties associated with these assessments are believed to be dominated by uncertainties in emission estimates and environmental degradation rates for the Level I substances and further research should be focused on better characterization of emissions and studies of degradation reactions in various environmental media. Given these uncertainties in the overall mass balance calculations, further model-based studies should concentrate on assessing the influence of more refined descriptions of fate and transport processes within the existing model frameworks, and not on increasing the spatial and temporal resolution of the existing models. Once our understanding of the basic mechanisms resulting in deposition to the Lakes has improved sufficiently, research should focus on spatial and temporal scaling issues. |Custom 1|| |

|Title||Modeling transport and deposition of level 1 substances to the great lakes| |Year of Publication||2005| |Authors||Macleod, Matthew, William J. Riley, and Thomas E. McKone| |Publisher||Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory| Mass balance modeling of 18 chemicals that are representative of Level I substances identified under the Great Lakes Binational Toxics Strategy and targeted for virtual

Title of Presentation: Automated Rock Thin Section Device for Space Exploration Primary (Corresponding) Author: Chris Dreyer Organization of Primary Author: Abstract: We are developing a device for automated production of rock thin sections in a space environment. A rock thin section is a rock ground to 30 microns thickness and a polished surface finish. Analysis of rocks in thin section is a powerful tool for understanding the origin and evolution of rocks on earth. Identification of mineral fractions, rock microtexture, and mineralogy allows rock type to be determined. Properly prepared thin sections can be analyzed by a number of microscopic techniques (optical, SEM, electron microprobe, etc.) some of which are already in development for space exploration. The research effort (Automated Rock Thin Section Device, ARTS) is focused on major hurdles to realize the device. Major functional subsystems will be developed to TRL-3. We are focusing our efforts on the development of mechanisms for automated handling of a variety of samples and their cutting and polishing to thin section quality. Sections will be evaluated with standard geological techniques available at the Colorado School of Mines and elsewhere. We are developing a generalized sample manipulation system for preparing thin sections of a variety of sample types, including: arbitrary rocks of up to ~8cm characteristic dimension, cores of >1cm diameter, rock fragments, regolith, and dust. Team member Honeybee Robotics is developing a precision rock grinding device for grinding rocks to thin section quality. In this year, the first year of development, we are developing thin section surface roughness requirements for analog Lunar and analog Martian rocks, acquisition of analog rocks, methods of manipulation of rocks and cutting to a pre-form for fine grinding/polishing, and approaches for grinding and polishing to thin section.

Title of Presentation: Automated Rock Thin Section Device for Space Exploration Primary (Corresponding) Author: Chris Dreyer Organization of Primary Author: Abstract: We are developing a device for automated production of rock thin sections in a space environment. A rock thin section is a rock ground to 30 microns thickness and a polished surface finish. Analysis of rocks in thin section is a powe

|State:||Outside the United States| |Agency:||Federal Trade Commission| |Rule:||Privacy Roundtables - Comment, Project No. P095416'| Comments:There is no commonly accepted definition of Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs), although a good description is provided by UK Information Commissioner’s Office (e.g. in their “Data protection guidance note” dated 2008) as “… any technology that exists to protect or enhance an individual’s privacy, including facilitating individuals’ access to their rights under the Data Protection Act 1998”. Examples include tools for: • privacy management that compare service-side polices about the handling of personal data with preferences expressed by users (for example W3C P3P and EU PRIME) • data access that enable users to securely check and update online the accuracy of their personal data • pseudonymisation that provide - in certain contexts (email, payment, web browsing, etc.) - users with complete anonymity or else pseudonymity (i.e. anonymity that is reversible if needed, for example in case of fraud). From this description, it follows that PETs do play a role in resolving privacy concerns. However, they do not resolve all privacy concerns. Why is this? There are a number of reasons, including: vested interests in obtaining personal information (for example, for marketing); lack of regulatory powers, lack of user awareness of privacy risks and other factors that prevent development of effective economic models for organizational investment in PETs; a rate of technological change that is high enough to introduce new privacy risks at at least the rate that older risks can be addressed technologically and legally (for instance, new privacy risks have been introduced by RFID tags, social computing and cloud computing); the complexity of privacy requirements in a global environment and the contextual nature of privacy risk, making it difficult for people to understand the privacy requirements in a given case; the increasing distribution and ease of exposure of personal information in a global online environment. One way of addressing this issue is for regulators to have more power in order to encourage adoption of PETS; it would not be just a question of increased fines for non-compliance, but encouragement of a new mind set within organizations to ‘do the right thing’, in particular via expansion of the use of Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA) that help organizations assess the impact of their operations on personal privacy, and more generally encouragement of accountability both within organisations and to external stakeholders. Technology can help with this, and moreover will be needed to help with this due to the potential complexity of determining requirements and the need to track and enforce obligations: known techniques include decision support tools that highlight privacy requirements and controls even in a global environment, education and training tools, obligation management systems, cryptographic binding of policies that describe how personal data should be handled to the data itself (‘sticky policies’), improved key storage and distribution, trustworthy location information of data processors, etc.

|State:||Outside the United States| |Agency:||Federal Trade Commission| |Rule:||Privacy Roundtables - Comment, Project No. P095416'| Comments:There is no commonly accepted definition of Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs), although a good description is provided by UK Information Commissioner’s Office (e.g. in their “Data protection guidance note” dated 2008) as “… any technology that exists to

Courtesy of the The By Jaquetta White For three weeks, Coast Guard Lt. Suzanne Gille has spent the better part of her days asking questions, tons of questions. "What's behind this door?" "Why is the door locked?" "Who has the key?" "What happens if the key is lost?" she asked in rapid succession Sunday while aboard the Genmar Strength, a Liberian-flagged crude oil tanker that was anchored in the Mississippi River near Belle Chasse. It's not that Gille is especially curious. Asking questions is her job. "We may ask the same question to five different people," Gille said. Gille is part of a U.S. Coast Guard team assigned to inspect foreign-flagged ships for security compliance. Since July 1, Coast Guard inspectors such as Gille have been required to board every foreign-flagged ship calling on U.S. ports. In the past, such boardings were random. The boardings are called for in two new regulations designed to thwart terrorism in U.S. ports. Since July 1, the Coast Guard has boarded 1,249 foreign-flagged ships in various U.S. waters to check for their compliance with security rules. Twenty-four ships were denied entry into or expelled from the country. Another 50 were detained because they raised security concerns, such as failing to have a proper lock on the engine room. The rest were deemed safe enough to proceed to port. In the lower Mississippi River, the Coast Guard has conducted 261 boardings. Ten ships were detained; none was turned away. About 20 Coast Guards members in 10 teams inspect ships in the lower Mississippi. No dogs, X-rays in use Although many in the maritime industry say the new rules and Coast Guard boardings have already made the nation's ports and waterways safer, others have For example, the Coast Guard teams don't use bomb- or drug-sniffing dogs, radiation detectors or X-ray equipment. The inspectors don't pop open containers or peek behind every door. They mostly make sure the ship is adhering to its security plan, even though the inspectors cannot demand to see the plan. That raises some red flags for "We just don't know whether that process is effective yet," said Wrightson, director of homeland security and justice for the U.S. Government Accountability Office. Wrightson co-authored a congressional report released in June that studied the new regulations. Vincent Monica, an agent for Marine Endeavors Shipping Co., the company representing the Genmar Strength in the United States, isn't sure the security inspections or the rules that come along with them have done much to improve security. Monica said ship crews have always been alert for terrorist activity because piracy still occurs. For him the biggest change has been in the amount of paperwork that shippers have to do. Asked whether he thinks ships are safer from terrorists, he said: "If somebody wants to do something, they'll find a way." But George Duffy, president of NSA Agencies, which is the local representative for several shipping lines, said he gives the new system an A+. He said the new regulations are enough to keep potential terrorists away. "There's more due diligence in making sure that the ships are secure," Duffy said. The Coast Guard is responsible for enforcing the International Ship and Port Security Code and its domestic counterpart, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. Both went into effect July 1. The codes require the Coast Guard to verify that each foreign ship has an alarm system, monitors its entrances and has a system to prevent people from wandering into a restricted area, such as the engine Furthermore, ships must receive security certificates from their home country. Ships that don't have them can be turned back. The new rules are not limited to vessels. Ports and other maritime transportation businesses had to submit security plans to the Coast Guard by Dec. 31. The plans detail the steps each would take to develop or improve their security plans. During the boarding of the Genmar Strength, it was clear that inspectors were concerned about security, such as making sure the vessel has someone who monitors people boarding or leaving the ship and that the engine room has a lock. After meeting briefly with the ship's captain, Gille inspected the Genmar Strength with the ship's first officer, Telmo Cordeiro, while her partner, Chief Warrant Officer Doug Chapman, stayed with the captain to verify security documents, including the security certificate, records of past ports of call and records of security drills. For the most part, the inspection is only a check to ensure that the crew is working to be safer, Gille said. "What we're looking for is intent," she said. "The purpose is to create a safe framework." "The idea is that if there is an imminent threat, we'll prevent that as well," said Jolie Shifflet, a Coast Guard spokeswoman in Washington, D.C. But the primary purpose of the boardings is to hold vessels accountable for their own security. "Just like when you do a safety inspection, the point is to make sure the crew has in place procedures that would make it safe and secure," Shifflet said. Shifflet said the Coast Guard seldom conducts armed boardings with dogs and radiation or X-ray equipment. Those boardings are usually reserved for "high-interest" ships. Shifflet declined to say what percentage of ships calling U.S. ports are considered high interest. However, she said ships from Panama, Cyprus, Antigua, Bolivia, Honduras and Malta raise extra security concerns because they often have trouble passing safety and environmental checks. Other ships, such as the Genmar Strength, are left in the hands of the Coast Guard inspectors who, despite their limited access aboard the ships, must determine whether a vessel is secure. They do that by asking questions. Lots of questions. Many of the questions are aimed at scoping out whether the ship's crew is competent and truthful. Gille, for example, said she might ask the same question of five people to see whether the answers are Aboard the Genmar Strength, Gille was not allowed to view the ship's security plan, which details the measures the crew has in place to improve security. To view it, Gille would need a good reason and the approval of the ship's flag state, which approved the plan. So she has to rely on a set of general security questions to determine the ship's potential threat. "It's difficult because we're not seeing their plan," Gille said. "We have to believe what Wrightson said she is concerned because the Coast Guard is relying not only on the inspectors to ask adequate questions but also on other countries to do proper security checks before approving security plans. The Genmar Strength eventually passed its security inspection, although it did have one minor glitch involving the crew's understanding of how to use the vessel sign-in log. The crew member in charge of controlling access at the gangway had in some cases failed to require visitors and crew members to sign out. "There are some minor things that need to be tweaked," Gille said. "They're compliant with the code. It's just a matter of personal training. The intent is

Courtesy of the The By Jaquetta White For three weeks, Coast Guard Lt. Suzanne Gille has spent the better part of her days asking questions, tons of questions. "What's behind this door?" "Why is the door locked?" "Who has the key?" "What happens if the key is lost?" she asked in rapid succession Sunday while aboard the Genmar Strength, a Liberian-flagged crude oil tanker that was anchored in the M

The BTeV experiment is designed to challenge the Standard Model explanation of CP violation, mixing and rare decays of beauty and charm quark states. The Standard Model has been the baseline particle physics theory for several decades and BTeV aims to find out what lies beyond the Standard Model. In doing so, the BTeV results will also shed light on phenomena associated with the early universe such as why the universe is made up of matter and not anti-matter. Collaboration is a group of about 170 physicists drawn from more than 30 universities and physics institutes from Belarussia, Canada, China, Italy, Russia, and the United States of America. The BTeV experiment will utilize the Tevatron proton-antiproton collider at the Fermi National Accelerator Lab, located in the far west suburbs of Chicago, Illinois in the USA. The experiment is still being developed; installation is scheduled to start in 2006, followed by commissioning in 2008, and data-taking in 2009.

The BTeV experiment is designed to challenge the Standard Model explanation of CP violation, mixing and rare decays of beauty and charm quark states. The Standard Model has been the baseline particle physics theory for several decades and BTeV aims to find out what lies beyond the Standard Model. In doing so, the BTeV results will also shed light on phenomena associated with the early universe suc

To link to this article, copy this persistent link: (Feb 12, 2009) On February 4, 2009, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on a 542-55 vote that urges the European Union Member States to accept Guantanamo Bay prisoners in the event the United States issues such a request. EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot stated that those EU members that comply will receive financial aid to facilitate the process. The Commissioner also stated that the burden falls on the United States to ensure that any released Guantanamo detainees destined for Europe do not pose a terrorist threat. Several conservative members of the Parliament have already expressed serious concern about security issues in connection with the release of detainees who were trained in terrorist camps in Afghanistan following the events of September 11, 2001. A number of EU countries, including Portugal, which has assumed a leadership role on this issue, have expressed their eagerness to accept prisoners. However, none has made any commitment to do so yet. (MEPS Urge EU States to Take Guantanamo Prisoners, EU OBSERVER, Feb. 4, 2009, available at http://euobserver.com/9/27531/?rk=1.) |Author:||Theresa Papademetriou More by this author| |Topic:||Terrorism More on this topic| |Jurisdiction:||European Union More about this jurisdiction| Search Legal News Find legal news by topic, country, keyword, date, or author. Global Legal Monitor RSS Get the Global Legal Monitor delivered to your inbox. Sign up for RSS service. The Global Legal Monitor is an online publication from the Law Library of Congress covering legal news and developments worldwide. It is updated frequently and draws on information from the Global Legal Information Network, official national legal publications, and reliable press sources. You can find previous news by searching the GLM. Last updated: 02/12/2009

To link to this article, copy this persistent link: (Feb 12, 2009) On February 4, 2009, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on a 542-55 vote that urges the European Union Member States to accept Guantanamo Bay prisoners in the event the United States issues such a request. EU Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot stated that those EU members that comply will receive financial aid to facilit

Don't Go With the Flow technique slows water flow against the bank to prevent erosion. A bendway weir is a structure made from large rocks that protrude into the flowing water at an upstream angle. This design directs flow away from the eroding bank. And finally, establishing a vegetated stream corridor is always recommended. A good corridor of soil-holding vegetation along streams is a key component of all practices. Landowner success stories Over the years, the Department’s work with landowners has led to a number of success stories. One such story occurred on Little Maries Creek in Osage County. The Luebbert family has owned their property since 1851, and Chris Luebbert is the sixth generation to live on the farm. In the mid-1990s, an erosion problem developed on his property. “Over a five- to seven-year period, I lost about 2 acres of a 30-acre bottom to erosion at this site,” said Luebbert. In 2000, he contacted the Department for assistance. Luebbert worked with Rob Pulliam, a fisheries management biologist out of the Sullivan office, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to develop a solution. In the summer of 2001, a bendway weir project consisting of three weirs was installed to protect the eroding bank. Trees were planted the following spring to reestablish the stream corridor. Within two years, Luebbert could see a difference. “It’s remarkable how quickly it started to heal,” he said. “You wouldn’t even be able to tell the first two weirs are there if you didn’t know.” When asked if he would do it again, Luebbert said, “Without question. In fact, we are already talking about working on another bank on my property.” Another project was completed on C. Dale Murphy’s property along the Little Bourbeuse River in Crawford County. Like the Luebbert place, the Murphy farm has been in the family for generations. “My family homesteaded this land in 1865 and has been grazing cattle ever since,” said Murphy. “We have been dealing with erosion problems along the Little Bourbeuse since I was a kid.” In 1996, Murphy contacted Kenda Flores, a fisheries management biologist out of the Sullivan office. In 1998, he fenced his cattle from the stream and started planting trees in the corridor. He, too, started seeing results within two years. “We moved the cattle out, planted trees and let nature take the lead,” said Murphy. “We just followed. The difference is amazing. I am convinced that the cows

