cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Release of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Nuclear Import Block Enhances Host Transcription in Human Lung Cells

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus accessory protein ORF6 antagonizes interferon signaling by blocking karyopherin-mediated nuclear import processes. Viral nuclear import antagonists, expressed by several highly pathogenic RNA viruses, likely mediate pleiotropic effects on host gene expression, presumably interfering with transcription factors, cytokines, hormones, and/or signaling cascades that occur in response to infection. By bioinformatic and systems biology approaches, we evaluated the impact of nuclear import antagonism on host expression networks by using human lung epithelial cells infected with either wild-type virus or a mutant that does not express ORF6 protein. Microarray analysis revealed significant changes in differential gene expression, with approximately twice as many upregulated genes in the mutant virus samples by 48 h postinfection, despite identical viral titers. Our data demonstrated that ORF6 protein expression attenuates the activity of numerous karyopherin-dependent host transcription factors (VDR, CREB1, SMAD4, p53, EpasI, and Oct3/4) that are critical for establishing antiviral responses and regulating key host responses during virus infection. Results were confirmed by proteomic and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay analyses and in parallel microarray studies using infected primary human airway epithelial cell cultures. The data strongly support the hypothesis that viral antagonists of nuclear import actively manipulate host responses in specific hierarchical patterns, contributing to the viral pathogenic potential in vivo. Importantly, these studies and modeling approaches not only provide templates for evaluating virus antagonism of nuclear import processes but also can reveal candidate cellular genes and pathways that may significantly influence disease outcomes following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in vivo.
Job satisfaction patterns of scientists and engineers by status of birth

Abstract The latest figures published by the Science and Engineering Indicators report reveals that in 2003, 33% of faculty in science and engineering departments at research universities were foreign-born, a number that has more than doubled in thirty years. Foreign-born faculty members comprise an important part of the scientific enterprise that has been understudied. The purpose of this study is to examine the job satisfaction patterns of scientists and engineers by status of birth using a very large and comprehensive National Science Foundation (NSF) dataset, the Survey of Doctoral Recipients (SDR). The results of the study indicate that foreign-born scientists and engineers are less satisfied in several areas of their work life as compared to their US-born peers.
Sedimentary Characteristics and Acoustic Detectability of Ship-derived Deposits in Western Lake Ontario

Dual-frequency side-scan sonar surveys (100 and 500 kHz) were conducted in western Lake Ontario to locate and characterize ship-derived deposits. Sedimentary characteristics of these deposits were investigated with the aid of a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) and sediment samples. Distinct Acoustic Backscatter Anomalies (ABAs) identified with the sonar, when sampled, were found to be surficial and subsurficial deposits of ship-derived debris including coal, taconite, and cement clinker. These deposits, which are estimated to range in age from less than 10 years to over 100 years, are located in fine-grained lakebed sediment, which has relatively low acoustic attenuation even at high frequency. As a result, the coarse ship-derived debris can be distinguished on side-scan sonar records even though it is buried at depths of up to 15 cm. Calculations suggest that ship-derived debris as deep as 2.5 m should be observable in 100 kHz side-scan sonar records from this environment. Since sediment accumulation rates are less than 0.29 cm/y and shipping has occurred on Lake Ontario for approximately 140 years, most coarse ship-derived debris ever deposited by ships into fine-grained sediments should be detectable with a 100 kHz sonar signal. Layers of granular diagenetic vivianite were identified at about 15 cm depth in several cores. This material may be a good acoustic reflector and may be responsible for some of the broad but diffuse reflective patterns observed in the side-scan sonographs.
Excitable membrane stabilization by diphenylhydantoin and calcium

Abstract The effects of diphenylhydantoin (DPH) and calcium on various electrical properties of the pre- and postsynaptic membranes of frog neuromuscular junction are examined. Diphenylhydantoin has a stabilizing effect similar to that of calcium. It prevents repetitive firing of muscle fibres bathed in solutions either deficient in calcium or containing germine monoacetate, Diphenylhydantoin enhances the rate of postsynaptic receptor desensitization of end-plate regions bathed in 0 m m calcium hypertonic Ringer after depolarization by carbamylcholine. In concentrations greater than 2.5 × 10 −4 m , DPH blocks neuromuscular transmission without affecting receptor sensitivity and raises the threshold of the muscle fibre membrane. The lipophilic diphenylhydantoin molecule appears to stabilize the hydrophobic configuration of the resting membrane macromolecules without preventing transition to the hydrophilic configuration of the excited membrane.
Social conceptions of knowledge and action: DAI foundations and open systems semantics

