cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chromosome 3 rs35081325 and serum lactate dehydrogenase as shared host determinants of infection-mediated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in both COVID-19 and sepsis

RATIONALE: A genetic locus at chromosome-3 was recently identified as a risk factor for respiratory failure during COVID-19, and preliminary in-silico analyses demonstrate a strong association between this locus, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and respiratory failure. To understand if this locus may affect infection-mediated acute lung injury in other contexts, we tested whether serum LDH and the chromosome-3 locus were associated with ARDS risk and severity in critically ill adults with non-COVID infections. METHODS: We studied 553 critically ill adults with sepsis enrolled in the Validating biomarkers in Acute Lung Injury for Diagnosis (VALID) study. All patients were prospectively phenotyped for ARDS (Berlin Definition) during the first 4 ICU days by two physician investigators. For genetic analyses, we used a convenience sample of 289 septic VALID patients with genomewide genotyping from prior studies. We extracted data on the lead single nucleotide polymorphism in chromosome-3 (rs35081325;wild-type: A;risk variant: T) identified in the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative's analysis A2 (COVID-19 with severe respiratory failure). We assessed severity of illness by APACHE-II scores and oxygenation impairment by SpO2:FiO2 ratio. Between-group comparisons were performed using linear regression for continuous outcomes and logistic regression for categorical outcomes. We report effect odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). An inverse normal quantile transformation was applied to clinically ascertained LDH values to account for skewness and non-normality;associations are reported per normalized standard deviation (SD) of the transformed LDH value. RESULTS: Serum LDH was higher among patients with ARDS than without ARDS when controlling for age, gender, and APACHE-II (OR=1.20;95%CI: 1.01-1.43;P=0.04). Serum LDH was also associated with oxygenation impairment, particularly among patients with ARDS (FIGURE). Among genotyped patients, the rs35081325 T-allele was associated with higher serum LDH levels (0.62 normalized SD higher LDH;95%CI: 0.16-1.08;P=0.009), and exhibited trends for higher severity of illness (2.10 higher APACHE-II score per T-allele;95%CI:-0.56 to 4.77;P=0.19), increased ARDS risk (OR=1.55 per T-allele;95%CI 0.70-3.44;P=0.28;FIGURE) and increased in-hospital mortality (OR=2.24 per T-allele;95%CI: 1.00-5.05;P=0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum LDH and rs35081325 on chromosome-3 were associated with ARDS risk and oxygenation impairment in a large cohort of septic adults, suggesting a shared host genetic risk for severe respiratory failure among COVID-19 and other etiologies of infection-mediated acute lung injury. As this SNP is near several genes involved in chemokine function, autophagy, and solute transport, further mechanistic investigation is necessary to identify the causative gene(s).
The Hamiltonian Origins of the U.S. Patent System, and Why They Matter Today

I revisit one of the earliest administrative functions of the United States government, the granting of patents, to show why the U.S. Patent Office fits so poorly with the contemporary model of an Executive Branch agency in the modern Administrative State. In parallel with other early “proto-agencies” the Patent Office participated in the most important job of the new national government: economic development. Because of the importance of this policy, and the limited power of the then-new federal government, Congress, courts, and the executive branch emphasized concerted action rather than separation of powers. The Patent Office had been performing its basic function for nearly one hundred years when the modern “administrative revolution” began its sweep though the federal government. The modern administrative state was created to counterbalance the emergent power of large, concentrated industries; it had little relationship to the original Patent Office mandate from Hamiltonian times. As a consequence, contemporary administrative law is a poor fit for the Patent Office. Administrative law, especially the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), governs power relations between federal agencies and the industries they regulate, with courts often acting as referee. But the Patent Office grants government-sanctioned property rights to dispersed inventors in an extremely wide variety of industries, then lets private investment, transactions, and enforcement take over. Since its founding, the Patent Office has been charged not with regulating concentrated industries, but with handing out a small dollop of state power to dispersed parties in the form of individual property rights. Although some features of the modern administrative apparatus surely apply to the Patent Office, it is best overall to respect and maintain the (pre-APA) regulatory principles that emerged from the early Hamiltonian economic development state. These embody a more submissive relationship to courts (no Chevron deference, for example); and they largely leave it to Congress to make substantive patent law. (Courts occasionally create new patent requirements also, through the common law process of applying certain old, broad statutory provisions of the Patent Act -- some of which have changed little since the first Patent Act in 1790.) None of this means that the Patent Office is a weak agency. It is just a very different agency. Although, like most modern agencies, it surely affects the competitive conditions of private actors (primarily by examining patent applications, and determining which will issue as patents), it does not quite regulate in the classic APA-era sense. It has instead a more active, participatory role in economic activity -- just as Hamilton envisaged.
The short-latency R1 response of the electrical laryngeal adductor reflex contributes to airway protection by initiating glottic closure