Don't Go With the Flow technique slows water flow against the bank to prevent erosion. A bendway weir is a structure made from large rocks that protrude into the flowing water at an upstream angle. This design directs flow away from the eroding bank. And finally, establishing a vegetated stream corridor is always recommended. A good corridor of soil-holding vegetation along streams is a key compon

Missourians can help protect our state from devastating invaders JEFFERSON CITY MO – Will you be camping this summer? Boating or fishing? Planting trees or other landscaping? If so, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages you to help save the Show-Me State’s forests, fish and wildlife resources, along with our economy, from an army of invasive species. Missouri’s location in the middle of the continent makes it a crossroads for travelers of all kinds, including a growing number of exotic plants, animals and diseases. Among the better-known invaders are the zebra mussel, gypsy moth and bush honeysuckle. But, the list is much longer. Here are some other key culprits: Emerald ash borer These penny-size green beetles were first discovered in southeast Missouri in 2008. They have already killed more than 50 million ash trees in 14 states, including Missouri. Ash trees make up approximately 3 percent of forests and 14 percent of urban trees in Missouri. In some neighborhoods and parks, that figure reaches as high as 30 or 40 percent. The adult beetles nibble on ash foliage but cause little damage. However, the larvae feed on the inner bark of ash trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients, eventually killing the tree. The MDC is working with other state and federal agencies to help stop the spread of the beetle. A quarantine is in effect in Wayne County that restricts movement of hardwood firewood, ash nursery stock and other untreated ash wood products out of the county. You can help prevent the spread of this deadly invader by not transporting firewood. Get firewood where you will burn it, and burn it all before you leave. Thousand cankers disease This infection of walnut trees is caused by the walnut twig beetle and a fungus it carries. It affects many types of walnut trees to varying degrees, but is lethal to black walnut. It is killing black walnut trees in at least eight western states. The beetle bores into walnut trees and the fungus then forms thousands of growths, called cankers, under the bark. These cankers disrupt the tree's ability to transport water and nutrients, and can eventually kill it. Missouri is home to more than 55 million black walnut trees and is the nation’s leader in black-walnut nut production. Missouri is also one of the largest producers of black walnut wood products. While the disease has not yet reached Missouri, estimates of potential damage to the state’s economy -- through the loss of nuts, wood products and planting stock -- could annually exceed $135 million. The Missouri Department of Agriculture has banned the importation of “raw” walnut wood products, such as firewood, green lumber and nursery stock, from states where the disease has been found. The quarantine does not include nuts, nutmeats, bark-free, kiln-dried lumber and finished products, such as furniture. Again, don’t transport firewood. Get it where you will burn it, and burn it all. This invasive species has been spread from its native range in the Ohio River basin by anglers and bait dealers. Its aggressive nature and fast growth rate enable it to displace native crayfish, reducing the biological diversity of Missouri streams. You can help by not dumping bait. The Wildlife Code of Missouri prohibits the release of unused bait into waters where it did not originate and prohibits the sale and possession of this invasive crayfish. Chinese mystery snail This large Asian mollusk already inhabits several Missouri streams. It competes with less robust native snails, which are important parts of the food chain. Chinese mystery snails are on Missouri’s list of prohibited species and are illegal to possess. You can help by not dumping aquarium water or contents into Missouri’s lakes and streams. Dispose of unwanted aquarium animals humanely and deposit them in your trash. This 2-foot-long Asian import has gained a foothold in southern Arkansas and could spread north into Missouri. It can travel cross-country to new waters, sports a mouth full of needle-sharp teeth and devours game fish, such as bass, sunfish and catfish. This species has multiplied dramatically since invading the Missouri and Mississippi rivers about 20 years ago. They compete with important native aquatic filter feeders and can eventually take over bodies of water. Their impact on Missouri’s commercial fishing industry and sport fishing still is largely unknown, but could be devastating. This non-native member of the aster family takes over pastures and roadsides, rooting out native plants and ruining pastures for cattle. The 2-foot-tall perennial, bedecked with attractive, fringy pink blossoms, probably arrived in the United States in the late 1800s in contaminated hay or seed from Eurasia. Since then, it has spread to more than 45 states, including Missouri. Unlike aster species native to Missouri, spotted knapweed’s roots produce chemicals that are toxic to other plants, killing native species. It is bad news for wildlife and livestock because it is not a good food plant. It was designated a noxious weed by the Missouri legislature in 2008. You can help by controlling it on your property. Native to Europe and Asia, purple loosestrife was first brought to North America in the early 1800s. This attractive but highly invasive plant turns diverse, healthy wetlands into impenetrable stands of vegetation largely useless to native Missouri wildlife. Native wetland plants die out due to shading from the tall, dense purple loosestrife stands. Purple loosestrife is included on Missouri noxious weed list. You can help by controlling it on your property. Common and cutleaf teasel This pair of prickly thistles from Europe has been in Missouri for more than 100 years, but has multiplied dramatically in the past 10 years. It was introduced to North America, possibly as early as the 1700s, because the prickly stem was used in the textile industry to raise the nap of woolen cloth. Teasel’s unusual -- and by some perspectives, attractive -- flower heads have led to its use as a horticultural plant, in flower arrangements and in the craft trade. These are extremely aggressive plants that can take over livestock pastures and open fields, displacing even a thick stand of fescue. Again, these are noxious weeds so it is important to control them if you find them on your property. These “hogs gone wild” destroy wildlife habitat and private property, compete with native wildlife for food, and can pose a threat to humans, pets and domestic livestock through the spread of disease. Small populations of free-roaming domestic hogs have been part of the Missouri countryside since the days of open range. These isolated populations were kept in check by local hunting efforts. The situation took a turn for the worse in the 1990s when hog hunting for recreation began to gain popularity. People started raising and releasing European wild boars for hunting on private land. Some escaped, or were intentionally released on public land, and crossbred with existing free-roaming swine. These “hogs gone wild” are prolific breeders and their numbers are growing at an alarming rate. Left unchecked, feral hogs will spread throughout Missouri, causing million of dollars in agricultural, environmental and property damage. MDC is working with other state and federal agencies to control feral hogs on public lands, and is helping private landowners trap and kill them. MDC encourages hunters to shoot feral hogs on sight. It is against the law to release any type of hog on public land in Missouri. Report releases, sightings and kills to your local Conservation office. For more information on these and other alien invaders, and how to help control them, contact your local Conservation office, or visit www.missouriconservation.org and search “invasive species” or a specific invader.

Missourians can help protect our state from devastating invaders JEFFERSON CITY MO – Will you be camping this summer? Boating or fishing? Planting trees or other landscaping? If so, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages you to help save the Show-Me State’s forests, fish and wildlife resources, along with our economy, from an army of invasive species. Missouri’s location in the m

Princess Fatu Gayflor 0 Shouts - 889 Scrobbles Fatu Gayflor started to sing in her home village of Kakata, in northwestern Liberia. Her mother sang around the home, and "when she was happy" and Fatu became a singer early. A member of the Lorma ethnic group, she was instructed in ritual and songs, and in playing the sasa (sekere), as part of the Sande society as a young girl. In 1978, a woman from the Liberian National Cultural Troupe (a dance and music performance ensemble), touring the country to find new talent, was impressed with the 12-year-old Fatu and recruited her to come to Keneja... User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.

Princess Fatu Gayflor 0 Shouts - 889 Scrobbles Fatu Gayflor started to sing in her home village of Kakata, in northwestern Liberia. Her mother sang around the home, and "when she was happy" and Fatu became a singer early. A member of the Lorma ethnic group, she was instructed in ritual and songs, and in playing the sasa (sekere), as part of the Sande society as a young girl. In 1978, a woman from

The sample design for the NAEP 2007 study in twelfth-grade public schools (the "gamma" sample) achieved a nationally representative sample of public school students in the twelfth grade through the use of a two-stage approach: selection of schools within strata and selection of students within schools. The first-stage sample of schools was selected with probability proportional to a measure of size based on the estimated grade-specific enrollment in the schools. The general target for the twelfth-grade public school sample was 18,000 assessed students. The operational study test was in writing. Pilot tests were also included. Target sample sizes were adjusted for expected school and student response and eligibility. As in past assessments, Black and Hispanic students were oversampled at a moderate rate. Schools in a high Black/Hispanic stratum (schools with 15 percent or more Black and Hispanic students with at least 10 Black or Hispanic students in the twelfth grade) were sampled at twice the rate as those in a low Black/Hispanic stratum to implement oversampling of Black and Hispanic students in the twelfth-grade public school sample. From the stratified frame of twelfth-grade public schools, a systematic random sample of grade-eligible schools was drawn with probability proportional to a measure of size based on the estimated grade-specific enrollment of the school. Schools with a high enrollment of Black and Hispanic students were sampled at twice the rate by doubling the measure of size. Each selected school in the twelfth-grade public school sample provided a list of eligible enrolled students from which a systematic, equal probability sample of students was drawn. As many as 78 students were taken with certainty if the number of twelfth-graders was less than or equal to 78, and a sample of 71 was taken in larger schools.

The sample design for the NAEP 2007 study in twelfth-grade public schools (the "gamma" sample) achieved a nationally representative sample of public school students in the twelfth grade through the use of a two-stage approach: selection of schools within strata and selection of students within schools. The first-stage sample of schools was selected with probability proportional to a measure of siz

What is the NDFD? As the foundation of the NWS Digital Services Program, the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) consists of gridded forecasts of sensible weather elements (e.g., cloud cover, maximum temperature). NDFD contains a seamless mosaic of digital forecasts from NWS field offices working in collaboration with the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The database is available for members of the public to use in creating text, graphic, gridded and image products of their own. Over time, NWS will offer a wider array of gridded forecast elements and a larger set of graphical presentations. Access to the data and a description of NDFD elements can be found here. The policy directive which establishes the framework for weather, water, and climate services provided via digital forecast and guidance databases is available for more detailed information. Concept for the NWS Digital Services describes the transition the NWS is making as we implement the NDFD and presents our strategies for provision of digital services to meet the evolving needs of our customers and partners. Find out more about how and why the NDFD was created, elements in NDFD, verification and See the navigation bar on the left for more links. Images of grids for most NDFD elements are available online.

What is the NDFD? As the foundation of the NWS Digital Services Program, the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) consists of gridded forecasts of sensible weather elements (e.g., cloud cover, maximum temperature). NDFD contains a seamless mosaic of digital forecasts from NWS field offices working in collaboration with the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP). The database is

Marco was the nephew of Sebastiano Ricci, the talented and innovative painter who shifted towards Venetian Rococo in the late 17th and early 18th century. He moved from his home town, Belluno, down to Venice, and he too started his career as a figure painter, following the footsteps of his famous uncle. Even so, his debut must have been fairly mediocre if it is true that, as Ticozzi wrote in 1832, Marco soon "“abandoned his figure studies and took up landscape painting"”. A trip to Rome at the very end of the 17th century proved to be of fundamental importance for his apprenticeship in this field. He was escaping from a certain sentence for murder and he sought refuge first in Ancona and then in the capital of the Papal States. Here‴ he was able to obtain first-hand experience of works by 17th-century landscapists‴ from Salvator Rosa right through to Ghisolfi‴ and he applied what he learnt to a profound meditation on the Venetian tradition of landscape painting in the early Cinquecento‴ taking from artists such as Domenico Campagnola and the early works of Titian. This repertoire of knowledge enabled him to perfect a very personal style‴ initially highly dramatic‴ with dominant brownish tones and an emphasis on chiaroscuro and realism. Over the years‴ Marco brightened his palette considerably‴ partly due to his experiences in Tuscany‴ where he met Magnasco‴ and in England‴ where he was able to see the works of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish masters in local collections‴ and he saw others on his return to Venice in 1715 when he stopped off in the Low Countries. The works he made in the last ten years of his career were extremely luminous‴ especially when he used tempera on kidskin.

Marco was the nephew of Sebastiano Ricci, the talented and innovative painter who shifted towards Venetian Rococo in the late 17th and early 18th century. He moved from his home town, Belluno, down to Venice, and he too started his career as a figure painter, following the footsteps of his famous uncle. Even so, his debut must have been fairly mediocre if it is true that, as Ticozzi wrote in 1832,

Site Map | Text Size: |Home||About the OCC||News and Issuances||Publications||Tools and Forms||Topics| Subject: Community Reinvestment Act Date: September 24, 2012 To: Chief Executive Officers and Compliance Officers of All National Banks, Federal Savings Associations, Federal Branches and Agencies, Department and Division Heads, All Examining Personnel, and Other Interested Parties Description: Income Level for Median Family Income Attached are the recently published Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC)-calculated Median Family Income (MFI) data. The 2012 MFI data incorporate information from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The FFIEC estimates median family incomes for metropolitan statistical areas (MSA), metropolitan divisions (MD), and nonmetropolitan portions of each state. These data are used to determine income levels of geographies in Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) performance evaluations. The annual FFIEC data are used to determine 2012 borrower income levels in CRA performance evaluations. The regulations implementing the CRA—12 CFR 25 and 12 CFR 195—classify the income level of a person or geography as low, moderate, middle, or upper, based on the area median income. Area median income is defined as “the median family income for the MSA, if a person or geography is located in an MSA, or for the metropolitan division, if a person or geography is located in an MSA that has been subdivided into metropolitan divisions”; or “the statewide nonmetropolitan median family income, if a person or geography is located outside an MSA.” Please direct questions regarding this bulletin to your supervisory office or to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s Compliance Policy Department at (202) 874-4428. Grovetta N. Gardineer

Site Map | Text Size: |Home||About the OCC||News and Issuances||Publications||Tools and Forms||Topics| Subject: Community Reinvestment Act Date: September 24, 2012 To: Chief Executive Officers and Compliance Officers of All National Banks, Federal Savings Associations, Federal Branches and Agencies, Department and Division Heads, All Examining Personnel, and Other Interested Parties Description: I

Understanding Radiation Video Series Basic radiation concepts explained by REAC/TS staff To help health officials and the public better understand radiation and radioactive contamination, physicians and health physicists with the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) have developed informational videos that address specific questions about radiation exposure. These videos are readily available for reference by physicians and health care personnel, first responders, government officials and response agency staff, as well as members of the media and the general public. Radiation Dose Explained (1:07) REAC/TS has prepared a quick reference guide on radiation including definitions, conversion tables, radiation dose measurements and treatment information for physicians. Download the Quick Reference on Radiation (PDF, 173KB)

Understanding Radiation Video Series Basic radiation concepts explained by REAC/TS staff To help health officials and the public better understand radiation and radioactive contamination, physicians and health physicists with the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) have developed informational videos that address specific questions about radiation exposure. These videos a

Common name: Tall Leek Orchid, Piano Orchid Prasophyllum elatum R.Br. APNI* Description: Terrestrial herb, to 150 cm high. Leaf to 120 cm long, dark green or purplish Inflorescence often > 60-flowered, crowded. Flowers pale yellowish green to brownish or purplish black, faintly fragrant. Dorsal sepal ovate to lanceolate, to 11 mm long. Lateral sepals to 11 mm long, united most of their length but unification often weak. Lateral petals lanceolate to ovate, to 10 mm long. Labellum sessile, lamina to 10 mm long, broad-ovate when flattened; in living flowers the upper half of the lamina recurves until it becomes erect or forms a weakly erect arch, the margins towards the tip crisped to pleated. Callus plate green, extended at least three-quarters the length of the lamina tip, broad and widely channelled so that the margins form 2 raised, continuous, wing-like ridges (joining at apex). Column wings long, narrow and sickle-shaped; rostellum shorter than wings. Flowering: Aug.–Oct., flowering freely only after fires. Distribution and occurrence: Grows in coastal heath, scrub and forest, and inland in sandy mallee to heath or rock outcrops; west to Narrabri district. NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, CT, CWS, NWP Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. W.A. S.A. This species shows considerable variation throughout its range. Text by P. Bernhardt & R. R. Rowe Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993) APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.