Abstract This article discusses foundations for Distributed Artificial Intelligence (DAI), with a particular critical analysis of Hewitt's Open Information Systems Semantics (OISS). The article sets out to do five things: • • It presents a brief overview of current DAI research including motivations and concepts, and discusses some of the basic problems in DAI. • • It introduces several principles that underly a fundamentally multi-agent (i.e., social ) conception of action and knowledge for DAI research. These principles are introduced to provide definitions, to delimit the discussion of OISS and as background against which to assess its contributions. • • It analyzes the main points of OISS in relation to these principles. • • It shows how attention to these principles can strengthen OISS approach to foundations for DAI. • • It traces some of the implications of this synthesis for theorizing and system-building in AI. The OISS approach productively challenges some conceptions of knowledge, reasoning, and action in classical AI research. However, it sometimes ignores the sophistication and richness of contemporary DAI research. Several of the key concepts of OISS are not clearly enough defined or operationalized, and the article points out several ways to strengthen the OISS approach.
A systematic comparison of three structure determination methods from NMR data: Dependence upon quality and quantity of data

We have systematically examined how the quality of NMR protein structures depends on (1) the number of NOE distance constraints. (2) their assumed precision, (3) the method of structure calculation and (4) the size of the protein. The test sets of distance constraints have been derived from the crystal structures of crambin (5 kDa) and staphylococcal nuclease (17 kDa). Three methods of structure calculation have been compared: Distance Geometry (DGEOM), Restrained Molecular Dynamics (XPLOR) and the Double Iterated Kalman Filter (DIKF). All three methods can reproduce the general features of the starting structure under all conditions tested. In many instances the apparent precision of the calculated structure (as measured by the RMS dispersion from the average) is greater than its accuracy (as measured by the RMS deviation of the average structure from the starting crystal structure). The global RMS deviations from the reference structures decrease exponentially as the number of constraints is increased, and after using about 30% of all potential constraints, the crrors asymptotically approach a limiting value. Increasing the assumed precision of the constraints has the same qualitative effect as increasing the number of constraints. For comparable numbers of constraints/residue, the precision of the calculated structure is less for the larger than for the smaller protein, regardless of the method of calculation. The accuracy of the average structure calculated by Restrained Molecular Dynamics is greater than that of structures obtained by purely geometric methods (DGEOM and DIKF).
Immunochemical detection of metallothionein in specific epithelial cells of rat organs.

Abstract The distribution of a heavy metal binding protein, metallothionein, was studied immunocytochemically by using antimetallothionein antibody and the immunoperoxidase staining technique on histological sections of liver, kidney, intestine, lung, and testis from cadmium-treated rats. These tissues either accumulate heavy metals (e.g., liver, kidney, and testis) or are exposed to metal by ingestion or inhalation (intestine and lung). Staining for metallothionein was observed intracellularly in epithelial parenchymal cells of the liver and kidney; all hepatocytes and most renal tubular cells stained for the protein. Accumulation of metallothionein was not seen in connective tissue cells surrounding either blood vessels or renal tubules. Extracellular localization of metallothionein was also observed in the liver sinusoids and within the lumina of the renal tubules, suggesting a metal transport or excretory function for this protein. Surface columnar epithelial cells of the intestinal villi indicated the presence of metallothionein but connective tissue cells of the lamina propria were negative for the protein. The granular secretory Paneth cells of the small intestine also stained strongly for metallothionein as did respiratory epithelial cells of the lung. In the testis, metallothionein was detected in the Sertoli cells and interstitial cells but not within the spermatogonia. Sertoli cells are closely associated with the developing spermatogonia and appear to serve a nutritive role in spermatogenesis. Because of the secretory, absorptive, or nutritive function of the metallothionein-localizing cells in the organs studied, we suggest that metallothionein may be involved in metal storage or transport in addition to its commonly proposed detoxification role.
Transversality, Harmony, and Humanity between Heaven and Earth:

We are not one but many. We are living in the world of multitude which is both interhuman and interspeciesistic. This is the world of multiculturalism which has been ushered into globalization and into a brave new world. The task of public philosophy, as I see it, is to engage in dialogue concerning the national and global issues of exigency at public forums. The most exigent issue of our time is the question of seeking and establishing peace in the midst of different cultures or civilizations on the one hand and between global humanity and nature on the other. This essay explores the role of transversality as a radically new way of thinking in the face of multiculturalism and globalization where no one culture or one species should play a hegemonic role over the others whether it be empire-building or anthropocentric domination (speciesism). The philosopher begins anew by inventing new concepts to come to grips with the world always in transition. In today’s multicultural and globalizing world, public philosophy is in dire need of inventing new concepts to explore changing realities. New concepts are always already implicated in changing realities themselves. I suggest that transversality is a seminal concept. It is conceived of as a practical response befitting for transforming the world of multiculturalism and globalization in the spirit of Deleuze for whom ‘true theory’ does not totalize but instead multiplies. Ambiguity in the etymological sense of ‘bothness’ rather than ‘either/or’ comes with the conceptual territory of multitude which had no ending or is ‘unfinalizable.’ In the spirit of Husserl who invoked in the mid-1930s the metaphor of the phoenix rising from the ashes in describing his seminal
Balanced Receiver Technology Development for the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory

The Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) is located on top of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, at an altitude of 4.2 km. The existing suite of facility heterodyne receivers covering the submillimeter band is rapidly aging and in need of replacement. To facilitate deep integrations and automated spectral line surveys, a family of remote programmable, synthesized, dual-frequency balanced receivers covering the astronomical important 180-720 GHz atmospheric windows is in an advanced stage of development. Installation of the first set of receivers is expected in the spring of 2012. Dual-frequency observation will be an important mode of operation offered by the new facility instrumentation. Two band observations are accomplished by separating the H and V polarizations of the incoming signal and routing them via folded optics to the appropriate polarization sensitive balanced mixer. Scientifically this observation mode facilitates pointing for the higher receiver band under mediocre weather conditions and a doubling of scientific throughput (2ntn 4 GHz) under good weather conditions.
Examining the role of combat loss among Vietnam War veterans

Military combat often presents service members with a dual burden of coping with traumas of various types while also grappling with the deaths of close personal friends. At present, much less is known about the effects of bereavement in the context of war compared to other combat-related stressors. Studying a sample of combat veterans from the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS), we examined the contribution of combat loss in psychological functioning and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When controlling for gender, age, ethnicity, educational background, exposure to nonbereavement combat stressors, and recent bereavement experiences, combat loss was uniquely associated with past and current functional impairments among the veterans, βs = .07 and .06, respectively, but was not related to the severity of PTSD. These findings highlight that combat loss might act as a uniquely challenging stressor among many service members and more empirical research is needed on this topic.
Evolution of the 5'-end of genomic RNA of murine coronaviruses during passages in vitro.

Abstract The 5′-ends of the genomic RNA and subgenomic mRNAs of murine coronavirus (MHV) have a stretch of approximately 70 nucleotides of leader sequences. The 3'-region of this leader sequence contains several repeats of a pentanucleotide (UCUAA), whose number varies among different MHV strains. It has been demonstrated that this UCUAA repeat plays crucial roles in the discontinuous transcription of MHV mRNAs. In the present study, we demonstrate that the number of UCUAA repeats in the leader sequence of MHV genome rapidly decreases during serial passages of viruses on susceptible cells. The downward evolution of the number of UCUAA repeats was not due to a higher growth rate of the viruses with fewer repeats, but seemed to be due to homologous interference between viruses with different numbers of UCUAA repeat. The ease with which these variant viruses arose suggests the high frequency of the occurrence of this deletion during RNA replication. This finding is in agreement with the proposed discontinuous and nonprocessive mode of coronavirus RNA synthesis. Analysis of the intracellular subgenomic mRNA species of viruses with different numbers of UCUAA repeats and of MHV recombinant viruses suggests that the number of this pentanucleotide repeat at the 3′-end of the leader sequence may regulate the synthesis of certain mRNA species, in agreement with the leader-primed transcription mechanism.
Using an Automated Coding and Review Process to Communicate Critical Radiologic Findings: One Way to Skin a Cat

reakdown in communication is a causative factor in up to 80% of all malpractice lawsuits [2]. Malpractice lawsuits that involve failure of communication of radiologic results occur with less frequency but are nonetheless commonplace. Indeed, a report issued jointly by the Physician Insurers Association of America (PIAA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) revealed that the fourth most common primary malpractice allegation lodged against radiologists is failure of communication [3]. The same report also disclosed that in nearly 60% of malpractice lawsuits involving radiologists, the referring physician had never been directly contacted with urgent or significant unexpected findings. Members of an ACR task force appointed to explore liability issues related to radiologic communication reviewed medical malpractice lawsuits resulting in indemnification payment to plaintiffs filed in the United States between 1999 and 2003. The task force found that the number of lawsuits related to communication failures averaged nine per year [4]. The task force also reported that 25% of all ACR members responding to a questionnaire acknowledged being involved in at least one malpractice claim involving allegations of failure to communicate. In 1991, the ACR issued its first Standard for Communication: Diagnostic Radiology [5]. Contained within the standard were the following statements:
Ab Initio Study of Doped Carbon Nanotube Sensors