Abstract Objective The fundamental role of the short-latency (R1) laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR) response remains unclear with conflicting reports in the literature. This study's primary aim was to objectively determine whether the bilateral R1 response, which was elicited by electrical stimulation of the supraglottic mucosa, triggered bilateral glottis closure. Methods Video recording of the LAR in a prospective case series of patients undergoing trans-oral rigid laryngoscopy. The LAR was elicited by electrical stimulation of supraglottic mucosa. The LAR R1 and long-latency (R2) responses in laryngeal adductor musculature were correlated with mechanical vocal fold (VF) adduction in a time-locked manner. A high-speed camera recording 1057 frames per second was used to determine where in the LAR contractile closure the electrical R1 component occurred. Results Five patients were prospectively enrolled. The R1 response was present in all trials for all patients. The R2 response was recorded in four patients (80%). As assessed by the latency of the R1 response, electrical activation of the adductor muscles always preceded the mechanical onset of VF movement. VF adduction began near the middle of the R1 response in all trials for all patients. The R2 response of the LAR began after visible VF adduction for all patients. Conclusions This study provides the first objective evidence that the bilateral R1 response of the electrically elicited LAR is the electrical event that initiates reflex airway closure. Significance These results suggest that under total intravenous anesthesia, the larynx preserves its capacity to elicit a LAR, thereby maintaining some protective functions that can prevent airway penetration.
Intraventricular lipids: A clue to early diagnosis of asymptomatic spinal dural teratoma rupture (P2.6-010)

Objective: To describe a unique case where incidental intraventricular lipid droplets lead to early diagnosis of spinal dural teratoma. Background: Rupture of spinal mature cystic teratomas leading to intracranial lipid dissemination involving subarachnoid and intraventricular spaces has been reported only few times in literature with a theoretical hypothesis of retrograde flow of lipids through foramen of Lushka and Magendie. Lipids in CSF spaces can cause recurrent aseptic lymphocytic meningitis and occasional hydrocephalus. Design/Methods: Case report Results: 64-year-old man with prior history of bladder cancer (in remission) presented after vasovagal syncope resulting in a fall. Neurological exam was normal and CT Head performed due to the fall showed non-dependent hypo-densities in bilateral lateral ventricles that were suggestive of fat (more than air) based on the Hounsfield units. MRI confirmed both intraventricular and disseminated subarachnoid T1 hyper-intensities suggestive of fat droplets prompting MRI of the spinal axis which revealed an intra-dural extra-medullary heterogeneous mass at L1–2 with mild mass effect on the spinal cord with resultant syrinx distal to the level. His fall was presumed to have caused traumatic rupture of cystic teratoma. Surgical resection was deferred initially since patient was asymptomatic but was undertaken 6 months later due to subjective lower extremity numbness, increase in size of mass and prior history of bladder cancer. Pathology showed mature cystic teratoma with adipose tissue, bone and squamous epithelial tissue. Clinical exam and radiographic lipid dissemination pattern remained stable post-operatively with no recurrence at the end of 2 years. Conclusions: Our case highlights a unique scenario where a syncope related fall led to traumatic, yet asymptomatic, rupture of spinal dural teratoma causing intracranial lipid dissemination; which in turn led to early identification of the spinal teratoma itself and eventual timely resection. Intracranial lipids, even if incidental, should warrant a comprehensive work-up for potential underlying etiologies. Disclosure: Dr. Vaddiparti has nothing to disclose. Dr. Daniel has nothing to disclose.
Analysis of Dynamic Response of Highway Bridges

A method for the computation of the dynamic response of highway bridges under the action of moving vehicles is presented. The bridge is idealized as a single, linearly elastic beam with distributed flexibility and concentrated point masses, and the vehicle is represented as a three-axle sprung load, with due account taken of the effect of interleaf friction in its suspension system. The application of this method to numerous research investigations is reviewed, and the dynamic resopnse characteristics of certain cantilever bridges are analyzed, with particular reference to the relative susceptibility to vibration of this and other bridge types.
Steady-state polypeptide modulations associated with nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced terminal differentiation and NGF deprivation-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells.

Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells differentiate terminally in culture upon exposure to nerve growth factor (NGF) for 4-5 weeks. The neuronal phenotypic properties acquired in response to prolonged NGF treatment include morphological differentiation, cessation of mitotic activity, neuronal marker expression, increased membrane electrical potentials, and a survival dependence upon NGF for trophic support (Jensen, L.M. (1987) Dev. Biol. 120, 56-64). Thus, differentiated cultures survive indefinitely in the continued presence of NGF, however, withdrawal of NGF from differentiated cultures effects the loss of cellular viability within 3-6 days. Here, we show that death of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells caused by NGF deprivation is characteristic of apoptosis. To compare the differentiation promoting and the neurotrophic properties of NGF, whole SH-SY5Y cell extracts were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using isoelectric focusing and nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis gels in the first dimension. Steady-state levels of polypeptides extracted from whole-cell lysates of naive (untreated) cells, terminally differentiated cells, and NGF-deprived differentiated cells were compared. Over 1,000 spots from each were analyzed using computer-aided spot matching and densitometry. We noted 25 polypeptides that decreased during differentiation, including 15 that decreased by a factor of 10 or more. The levels of five polypeptides were induced from very low or undetectable levels in naive cells. Withdrawal of NGF from terminally differentiated cells produced alterations in steady-state protein patterns substantially distinct from those occurring during differentiation. While levels of most proteins do not appear affected early after NGF withdrawal, others rapidly return to levels comparable with those of the naive state and some changes occurring with differentiation are enhanced further upon NGF withdrawal. Three polypeptides were regulated uniquely by NGF withdrawal, including two that were induced, on average, 20- and 28-fold and another that was depressed more than 7-fold after NGF deprivation, before cell death. These data indicate that NGF elicits both constitutive and nonconstitutive changes in gene expression and suggest that the differentiation promoting and the neurotrophic properties of NGF correlate with the regulation of different gene products.
Tapers for large planar phased arrays on regular grids: Simple design methods versus second-order cone programming