Common name: Tall Leek Orchid, Piano Orchid Prasophyllum elatum R.Br. APNI* Description: Terrestrial herb, to 150 cm high. Leaf to 120 cm long, dark green or purplish Inflorescence often > 60-flowered, crowded. Flowers pale yellowish green to brownish or purplish black, faintly fragrant. Dorsal sepal ovate to lanceolate, to 11 mm long. Lateral sepals to 11 mm long, united most of their length but

Interactive Passive Microwave Sea Ice PageInteractive tools: Custom images take a few seconds to generate. The time required to transfer the image will depend on the size of the region, the magnification, and the area chosen. The range should be a few Kb to a few tens of Kb. You can click on a point in the map below and get a 550 by 550 km image (5 degrees by 5 degrees, 300 nautical miles by 300 nautical miles) centered on the point you select. These images take a few seconds to create, and are typically 3-8 Kb. The daily automatically constructed images are archived: Please write Robert.Grumbine@noaa.gov with your comments and suggestions. Return to Sea Ice Analysis Page

Interactive Passive Microwave Sea Ice PageInteractive tools: Custom images take a few seconds to generate. The time required to transfer the image will depend on the size of the region, the magnification, and the area chosen. The range should be a few Kb to a few tens of Kb. You can click on a point in the map below and get a 550 by 550 km image (5 degrees by 5 degrees, 300 nautical miles by 300 n

Individual differences | Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology | Enantiodromia (Greek: ἐνάντιος, enantios, opposite + δρόμος, dromos, running course) is a principle introduced by psychiatrist Carl Jung that the superabundance of any force inevitably produces its opposite. It is equivalent to the principle of equilibrium in the natural world, in that any extreme is opposed by the system in order to restore balance. Though "enantiodromia" was coined by Jung, it is implied in the writings of Heraclitus. In fr. 126, for example, Heraclitus says "cold things warm, warm things cool, wet things dry and parched things get wet." It also seems implicit in other of his sayings, like "war is father of all, king of all" (fr. 53), "they do not know that the differing/opposed thing agrees with itself; harmony is reflexive (παλίντροπος palintropos, used of a compound bow, or "in reflexive tension"), like the bow and the lyre" (fr. 51). In these passages and others the idea of the coincidence of opposites is clearly articulated in Heraclitus' characteristic riddling style, as well as the dynamic motion back and forth between the two, generated especially by opposition and conflict. Since Jung's recognition of it many centuries later it has been observed in modern culture. For example, it has been applied to subject of the film The Lives of Others, to show how one devoted to a communist regime breaks through his loyalty and emerges a humanist. Enantiodromia. Literally, "running counter to," referring to the emergence of the unconscious opposite in the course of time. This characteristic phenomenon practically always occurs when an extreme, one-sided tendency dominates conscious life; in time an equally powerful counterposition is built up, which first inhibits the conscious performance and subsequently breaks through the conscious control. ("Definitions," ibid., par. 709) Enantiodromia is typically experienced in conjunction with symptoms associated with acute neurosis, and often foreshadows a rebirth of the personality. The grand plan on which the unconscious life of the psyche is constructed is so inaccessible to our understanding that we can never know what evil may not be necessary in order to produce good by enantiodromia, and what good may very possibly lead to evil. ("The Phenomenology of the Spirit in Fairytales", Collected Works 9i, par. 397) The term has also been applied as a neologism to describe the tendency of a younger generation to manifest the undesirable traits of a previous generation, despite the repudiation of these traits when they were young. [How to reference and link to summary or text] |This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).|

Individual differences | Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology | Enantiodromia (Greek: ἐνάντιος, enantios, opposite + δρόμος, dromos, running course) is a principle introduced by psychiatrist Carl Jung that the superabundance of any force inevitably produces its opposite. It is equivalent to the principle of equilibrium in the natural wo

The tiny water bacterium Caulobacter crescentus secretes a sugary substance so sticky that just a tiny bit could hold several cars together. First, it attaches to a surface at the end of its cell body, which has a propeller-like flagellum. On contact, the flagellum stops moving with help from nearby cable-like structures called pili. This arrest stimulates production of the sugary adhesive, which then is released at the attachment site and immediately binds the cell to the surface. Since binding helps some bacteria form slimy residues and hard-to-treat infections, knowing how this occurs could help us better understand how to treat and prevent such outcomes. Read more... Featured in the January 19, 2012, issue of Biomedical Beat. Learn more in the extended caption published on LiveScience .

The tiny water bacterium Caulobacter crescentus secretes a sugary substance so sticky that just a tiny bit could hold several cars together. First, it attaches to a surface at the end of its cell body, which has a propeller-like flagellum. On contact, the flagellum stops moving with help from nearby cable-like structures called pili. This arrest stimulates production of the sugary adhesive, which

7th floor, L&C Annex, 401 Church Street Nashville, TN 37243 DNA Contact List Burgess Falls is a 200-acre natural area in Putnam and White Counties and is located approximately thirteen miles southwest of Cookeville. It is managed by Tennessee State Parks. Burgess Falls lies on the rugged dissected eastern edge of the Eastern Highland Rim resulting in the occurrence of sheer bluffs, narrow ridges, waterfalls, and diverse forest communities. It was named for Tom Burgess. For many decades the Burgess family provided settlers with meal and cut lumber from their gristmill and lumber mill on Falling Water River above the falls. Burgess Falls is most noted for its scenic value as Falling Water River drops nearly 250 feet over three waterfalls. The last of these falls is the most spectacular and begins where the water comes to the sharp edge of the riverbed and plunges more than 130 feet into the gorge. Protruding rocks halfway down break the curtain of water and spread a mist around the base of the falls. The bluffs rise on each side of the gorge framing the falls in rough gray rock. A steep trail leads to the edge of the falls, and a stairway leads into the gorge. There are three major geologic periods represented in the natural area that contribute to formation of these falls. The falls are created where resistant cherty limestone from Mississippian Period Fort Payne Formation sits above Devonian and Mississippian Period Chattanooga Shale. A lesser resistant limestone has dissolved and eroded to form the scenic gorge and surrounding escarpment. The deposition that forms the gorge is from the Ordovician Period and is represented by Liepers and Catheys formations. This is an excellent example of the geologic process that formed the Highland Rim and the Central Basin. Chattanooga Shale is often present and delineates the two subunits. The geologic features that create the scenic value, also supports diverse forest communities. The mixed mesophytic forest is particularly interesting. It includes eastern hemlock, umbrella magnolia, and the cucumber magnolia tree. These are species more often found in similar forests in East Tennessee. This forest also supports basswood, buckeye, sugar and red maple, numerous oaks and hickories, white ash, tulip poplar, and beech. Several showy spring wildflowers include bloodroot, two species of toothwort, wood poppy, numerous trillium species, trout lily, white dogtooth violet (Erythronium albidum), Solomon's seal, columbine, foamflower, rue anemone, goldenseal, dwarf crested iris, and shooting star. Burgess Falls State Natural Area, 4000 Burgess Falls Drive, Sparta, TN 38583-6661 (931) 432-5312; Division of Natural Areas, 401 Church Street, 7th Floor L&C Tower, Nashville, TN 37243-0447 (615) 532-0431. Public access is provided, hiking trails and picnic areas are available. Burgess Falls is operated by Tennessee State Parks. The park is open daily from 8:00 am Central Time until 30 minutes before sunset. Approximately 12 miles southwest of Cookeville on Highway 135 at the White County line. |7.5° QUADRANGLE:||Burgess Falls||OWNERSHIP:||State of Tennessee| |PHYSIOGRAPHIC PROVINCE:||>Eastern Highland Rim||YEAR DESIGNATED:||1973| to Burgess Falls Printer friendly version - pdf

7th floor, L&C Annex, 401 Church Street Nashville, TN 37243 DNA Contact List Burgess Falls is a 200-acre natural area in Putnam and White Counties and is located approximately thirteen miles southwest of Cookeville. It is managed by Tennessee State Parks. Burgess Falls lies on the rugged dissected eastern edge of the Eastern Highland Rim resulting in the occurrence of sheer bluffs, narrow ridges,

In The Prophecies he compiled his collection of major, long-term predictions. The first installment was published in 1555. The second, with 289 further prophetic verses, was printed in 1557. The third edition, with three hundred new quatrains, was reportedly printed in 1558, but now only survives as part of the omnibus edition that was published after his death in 1568. This version contains one unrhymed and 941 rhymed quatrains, grouped into nine sets of 100 and one of 42, called "Centuries".- Excerpted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

In The Prophecies he compiled his collection of major, long-term predictions. The first installment was published in 1555. The second, with 289 further prophetic verses, was printed in 1557. The third edition, with three hundred new quatrains, was reportedly printed in 1558, but now only survives as part of the omnibus edition that was published after his death in 1568. This version contains one u

Water: Marine Debris Plastic Wastes Recycled from Naval Vessel In the 1990's, the Navy equipped all ships with Plastic Waste Processors (PWP's) [BROKEN] to ensure that no plastic is discharged at sea. PWP's create large disks approximately 20 inches in diameter and one half inch thick, from crushed and flattened plastic debris generated from the galley and other vessel operations. PWP's create smooth, flat disks that are easily stacked and stored until a ship can properly dispose of the plastic in port. We want thank the Naval Surface Warfare Center in West Bethesda, MD, for cutting these disks into the shapes of marine animals, recycling the plastic into attractive wall art. Click on the thumbnail of the image to see the entire art work.

Water: Marine Debris Plastic Wastes Recycled from Naval Vessel In the 1990's, the Navy equipped all ships with Plastic Waste Processors (PWP's) [BROKEN] to ensure that no plastic is discharged at sea. PWP's create large disks approximately 20 inches in diameter and one half inch thick, from crushed and flattened plastic debris generated from the galley and other vessel operations. PWP's create smo

Alarm Fatigue: MedSun Small Sample Survey Summary MedSun: Newsletter #65, October 2011 Survey Topic: Alarm Fatigue - Summary of Responses Year Conducted: 2011 This survey is an effort to learn about clinical experiences with medical device alarms, particularly the issue of alarm fatigue. In addition, FDA wants to understand other related issues that may occur with medical device alarms such as alarm discriminability, alarm volume and alarm activation thresholds. Alarm fatigue is a clinical scenario that may occur when alarms sound so often that responders become desensitized to them and may not respond quickly enough or not at all. Alarm discriminability refers to the clinician’s ability to distinguish one medical device alarm from another to respond correctly to the actual alarm. Problems with alarm volume may occur when the alarm sound is not loud enough, can’t be adjusted to be loud enough for the responder to hear, or when settings have been changed and not reassessed frequently enough. Issues with alarm activation thresholds occur when the sensitivity levels for a given medical device alarm is adjusted based on a clinical situation or environment and is left at that setting and not readjusted for a new patient or new clinical situation. The survey involved nine healthcare professionals from nine MedSun facilities. Two of the facilities are pediatric hospitals. Survey respondents include risk managers, staff nurses, nurse managers and biomedical engineers. The information that follows is a summary of responses. During their shifts hospital staff encounter numerous medical device alarms and alerts which may lead to alarm fatigue. Six of nine respondents are familiar with the term alarm fatigue and describe it as becoming desensitized or immune to medical device alarms because there are so many. Those who are not familiar with the term say they are aware of the problem. There are numerous medical devices with alarms. Respondents report the most commonly used devices with alarms are IV pumps, feeding pumps, ventilators, cardiac monitors, sequential compression devices, dialysis machines, nurse call systems, hospital beds, and chairs with exit alarms. Some additional devices in use with alarms include medication dispensing systems, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and pocket phones, pagers, and telephones as secondary alarms. Seven respondents report that because of the barrage of sounds, instances of alarm fatigue occur on their nursing units every day. Alarm fatigue is so common that it makes the ability to distinguish one alarm from another more challenging. When hospital staff hear a single alarm, or multiple device alarms they have several methods for identifying one from another. These methods include checking central monitors in the nursing station, searching room to room, using split screens in patient rooms, and recognizing sounds. The majority of respondents say their device alarms are loud enough to be heard from the central location on the unit. However, they report there are several factors that make it more difficult to hear alarms. These factors include the size and configuration of units, closed doors to patient rooms, and high noise levels on units. Nearly all say they can distinguish urgent or critical alarms from all others most of the time because of a distinct difference in tone, sound, or rhythm. Many memorize the sounds to know the differences and say that over time staff learn the different tones. However, some respondents say that after staff are listening and responding to alarms for the duration of their shifts, the tones begin to blend together. In addition, one respondent reports that some device alarms sound identical, for example, patient beds and infusion pumps, making it even more difficult to distinguish which device is alarming. In addition to auditory alarms, all respondents report that most of their devices have visual alarms. Visual alarms include blinking and/or colored lights, and monitors with pictures or text. Nearly all respondents find visual alarms helpful. Some respondents describe a visual “red” (critical) alarm that flashes along with the room call light at the central monitor that helps to quickly locate the alarm and the patient room. However, none thought that voice alarms on devices would be helpful. They believe that voice alarms would add to the noise and confusion on the nursing unit and think it would be even easier to tune out voice alarms than standard alarms. Also, they believe it may upset patients and their families. Alarm activation thresholds are another critical concern involving medical device alarms. Half of the respondents say volume and parameter threshold settings are adjusted based on a patient’s clinical status and clinical judgment. Others say that default parameter settings are adjusted depending on the type of nursing unit such as the cardiac intensive care unit. Six of nine respondents say parameters are adjusted by unit nurses or other clinical staff. The remaining respondents have their biomedical engineering department make the parameter adjustments. When discussing silencing alarms, seven respondents say they are able to temporarily silence alarms for purposes of troubleshooting for a period of thirty seconds to three minutes. After this time frame, the alarm usually resets and turns back on. The majority of respondents say that serious alarms, such as those for lethal heart rhythms cannot be permanently disabled. And, according to nearly all respondents, once a patient is discharged from the device the alarm settings revert back to their default settings. Respondents have several ideas about alarm modifications that may improve the safety and effectiveness of medical device alarms. One suggestion is increasing the use of “smart alarms.” An example of this is an IV pump occlusion alarm that self-corrects when the occlusion is the result of a patient who temporarily bends an arm with the IV or rolls on the tubing. Another suggestion is linking the apnea and oxygen saturation monitor alarms because apnea monitors are very sensitive and alarm even when oxygen saturations values are within set parameters. Also, many oxygen saturation alarms do not distinguish between values that are high or low. For example, the alarms for values of 89% and 30% are the same sound so different sounds would be more helpful. Another suggestion is providing an escalating alarm or two different tones on cardiac monitors specifically for detecting bradycardia in infants. Having two distinct tones for bradycardia and tachycardia particularly for infants in neonatal intensive care units will help clinicians identify problems faster. Also, several respondents say that when multiple alarms are sounding at once, it would be beneficial if the device could indicate the nature of the problem so the clinician can determine the type of response required. Examples of this include having different tones for a “leads-off patient” alarm versus an alarm for a critical patient issue, or an alarm that specifically indicates a high heart rate versus a low heart rate for an individual patient. Respondents’ suggestions also include designing better technology to improve the safety and effectiveness of device alarms. These include providing clinicians with the ability to receive a text message about a device that is alarming on a smart phone, designing noise-cancelling technology for unit hallways, providing portable monitoring through use of a pad or tablet, and improving algorithms in monitor software for individual patients that are more accurate and can help eliminate false alarms. In the event of an alarm that is disabled, some suggest having a question appear on a monitor screen asking, “Do you want this alarm to remain off?” Also, many respondents believe that in addition to improving technology, working with physicians to establish criteria for patients that need monitoring and those that do not will also help reduce alarm fatigue and keep patients from being monitored unnecessarily. Special Studies and Surveys are two of many tools the Agency is using to evaluate the public health impact of the potential problems associated with the use of medical devices. Additionally, FDA continues to receive adverse event reports from its Medical Device Reporting program. FDA will also continue to make use of the literature and other published information. FDA scientific, medical, nursing and engineering staff are made aware of the survey results as needed. If FDA believes there is a significant risk of adverse events as noted from the survey, it will combine those results with data gained from the other sources. FDA will work with the manufacturers and health care professional organizations to make important information known to the clinical community. Additionally, FDA continues to work with manufacturers to ensure the development, testing and promulgation of methods for reducing the risk associated with these devices and to minimize the complications from adverse events that may occur in the course of normal usage. If the results of any survey raise serious concerns about the safety of these devices, FDA may convene an Ad Hoc group of clinical and manufacturing representatives to discuss further actions.