Recently great advances have been made in demonstrating the viability of using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to detect the presence of chemical gases such as NO2, NH3, and O2, and they have led to the design of a new breed of sensor devices. Based on intrinsic CNTs, the devices are capable of detecting small concentration of molecules with high sensitivity under ambient conditions. However, these devices have a limitation that only molecules binding to a carbon nanotube can be detected. They are currently limited to NH3, NO2, and O2, and a host of highly toxic gases (such as carbon monoxide), water molecules, and biomolecules cannot be detected using these intrinsic CNT devices. Recent efforts on externally functionalizing CNT surface and internal doping in CNT only result in temporary sensing capability due to the weak van der Waals interaction between CNT and doped materials. In this paper, we propose the concept of a new type of nanoscale sensor devices that can detect the presence of CO and water molecules....
Chemical composition associated with different particle size fractions in municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastewaters.

Abstract A more detailed characterization of particulate organic matter in wastewater streams is needed to improve solid–liquid separation and biological processes for wastewater treatment. The objective of this paper was to evaluate particle size distributions and the associated chemical composition for municipal, industrial, and agricultural waste streams. Most of the organic matter in these wastewaters was larger than a molecular weight of 103 amu and therefore would require extracellular hydrolysis before any bacterial metabolism. Particle size distributions were significantly different for the studied waste streams. In municipal wastewater, the organic matter was evenly distributed in all eight size fractions ranging from 103 amu up to 63 μm. The industrial and agricultural wastewaters, however, contained mainly soluble organic matter ( 1.2 μm for the industrial and >10 μm for the agricultural waste) leaving a gap in the size range of large macromolecules and colloids. The relative protein and carbohydrate concentrations varied for the different size fractions compared to the measured chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the corresponding size fraction. Thus, the design of the solid–liquid separation at a treatment plant could be used to purposefully modify the overall chemical composition of the organic matter before further biological treatment. Particle size distributions will influence design and operation of biological nutrient removal processes such as denitrification or biological phosphorus removal that may be carbon limited if a large fraction of the organic matter is composed of large particles with slow hydrolysis rates. Measured particle size distributions for the different waste streams in this study (municipal, industrial, agricultural) were significantly different requiring specific approaches for treatment plant design.
Review of four cases of childhood hepatic angiosarcoma--elevated environmental arsenic exposure in one case

Four cases of childhood hepatic angiosarcoma (HAS), representing the malignant form of infantile hemangioendothelioma, are described. The morphologic appearance of childhood HAS differs from the adult form in the following features: the associated presence of benign infantile hemangioendothelioma; the presence of dysontogenetic features; and an altered appearance of the angiosarcoma itself. It is postulated for these cases that the benign infantile hemangioendothelioma progressed to the malignant angiosarcoma. One of the four cases had exposure to elevated levels of arsenic in the environment that may have contributed to this progression. This latter case adds to published reports associating arsenic exposure with increased risk for hepatic angiosarcoma.
Pseudo-gamma ray volume from extended elastic impedance inversion for gas exploration

The Unayzah Formation has been an exploration target in Saudi Arabia for more than a decade, with oil and gas production from the unit now well established. However, exploration in the Unayzah in central Saudi Arabia remains technically challenging. This is due in large part to its complex interplay of continental clastic depositional environments that include braided stream, wadi fill, playa-lake, interfluve, alluvial fan, and eolian dune systems.
Optimizing treatment of choroidal neovascularization feeder vessels associated with age-related macular degeneration.