Design experiments compare taper-design approaches for a narrowband planar array of 10,000 or so elements on the triangular grid. Considered: a hexagonal-kernel McClellan transformation, a product of three 1D tapers, sampling Taylor's circular aperture, and second-order cone programming.
A CMOS interface IC for CCD imagers

A 2- mu m CMOS IC interfaces directly to the output of a CCD, level shifts the signal, amplifies it by a 4-bit programmable gain of up to 20 dB, and corrects the offset per pixel with a 3-bit word. A non-reset video output is obtained with an internal time-interleaved architecture. The total harmonic distortion (THD) of -50 dB is obtained at 15 MHz clock rates and +or-3.3 V full scale outputs. The 2.8*3.7 sq mm circuit dissipates 140 mW from a 5V supply. >
Pecan leaf analysis: I. Varietal, fertilizer, and seasonal effects

Abstract Differences in elemental content of pecan [Carya illinoensis (Wang.) K. Koch] leaves among cultivars were found for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn and Zn. Of the 7 elements studied, only leaf K indicated a date by cultivar interaction. Differences in leaf K among cultivars became greater as the season progressed. Increasing rate of application of N‐P‐K fertilizer increased leaf N, Ca, Mn, and Al, but had very little or erratic effect on leaf P, K, Fe, B, Cu, Zn, and Sr. There were very few consistent significant fertilizer rate by date interactions for the 13 elements tested. Seasonal trends for element leaf contents from mid‐May through October were generally downward for N, upward for Ca, Mn, Fe, B, Cu, Al, and Ba and changed very little for Mg, Zn, and Sr. Leaf P and K responses to sampling date varied with year. Large year to year variations in leaf trends over dates suggests difficulty in selecting a period for leaf sampling where little change in leaf levels consistently occurs.
Meteorological features from principal component image transformation of GOES imagery

State UniversityFort Collins CO 80523-1375ABSTRACTA major problem with multi-spectral satellite imagery is that images in many of the spectral channels (or bands) containredundant information about the atmosphere. By using Principal Component (PC) analysis to transform multi-channel satellite images,this information redundancy can be reduced. PC Image (PCI) analysis fmds the information that is common among the various channelimages and puts that information into the PCIs in descending order of significance. The first PCI contains common information,leaving other (channel-difference) information for higher-ordered PCIs. A second PCI is then formed which contains informationcommon to the channel images other than that explained by the first PCI. The process continues until the number ofPCIs is equal tothe number ofchannel images being transformed. Ifnone ofthe original channel images contains redundant information, then a PCItransformation is not needed. However, this is not the case with most satellite images. Because of channel image redundancy, thenumber ofuseful PCIs is often less than the number ofchannel images being transformed. The highest-order PCIs may contain onlynoise or slight differences among some ofthe channel images, however, these differences are ofimportance, especially for less obviousmeteorological features in the atmosphere.Many interesting examples ofPCIs created from GOES-8/9 Imager and Sounder data are possible. For the 5-channel GOESImager, the interpretation of the PCIs is fairly predictable when they are created on a large spatial scale. The main difference ininterpretation occurs between day and night when the presence or lack of visible radiation is an important factor.For the GOES Sounder, the interpretation ofthe PCIs is more complex, considering that input can consist ofup to 19 channelimages (1 visible channel and 18 IR channels). Different subsets ofthe Sounder channel images result in different products. Withproper selection of channel images, emphasis can be placed upon either temperature or water vapor features in the atmosphere, or onfeatures ofthe ground surface or clouds.Keywords: GOES, Imager, Sounder, satellite, imagery, principal component analysis, meteorology
Methylation of translation elongation factor 1A by the METTL10-like See1 methyltransferase facilitates tombusvirus replication in yeast and plants

Replication of tombusviruses and other plus-strand RNA viruses depends on several host factors that are recruited into viral replicase complexes. Previous studies have shown that eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) is one of the resident host proteins in the highly purified tombusvirus replicase complex. In this paper, we show that methylation of eEF1A by the METTL10-like See1p methyltransferase is required for tombusvirus and unrelated nodavirus RNA replication in yeast model host. Similar to the effect of SEE1 deletion, yeast expressing only a mutant form of eEF1A lacking the 4 known lysines subjected to methylation supported reduced TBSV accumulation. We show that the half-life of several viral replication proteins is decreased in see1Δ yeast or when a mutated eEF1A was expressed as a sole source for eEF1A. Silencing of the plant ortholog of See1 methyltransferase also decreased tombusvirus RNA accumulation in Nicotiana benthamiana.
Effects of sexual experience, season, and mating stimuli on endocrine concentrations in the adult ram.