Alarm Fatigue: MedSun Small Sample Survey Summary MedSun: Newsletter #65, October 2011 Survey Topic: Alarm Fatigue - Summary of Responses Year Conducted: 2011 This survey is an effort to learn about clinical experiences with medical device alarms, particularly the issue of alarm fatigue. In addition, FDA wants to understand other related issues that may occur with medical device alarms such as ala

Arizona Bald Eagle Management Program Occupancy and Reproductive Assessment Flights Seasonal monthly helicopter flights, carried out between January and June, help determine statewide productivity (the number of young per occupied breeding area). Biologists visit all breeding areas during one or two days each month to determine occupancy, stage of the breeding cycle, and the result of the breeding attempt. This method differs from the standard monitoring protocol of two annual surveys employed nationwide. However, it helps Arizona biologists by: reducing errors in productivity estimation; identifying the exact stage of the breeding cycle to assist with the planning of projects; scheduling of banding events; discovering new breeding areas to implement protective management; and, identifying prolonged incubation to allow for collection of addled (dead) eggs for contaminant analysis. More information on Arizona bald eagle productivity can be found on the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee’s webpage.

Arizona Bald Eagle Management Program Occupancy and Reproductive Assessment Flights Seasonal monthly helicopter flights, carried out between January and June, help determine statewide productivity (the number of young per occupied breeding area). Biologists visit all breeding areas during one or two days each month to determine occupancy, stage of the breeding cycle, and the result of the breeding

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches have been used at the CPUC for many years. On August 30, 2005, the Commission committed itself to a new and invigorated program to encourage the use of ADR in formal proceedings. In approving Resolution ALJ-185, the Commission indicated, "We believe ADR offers great potential to the Commission, and all who practice before the Commission, for improving decision-making processes in formal proceedings and certain other disputes." ADR commonly describes processes, such as facilitation, negotiation, mediation, and early neutral evaluation to help disputants resolve a conflict without a formal decision by a court or agency. When successful, ADR may achieve results that a court or agency could not order, give the parties more ownership in the result, and reduce litigation and agency costs. The Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Division administers the ADR program and trained, experienced ALJs serve as neutrals in the program. ADR is not appropriate for all CPUC proceedings. Disputes over purely legal issues do not lend themselves to ADR. Also, ADR may not help in many rulemaking proceedings where the Commission must make a policy decision. Even in these cases, ALJs may facilitate workshops and conferences to identify and evaluate policy options. The Commission periodically reviews the progress of its ADR program. Its most recent report is The Alternative Dispute Resolution Program at the California Public Utilities Commission: An Update through Calendar Year 2009.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches have been used at the CPUC for many years. On August 30, 2005, the Commission committed itself to a new and invigorated program to encourage the use of ADR in formal proceedings. In approving Resolution ALJ-185, the Commission indicated, "We believe ADR offers great potential to the Commission, and all who practice before the Commission, for improvin

Bridgeport Danbury Norwalk Enfield New Haven Waterbury Norwich Hartford Putnam/Killingly Willimantic New Britain Windsor Lower Naugatuck Valley Help Me Grow Mission The Help Me Grow mission is to ensure the timely identification of young children who are at-risk of developmental and behavioral delays. The timely identification of at-risk children and their linkage to the supports and services they need is, first and foremost, good for Connecticut’s young children and their families; secondly, it’s good for Connecticut’s bottom line. Help Me Grow helps Connecticut do the right thing while doing the fiscally sound thing at the same time. Detailed information on Help Me Grow is available elsewhere on this web site. Inspired by CT’s First One Thousand Days Initiative http://www.ct.gov/dcf/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=503690&PM=1 Help Me Grow has been inspired by Connecticut’s First One Thousand Days Initiative and its clear message about the absolute importance of brain development during the first three years of life to the ultimate successful growth and development of children. Help Me Grow has responded with the development of a new population level outreach strategy to complement its ongoing public awareness and outreach activities. Help Me Grow Campaign The Help Me Grow Campaign is a two-year statewide public awareness and outreach campaign that will culminate in the screening of two-year-olds in 13 Connecticut communities in September 2014. Strategic Goals of the Help Me Grow Campaign • To support the optimum development of young children in Connecticut. • To raise awareness re: early brain development and the critical need for universal developmental surveillance and screening in Connecticut. • To screen two-year-olds in 13 Connecticut communities during September 2014. The Campaign will: • utilize the existing infrastructure associated with the Help Me Grow System. • collaborate with state agency partners committed to children and families with the leadership and support of DSS. • continue the ongoing collaboration with the United Way of Connecticut 211, the home of Help Me Grow at Child Development Infoline, the specialized call center within 211 that connects families to Birth to Three Services, Early Childhood Special Education, the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program, and of course, Help Me Grow. • engage new corporate, community, and philanthropic partners. • secure the support and participation of local professionals and business leaders and parents in the thirteen participating communities. The Help Me Grow Campaign will raise public awareness of the urgency of the need for early identification and early intervention through the actual developmental screening of two-year-olds in thirteen Connecticut communities. Screening will take place within a campaign that will include statewide and local promotion activities as well as local events to involve parents, professionals, and community partners. The conclusion of the Campaign will be celebrated in a recognition event for the Help Me Grow state, corporate, community, and philanthropic partners and volunteers. Questions please contact: Help Me Grow Campaign Consultant Phone: 860.424.5687 Email: email@example.com

Bridgeport Danbury Norwalk Enfield New Haven Waterbury Norwich Hartford Putnam/Killingly Willimantic New Britain Windsor Lower Naugatuck Valley Help Me Grow Mission The Help Me Grow mission is to ensure the timely identification of young children who are at-risk of developmental and behavioral delays. The timely identification of at-risk children and their linkage to the supports and services they

Tick fever (bovine anaplasmosis) Red blood cells infected with Anaplasma marginale On this page: - Occurrence and spread - Animal susceptibility - Clinical signs - Post-mortem examination - Treatment and control of outbreaks In Australia, bovine anaplasmosis is a form of tick fever. The disease was probably introduced to this country as early as 1829 by cattle from Indonesia infested with the cattle tick Boophillus microplus. Losses during an outbreak can be as high as 20-30%, although mortality rates of 5-10% in newly infected herds are more common. In persistently infected herds, losses of 1-2% each year are common if control procedures are not instituted. Anaplasmosis in cattle is caused by an organism called Anaplasma marginale. It invades and multiplies in red blood cells. As the disease progresses, infected and even uninfected red blood cells are destroyed mainly in the liver and spleen, resulting in anaemia and even death in severe cases. Occurrence and spread Bovine anaplasmosis is spread primarily by the cattle tick Boophilus microplus. It is only found in the northern and eastern parts of Australia where the cattle tick is present. The cattle tick can become infected at any stage of its life cycle after feeding on an animal carrying Anaplasma organisms in its blood stream. The organism multiplies in the tick and passes to later stages of the tick life cycle. However, the infection is not passed on to the eggs in Boophillus microplus. Consequently, the next generation of ticks will not be infected unless they also feed on a carrier animal. Therefore an infected stage of the tick must transfer to a susceptible animal for transmission to occur. Because the adult male tick is more mobile and lives longer than other stages, it is the most likely to transmit the disease. Biting flies can transmit the disease mechanically but are less efficient vectors than ticks. Mechanical transmission via veterinary instruments (needles, dehorners etc.) is also possible and the organism can cross the placenta to the foetus. Calves from immune mothers receive temporary protection (maternal antibody) from the colostrum (first milk) which prevents clinical disease in the short term, although calves can still be infected in that time. This protection lasts about three months and, in most cases, is followed by an age resistance, which lasts until the animals are about 9-12 months old. Calves exposed to bovine anaplasmosis when the maternal or age resistance is high rarely show clinical symptoms but develop a solid, long lasting immunity. It is therefore possible to have both Anaplasma marginale and cattle ticks present on a property without animal losses or clinical disease. This situation is known as endemic stability. The age resistance gradually wanes and, if cattle have not been exposed to Anaplasma as calves, they will become increasingly susceptible to the disease. If susceptible adult cattle are mixed with infected cattle in the presence of the cattle tick, serious losses due to bovine anaplasmosis can occur. Cattle that recover from bovine anaplasmosis remain carriers of the organism (often for life) and are immune to further disease. There is no clear evidence that Zebu (Bos indicus) cattle are any more resistant to disease than European breeds (Bos taurus) The severity of symptoms is age related, but acutely affected animals will show: - rapid loss of condition - transient fever (40-41 0C at peak infection) - weakness and respiratory distress, particularly after exercise - depression and loss of appetite - mucous membranes pale (anaemia) then yellow (jaundice) - urine is often brown due to bile pigments, but not red as in babesiosis - severely affected animals may die. Cattle that die of bovine anaplasmosis are generally very anaemic and jaundiced. Blood is thin and watery and the spleen is enlarged. The liver may be mottled and yellow-orange, and the gall bladder is often enlarged and contains thick brown or green bile. History, clinical signs and post-mortem lesions are often suggestive of anaplasmosis, but it is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis based on these signs alone. The best method of identifying the agent in infected animals is by microscopical examination of stained thin blood films. Treatment and control of outbreaks Oxytetracycline antibiotics as well as Imidocarb (Imizol® or Imidox®) can be used to treat bovine anaplasmosis. Prompt treatment in the early stages of acute disease usually ensures survival, but severely infected cattle may die in spite of treatment. Note: Oxytetracycline and imidocarb have withholding periods and restrictions apply in Australia to the use of Imidocarb in lactating dairy cattle. There are several options for the prevention of bovine anaplasmosis in Australia, ranging from keeping animals tick-free to vaccinating with tick fever vaccine. - Tick fever: managing the risk - Control of suspected tick fever outbreaks - Diagnostic services - How to make blood and organ smears

Tick fever (bovine anaplasmosis) Red blood cells infected with Anaplasma marginale On this page: - Occurrence and spread - Animal susceptibility - Clinical signs - Post-mortem examination - Treatment and control of outbreaks In Australia, bovine anaplasmosis is a form of tick fever. The disease was probably introduced to this country as early as 1829 by cattle from Indonesia infested with the catt

News and events - Operation RAMP – a global Interpol operation targeting the illegal trade of reptiles and amphibians has been hailed a success - Operation Stirling aims to protect migratory fish from illegal exploitation (PDF 575 KB) - A UK lead, international clamp down on traditional medicines hailed a success PAW Seminar – this annual event is held in the spring and gives our partners the opportunity to meet face to face, and to discuss what skills, expertise and experience they can contribute or share in the interests of reducing wildlife crime. The purpose of the Seminar is to bring together PAW organisations to review progress in tackling the UK wildlife crime priorities and in supporting the broader UK PAW objectives. Wildlife enforcer of the Year Award – is sponsored by WWF-UK and administered by the PAW Secretariat. It recognises the outstanding work carried out by the UKs wildlife enforcement officers and is presented at the annual Wildlife Enforcers Conference. - Details of previous winners can be seen on the WWF website PAW Partner of the Year Award – is sponsored by Browne Jacobson solicitors and administered by the PAW Secretariat. The award is made to the person or individual who has made the greatest contribution to the objectives of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime in the preceding year. This year’s winner was the Driffield Farmwatch who have shown excellent partnership working in combating incidents of poaching and associated criminal activity in east Yorkshire.

News and events - Operation RAMP – a global Interpol operation targeting the illegal trade of reptiles and amphibians has been hailed a success - Operation Stirling aims to protect migratory fish from illegal exploitation (PDF 575 KB) - A UK lead, international clamp down on traditional medicines hailed a success PAW Seminar – this annual event is held in the spring and gives our partners the oppo

24 Mr A. Eden, U.K. Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, to Mr R. G. Menzies, Prime Minister Circular cablegram D38 LONDON, 24 January 1940, 1 a.m. MOST SECRET AND PERSONAL FOLLOWING FOR THE PRIME MINISTER Attention has recently been called to the extent to which German operations against shipping have recently tended to fall with increasing severity on the shipping of neutral countries. The figures of shipping of the three Scandinavian countries Norway, Sweden and Denmark show that during the first three months of the war the total number of ships sunk was 213 of a total tonnage of 63,000 tons. The number of reported deaths was 50. During the month of December 28 Scandinavian ships were sunk of a total tonnage of 51,000 with 133 reported deaths. In the present month up to date 12 ships have been sunk of a total tonnage of 23,000 and reported casualties 53. In earlier stages, German operations were limited to vessels trading with this country but more recently indiscriminate Warfare has been practised not only as a result of mine-laying but also by submarine attacks on merchant vessels trading between neutral ports. Germany's violations of international law and of the rights of neutrals on the high seas are thus becoming steadily more numerous and more flagrant while at the same time she continues to derive great benefit from our scrupulous observance of international law in the matter of iron ore shipments from Narvik. By so doing it seems to us that Germany is piling up a fresh case against herself which is quite distinct from the case we have previously made out to show that she violated Norwegian territorial waters. These violations by Germany of international law on the high seas may well be held to justify us in maintaining that we too should be liberated from the strict letter of the law in those cases where our vital interests are concerned, so long as our action does not endanger the interests of any neutral state or its citizens. The attitude of the smaller neutrals is we know to hold us to the strict application of international law as regards neutral rights, while they themselves perforce acquiesce in Germany's illegalities as practised against themselves. This may be suspected in view of the terror which Germany's threat inspired in most of them. But the smaller neutral States themselves should realize as indeed they probably do, though fear prevents them from acting upon it, that their security depends upon our victory, and that, should we go under, Germany will show no respect for property or rights of the weak neutrals. We have never contemplated taking any action in Norwegian waters which would cost a single Norwegian life. At the same time many Scandinavian sailors have been killed by German action in flagrant violation of international law. Yet we are prohibited from even a technical infringement of that law and thus compelled to allow quantities of iron ore to reach Germany which provide her with raw material necessary to create more armaments to be used against ourselves and neutrals alike. We have, as you know, decided not to proceed at present with the decision to send British warships into Norwegian territorial waters to intercept the shipment of iron ore. At present the position is that we have told the Norwegian and Swedish Governments that we have in response to their request delayed the execution of this decision, while making it plain to them that we consider ourselves entitled to expect them to submit proposals to us for achieving this object by other means. If, as is probable, they do not come forward with adequate proposals we will be careful to consider the situation thus created and examine, inter alia, whether violations by Germany of international law on the high seas are or are not sufficiently flagrant to liberate us from the restrictions to which we are at present submitting in the case of transit of iron ore from Narvik to Germany through Norwegian territorial waters. In case we should decide on a review of all relevant considerations to take action we are studying whether instead of patrolling Norwegian waters we might not preferably lay mines in Norwegian territorial waters and declare the minefield. The object of such a step would be to force ships carrying iron ore out into the open sea, where they could be intercepted. If the Norwegians were to sweep up the field another could be laid at a different point and this also declared. An advantage of this proposal is that there should be less risk of damage to Norwegian or other shipping in Norwegian waters and less likelihood of incidents with Norwegian forces. While no detailed proposal has as yet been put before the War Cabinet we are anxious to give you earliest information of the problem which we expect to be considered in the course of the next few days.