Abstract PURPOSE: To optimize the method of treating choroidal neovascularization (CNV) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN: Experimental study and interventional case series. METHODS: The parameters associated with locating and then photocoagulating CNV feeder vessels were identified and optimized using published data and data derived from modeling the choroidal vasculature. Based on these optimized parameters, a prototype diagnostic/treatment system was designed that captures high-speed indocyanine green (ICG) angiogram images and facilitates analysis of the images by enhancing visualization of dye movement through CNV feeder vessels (FVs). The system also permits precise aiming and delivery of 810- nm wavelength photocoagulation laser energy to target FVs on a real-time ICG angiogram image of the choroidal vasculature. Target FVs are tracked by a joy-stick controlled laser aiming beam until an intravenously-injected high-concentration ICG dye bolus is observed to enter the target vessel, at which time the laser is fired. Proof of principle of the combined diagnosis/treatment system design for performing dye-enhanced photocoagulation (DEP) in the clinical setting and determination of the minimum DEP laser energy needed to close CNV FVs was made in 11 AMD patients requiring treatment of CNV, but for whom other treatment was not appropriate. RESULTS: Using ICG—DEP, CNV feeder vessels were closed with single pulse laser energy, delivering as little as 0.6 to 1.8 J of energy to the fundus, producing no visible change in the fundus. Successful FV closure was usually indicated immediately by presence of incarcerated ICG dye in the vessel adjacent to the burn site. The prototype system proved relatively easy to operate. After acquiring and interpreting diagnostic angiograms and repositioning a patient in front of the device, feeder vessel DEP and treatment evaluation required 15 to 20 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Indocyanine green dye-enhanced photocoagulation of CNV feeder vessels, facilitated by use of a device that permits real-time visualization of the choroidal circulation while aiming the treatment laser beam, appears to minimize the amount of energy applied to the fundus and the volume of fundus tissue affected by treatment, compared with other treatment modalities. The combination diagnosis/treatment device should be useful in optimizing FV treatment and in refining and evaluating the efficacy of DEP in future clinical trials.
Understanding the origin of metal-sulfur vibrations in an oxo-molybdenum dithiolene complex: relevance to sulfite oxidase.

X-ray crystallography and resonance Raman (rR) spectroscopy have been used to further characterize (Tp*)MoO(qdt) (Tp* is hydrotris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate and qdt is 2,3-quinoxalinedithiolene), which represents an important benchmark oxomolybdenum mono-dithiolene model system relevant to various pyranopterin Mo enzyme active sites, including sulfite oxidase. The compound (Tp*)MoO(qdt) crystallizes in the triclinic space group, P1, where a = 9.8424 (7) A, b = 11.2323 (8) A, c = 11.9408 (8) A, α = 92.7560 (10)°, β = 98.9530 (10)°, and γ = 104.1680 (10)°. The (Tp*)MoO(qdt) molecule exhibits the distorted six-coordinate geometry characteristic of related oxo-Mo(V) systems possessing a single coordinated dithiolene ligand. The first coordination sphere bond lengths and angles in (Tp*)MoO(qdt) are very similar to the corresponding structural parameters for (Tp*)MoO(bdt) (bdt is 1,2-benzenedithiolene). The relatively small inner-sphere structural variations observed between (Tp*)MoO(qdt) and (Tp*)MoO(bd...
Use of submitochondrial particles for prediction of chemical toxicity in man

The mitochondrial tests are good indicators of the relative toxicity of many xenobiotics to cells and fish. The current investigation studies the ability of these procedures to predict in vivo tissue concentrations associated with clinical illness in man
Therapy of enterococcal infections.

Because enterococci are typically tolerant of the bactericidal effects of cell wall-active antimicrobial agents, bactericidal therapy has required use of these agents in combination with aminoglycosides. For strains which do not demonstrate high-level aminoglycoside resistance, either streptomycin or gentamicin can be used in combination with penicillin, ampicillin or vancomycin. At some centers, as many as 50 % of isolates display high-level gentamicin resistance. A minority of such isolates will not be highly streptomycin-resistant, and the latter drug can be used in combination with a cell wall-active drug. Optimal treatment of serious infections due to strains highly resistant to both streptomycin and gentamicin is unknown. While no agent is predictably bactericidal against such isolates, ampicillin, penicillin or vancomycin alone would be expected to cure some patients. Other drugs or drug combinations do not offer any predictable therapeutic advantages.
Antibody-mediated peripheral neuropathies associated with ARC and AIDS: successful treatment with plasmapheresis.

Peripheral neuropathy is increasingly recognized in patients with AIDS as well as AIDS-related complex (ARC). Thirty homosexual men with polyneuropathy were evaluated in this study. Twenty-one had ARC and nine had AIDS. We observed three distinct clinical syndromes: distal sensorimotor polyneuropathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyrediculoneuropathy (CIDP), and mononeuropathy multiplex. Circulating antibodies to peripheral nerve tissues were found in all patients. In six patients, treatment with plasma exchange was undertaken because of severe, progressive weakness. Four patients with clinical, electoophys-iologic, and histologic evidence of CIDP improved with plasma exchange, three regaining normal function. These results suggest that the peripheral neuropathy associated with ARC and AIDS is immunotogically mediated and that plasma exchange is an effective treatment in a subgroup of patients with this disorder.
Patients' experience and outcomes after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in Washington state.