Two behavioral trials were conducted to determine the endocrine response of cortisol (C), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), prolactin (PRL), and growth hormone (GH) in adult rams during exposure to estrous ewes during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. One-half of the rams in each season were sexually experienced (SE) and the remainder were sexually inexperienced (SI). All SE rams (100%) achieved at least one ejaculation, but only 33% (summer) and 67% (fall) SI rams achieved ejaculation. In the fall, mean C, T, and GH concentrations were elevated (P < .001) compared to values measured in the summer, whereas LH and PRL levels were higher (P < .01) in the summer. Overall levels of C, LH, T, and PRL were higher (P < .05) in SE rams than in SI rams. Mean GH concentration was higher (P < .10) in SI than in SE rams during restricted and complete access to estrous ewes. In general, LH, PRL, and GH responses were similar during restricted and complete access to females for both SE and SI rams. Cortisol levels were higher (P < .06) during periods of mating and T levels were higher (P < .001) during periods where activity was limited to courtship behavior (nasogenital investigation). Correlations of hormones to reproductive behaviors indicated that mounting and intromission were associated with elevations in C and PRL, whereas elevated LH and T tended to be associated with courtship behaviors. Correlations between GH and behaviors Were inconsistent. However, there was an increased coincidence between time of female exposure and hormonal response that occurred in the fall; brief exposure to estrous ewes resulted in increases in concentrations of all hormones examined. The most consistent response was observed in sexually experienced rams during restricted access to females during the breeding season. These results provide new information on the effects of season, and level of sexual experience upon hormonal and behavioral characteristics of the ram during mating activity.
Inhibitory and inductive effects of piperonyl butoxide on dihydroisodrin hydroxylation in vivo and in vitro in black cutworm (Agrotis ypsilon) larvae.

Abstract Biphasic inhibition and stimulation of microsomal oxidase activity in tissue homogenates in vitro and of dihydroisodrin (DHI) hydroxylation in vivo in black cutworm Agrotis ypsilon larvae have been produced by pretreating larvae with piperonyl butoxide (PB). Gut homogenate had greatest DHI hydroxylase activity of tissues tested and PB molar I 50 was 6.4 × 10 −5 M. Two hours after topical application of PB (1.4 mg/larva) DHI hydroxylase was reduced 39, 30, 19 and 48% in fat body, gut, head and Malpighian tubule homogenates, and after 15 hours activity was increased 145, 69, 28 and 97% in the respective homogenates. The effects are time- and dose-dependent. In vivo three hours after PB administration, the rate of DHI hydroxylation was reduced 26%, but 15 hours after pretreatment the rate was increased 25%.
Obtaining Integrity? Reviewing and Examining the Charter between Higher Education and Society

How is the new industrial model of privatization, commercialization, and corporatization altering higher education's traditional mission? To provide policymakers with understanding about the traditional charter between higher education and society, this article defines the concepts of the public good underlying the charter, analyzes the new model's pervasiveness, synthesizes empirical evidence about its effect on the social and public purposes of higher education, and proposes a list of issues and questions for discussion among education and government leaders.
Phosphorylation of neurogranin, protein kinase C, and Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II in opioid tolerance and dependence

Activation of Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and protein kinase C (PKC) are hallmarks of opioid tolerance and dependence. It is not known if the actions of these two kinases are synchronized by a common mechanism in opioid tolerance and dependence. Neurogranin (Ng), through mechanisms such as phosphorylation, has been previously proposed to regulate the activities of these protein kinases. We examined the phosphorylation status of neurogranin in mice that were made tolerant to opioids by morphine (100 mg/kg, s.c.). Increase in phosphorylation of neurogranin was found both in brains and spinal cords of morphine-treated mice, as compared to the untreated baseline or saline-treated mice. The effect appeared to correlate with the changes in the activities of PKC and CaMKII, and with the development of opioid tolerance and dependence. We have found that neurogranin activity is regulated in opioid tolerance and dependence. Neurogranin may, therefore, provide a potential mechanism interacting with both CaMKII and PKC in opioid tolerance and dependence.
Localized Conjunctival Amyloidosls Associated with Extranodal Lymphoma