24 Mr A. Eden, U.K. Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, to Mr R. G. Menzies, Prime Minister Circular cablegram D38 LONDON, 24 January 1940, 1 a.m. MOST SECRET AND PERSONAL FOLLOWING FOR THE PRIME MINISTER Attention has recently been called to the extent to which German operations against shipping have recently tended to fall with increasing severity on the shipping of neutral countries. The f

Use of Sedation in the Evaluation Process No child, especially those under the age of six months of age, should be given medication to sedate for testing unless absolutely necessary. Sedating merely for convenience or to speed testing time in a busy clinic schedule is neither ethical audiological practice nor good medical practice. Most normally developing children from birth to 6 months of age can be tested using sleep deprivation and other techniques to induce natural sleep. The standard is to begin with less medically invasive procedures (i.e. behavioral) and move to more complex procedures (i.e. electrophysiological) requiring or including the use of sedation only when deemed necessary to complete the evaluation. Children 6 months and older or children with complex medical conditions may need to be sedated to complete necessary diagnostic procedures when behavioral audiology is inappropriate due to the child's age or other limitations or attempts at behavioral testing have been made with no success. Conscious sedation is recommended over deep sedation whenever possible. Administering the sedation and discharging patients after the procedure is not within the scope of practice of the audiologist. Both the Louisiana Board of Examiners and the American Speech-Language- Hearing Association have adopted standards for the procedural use of sedation for speech pathology and audiology. Audiologists involved with sedation should be knowledgeable of these position statements. You can view the ASHA Technical Report on Sedation and Topical Anesthetics at http://www.asha.org/docs/pdf/TR1992- 00257.pdf

Use of Sedation in the Evaluation Process No child, especially those under the age of six months of age, should be given medication to sedate for testing unless absolutely necessary. Sedating merely for convenience or to speed testing time in a busy clinic schedule is neither ethical audiological practice nor good medical practice. Most normally developing children from birth to 6 months of age ca

Wildlife - Waterfowl Project Report Wildlife Management Areas Habitat Management, Waterfowl Utilization and Public Waterfowl Hunting on Category I Areas Category I Waterfowl Areas include all WMAs specifically, or in part, managed for waterfowl where hunters are selected by annual random drawing. These include Beaverdam Creek and Clemson Waterfowl WMAs in DNR Region 1; Broad River WMA in Region 3; and Bear Island, Donnelley, Samworth, Sandy Beach, Santee Coastal Reserve, and Santee-Delta WMAs in Region 4. Tables III and IV provide summaries of public waterfowl hunting opportunity and success on Category I Waterfowl Areas during the respective 2003-04 and 2004-05 waterfowl hunting seasons. Figure 6 demonstrates annual waterfowl harvest/hunter/day on all areas during the period 1969-70 through 2004-05. A total of 64 and 66 regular drawing waterfowl hunts and a total of 11 and 9 youth/adult waterfowl hunts were conducted on Category I Areas during the respective 2003-04 and 2004-05 waterfowl hunting seasons. A total of 9 youth only waterfowl hunts were conducted on these areas during each of the respective hunting seasons. During the 2-year period a total of 168 waterfowl hunt events were conducted on Category I Areas. Habitat management at the 35-acre Beaverdam Creek WMA consisted of planting approximately 6 acres to corn both years; the remainder of this area was managed for moist-soil plants. Above average rainfall in 2003 resulted in a fair crop of corn, and favorable growing conditions in 2004 resulted in good corn production. Waterfowl utilization on this area was characterized as below average in 2003-04, but hunting participants were successful averaging 2.48 ducks/hunter with ring-necked ducks comprising 66.7% of the bag. Waterfowl utilization at Beaverdam Creek WMA was poor in 2004-05 as was the entire upstate region, and waterfowlers averaged 1.12 ducks/hunter with 57.9% of the harvest consisting of wood ducks. Clemson Waterfowl WMA is an 11-acre area reserved for adult/youth paired hunting. None of the area could be planted in 2003 due to flooding; 7 acres were planted to corn and 2 acres were planted to chufa in 2004. Crops were considered to have been excellent in 2004; despite effort and habitat there was limited duck utilization on this area. Broad River WMA habitat management consisted of planting corn and managing for moist-soil emergent plants. Flooding in 2003 precluded crop production. An excellent crop of corn in 2004 was ruined by tropical weather the rainfall from which also breached dikes on the area. Participants averaged 2.93 and 2.29 ducks/hunter respectively during waterfowl hunts conducted on Broad River WMA during 2003-04 and 2004-05. Mallards (28.8%), wood ducks (20.5%) and ring-necked ducks (20.5%) comprised leading species in the bag during 2003-04. Ring-necked ducks (21.8%), green-winged teal (18.2%) and wood ducks (18.2%) were the top species harvested in 2004-05. Samworth WMA is an area consisting of 802 acres of managed tidal freshwater wetlands in 13 management units. Samworth WMA was not included in the regular draw hunt program during a 3-year period prior to 2004-05 pursuant to requests from public hunters and adjacent landowners in order to limit disturbance, to maximize opportunity for hunters using public waters around the area, and to foster and maintain waterfowl fidelity to the area. Waterfowl habitat on the area has been affected by natural perturbations (flooding and tropical weather) and vandalism; however, most habitat was in prime condition during both 2003 and 2004. Wintering waterfowl utilization of the area during 2003-04 and 2004-05 was excellent. Draw hunts were conducted on Samworth during 2004-05 with participants harvesting an average of 3.04 ducks/hunter. Green-winged teal and wood ducks respectively comprised 57.5% and 32.8% of the bag. Each year a large number of waterfowl hunters utilize public waters immediately adjacent to Samworth WMA managed wetlands. DNR staff surveyed public hunting opportunity from 1983-84 through 2003-04; an estimated minimum average of 1,289 waterfowl hunters per year hunted adjacent to this area during the 21-year period (Table V, Figure 5). During 2003-04 an estimated minimum of 1,664 waterfowlers hunted in public waters immediately adjacent to Samworth WMA. Sandy Beach WMA, located adjacent to and intricately linked to Lake Moultrie, was managed for a variety of planted crops during both years. Proximity to Lake Moultrie renders the area difficult to manage for moist-soil plants due to water level fluctuations. Growing conditions were good during 2003 resulting in approximately 40 acres of successful agricultural plantings, including brown-top and Japanese millets and chufas. Waterfowl response to habitat management was in accordance with expectations during 2003-04, and participants averaged 2.75 ducks/hunter with wood ducks (30.0%), mallards (24.3%) and green-winged teal (22.1%) comprising most of the bag. Excess precipitation and armyworms arrested habitat management efforts in 2004, but good waterfowl utilization of the area permitted an average of 2.98 ducks/hunter during 2004-05. Mallards (34.4%), wood ducks (27.0%) and green-winged teal (19.7%) were top species in the bag. Santee Coastal Reserve (SCR) is the largest of all DNR areas where waterfowl management is emphasized. Extensive brackish managed wetlands occur on Cedar and Murphy islands, which are barrier islands, and The Cape, a mainland management unit. Approximately 14,000 acres on this area are managed for high-quality submerged and emergent plants favored by waterfowl. Waterfowl habitat on The Cape was in excellent condition during growing seasons of both 2003 and 2004 while habitat conditions on Murphy Island was considered average during both years. On Cedar Island habitat conditions were below average in 2003 and excellent in 2004. The extensive wetlands on SCR annually provide foraging and refuge habitat for large concentrations of wintering waterfowl, and hunting success typically is high. During 2003-04 waterfowl hunting participants averaged 4.75 ducks/hunter with 22.7% of the harvest comprised of blue-winged teal. Green-winged teal (18.3%), gadwall (12.3%) and wigeon (12.0%) were the additional most important species harvested. Blue-winged teal (19.5%), gadwall (18.6%), green-winged teal (16.1%) and Northern shovelers (14.4%) were leading species harvested in 2004-05 when participants averaged 3.87 ducks/hunter on this area. Santee-Delta WMA is a vital area for the remaining migratory mallards wintering in SC. The area consists of 1,135 acres of freshwater managed wetlands between the North and South Santee rivers. Habitat management conditions during 2003 were less than ideal as the area remained inundated until late in the growing season due to flooding of the Santee River, however, habitat management efforts produced a late crop of preferred emergent plants resulting in high waterfowl utilization during the ensuing wintering period with excellent public hunting opportunities. Participants averaged 3.33 ducks/hunter with green-winged teal (32.8%) and mallards (25.2%) comprising the majority of the bag. Habitat management was facilitated during 2004 by ample freshwater and predictable tides resulting in excellent habitat conditions. During the winter period of 2004-05 impressive waterfowl concentrations utilized the area, and hunters benefited by averaging 2.27 ducks per/hunter even though there was a 16.9% increase in hunter numbers from 2003-04. During 2004-05 green-winged teal (34.1%) and mallards (17.0%) were the most important species in the bag. Waterfowl hunting at Bear Island WMA has a long and rich tradition. This area includes 5,385 acres of brackish and fresh managed wetlands in the Bear Island East, Bear Island West and Springfield/The Cut units. Habitat management during 2003 was much improved over conditions during the preceding 2 years when extreme drought affected the area with prolonged high salinity. A return to more average rainfall in 2004 further improved habitat at Bear Island WMA, and late season tropical rainfall provided opportunities for both freshwater and brackish wetlands to be in excellent condition. DNR staff planted approximately 15 acres to corn in 2004 with success. Waterfowl utilization in 2003-04 was considered below average despite improved habitat. Waterfowl hunt participants averaged 1.64 and 2.16 ducks/hunter on Bear Island and Springfield/The Cut units respectively, with blue-winged teal (24.3%) being the most important bird in the bag on Bear Island and green-winged teal (20.4%) leading the bag on Springfield/The Cut. Waterfowl responded to habitat improvements in 2004-05 and hunting success improved on both Bear Island (1.85 ducks/hunter) and Springfield/The Cut (3.53 ducks/hunter) units. As in the previous year blue-winged teal (24.1%) and green-winged teal (23.3%) were the most important ducks in the bag respectively on Bear Island and Springfield/The Cut units. Youth/adult waterfowl hunts are featured at Donnelley WMA, a diverse area supporting high quality freshwater and brackish managed wetlands. Habitat management for moist-soil plants was considered average in 2003 and excellent in 2004. In both years approximately 45 acres were planted to corn for winter flooding. Waterfowl utilization was consistently good during both wintering periods. Participating adults and youth averaged 2.91 ducks/hunter during 2004-05 as wood ducks and green-winged teal comprised 34.4% and 25.3% respectively of the total harvest. Adult/youth harvest statistics are provided in Table VI along with summaries of results on Category I and II areas. Habitat Management, Waterfowl Utilization and Waterfowl Hunting on Category II Areas A total of 22 sites across SC comprise DNR Category II Waterfowl Management Areas. Typically waterfowl habitat management on these sites is less intensive, however, areas such as Russell Creek, Enoree and Hickory Top WMAs are intensively managed. Category II Areas are available for public waterfowl hunting on specific days and times during the open hunting season for waterfowl. Public use and waterfowl harvest data are collected on a limited number of Category II Areas including Crackerneck WMA on the US Department of Energy Savannah River Site, Hatchery WMA on Lake Moultrie and Lake Cunningham WMA, a municipal reservoir owned by the City of Greer. Waterfowl harvest results from Category II Areas are provided in Table VII. Waterfowl hunting opportunity on Category II Areas is measured by the number of available days. A total of 303 and 319 waterfowl hunting opportunity days were available on Category II Areas during the respective 2003-04 and 2004-05 waterfowl hunting seasons. Habitat Management and Waterfowl Utilization on Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center DNR staff conducts intensive habitat management on the diverse fresh, brackish and saline managed wetlands on Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center (TYWC), another coastal area. Approximately 3,000 acres of wetlands in 20 management units on this site annually are managed for waterfowl and other wetland dependent species in accordance with stipulations of the benefactor, Tom Yawkey. Habitat on TYWC in 2003 was average as there was higher precipitation than desired for brackish habitat management. During the growing cycle of 2004 habitat conditions were unchanged from the previous year. Waterfowl utilization during 2003-04 was average for recent period, but waterfowl numbers were higher during 2004-05. Pursuant to Tom Yawkey’s wishes TYWC is an inviolate sanctuary, and no waterfowl hunting is permitted. Youth Waterfowl Hunts Several DNR Category I Areas were available for youth participants during 1 day of the annually approved youth waterfowl hunting days. Tables VIII and IX provide harvest and youth waterfowl hunting opportunity data on areas available during these dates. A total of 61 youth harvested 141 ducks (2.31 ducks/hunter) on 7 areas in 2004. A total of 123 ducks were harvested by 58 youth (2.12 ducks/hunter) on 8 areas in 2005. During both years green-winged teal (24.8% and 19.5% respectively) were the leading birds in the collective bag. [ Back to top ]

Wildlife - Waterfowl Project Report Wildlife Management Areas Habitat Management, Waterfowl Utilization and Public Waterfowl Hunting on Category I Areas Category I Waterfowl Areas include all WMAs specifically, or in part, managed for waterfowl where hunters are selected by annual random drawing. These include Beaverdam Creek and Clemson Waterfowl WMAs in DNR Region 1; Broad River WMA in Region 3;

EEA standard re-use policy: unless otherwise indicated, re-use of content on the EEA website for commercial or non-commercial purposes is permitted free of charge, provided that the source is acknowledged (http://www.eea.europa.eu/legal/copyright). Copyright holder: European Environment Agency (EEA). greenhouse gases divided by GDP) between 1990 and 2006. GDP is measured in constant prices (2000 market prices). It is expressed as an index where the intensity in 1990 for the EU-15 equals 100. The EU-27 intensity is relative to the EU-15 and starts in 1993 because of missing data for few countries. A decreasing trend line indicates a relative decoupling of greenhouse gases from economic growth.