Abstract Background There is very little evidence regarding the real world experience and outcomes after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). Our objective was to estimate the amount of postoperative weight loss, change in co-morbidity status, and complications after LAGB. The setting was LAGB surgical centers in Washington state. Methods A cross-sectional survey was developed to collect primary data from patients who had undergone LAGB in Washington state from 2004 to 2010. The survey contained questions on patient characteristics, weight change, co-morbidities, and complications after LAGB surgery. We used descriptive and other statistical tests to evaluate our key research questions by the period since LAGB. Results A total of 1556 surveys were sent out, and 790 were returned (response rate 50.8%). Responders were categorized into 4 groups according to the follow-up period: 4 years. The corresponding average body mass index reduction in each group was 21.0%, 22.5%, 21.3%, and 20.4%. Of the respondents, 21.7%, 34.8%, 44.6%, and 38.7% indicated they did not have any adjustments in the year preceding the survey. The percentage of respondents who had undergone additional operations related to LAGB was 8.6%. Specifically, 3.6% of the respondents had undergone either band removal or conversion to another type of bariatric operation. Conclusion We found that although LAGB appeared to be beneficial for weight reduction and improving co-morbidities, the underuse of band adjustments and significant rate of treatment failure might limit the long-term effectiveness of LAGB.
Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Selected Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors, and the 5-Year Incidence of Age-Related Cataract and Progression of Lens Opacities: The Beaver Dam Eye Study

PURPOSE: To describe the relationships of diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and selected cardiovascular disease risk factors to cumulative incidence of age-related cataract and to progression of lens opacities over a 5-year interval. METHODS: A follow-up examination of the Beaver Dam Eye Study cohort was performed 5 years after the baseline evaluation. Ages at the census prior to baseline ranged from 43 to 84 years of age. Protocols for examination, lens photography, and grading were the same for both examinations. RESULTS: Age at baseline was the most significant characteristic associated with incidence of nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular cataract in those without diabetes (P < .001) for all cataracts. The positive association of age with cataract was found for nuclear and cortical cataract in the worse eye (P ≤ .04) but not posterior subcapsular cataract in those with diabetes. Progression of nuclear sclerosis was common, occurring in about 70% of subjects when considering either eye. Incident cortical and posterior subcapsular cataracts (P ≤ .001 for worse eye for each lesion) and progression of cortical and posterior subcapsular opacities were more common in those with diabetes (P ≤ .001 for either eye for each lesion). Increased glycated hemoglobin level was associated with increased risk of nuclear and cortical cataracts in those with diabetes. Relationships of risk factors to posterior subcapsular cataracts, especially among those with diabetes, were often in the expected direction but lacked significance possibly due to small samples. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes mellitus is associated with incidence over 5 years of cortical and posterior subcapsular cataract and with progression of more minor cortical and posterior subcapsular lens opacities. These changes may be related to level of glycemia. Cardiovascular disease and its risk factors have little effect on incidence of any age-related cataract.
Random vibrations of thin elastic plates

Das Verfahren des mittleren Fehlerquadrates fur Zufallsfunktionen zweiter Ordnung wird auf das Problem der Querschwingungen dunner elastischer Platten unter Zufallsbelastung angewandt. Es werden Ausdrucke gefunden fur die Kovarianz und die Spektraldichte der seitlichen Verschiebung und der Spannung in Abhangigkeit der Kovarianz und Spektraldichte der Zufallsfunktion fur die Belastung.
Association between unmet needs for community services and caregiving strain

This study describes informal caregivers’ unmet needs for community services and investigates the association between unmet needs and caregiving strain. The data used in this study were extracted from the Family Caregiving in the U.S. Survey and included 463 caregivers caring for an older adult who received community services. Among these caregivers, over one-third reported that the community services used by the care receivers did not meet their needs. Findings indicated informal caregivers who reported unmet needs were more likely to experience higher levels of emotional strain than those who did not report unmet needs after potential confounding factors were controlled for. However, the relationship between unmet needs and physical strain was marginally significant.
Property Rights in Genetic Information