A 62-year-old man was found to have a large asymptomatic amyloid nodule of the conjunctiva. Within the next year, a diffuse mixed small and large cell lymphoma of his scapula developed with amyloid in its stroma. No abnormal serum or urine protein was found. Subsequently, rib and paraspinal masses appeared. After irradiation and chemotherapy, the patient died of bronchopneumonia, 3 years after onset. By immunostaining, the amyloid of both conjunctiva and scapular tumor was of polyclonal immunoglobulin (AL) type, most prominently IgG and lambda chains, with lesser staining for IgA and kappa chains. The tumor cells showed a similar pattern. To our knowledge, this is the first report of systemic lymphoma and localized conjunctival amyloidosis without a serum paraprotein, and the first such association with a lymphoma of this cell type. Immunotyping of conjunctival amyloidosis should be performed to guide the workup for possible systemic disease.
Contrast in Metal-Ligand Effects on PtnM Electrocatalysts with M Equal Ru vs Mo and Sn As Exhibited by in Situ XANES and EXAFS Measurements in Methanol

In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements, at the Pt L3 edge (XANES and EXAFS), were carried out on carbon-supported PtnMo and PtSn electrocatalysts in an electrochemical cell in 1 M HClO4 with 0.3 M methanol. The CO, OH, and H relative adsorbate coverages on Pt are determined as a function of the applied potential via the ΔXANES technique and compared with comparable data previously reported for PtnRu. The more reactive Sn and Mo atoms on the Pt surface form the oxide over the potentials of interest, while Ru has variable oxide content depending on Ru island size and potential. The strength of the electronic ligand effect appears to increase in the order Ru < MoOn < SnOn < RuOn, where the Pt−CO bond strength is found to decrease and the Pt−OH bond strength increase with ligand effect. In the Sn and Mo bimetallics, the ligand effect is found to be sufficiently strong to allow CO replacement by H2 at low potentials. These widely different ligand effects may provide a straightforward explanat...
Studies on the in Vitro Phosphorylation of HSSB-p34 and -p107 by Cyclin-dependent Kinases: CYCLIN-SUBSTRATE INTERACTIONS DICTATE THE EFFICIENCY OF PHOSPHORYLATION

Cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are required for cell cycle progression. Two potentially significant Cdk substrates in human cells are the human single-stranded binding protein (HSSB or RPA), which plays an essential role in DNA replication, repair, and recombination, and the tumor suppressor p107 which acts to negatively regulate cell growth. In this report we describe the in vitro phosphorylation of these two proteins by Cdks in an attempt to understand how cyclin-substrate interactions direct phosphorylation efficiencies. We show that cyclin A-Cdk2 efficiently phosphorylates the p34 subunit of HSSB (HSSB-p34) alone or as a part of the heterotrimeric complex. In contrast, cyclin E-Cdk2 that is active in phosphorylating histone H1, does not support the phosphorylation of the p34 subunit of HSSB. We provide evidence that this differential phosphorylation results from a specific interaction between HSSB-p34 and cyclin A, but not cyclin E. Thus the observed cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation of HSSB-p34 at the G1 to S transition is most likely catalyzed by cyclin A-Cdk2 initiated by the direct interaction between cyclin A and the HSSB-p34 subunit. These studies are consistent with our previous observation that p107, which directly binds cyclin A, is efficiently phosphorylated by cyclin A-Cdk2 but not cyclin B-associated kinases. Here we further demonstrate that cyclin A only complexes with p107 in its unphosphorylated form. These data suggest a catalytic mechanism by which Cdk acts: substrate targeting by a cyclin-substrate interaction followed by dissociation of the Cdk upon phosphate incorporation allowing the Cdk to become available for the next cycle of phosphorylation.
The influenza virus resource at the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Influenza epidemics cause morbidity and mortality worldwide (4). Each year in the United States, more than 200,000 patients are admitted to hospitals because of influenza and there are approximately 36,000 influenza-related deaths (14). In recent years, several subtypes of avian influenza viruses have jumped host species to infect humans. The H5N1 subtype, in particular, has been reported in 328 human cases and has caused 200 human deaths in 12 countries (World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2007_09_10/en/index.html). These viruses have the potential to cause a pandemic in humans. Antiviral drugs and vaccines must be developed to minimize the damage that such a pandemic would bring. To achieve this, it is vital that researchers have free access to viral sequences in a timely fashion, and sequence analysis tools need to be readily available. Historically, the number of influenza virus sequences in public databases has been far less than those of some well-studied viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus. The number of complete influenza virus genomes has been even smaller. In addition, many of the sequences were collected in the course of influenza surveillance programs that prioritized antigenically novel isolates. Although collecting antigenically novel isolates is appropriate for surveillance, it results in biased samples of sequenced isolates that are not representative of community cases of influenza (2, 13). Therefore, in 2004, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) launched the Influenza Genome Sequencing Project (7), which aims to rapidly sequence influenza viruses from samples collected all over the world. Viral sequences were generated at the J. Craig Venter Institute, annotated at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), and deposited in GenBank. In just over 2 years after the initiation of the project, more than 2,000 complete genomes of influenza viruses A and B had been deposited in GenBank. To help the research community to make full use of the wealth of information from such a large amount of data, which will be increasing continuously, the Influenza Virus Resource was created at NCBI in 2004.
A Note on Relative Risks

In the study of disease correlations with specific antigens, the current expression for "relative risks" is computationally convenient. However, a more exact expression has been devised which is also more easily interpretable as the relative probability of contracting a disease for individuals carrying a specific antigen as compared to the probability for those not carrying that antigen.
Core and valence XPS spectra of clean, cleaved single crystals of YBa2Cu3O7