EEA standard re-use policy: unless otherwise indicated, re-use of content on the EEA website for commercial or non-commercial purposes is permitted free of charge, provided that the source is acknowledged (http://www.eea.europa.eu/legal/copyright). Copyright holder: European Environment Agency (EEA). greenhouse gases divided by GDP) between 1990 and 2006. GDP is measured in constant prices (2000 m

GOT A QUESTION? USFWS Customer Service Center TTY: 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay) Gulf Oil Spill Early Restoration Plan Focuses on Bird and Turtle Habitat Trustees overseeing the Natural Resource Damage Asessment and Restoration process for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill have released the Deepwater Horizon Phase II Draft Early Restoration Plan & Environmental Review for public review and comment. The plan includes two proposed projects totaling about $9 million that focus on restoring nesting habitat for birds and sea turtles. Response efforts resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused injuries to this natural habitat. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Regional Director Cynthia Dohner, who serves as the Department of the Interior's representative on the Trustee Council, called these projects "a near-term opportunity to improve the nesting habitats of birds and turtles, two species that are integral to the Gulf Coast wildlife community. Refuge Study Evaluates Contaminants in Sea Ducks October 25, 2012 In a study initiated this summer, Kodiak Refuge biologists and Fairbanks Contaminants Program staff are evaluatingthe level of contamination in sea ducks. Blood samples were collected from 30 harlequin ducks and 21 Barrow’s goldeneye to look for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and trace metals (lead, selenium, mercury, cadmium, and copper) as well as to establish baseline levels. The project is specifically interested in comparing ducks banded at remote locations on the refuge to bays close to the town of Kodiak where exposure to contaminants may be higher. Kodiak is a major national port for marine vessel traffic and has a number of contaminated sites primarily as a legacy of its military history. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. Field Notes Entry - KODIAK: Refuge Study Evaluates Contaminants in Sea Ducks Environmental Contaminants Program Ecologist Named to Professional Organization Board of Directors September 26, 2012 Congratulations to Tom Augspurger, of the Service's Raliegh, North Carolina office, for being elected the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North America Board of Directors! SETAC is a not-for-profit, global professional organization comprised of some 6,000 individual members and institutions from academia, business and government. Since 1979, the Society has provided a forum where scientists, managers and other professionals exchange information and ideas on the study, analysis and solution of environmental problems, the management and regulation of natural resources, research and development, and environmental education. Each board member will serve a 3-year term, beginning at the SETAC North America 33rd Annual Meeting, 11-15 November 2012. Silent Spring - 50th Anniversary. An Essay Series September 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring, which warned of the dangers of DDT and launched the environmental movement. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is commemorating the work of Rachel Carson, an employee of the Service for 16 years, with a series of articles on environmental contaminant issues in the Midwest. Rachel Carson worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from 1936 to 1952 and is recognized as one of the world’s foremost leaders in conservation. Her work as an educator, scientist and writer revolutionized America’s interest in environmental issues. In addition to sounding the warning about DDT in “Silent Spring,” she is remembered for her passion for the oceans and coasts, her inspiration as one of the first female scientists and government leaders, and her overall footprint on the history of conservation. To learn more, visit Silent Spring 50th Anniversary- An Essay Series Pollution and predators: a double whammy for tadpoles. Tuesday, August 7, 2012 The occurrence of skeletal abnormalities in amphibians has been identified as a major source of concern, potentially linked to global amphibian declines. Whereas there have been numerous studies reporting the effects of individual factors (e.g., parasites, toxicants, predators) on the occurrence of skeletal abnormalities in amphibians, there is not agreement about specific mechanisms for this widespread phenomenon. Copper is an important environmental pollutant. It is a primary constituent in road runoff due to vehicular brake wear, in agricultural runoff as a component or active ingredient in biocides, and a major constituent of hard rock mining waste and resultant runoff into aquatic environments. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists recently studied how low levels of copper - below known toxicity thresholds and water quality standards - might interact with the stress caused by their predators to influence tadpole behavior. They found that both copper and predators caused the tadpoles to reduce their activity. The biologists think this reduced activity might cause greater attack rates for tadpoles in contaminated areas. The behaviors studied experimentally provide much-needed mechanistic linkages between toxicants and predation as prime factors causing skeletal abnormalities in Alaskan wood frogs. Mining Company to Pay $12.3 Million, Protect 715 Acres to Compensate for Natural Resource Damages Monday, April 26, 2012 The owners of several copper mines in southwestern New Mexico and southeastern Arizona have agreed to pay $12.3 million to resolve their civil liability for natural resource damages. The damages were first documented during a successful Service Law Enforcement and Environmental Contaminants investigation that secured criminal prosecutions for the deaths of migratory birds linked to the release of sulfuric acid, metals, and other hazardous substances at the companies' mines. Proposed Consent Decree (4 MB pdf) Being Prepared for an Oil Spill at San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge is Essential Monday, March 19, 2012 The San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge provides habitat for the federally-listed California least tern, Light-footed clapper rail and Western snowy plover as well as an endangered plant species, Salt marsh bird’s beak. Being prepared to respond to an oil spill is essential to protecting these endangered and threatened species. Recently, Federal and state agencies, and non-profit organizations, teamed up to tested a number of strategies to deal accidental spills in this area.

GOT A QUESTION? USFWS Customer Service Center TTY: 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay) Gulf Oil Spill Early Restoration Plan Focuses on Bird and Turtle Habitat Trustees overseeing the Natural Resource Damage Asessment and Restoration process for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill have released the Deepwater Horizon Phase II Draft Early Restoration Plan & Environmental Review for public review and com

August 24, 2010, is the first day of school for many children in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, many parents will be forced to send their children to low-performing schools because they, unlike President Obama and members of Congress, do not have the resources to send their children to a private school or to move to a safer town with better-performing public schools. Thanks to the Opportunity Scholarship Program, more than 1,000 students will escape failing schools this year and choose a safe school that will educate them. Background: In 2004, Congress enacted an Opportunity Scholarship Program for low-income children in Washington, DC. The legislation provided approximately $13 million for low-income children to escape some of DC’s worst-performing schools and attend a school of their choice. Each scholarship is worth $7,500 per child and may be used for tuition, school fees, and transportation. Student Eligibility: To receive a scholarship, students must reside in Washington, DC, and be in grade K through 12. Specifically, students who attend schools in need of improvement (SINI) have a priority, and 85 percent of students who receive an opportunity scholarship are leaving schools that have been designated SINI. The average household income for scholarship recipients is approximately $25,000, which is lower than the eligibility limit. Participation—Demand Outpaces Supply: Since school year 2004-05, nearly 9,000 children have applied for a scholarship to escape a failing school. To date, more than 3,300 children have received a scholarship and used the money to escape a failing school. Students have used the scholarship at 68 of the 88 general purpose private schools that participate in the program. Despite sending their children to better-performing schools, President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan prevented 216 children from using their awarded scholarships during the 2010-11 school year. Results: Based on the findings of some recent independent studies, the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program is working. Recently, Patrick Wolf at the University of Arkansas compared graduation rates and parental satisfaction between children who received a scholarship and children who were eligible and applied for a scholarship but did not receive one. Wolf found: Second, the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Institute for Education Sciences found that Opportunity Scholarship Program participants’ academic gains were the largest achievement impact of any of the 11 federal education programs it studied. Current Status: The Obama Administration and the Democrats in Congress are killing the program. They have barred children—even siblings of children currently receiving a scholarship—from enrolling and have slashed funding for the program that is saving lives and helping low-income children fulfill their dreams. While many low-income families in Washington, DC, are forced to send their children to failing and, at times, unsafe schools, President Obama and Sec. Arne Duncan will send their children to safe and better-performing schools this school year. The DC Opportunity Scholarship Program is an education lifeline for thousands of low-income children in Washington, DC, and it is working. Without a scholarship, these children would be stuck in schools that fail them. Unfortunately, President Obama, Sec. Duncan, and Democrats in Congress do not support this program.

August 24, 2010, is the first day of school for many children in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, many parents will be forced to send their children to low-performing schools because they, unlike President Obama and members of Congress, do not have the resources to send their children to a private school or to move to a safer town with better-performing public schools. Thanks to the Opportunity Scho

What's On in and Around Launceston? This section of the website contains information about events taking place in the Town Hall itself, Town Square and various other venues in and around the town centre. The Town Hall and Town Square are administered by the Town Council and play host to an ever-increasing array of events - from fund raisers to private weddings. Please see the separate section of this website (Venue For Hire) for details of how to hire the Town Hall or Town Square. The Launceston 2020 organisation produces a weekly list of events in and around Launceston. Their contact details can be found on their weekly list so if you would like your event listed please contact Launceston 2020 direct. Click on http://www.launceston-2020.co.uk for the latest list or to contact them. The 'Regular Events' document (below) lists the regular Markets, Book Sales, Bric-a-Brac/Jumble Sales which take place in the town. For events in the Town Hall and Town Square, please click on the link below for our Calendar - this also includes the Town Mayor's appointments diary and the calendar of Council Meetings for the year. Visitor Information - TIC Launceston's Tourist Information Centre is a resource for locals as well as tourists and has lots of information about what's going on in and around Launceston, with leaflets from local attractions and information about accommodation providers. The Charles Causley Festival - Launceston's Festival of Literature & the Arts Weekend June 7-9 2013 Sir Andrew Motion, the former Poet Laureate with his new collection of poems - The Customs House. Matt Harvey Penelope Shuttle Dave Mynne Anthony Gibson Caspar Henderson Peter Edwards Peter Oswald Lawrence Green James Clarkson on John Donne Alan Kent & Beast of Bodmin Moor Castle Green events with Kernowcopia, workshops, art & photography exhibitions, puppet show & garden party, town walks and much more... For more info telephone 01566 772321 or visit www.charlescausleyfestival.co.uk Street Party at Launceston Town Square to commemorate the Queen's 60th Anniversary of her Coronation. 2pm - 5pm. Bring a picnic - tables and chairs will be provided. Took book a table please call 01566 773479

What's On in and Around Launceston? This section of the website contains information about events taking place in the Town Hall itself, Town Square and various other venues in and around the town centre. The Town Hall and Town Square are administered by the Town Council and play host to an ever-increasing array of events - from fund raisers to private weddings. Please see the separate section of t

2 results containing "Aerial views--1950." Larger image available anywhere Larger image available only at the Library of Congress (2) Southern Rhodesia. Southern Rhodesia is divided from Northern Rhodesia by ... Cleveland Municipal Stadium during Cleveland-Detroit night baseball game, June 30, ... All ways to connect DonateInspector General | External Link Disclaimer |

2 results containing "Aerial views--1950." Larger image available anywhere Larger image available only at the Library of Congress (2) Southern Rhodesia. Southern Rhodesia is divided from Northern Rhodesia by ... Cleveland Municipal Stadium during Cleveland-Detroit night baseball game, June 30, ... All ways to connect DonateInspector General | External Link Disclaimer |

August 28, 1980 ********** (Your Company) manufactures an air-to-air heat exchanger which transfers heat by conduction through a plastic sheet from warm air being exhausted out of a structure into cooler fresh air being drawn in for ventilation. The purpose of the exchanger is to retain some heat that would otherwise be lost with the exhaust air. The heat exchanger uses no compressor and contains no refrigerant. In its several models, it may be used in connection with residential structures, commercial and industrial buildings, greenhouses, indoor swimming pools and housing for animals. You inquire whether expenditures for such heat exchangers are entitled to special treatment under the Massachusetts tax laws. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 62, Section 6(d) allows a credit against income tax for certain renewable energy source property expenditures made in connection with a person's principal residence in Massachusetts. To qualify for the credit, expenditures must be for property which transmits or uses solar energy, wind energy, or another form of energy specified by the Commissioner by regulation, for purposes enumerated in Section 6(d). To date, no form of energy other than solar or wind has been specified as qualifying for the credit. The Massachusetts sales tax statute provides in Chapter 64H, Section 6(dd) that sales of equipment directly relating to any solar, wind-powered, or heat pump system, which is being utilized as a primary or auxiliary power system for the purpose of heating or otherwise supplying the energy needs of an individual's principal residence in Massachusetts, are exempt from the sales tax. Based on the foregoing, it is ruled that: (1) the air-to-air heat exchanger is not eligible for the income tax credit provided under Chapter 62, Section 6(d); and (2) since it operates without the use of a refrigerant and compressor, the air-to-air heat exchanger does not constitute a "heat pump system" the sale of which is exempt from Massachusetts sales tax under Chapter 64H, Section 6(dd). Very truly yours, /s/L. Joyce Hampers L. Joyce Hampers Commissioner of Revenue

August 28, 1980 ********** (Your Company) manufactures an air-to-air heat exchanger which transfers heat by conduction through a plastic sheet from warm air being exhausted out of a structure into cooler fresh air being drawn in for ventilation. The purpose of the exchanger is to retain some heat that would otherwise be lost with the exhaust air. The heat exchanger uses no compressor and contains

Navajo County Public Health Services Polio is a disease caused by a virus. It enters a child’s (or adult’s) body through the mouth. Sometimes it does not cause serious illness. But sometimes it causes paralysis (can’t move arm or leg). It can kill people who get it, usually by paralyzing the muscles that help them breathe. Polio used to be very common in the United States. It paralyzed and killed thousands of people a year before we had a vaccine for it. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) can prevent polio. A 1916 polio epidemic in the United States killed 6,000 people and paralyzed 27,000 more. In the early 1950’s there were more than 20,000 cases of polio each year. Polio vaccination was begun in 1955. By 1960 the number of cases had dropped to about 3,000, and by 1979 there were only about 10. The success of polio vaccination in the U.S. and other countries sparked a world-wide effort to eliminate polio. No wild polio has been reported in the United States for over 20 years. But the disease is still common in some parts of the world. It would only take one case of polio from another country to bring the disease back if we were not protected by vaccine. If the effort to eliminate the disease from the world is successful, some day we won’t need polio vaccine. Unitl then, we need to keep getting our children Most children should get 4 doses of polio vaccine at these ages: 12 - 18 months 4 - 6 years Oral Polio Vaccine No longer recommended. Types of Polio Vaccine IPV, which is the shot recommended in the United States today, and a live, oral polio vaccine (OPV), which is drops that are swollowed. Until recently OPV was recommended for most children in the United States. OPV helped us rid the country of polio, and it is still used in many parts of the world. Both vaccines give immunity to polio, but OPV is better at keeping the disease from spreading to other people. However, for a few people (about one in 2.4 million), OPV actually causes polio. Since the risk of getting polio in the United States is now extremely low, experts believe that using oral polio vaccine is no longer worth the slight risk, except in limited cirucumstances which your doctor can describe. The polio shot (IPV) does not cause polio. If you or your child will be getting OPV, ask for a copy of the OPV supplemental Vacine Information Statement. For more information, visit your local health department or Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Arizona Department of Health. Top of Page

Navajo County Public Health Services Polio is a disease caused by a virus. It enters a child’s (or adult’s) body through the mouth. Sometimes it does not cause serious illness. But sometimes it causes paralysis (can’t move arm or leg). It can kill people who get it, usually by paralyzing the muscles that help them breathe. Polio used to be very common in the United States. It paralyzed and killed

NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide This section contains more specific information on the AVHRR instrument. Section 3.1 describes the GAC data characteristics and the tape formats available (full copy, selective extracts, and unpacked format). Similarly, Section 3.2 contains specific information about LAC/HRPT data. Section 3.3 describes the calibration procedures for AVHRR data (both visible and thermal). NESDIS has instituted several improvements to the original Level 1b format. The current enhancement and resulting data format is detailed in this section, with previous enhancements detailed in Appendices K and L. The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) represents an improvement over the VHRR sensor flown aboard the ITOS series of operational satellites (the last of which was-NOAA-5). The AVHRR is a cross-track scanning system similar to the VHRR, but features four or five spectral channels, compared to just two for the VHRR. The AVHRR flown aboard TIROS-N, NOAA-6, NOAA-8, and NOAA-10 has four channels, and the AVHRR aboard NOAA-7, NOAA-9, NOAA-11, NOAA-12 and NOAA-13 has five channels. Subsequent satellites in the series will have five. Provision has been made for five channels in the data format for all satellites. Channel 5 contains a repeat of Channel 4 data, when only four different channels are available. The spectral band widths (in micrometers) of the AVHRR channels for the TIROS-N series and those proposed for the remaining spacecraft are shown in Table 3.0.1-1. In addition, the Instantaneous Field of View (IFOV) in milliradians is included for each channel in Table 3.0.1-1. The spectral response functions for each satellite are contained in the figures in Section 1.4. |5||Channel 4 repeated||Channel 4 repeated||11.5-12.5||11.4-12.4||1.30| The IFOV of each channel is approximately 1.4 milliradians leading to a resolution at the satellite subpoint of 1.1 km for a nominal altitude of 833 km. The scanning rate of the AVHRR is 360 scans per minute. The time within each scan line of AVHRR data represents IFOV #1. The analog data output from the sensors is digitized on board the satellite at a rate of 39,936 samples per second per channel. Each sample step corresponds to an angle of scanner rotation of 0.95 milliradians. At this sampling rate, there are 1.362 samples per IFOV. A total of 2048 samples will be obtained per channel per Earth scan, which will span an angle of ±55.4 degrees from the nadir (subpoint view). The IR channels are calibrated in-flight using a view of a stable blackbody and space as a reference. No in-flight visible channel calibration is performed (although the spaceview is available as one reference point). Although these will vary from instrument to instrument, the design goals for the IR channels were an NEΔT (Noise Equivalent differential Temperature) of 0.12 K (@ 300 K) and a S/N (signal to noise ratio) of 3:1 @ 0.5% albedo. Users should be aware that AVHRR Channel 3 data on each TIROS-N series spacecraft have been very noisy due to a spacecraft problem and may be unusable, especially when the satellite is in daylight. As a result of the design of the AVHRR scanning system, the normal operating mode of the satellite calls for direct transmission to Earth (continuously in real-time) of AVHRR data. This direct transmission is called HRPT, for High Resolution Picture Transmission. In addition to the HRPT mode, about ten minutes of data may be selectively recorded on each of two recorders on board the satellite for later playback. These recorded data are referred to as LAC (Local Area Coverage) data. LAC data may be recorded over any portion of the world as selected by NOAA/NESDIS and played back on the same orbit as recorded or during a subsequent orbit. LAC and HRPT data have identical formats. The full resolution data is also processed on board the satellite into GAC (Global Area Coverage) data which is recorded only for readout by CDA stations. GAC data contains only one out of three original AVHRR lines and the data volume and resolution are further reduced by starting with the third sample along the scan line, averaging the next four samples, and skipping the next sample. The sequence of average four, skip one is continued to the end of the scan line. Amended December 23, 1998 |Previous Section||Top of Page||Next Section|