The primary theme of this paper is the normative case against ownership of one's genetic information along with the source of that information (usually human tissues samples). The argument presented here against such “upstream” property rights is based primarily on utilitarian grounds. This issue has new salience thanks to the Human Genome Project and “bio-prospecting” initiatives based on the aggregation of genetic information, such as the one being managed by deCODE Genetics in Iceland. The rationale for ownership is twofold: ownership will protect the basic human rights of privacy and autonomy and it will enable the data subjects to share in the tangible benefits of the genetic research. Proponents of this viewpoint often cite the principle of genetic exceptionalism, which asserts that genetic information needs a higher level of protection than other kinds of personal information such as financial data. We argue, however, that the recognition of such ownership rights would lead to inefficiency along with the disutility of genetic discoveries. Biomedical research will be hampered if property rights in genes and genetic material are too extensive. We contend that other mechanisms such as informed consent and strict confidentiality rules can accomplish the same result as a property right without the liabilities of an exclusive entitlement.
Surface Blistering of Metals Due to Low Energy Hydrogen Bombardment

Surface blistering of metals due to low energy hydrogen ion bombardment, determining solar absorptance change in gold-plated specimens
Measurement of human active renin heterogeneity.

A method for the separation and quantitation of multiple forms of active renin in human plasma is described. Shallow gradient isoelectric focusing of plasma resolved active renin into seven distinct c
Environmental pH, O2 and Capsular Effects on the Geochemical Composition of Statoliths of Embryonic Squid Doryteuthis opalescens

Spawning market squid lay embryo capsules on the seafloor of the continental shelf of the California Current System (CCS), where ocean acidification, deoxygenation and intensified upwelling lower the pH and [O2]. Squid statolith geochemistry has been shown to reflect the squid’s environment (e.g., seawater temperature and elemental concentration). We used real-world environmental levels of pH and [O2] observed on squid-embryo beds to test in the laboratory whether or not squid statolith geochemistry reflects environmental pH and [O2]. We asked whether pH and [O2] levels might affect the incorporation of element ratios (B:Ca, Mg:Ca, Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca, Pb:Ca, U:Ca) into squid embryonic statoliths as (1) individual elements and/or (2) multivariate elemental signatures, and consider future applications as proxies for pH and [O2] exposure. Embryo exposure to high and low pH and [O2] alone and together during development over four weeks only moderately affected elemental concentrations of the statoliths, and uranium was an important element driving these differences. Uranium:Ca was eight-times higher in statoliths exposed to low pHT (7.57–7.58) and low [O2] (79–82 µmol·kg−1) than those exposed to higher ambient pHT (7.92–7.94) and [O2] (241–243 µmol·kg−1). In a separate experiment, exposure to low pHT (7.55–7.56) or low [O2] (83–86 µmol·kg−1) yielded elevated U:Ca and Sr:Ca in the low [O2] treatment only. We found capsular effects on multiple elements in statoliths of all treatments. The multivariate elemental signatures of embryonic statoliths were distinct among capsules, but did not reflect environmental factors (pH and/or [O2]). We show that statoliths of squid embryos developing inside capsules have the potential to reflect environmental pH and [O2], but that these “signals” are generated in concert with the physiological effects of the capsules and embryos themselves.
Functional Investigation of the Plant-Specific Long Coiled-Coil Proteins PAMP-INDUCED COILED-COIL (PICC) and PICC-LIKE (PICL) in Arabidopsis thaliana

We have identified and characterized two Arabidopsis long coiled-coil proteins PAMP-INDUCED COILED-COIL (PICC) and PICC-LIKE (PICL). PICC (147 kDa) and PICL (87 kDa) are paralogs that consist predominantly of a long coiled-coil domain (expanded in PICC), with a predicted transmembrane domain at the immediate C-terminus. Orthologs of PICC and PICL were found exclusively in vascular plants. PICC and PICL GFP fusion proteins are anchored to the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane by a C-terminal transmembrane domain and a short tail domain, via a tail-anchoring mechanism. T-DNA-insertion mutants of PICC and PICL as well as the double mutant show an increased sensitivity to the plant abiotic stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA) in a post-germination growth response. PICC, but not PICL gene expression is induced by the bacterial pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) flg22. T-DNA insertion alleles of PICC, but not PICL, show increased susceptibility to the non-virulent strain P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000 hrcC, but not to the virulent strain P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000. This suggests that PICC mutants are compromised in PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI). The data presented here provide first evidence for the involvement of a plant long coiled-coil protein in a plant defense response.
Ready and Waiting: Delayed Hatching and Extended Incubation of Anamniotic Vertebrate Terrestrial Eggs