Abstract Small single crystals of YBa2Cu3O7 with sharp superconducting transitions at 91 K were cleaved at 300 K in UHV (10−9 torr) and their XPS spectra were measured using small spot (300 μm dia.) Al Kα radiation. The cleaved surfaces showed no initial contamination, as determined by a lack of C(1s) intensity. Only one Ba core level feature is found to be characteristic of the bulk superconductor (Ba(5p 3 2 ), Ba(4d 5 2 ), and Ba(3d 5 2 ) at 12.0 eV, 87.0 eV, and 777.4 eV respectively). A second Ba feature at ~1 eV higher binding energy, found on some cleaved surfaces, represents a surface Ba phase. For the intrinsic surface the O(1s) spectrum is dominated by a peak at 528.0 eV and contains at least two unresolved components. Any large intensity at higher binding energy (530 to 533 eV are often reported) represents reactions at the surface. A relatively large intensity is observed at EF for high quality single crystals. This intensity and the Ba, Y and Cu core level features are stable for a few hours following the cleave at 300 K. There no evidence for oxygen loss at 300 K as judged by the constant O(1s) intensity. These results are compared to results in the literature, where it is often claimed that the higher binding energy feature relates to the intrinsic superconductor. We believe this claim is erroneous, as is the claim that oxygen is lost rapidly from the superconductor in vacuum if the sample is not maintained at 20 K. Finally, the Cu(2p 3 2 ) spectrum of the intrinsic superconductor's surface is very similar to that of Cu2+ in CuO, whereas data reported in literature often show a strong Cu1+ component.
Assessing the New Medicare Prescription Drug Law

The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) is the product of a political compromise to attract moderate Republicans and enough Democrats without losing Republican conservatives. The compromise offered more private health plans to beneficiaries while maintaining and improving traditional Medicare's benefits. This compromise did not settle the debate over the legislation, which is a major issue in the 2004 elections. Voters poorly understand the law because of its complexity. In this paper, I explain how the policy decisions made by the U.S. Congress have contributed to the law's complexity and controversy. I examine the new private health plan options that will be offered to beneficiaries, improvements made to traditional Medicare, and the impact of introducing income-based determinations into Medicare. I also discuss the impact of the drug benefit on beneficiaries in different income and assets categories and Congress's decision to prohibit the federal government from directly negotiating prices with drug manufacturers. I conclude by assessing the major claims made by critics and proponents. Both might be more circumspect in their assessments of the law's impact, since it is impossible to predict how a law of such complexity, with so many human variables, will work out in the end. The MMA is a worthwhile but imperfect effort to extend drug coverage to seniors who are most in need. It deserves neither condemnation nor indiscriminate praise but instead a commitment to help it succeed.
Toward inferring the age of Twitter users with their use of nonstandard abbreviations and lexicon

Automatically determining demographic profile attributes of writers with high accuracy, based on their texts, can be useful for a range of application domains, including smart ad placement, security, the discovery of predator behaviors, enabling automatic enhancement of participants profiles for extended analysis, and various other applications. Attributes such as author gender can be determined with some amount of success from many sources, using various methods, such as analysis of shallow linguistic patterns or topic. Author age is more difficult to determine, but previous research has been somewhat successful at classifying age as a binary (e.g. over or under 30), ternary, or even as a continuous variable using various techniques. In this work, we show that word and phrase abbreviation patterns can be used toward determining user age using novel binning. Notable results include classification accuracy of up to 82.8%, which was 67.0% above relative majority class baseline when classifying user ages into 10 equally sized age bins using a support vector machine classifier and PCA extracted features (including n-grams) and 50.8% (33.7% above baseline) when using only abbreviation features. Also presented is an analysis of the evident change in abbreviation use over time on Twitter.
Drosophila polypyrimidine‐tract binding protein (PTB) functions specifically in the male germline

The mammalian polypyrimidine-tract binding protein (PTB), which is a heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein, is ubiquitously expressed. Unexpectedly, we found that, in Drosophila melanogaster, the abundant PTB transcript is present only in males (third instar larval, pupal and adult stages) and in adult flies is restricted to the germline. Most importantly, a signal from the somatic sex-determination pathway that is dependent on the male-specific isoform of the doublesex protein (DSXM) regulates PTB, providing evidence for the necessity of soma–germline communication in the differentiation of the male germline. Analysis of a P-element insertion directly links PTB function with male fertility. Specifically, loss of dmPTB affects spermatid differentiation, resulting in the accumulation of cysts with elongated spermatids without producing fully separated motile sperms. This male-specific expression of PTB is conserved in D.virilis. Thus, PTB appears to be a particularly potent downstream target of the sex-determination pathway in the male germline, since it can regulate multiple mRNAs.
Creep of intermetallic composites