NOAA Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide This section contains more specific information on the AVHRR instrument. Section 3.1 describes the GAC data characteristics and the tape formats available (full copy, selective extracts, and unpacked format). Similarly, Section 3.2 contains specific information about LAC/HRPT data. Section 3.3 describes the calibration procedures for AVHRR data (both visible an

WASHINGTON, DC (September 6, 2012) – Oscar-nominated actress Alfre Woodard will read Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl at the Lincoln Memorial on September 17 as the National Endowment for the Humanities and Howard University sponsor "Celebrating Freedom," a commemoration of the issuance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. The hour-long program will feature readings, dance, and musical performances marking the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s announcement of his intention to free the slaves in the Confederacy. Howard University’s Afro Blue vocal jazz ensemble will perform, a university color guard will march, and dramatic readings of historical narratives, essays and poems will mark the momentous event. The performance will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. at the base of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC on Monday, September 17. The event is free and open to the public. The Lincoln Memorial performance is the culmination of NEH’s Emancipation Nation day long commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s 1862 Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. It follows a 1:30 p.m. panel discussion by Civil War scholars on the events leading up to the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation from the perspective of President Lincoln, enslaved African Americans, Civil War soldiers, abolitionists, and Northern free blacks. This panel will be live-streamed from Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to “watch parties” of viewers around the country. To register to host a watch party, or find one near you, visit: http://emancipation.neh.gov/live/host-a-watch-party/ In conjunction with the Emancipation Nation events, NEH is sponsoring a student contest for young people 18 years of age or older to submit essays or other original works based on documents presented in two NEH-funded digital projects: The Freedmen and Southern Society Project and Visualizing Emancipation. Winners will receive cash prizes and a trip to Washington. For details about the contest, please see: http://emancipation.neh.gov/student-contest/ The Emancipation Nation program coincides with Constitution Day. In 2004, Congress declared September 17 as Constitution Day, mandating that all federally funded educational institutions study the U.S. Constitution. The Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation is a key moment in the process that led to the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment, which outlawed slavery. For more information about the September 17 events, please see http://emancipation.neh.gov.

WASHINGTON, DC (September 6, 2012) – Oscar-nominated actress Alfre Woodard will read Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl at the Lincoln Memorial on September 17 as the National Endowment for the Humanities and Howard University sponsor "Celebrating Freedom," a commemoration of the issuance of the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. The hour-long program will feature readings, dance, and music

Bubble Wrap and Thermal Transfer Country: United States Date: June 2006 How does bubble wrap reduce thermal energy transfer? Air, especially when it is not free to circulate, is a poor heat conductor. The idea behind many types of insulation -- not just bubble wrap -- is to trap the air so that it is not free to circulate. That is what bubble wrap does. It traps the air in the bubbles so that it cannot circulate, except within each cell. The same idea applies to foam cups used to serve hot beverages. If you look at such a cup with a magnifying glass -- crush it so you can see inside the walls of the cup -- you will see that it is made up of tiny air bubbles too. This prevents the hot air (or steam) from moving easily from the hot liquid to your hand. Whenever you go into a room, or outside for example, your body begins heating the air around it to about the same temperature as you are. This is why wind feels cool, as the air immidiately around you is constantly being refreshed, and must be reheated. Warm clothes, such as a fluffy sweater, trap the air right next to your body so it is not being replaced so fast. Bubblewrap, like you asked about, actually contains the same small amounts of air in tiny plastic bubbles. This prevents the air from blowing or floating away as it is heated. Since air does not conduct the heat very well itself, that heat gets trapped right there with the bubble wrap. Click here to return to the Engineering Archives Update: June 2012

Bubble Wrap and Thermal Transfer Country: United States Date: June 2006 How does bubble wrap reduce thermal energy transfer? Air, especially when it is not free to circulate, is a poor heat conductor. The idea behind many types of insulation -- not just bubble wrap -- is to trap the air so that it is not free to circulate. That is what bubble wrap does. It traps the air in the bubbles so that it c

NATHAN CUMMINGS THE BUSINESSMAN Now celebrated as a collector of companies as well as art, Nathan Cummings future did not look auspicious at the time of his birth in 1896 in St John, New Brunswick, Canada, the first child of migrants from Lithuania. It was pure chance that he was born Canadian: his parents had disembarked there, the first port of call, assuming it was their destination, New York City. The family moved to Waltham, Massachusetts, setting up a small shoe shop. They moved to Manchester, New Hampshire, and eventually relocated their business in Montreal. Cummings dreamed of becoming a businessman but had little education to prepare him. He was not able to finish high school at Waltham, but was sent to the Dry Goods Economist Training School in New York for a year before returning to work with his father. From the age of fifteen he sold shoes until, at nineteen, he took on the job of travelling salesman for a shoe manufacturer. Determined to succeed, Cummings had a shoe shop and factory of his own by 1924, but the business foundered during the Depression, and he was forced to declare himself bankrupt in 1932. A model of tenacity, he paid off his debts and started afresh. By the mid-thirties he had acquired a biscuit and candy company in Canada and the success of the business prompted an invitation to manage the Baltimore based coffee, tea and sugar chain, C.D. Kenny Company. Cummings acquired the company in 1941 and its continued prosperity allowed him to expand his holdings to found a business empire. Cummings acquired company after company in the next decade. He established his corporate headquarters in Chicago in 1945, forming the Consolidated Grocers Corporation as the hub from which to control the conglomerate. His first art purchase was made in the same year. In 1954 the company name was changed to Consolidated Foods Corporation, which Cummings thought was 'less old-fashioned', and in 1985 the name Sara Lee Corporation was adopted. Sara Lee was the name of one of the company's best known brands, which Cummings had acquired in 1956. Cummings had retired from the company in 1968, but remained honorary chairman and active in company affairs until the end of his life. Nathan Cummings died in 1985. THE ART COLLECTOR There was little in Nathan Cummings's background to suggest an affinity with art. Later in his life, when he was known for his patronage and surrounded by his illustrious collection, he liked to tell of his first tentative encounter with art: 'An advertising man convinced me that I should have a painting made of the view from my window.' Cummings liked it so much that he asked the artist to paint the scene a second time - the view at night. His satisfaction with these works sparked an interest in collecting art that was to develop with the passion of the newly-converted. Cummings's first significant acquisition was made in Paris in 1945, immediately after the Second World War, when he purchased Camille Pissarro's Bountiful harvest 1893 which he noticed in the window of an art dealer. He knew nothing of Pissarro, but he was confident in what he liked. The painting, which can be seen in this exhibition, is bright, cheerful and direct in its appeal, much like Cummings himself. He collected with a verve and aggressive optimism that characterised his career. He responded to art intuitively, judging a painting the way he would assess a company he wished to acquire, 'by the smell'. Cummings had a voracious appetite for living. He surrounded himself with people, making friends from all walks of life. He was at ease as much with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor as with his good friend Bob Hope, who appeared out of a cake at Cummings's eightieth birthday. His social circle also included many of the artists whose work he collected - for example, Henry Moore, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Georges Braque, Giacomo Manzù and Alberto Giacometti Cummings did not confine himself to the acquisition of blue-chip impressionist and 20th-century master paintings. He enjoyed contemporary art and delighted in new discoveries. He often acquired whole series of works by artists he liked, later distributing the works to friends or scattering them around the workplace. At one time he owned a fishing fleet and ensured that each of the fifteen boats was equipped with its own work of art. He bought and sold without expecting to keep the works forever, allowing old favourites to be replaced by new enthusiasms. Cummings expected that everyone would share his passion for art: as well as giving away works of art as presents, he displayed parts of his collection in the offices of his companies for the enjoyment of the staff. He shared his good fortune, making contributions to hospitals and universities, and naturally extending his philanthropy to the arts. In 1970, when his collection was shown at the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, Cummings remarked at the opening that: 'The arts have meant a great deal to me and continue to be a source of tremendous satisfaction and thrilling experiences. And like so many who have come to know and love the fine arts, I feel their beauty and meaningfulness must be shared. If you ask me what is my plan, my philosophy, believe me, I can't explain it. I get some electrifying impulse when I see a picture I like. And when I come home in the evening, I revisit every picture in our living room, in my study, in our gallery... And I can always find something new and beautiful in every one of the pictures hanging on our walls.'

NATHAN CUMMINGS THE BUSINESSMAN Now celebrated as a collector of companies as well as art, Nathan Cummings future did not look auspicious at the time of his birth in 1896 in St John, New Brunswick, Canada, the first child of migrants from Lithuania. It was pure chance that he was born Canadian: his parents had disembarked there, the first port of call, assuming it was their destination, New York C

Environmental Factor, August 2010, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences NIEHS Launches NanoHealth Signature Program By Eddy Ball Six months ago a team of investigators led by NIEHS Clinical Research Unit Medical Director and Matrix Biology Group Head Stavros Garantziotis, M.D. (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/lrb/matrix-bio/index.cfm), began preliminary studies for a novel, interdisciplinary and interagency project now underway to investigate the health effects of widely used engineered nanomaterials (ENM) in susceptible populations. ENMs are increasingly found in medications, cosmetics, electronics, and other consumer products, creating environmental as well as occupational exposures. The study is one of several launched in the past year in response to the NIH Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Biology and Medicine Program (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/pa-08-052.html) . Public health potential According to Garantziotis, the research will have important public health implications. "The unique physicochemical characteristics of nanomaterials enable new applications," he wrote in a summary of the project, "but may also engender new health risks, particularly in vulnerable populations, such as individuals with pre-existing lung disease." Understanding more about modes of action, he added, could also lead to improved efforts to better design safety into the ENMs to which humans are most commonly exposed. The physical, chemical, and biological properties of ENMs, which range in size from roughly 1 to 100 nanometers, differ from the properties of individual atoms and molecules, or of bulk matter. According to the NIH bookletnanoscale devices smaller than 50 nanometers can easily enter most cells, while those smaller than 20 nanometers can move out of blood vessels as they circulate through the body - raising concerns among many environmental health scientists about their potentially harmful health effects. A three-phase approach Over the next three years, Garantziotis and colleagues in the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) will engage in bidirectional collaborations with the National Toxicology Program (NTP), labs in the NIEHS intramural program, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as they explore the effects of exposure among healthy and susceptible populations to ENMs that are already present in the atmosphere, as part of the Intramural NanoHealth Signature Program. The team will study the effects in cells tissue, animals, and human subjects. According to Garantziotis, the research team will test the hypothesis that selected engineered nanomaterials induce pulmonary inflammation and that asthmatic individuals are particularly susceptible to engineered nanomaterial effects, in a translational exposure model with three aims: - Exposing human bronchial epithelia and alveolar macrophages - native lungs cells donated by healthy volunteers - to ENMs ex vivo to evaluate inflammation and cell toxicity - Comparing the ex vivo response to ENMs of human bronchial epithelia and alveolar macrophages between healthy and asthmatic individuals to understand whether pre-existing disease alters the effect of ENMs on human cells - Performing controlled chamber exposures of human volunteers to select ENMs of interest to assess the potential for effects on lung function and inflammation A three-pronged collaboration across divisions and agencies This novel collaboration will pilot nanomaterial research in the NIEHS intramural program among clinical and basic researchers and introduce translational research collaboration among the NTP Nanotechnology Safety Initiative, the NIEHS extramural program and its grantees working on ENMs, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where bronchoscopy and controlled exposures of human subjects will take place. Garantziotis said he expects information transfer to be robust and bidirectional. "We will compare our findings to animal toxicology findings from NTP and EPA," Garantziotis added, "to establish the relevance of the animal models." Animal studies may also suggest ENMs for further human testing, and investigators in the extramural consortium will likewise benefit from, and contribute to, ongoing clinical research. A Precedent-Setting Network of Collaboration The Nanohealth and Safety Initiative includes five components - materials science research, basic biology, pathobiology research, informatics, and training - that draw upon the talents of scientists from throughout NIEHS and its grantee community. In his presentation to NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., Garantziotis offered special thanks to 12 of his colleagues: - Andrew Ghio, M.D., pulmonologist and clinical researcher at the EPA, who is collaborating in the human study component of the project - Erika Gutierrez, predoctoral fellow in the NIEHS Clinical Research Program, who is performing ex vivo experiments on human cells using ENMs - Ron Herbert, D.V.M., Ph.D., leader of the NTP Pathology Support Group who is assisting in the analysis of results - Ivy Ji, Ph.D., scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the California NanoSystems Institute - Pat Mastin, Ph.D., acting deputy director of the Division of Extramural Research and Training - Sri Nadadur, Ph.D., DERT health scientist administrator overseeing the nanotechnology grants portfolio - Andre Nel, M.D., professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Public Health at UCLA, chief of the UCLA Division of NanoMedicine, and NIEHS grantee researching ENMs - Annette Rice, a biologist working in the NIEHS Clinical Research Program who is performing ex vivo experiments on human cells using ENMs - Sally Tinkle, Ph.D., NIEHS senior science advisor and lead in interagency and trans-NIH working groups on NanoHealth issues - Nigel Walker, Ph.D., NTP deputy program director for science and lead for the NTP Nanotechnology Safety Initiative - Darryl Zeldin, M.D., acting director of the NIEHS Clinical Research Program - Jeffrey Zink, Ph.D., distinguished professor of chemistry at UCLA

Environmental Factor, August 2010, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences NIEHS Launches NanoHealth Signature Program By Eddy Ball Six months ago a team of investigators led by NIEHS Clinical Research Unit Medical Director and Matrix Biology Group Head Stavros Garantziotis, M.D. (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/lrb/matrix-bio/index.cfm), began preliminary studies for a

The National Institutes of Health will launch a multi-year study this fall to look at the potential health effects from the oil spill in the Gulf region. The fall meeting of the NIEHS Council featured updates on some of the Institute's major high-profile efforts. NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., entered the national conversation on Vietnam-era exposure to dioxin in Agent Orange. NIEHS is one of several NIH institutes and centers participating in the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., participated in a congressional briefing on endocrine disruption. The MCAN will commit $2 million to sustain a successful program that was led by NIEHS from 2006 to 2010. The NIEHS is awarding $36 million in grants to 20 organizations that develop safety and health training for workers. Veteran NIEHS grantee Fred vom Saal, Ph.D., received one of the nation's most prestigious public service awards. Grantee Michael Karin, Ph.D., has been awarded the 2010 Harvey Prize in human health by Israel's premier institute of technology. Two postbaccalaureate fellows credit their training at NIEHS with helping them gain admission to a top U.S. public health school. NIEHS scientist Joan Packenham, Ph.D., is the winner of a 2010 National Women of Color Award. Barbara Kowalcyk, co-founder of the Center for Foodborne Illness, will receive the LennonOno Grant For Peace 2010. Three NIEHS employees are among the U.S. Public Health Service officers promoted this year. Friends and colleagues at NIEHS were saddened by news of the death of a global and children's health champion. Nearly 200 scientists from around the world met for an international workshop in Bethesda, MD, on alternative testing methods. NIEHS recognized its 225 postdoctoral fellows during a celebration of the second annual National Postdoc Appreciation Day Sept. 24. The long struggle for equal voting rights for women was at center stage Aug. 26 in a presentation by Noreen Gordon. NIH celebrated Hispanic heritage Sept. 21 with an engaging talk by Eloy Rodriguez, Ph.D., a specialist in ethnobotanical medicine. According to Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., NIEHS honored a total of 1,110 years of service at the second annual celebration. The Generations at Work Celebration featured 29 display tables and the popular Blacks In Government Annual Fish Fry. According to Patricia K. Donahoe, M.D., a protein involved in human sex determination can play a role in treating cancer. Barely a year after NIEHS announced $30 million in funding for research on BPA, new grantee findings are already emerging. A study from the NIEHS Mitochondrial DNA Replication Group was chosen as The Journal of Biological Chemistry Paper of the Week. Members enjoyed presentations by grantee Sven-Eric Jordt, Ph.D., and NIEHS Principal Investigator Mike Resnick, Ph.D. Experts shared their views on the status of current science regarding cell phone safety, as well as the need for better designed studies. NIEHS grantees and government scientists gathered Sept. 21-22 at NIEHS to update their research efforts on bisphenol A. Yoshiaki Tsuji, Ph.D., shared his new findings on the ways genotoxic stresses influence disease. Researchers and advocates came together Sept. 8 to offer new strategies and opportunities for progress in autism research. An NIEHS meeting in Durham, NC Sept. 7-8 brought together an interdisciplinary group of experts to evaluate the state of the science. Federal regulatory agencies will consider adopting new test methods and strategies applicable to safety testing. A study funded by an interagency agreement between NIEHS and the FDA was honored as Paper of the Year at annual meeting. The October issue of Environmental Health Perspectives is the journal's 13th annual Children's Health Issue. Zeisel will address nutrigenomics, estrogen, and environmental chemicals in studies of the dietary requirement for choline. View More Events: NIEHS Public Calendar