Abstract The creep behavior of nickel and titanium aluminides, molybdenum silicides, and their composites was evaluated as a function of stress and temperature to identify the effect of reinforcements on the creep resistance of these compounds. The deformation behavior was analyzed using a power-law creep equation. The experimentally determined activation energies and stress exponents were related to the rate-controlling mechanisms for each system. With reinforcements, there is no improvement in the creep strength in TiAl, some improvement in NiAl, particularly at low stresses, and notable improvement in MoSi and its alloys. Comparative analysis of the creep resistance of aluminides, silicides and the currently used superalloys was also provided. On the basis of the creep resistance, it was concluded that MoSi and its composites have high potential for application at temperatures greater than 1000 °C, and that they are potential competitors to somewhat more brittle ceramic-ceramic composites.
Photobleached-fluorescence imaging of microflows

A photobleached-fluorescence imaging technique for visualizing microscale flow fields and obtaining molecular diffusion and advection information has been developed. The technique tracks fluorophores in the region of a photobleached line in a planar microdevice and yields quantitative diffusive and advective transport data. Visualizations of two- and weakly three-dimensional electroosmotically and pressure-driven fluid flow fields are demonstrated using the photobleaching of fluorescein and fluorescein-dextran conjugates. Photobleached-fluorescence imaging tracks undisturbed fluorophores, functions in polymer and glass microfluidic devices, can take advantage of fluorescent conjugates present in biochemical assays, and has a photobleached region that is flow independent.
The SMRT Coregulator Enhances Growth of Estrogen Receptor-α-Positive Breast Cancer Cells by Promotion of Cell Cycle Progression and Inhibition of Apoptosis

The SMRT coregulator functions as a dual coactivator and corepressor for estrogen receptor-α (ERα) in a gene-specific manner, and in several studies its elevated expression correlates with poor outcome for breast cancer patients. A specific role of SMRT in breast cancer progression has not been elucidated, but SMRT knock-down limits estradiol-dependent growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In this study, small-interfering RNA (siRNA) and short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) approaches were used to determine the effects of SMRT depletion on growth of ERα-positive MCF-7 and ZR-75-1 breast cancer cells, as well as the ERα-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer line. Depletion of SMRT inhibited growth of ERα-positive cells grown in monolayer but had no effect on growth of the ERα-negative cells. Reduced SMRT levels also negatively impacted the anchorage-independent growth of MCF-7 cells as assessed by soft agar colony formation assays. The observed growth inhibitions were due to a loss of estradiol-induced progression through the G1/S transition of the cell cycle and increased apoptosis in SMRT-depleted compared with control cells. Gene expression analyses indicated that SMRT inhibits apoptosis by a coordinated regulation of genes involved in apoptosis. Functioning as a dual coactivator for anti-apoptotic genes and corepressor for pro-apoptotic genes, SMRT can limit apoptosis. Together these data indicate that SMRT promotes breast cancer progression through multiple pathways leading to increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis.
Investigating steganographic communications

In this paper we present different approaches to steganography investigation with focus on digital images. We look at steganography tools along with their specific signatures. We present experimental results regarding visual and statistical attacks for steganography detection. We report about emerging directions in this area of research and tips for monitoring steganographic communications.
Colloidal synthesis of air-stable crystalline germanium nanoparticles with tunable sizes and shapes

Nanoparticles of elemental germanium have interesting optical and electronic properties and relatively low toxicity, making them attractive materials for biological and optoelectronic applications. The most common routes to colloidal Ge nanoparticles include metathesis reactions involving Zintl salts, hydride reduction of Ge halides, and thermal decomposition of organogermane precursors. Here we describe an alternative “heat-up” method for the synthesis of size- and shape-tunable Ge nanoparticles that are both crystalline and air stable. The readily available reagents GeI4, oleylamine, oleic acid, and hexamethyldisilazane are combined in one pot and heated to 260 °C, where a rapid nucleation event occurs and multifaceted nanoparticles of crystalline Ge form. By varying the concentration of GeI4, the nanoparticle size can be tuned from 6 to 22 nm with narrow size distributions. Adding trioctylphosphine yields cube-shaped particles, and switching the solvent to octadecene yields one-dimensional nanostructur...
Development of a Quantitative Assay Amenable for High-Throughput Screening to Target the Type II Secretion System for New Treatments against Plant-Pathogenic Bacteria:

Plant-pathogenic bacteria are the causative agents of diseases in important agricultural crops and ornamental plants. The severe economic burden of these diseases requires seeking new approaches for their control, particularly because phytopathogenic bacteria are often resistant to available treatments. The type II secretion (T2S) system is a key virulence factor used by major groups of phytopathogenic bacteria. The T2S machinery transports many hydrolytic enzymes responsible for degradation of the plant cell wall, thus enabling successful colonization and dissemination of the bacteria in the plant host. The genetic inactivation of the T2S system leads to loss of virulence, which strongly suggests that targeting the T2S could enable new treatments against plant-pathogenic bacteria. Accordingly, we have designed and optimized an assay to identify small-molecule inhibitors of the T2S system. This assay uses a double parametric output: measurement of bacterial growth and the enzymatic activity of cellulase, which is secreted via the T2S pathway in our model organism Dickeya dadantii. The assay was evaluated by screening natural extracts, culture filtrates isolated from rhizosphere bacteria, and a collection of pharmaceutically active compounds in LOPAC(1280). The calculated Z' values of 0.63, 0.63, and 0.58, respectively, strongly suggest that the assay is applicable for a high-throughput screening platform.
Microstructure-Based Models for Multi-Functional Material Systems