The National Institutes of Health will launch a multi-year study this fall to look at the potential health effects from the oil spill in the Gulf region. The fall meeting of the NIEHS Council featured updates on some of the Institute's major high-profile efforts. NIEHS/NTP Director Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., entered the national conversation on Vietnam-era exposure to dioxin in Agent Orange. NIEHS is

Scientists at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) seek persons with Tourette syndrome (TS) for neuroimaging research studies. These studies include functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) [Protocols 02-N-0027], positron emission tomography (PET) [Protocols 02-N-0175 and 02-N-0181], and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) [Protocol 02-N-0128]. Eligible individuals must be 14 to 65 years old. Participants will be asked to stop any medications that affect the central nervous system and to abstain from alcohol for 24 hours before the study. Persons with progressive neurological disorders, other than TS, or other significant pathology will be excluded. Pregnant women will be excluded. The purpose of the studies is to examine brain activity of tics during waking (fMRI and PET) and sleeping (PET) states. Furthermore, the studies will evaluate the density of GABA A receptors (PET) and look at brain metabolism of GABA (MRS). Researchers hope to reveal which brain areas generate tics and how the neurotransmitter GABA is involved. Individuals may participate in one or more of the above studies if they qualify. The studies may last two to three hours as part of an outpatient visit or may last up to two days and require hospitalization. Once the studies are complete, individuals will be given information on the results. The studies will take place at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. There will be no cost for participation or for any tests associated with the research study. For more information, with no obligation to participate, please contact Dr. Stephan Bohlhalter at 301-496-0153, fax 301-480-2286, e-mail: BohlhalS@ninds.nih.gov; Dr. Alicja Lerner at 301-402-2983, fax 301-480-2286, e-mail: LernerA@ninds.nih.gov; or Dr. Fernando Pagan at 301-402-3494, fax 301-480-2286, e-mail: PaganF@ninds.nih.gov.

Scientists at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) seek persons with Tourette syndrome (TS) for neuroimaging research studies. These studies include functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) [Protocols 02-N-0027], positron emission tomography (PET) [Protocols 02-N-0175 and 02-N-0181], and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) [Protocol 02-N-0128]. Eligible individ

For Further Information Contact: Donna Leusner Live Long, Live Well Walking Program Kicks-off Initiative Encourages Older Adults to Take Steps to Better Health & Fitness LINCROFT -Following the opening ceremonies of the 16th Annual New Jersey Senior Olympics, more than 100 athletes took part in a one-mile walk to kickoff a new state program that encourages older adults to walk their way to better health and improved physical fitness. Live Long, Live Well Walking Program, a New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services' wellness initiative, helps state residents age fifty and older to begin and continue a walking regimen of 30 minutes most days of the week. "Walking is one of the best ways for people of any age to become and stay fit," said Health and Senior Services Commissioner Clifton R. Lacy, M.D. "By walking for just a half hour, four or five times a week, older adults can make major strides toward preventing diseases such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis." Lacy noted that the National Academies' Institute of Medicine recently recommended that in addition to a well-balanced diet, adults and children should spend a total of one hour each day in moderately intense physical activity, double the daily goal set by a Surgeon General report issued in the mid-1990s. Long, Live Well participants receive a free walker's logbook with helpful hints to make walking a safe, fun and beneficial experience. Participants can walk alone, with a friend or with a group, and each walker gradually works up to walking the equivalent of two miles per day, four days a week. Participants track their progress in the logbook and those who walk regularly for 12 consecutive weeks receive a Live Long, Live Well Walking Program Certificate is a significant public health threat in this country that cuts across all generations," said Dr. Lacy. "We are hopeful that, during the next year, through the Live Long, Live Well Walking Program, more than 5,000 New Jersey seniors will become more active, healthy and physically fit." adults, local walking clubs and other interested individuals and groups wishing to learn more about the Live Long, Live Well Walking Program and obtain free copies of the walker's logbook are encouraged to call 609-943-3498 or e-mail the department's webpage at www.state.nj.us/health/senior/walking.

For Further Information Contact: Donna Leusner Live Long, Live Well Walking Program Kicks-off Initiative Encourages Older Adults to Take Steps to Better Health & Fitness LINCROFT -Following the opening ceremonies of the 16th Annual New Jersey Senior Olympics, more than 100 athletes took part in a one-mile walk to kickoff a new state program that encourages older adults to walk their way to better

Standard & Non-Standard Pay Item Instructions All Standard Pay Items with an Item Class of MNBR are designated as Maintenance Standard Pay Item Numbers. Maintenance Standard Pay Item Numbers shall not be used for Design projects, and are included in the Standard Pay Item List exclusively for use by the Department’s Maintenance forces. When it is not possible to specify a Standard Pay Item, a Non-Standard Pay Item may be used. Non-Standard Pay Items are items of work that are not included in the Standard or Supplemental Specifications, typically, because the Department has not developed an approved Standard Specification for the item. Non-Standard Pay Items differ from Standard Pay Items in the following manner: For Non-Standard Items and specifications other than experimental specifications, which are approved through NTP as part of a pilot project, justification must be given. The SME should contact NTP directly, or through their web page to determine if any existing item is already under development that could meet their proposed need, or to see if similarly proposed work is currently under review and development. If an item uses a non-standard specification (work not covered by the NJDOT Standard Specifications), submit the justification for its use and immediate need on a specific project to the appropriate SME. Immediate need is justified by: The justification will be reviewed by the SME who will recommend approval or rejection of the proposed non-standard item(s) and specifications, to the Project Manager. It is not required to provide detailed plans and specifications with the justification however, the justification document must clearly detail why a comparable standard item and/or standard specification cannot be used. The Project Manager will notify the SME and Designer as to the determination of approval or rejection of the non-standard items/ specifications. A copy of the determination shall be sent to QA. If approved by the SME and the Project Manager, a copy of the non-standard specification to be used (when it is developed) along with the justification shall be forwarded to the New Technologies and Products (NTP) section of QMS for inclusion into the “Non-Standard Specifications” database. This requirement will not apply to items that are covered in the NJDOT Standard Specifications, but are assigned a non-standard pay item number for other purposes. The database will serve as a directory of items using non-standard specifications as a reference for future projects. Additionally, on Federal funded projects, the Project Manager will request the FHWA approval for the use of non-standard proprietary items. The Project Manager will notify the SME and Designer as well as copy QA as to the determination of approval or rejection by the FHWA, regarding these items. If the use of non-standard items or the inclusion of unusual work is proposed in the project, the designer shall submit the following in addition to the other PDS requirements: The BPSS will maintain a record/ listing of all non-standard items used on Department projects. On a yearly basis BPSS will review the record/ listing to determine if any non-standard items warrant a standard item number. The BPSS will develop a standard item number and submit a request for a BDC to issue the standard item number to the Configuration Management Unit of QMS. The BPSS will also submit, on a yearly basis, a listing of all non-standards items indicating the number of projects the item was used on, to the FHWA. The FHWA will review the listing and indicate to the Department through QMS, which items they believe should be standardized. When appropriate, the NTP Section, with the concurrence of the appropriate SME, may utilize a project as a demonstration project for evaluation of a proprietary or a non-proprietary non-standard specification item. In order for this type of item to be specified for use on any NJDOT project, the Designer must first submit the “New Technologies and Products Evaluation Form” to the NTP Section of QMS. The NTP Section will be responsible for evaluating and developing the final specifications for the item in coordination with the appropriate SMEs. NTP through its product evaluation procedure will determine if the proprietary product is appropriate for use on future Department projects.

Standard & Non-Standard Pay Item Instructions All Standard Pay Items with an Item Class of MNBR are designated as Maintenance Standard Pay Item Numbers. Maintenance Standard Pay Item Numbers shall not be used for Design projects, and are included in the Standard Pay Item List exclusively for use by the Department’s Maintenance forces. When it is not possible to specify a Standard Pay Item, a Non-S

Australian Digital Journeys 2009 A National Museum of Australia – Australian National University project In this creative outreach program students from the Australian National University School of Art were provided with rich 'shoeboxes' of images, recordings, text and other collateral material drawn from the National Museum's Australian Journeys gallery. The second year Digital Media and Photo Media students used this material as a catalyst for new photographs, animations and videos to submit as major works for their course assessment in 2009. A selection of these works is profiled here. Banner image (detail on left): Courtesy Shanill Kim.

Australian Digital Journeys 2009 A National Museum of Australia – Australian National University project In this creative outreach program students from the Australian National University School of Art were provided with rich 'shoeboxes' of images, recordings, text and other collateral material drawn from the National Museum's Australian Journeys gallery. The second year Digital Media and Photo Me

NTSB Identification: ATL03FA064 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation Accident occurred Friday, March 21, 2003 in Monroe, GA Probable Cause Approval Date: 07/02/2009 Aircraft: Cessna 172S, registration: N219ME Injuries: 2 Fatal. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report. A witness stated she observed the airplane in straight and level flight at 1,500 feet. The airplane appeared to be traveling very fast. The nose of the airplane was observed to descend down to a 45-degree attitude and the airspeed increased. The airplane was observed to start a spin to the right and turned 180-degrees when a wing separated from the airplane. Another witness stated she observed the airplane in a 45-degree nose down attitude. The airplane was making a loud noise similar to an increase in airspeed. The nose of the airplane pitched down 90-degrees and she thought the pilot was performing a stunt maneuver. She then observed parts separate from the airplane and paper falling to the ground. Review of radar data showed the airplane's climb from the departure airport to a cruise altitude of 5, 700 feet. The radar data did not capture the breakup event. Review of failed components submitted to the NTSB Materials Laboratory revealed all failure fractures were consistent with overstress fracture, and there was no evidence of significant wear or corrosion. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot’s exceedence of the design limits of the airplane, which resulted in the overload failure of the horizontal stabilizers, followed by the overload separation of the right wing and subsequent loss of control. Full narrative available Index for Mar2003 | Index of months

NTSB Identification: ATL03FA064 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation Accident occurred Friday, March 21, 2003 in Monroe, GA Probable Cause Approval Date: 07/02/2009 Aircraft: Cessna 172S, registration: N219ME Injuries: 2 Fatal. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from vari

On June 26, 1994, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N5183E, registered to Lambert Aircraft Incorporated of Toledo, Ohio, operated by Davis College and flown by a student pilot, collided with the terrain during an aborted landing attempt, on runway 27 (3,928' x 50' dry/asphalt), at the Toledo Suburban Airport, Lambertville, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was on file. The solo instructional flight was operated under 14 CFR part 91. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported minor injuries. The local flight originated at 1040. Use your browsers 'back' function to return to synopsisReturn to Query Page The pilot stated that on final approach to landing, the airplane descended from about 25 feet above the runway and bounced. He attempted to abort the landing; however, the airplane turned left and impacted the terrain.

On June 26, 1994, at 1100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N5183E, registered to Lambert Aircraft Incorporated of Toledo, Ohio, operated by Davis College and flown by a student pilot, collided with the terrain during an aborted landing attempt, on runway 27 (3,928' x 50' dry/asphalt), at the Toledo Suburban Airport, Lambertville, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the tim

On this site, in 1852, Charles LeFranc made the first commercial planting of fine European wine grapes in Santa Clara County to found Almaden Vineyards. LeFranc imported cuttings from vines in the celebrated wine districts of his native France, shipping them by sailing ship around the Horn. Registration Date: 7/31/1953 City: San Jose County: Santa Clara 1530 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose Back Return to Listed Resources Listing

On this site, in 1852, Charles LeFranc made the first commercial planting of fine European wine grapes in Santa Clara County to found Almaden Vineyards. LeFranc imported cuttings from vines in the celebrated wine districts of his native France, shipping them by sailing ship around the Horn. Registration Date: 7/31/1953 City: San Jose County: Santa Clara 1530 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose Back Return t

Monthly data, not seasonally adjusted Employment in for-hire transportation industries is a signal of demand in the economy. In the May 2007 edition of Occupational Employment Statistics, 64 percent of employees in for-hire transportation industries are in transportation and material moving positions (Standard Occupational Classification Group 53). That share is 77 percent for truck transportation, but only 25 percent for air transportation. |Truck Transportation Employees (thousands)||1,398.0||1,279.3| |Percent change from same month previous year||-3.94||-8.49| |Air Transportation Employees (thousands)||485.9||465.1| |Percent change from same month previous year||-2.13||-4.28| |Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation Employees (thousands)||423.3||411.0| |Percent change from same month previous year||-1.83||-2.91| |Other Transportation Modes Employees (thousands)||337.1||313.4| |Percent change from same month previous year||-1.55||-7.03| NOTES: Other Modes includes rail, water, and pipeline transportation. Data do not include sightseeing, support activities, couriers, or warehousing. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, available at http://www.bls.gov/ as of October 2009.

Monthly data, not seasonally adjusted Employment in for-hire transportation industries is a signal of demand in the economy. In the May 2007 edition of Occupational Employment Statistics, 64 percent of employees in for-hire transportation industries are in transportation and material moving positions (Standard Occupational Classification Group 53). That share is 77 percent for truck transportation

Other Useful Links: BIG Lottery in Scotland gives out millions of pounds from the National Lottery to community groups and projects that improve health, education and the environment. Climate Challenge Fund is a Scottish Government Fund, managed by Keep Scotland Beautiful, to support communities to tackle climate change by reducing their carbon emissions Business Improvements District (BIDs) – deliver a sustainable financial model to local businesses who have voted to invest collectively in local improvements. COSLA. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities represents Scottish local government, lobbying on behalf of it members. Sportscotland is the lead agency for the development of sport in Scotland. This site provides further information on core funding avenues for the development of sports facilities. Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) Development Fund aims to tackle environmental dereliction. The fund provides support for projects that enhance the natural environment and improve access to high quality greenspace in Scotland. Historic Scotland provides £12m annually through its grant programmes to support heritage related projects; including three specific funding streams which aim to help deliver regeneration outcomes – the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), the City Heritage Trusts and the Building Repair Grant. Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a national body for Scotland's charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.

Other Useful Links: BIG Lottery in Scotland gives out millions of pounds from the National Lottery to community groups and projects that improve health, education and the environment. Climate Challenge Fund is a Scottish Government Fund, managed by Keep Scotland Beautiful, to support communities to tackle climate change by reducing their carbon emissions Business Improvements District (BIDs) – del