A method to transform X-ray tomography into a detailed finite element model is developed to characterize the response of multi-functional carbon foams. The model incorporates ligament anisotropy and coatings at multiple scales to illustrate the tailorability of material systems for coupled mechanical, electrical, and thermal loads.
A flow law for dislocation creep of quartz aggregates determined with the molten salt cell

We have used the molten salt cell to conduct an experimental study on the rheology of a natural quartzite containing ∼ 0.15 wt. % water. Co-axial deformation experiments were conducted at constant piston displacement rates, approximating constant strain rates at low strain. The strengths of our natural quartzite measured in the molten salt cell are approximately half those measured at the same conditions in solid media because, unlike solid confining media, molten salt does not contribute to the strength of the sample; it reduces the friction on the moving piston, and it allows clear identification of the ‘hit’ point. We have limited the experimental conditions to those required for dislocation creep, and have used only steady-state flow stresses measured during climb-accommodated dislocation creep to calculate the flow law parameters. Two flow laws were determined, one for samples containing minor amounts of melt (1–2%) and one for melt-free samples. In both cases, the power law stress exponent, n, is 4.0 ± 0.9, which is greater than that previously reported in flow laws for dislocation creep of quartz aggregates determined in solid media. The activation energy, Q, is 137 ± 34 kJ mol−1 for samples with melt and 223 ± 56 kJ mol−1 for those without, within the range of previously determined values for quartz aggregates containing ∼ 0.1 wt.% water. The pre-exponential term, A, is 1.1 × 10 (−4 ± 2) MPa−ns−1 for samples without melt and 1.8 × 10(−8 ± 2) MPa−ns−1 for those with melt. The lower strengths measured in the molten salt cell indicate that previous piezometer relations for quartz experimentally determined in solid media are not correct. Extrapolation of the flow law for melt-free aggregates to natural strain rates predicts higher strengths than most previous quartz flow laws. However, accurate extrapolation requires determining the dependence of flow stress on fH2O and / or aH+.
Economic Evaluations in Shoulder Pathologies: a systematic review of the literature

Background Economic evaluations provide decision makers with a tool for reducing health care costs because they assess both the costs and consequences of health care interventions. This study reviewed the quality of published economic evaluations for shoulder pathologies. Materials and method A MEDLINE search was conducted to identify articles published from 1980 to 2010 that contained “cost” or “economic” combined with terms for several shoulder disorders and treatments. We selected studies that fit the definition of 1 of the 4 routinely performed economic evaluations: cost-minimization, cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, and cost-benefit analyses. Study quality was determined by measuring adherence to 6 established health economic principles, as described in the literature. Results The search retrieved 942 studies. Of these, 32 were determined to be economic evaluations, and 53% of the economic evaluations were published from 2005 to 2010. Only 8 of the 32 studies (25%) adhered to all 6 health economic principles. Publication in a nonsurgical journal (P Conclusion Future health care resource allocation will likely be based on the economic feasibility of treatments. Although the number and quality of economic evaluations of shoulder disorders have risen in recent years, the current state of the literature is poor. Given that availability of such data may factor in private and public reimbursement decisions, there is a clear demand for more rigorous economic evaluations.
Increased pulsatile cerebral blood flow, cerebral vasodilation, and postsyncopal headache in adolescents.

Objective We hypothesize that, after a sudden decrease in cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) in adolescents, a faint, rapid hyperemic pulsatile CBFV occurs upon the patient's return to the supine position and is associated with postsyncopal headache. Study design This case-control study involved 16 adolescent subjects with a history of fainting and headaches. We induced fainting during 70° tilt-table testing and measured mean arterial pressure, heart rate, end-tidal CO 2 , and CBFV. Fifteen control subjects were similarly evaluated with a tilt but did not faint, and comparisons with fainters were made at equivalent defined time points. Results Baseline values were similar between the groups. Upon fainting, mean arterial pressure decreased 49% in the patients who fainted vs 6% in controls ( P P P Conclusion Increased pulsatile CBFV during and after faint may cause postsyncopal cerebral vasodilation and headache.
Local infusion of glucose and insulin in isolated skin perfusion sites in Angora goats

Abstract Six Angora goats (average BW 35.0 ± 2 kg) were implanted bilaterally with silicon catheters in the superficial branch of the deep circumflex iliac artery and in the superficial branch of the deep circumflex iliac vein to determine the utilization of glucose and its insulin dependency in skin tissue. Intraarterial glucose infusion (Espt. 1) of 15 and 150 mg/h did not change glucose level in venous blood drained from that region. However, infusion of 750 mg/h of glucose increased venous blood glucose level by 87.9% (66.3 vs. 124.6 mg/dl; P