Some anamniotic aquatic vertebrates lay eggs in a terrestrial habitat that is hostile to the survival of hatchings or larvae. These terrestrial eggs are ready and able to hatch at a particular developmental time, but do not hatch until presented with suitable conditions for aquatic larval survival. Beyond this time, hatching is possible whenever aquatic conditions occur. The duration of extended terrestrial incubation is dependent on the availability of energy for metabolism from the yolk. Extended incubation is useful for anamniotic eggs laid in terrestrial habitats where conditions suitable for larval survival arrive with unpredictable or variable timing. Examples of anamniotes with delayed hatching and extended terrestrial incubation can be found among teleost fishes, anurans, and caudate amphibians. This paper characterizes the embryonic period, compares this mode with other forms of developmental plasticity in anamniotes, evaluates the constraints and advantages of this life history mode, and examines how some fishes and amphibians are able to obtain the benefits of terrestriality for their eggs when the timing of the return to aquatic conditions is not entirely predictable.
Analysis of hepatocellular proliferation: study of archival liver tissue is facilitated by an endogenous marker of DNA replication.

Assessment of liver regeneration with endogenous genes that are expressed during DNA replication is physiological, specific and direct. To determine whether H3 histone messenger RNA expression (which is tightly coupled with DNA synthesis) could be used for this purpose, we initially examined liver regeneration in a mouse model. After partial hepatectomy, RNA transblot studies showed induction of H3 histone messenger RNA expression in regenerating mouse livers. In situ molecular hybridization demonstrated that the overall pattern of H3 histone messenger RNA expression correlated with [3H]thymidine labeling of hepatocytes. After partial hepatectomy, H3 histone messenger RNA expression in hepatocytes peaked at 48 hr (>60 times greater than at 24 hr; p < 0.001) and then rapidly declined. Although hepatocyte labeling with [3H]thymidine showed similar kinetics of liver regeneration, use of this parameter resulted in overestimation of the proliferative compartment when it was compared with H3 histone messenger RNA expression. Next we determined whether H3 histone messenger RNA expression could be used to study hepatocellular proliferation in archival human material. H3 histone messenger RNA—expressing hepatocytes were identified on in situ hybridization in patients with acute or chronic active hepatitis and active cirrhosis, but not inactive cirrhosis. These studies demonstrate that H3 histone messenger RNA is expressed in a phasic manner during liver regeneration. Use of H3 histone messenger RNA expression to evaluate hepatocellular proliferation should facilitate clinical studies and greatly advance our understanding of the pathophysiology of liver regeneration. (HEPATOLOGY 1992;16:968–973.)
The fundamental group of the orbit space of a discontinuous group

A group G of homeomorphisms of a topological space X will be called discontinuous if(1) the stabilizer of each point of X is finite, and(2) each point x ∈ X; has a neighbourhood U such that any element of G not in the stabilizer of x maps U outside itself (i.e. if gx ≠ x then U ∩ gU is empty). The purpose of this note is to prove the following result.
Customizing parallel corpora at the document level

Recent research in cross-lingual information retrieval (CLIR) established the need for properly matching the parallel corpus used for query translation to the target corpus. We propose a document-level approach to solving this problem: building a custom-made parallel corpus by automatically assembling it from documents taken from other parallel corpora. Although the general idea can be applied to any application that uses parallel corpora, we present results for CLIR in the medical domain. In order to extract the best-matched documents from several parallel corpora, we propose ranking individual documents by using a length-normalized Okapi-based similarity score between them and the target corpus. This ranking allows us to discard 50-90% of the training data, while avoiding the performance drop caused by a good but mismatched resource, and even improving CLIR effectiveness by 4-7% when compared to using all available training data.
Financing a future for public biological data.

MOTIVATION The public web-based biological database infrastructure is a source of both wonder and worry. Users delight in the ever increasing amounts of information available; database administrators and curators worry about long-term financial support. An earlier study of 153 biological databases (Ellis and Kalumbi, Nature Biotechnol., 16, 1323-1324, 1998) determined that near future (1-5 year) funding for over two-thirds of them was uncertain. More detailed data are required to determine the magnitude of the problem and offer possible solutions. METHODS This study examines the finances and use statistics of a few of these organizations in more depth, and reviews several economic models that may help sustain them. RESULTS Six organizations were studied. Their administrative overhead is fairly low; non-administrative personnel and computer-related costs account for 77% of expenses. One smaller, more specialized US database, in 1997, had 60% of total access from US domains; a majority (56%) of its US accesses came from commercial domains, although only 2% of the 153 databases originally studied received any industrial support. The most popular model used to gain industrial support is asymmetric pricing: preferentially charging the commercial users of a database. At least five biological databases have recently begun using this model. Advertising is another model which may be useful for the more general, more heavily used sites. Microcommerce has promise, especially for databases that do not attract advertisers, but needs further testing. The least income reported for any of the databases studied was $50,000/year; applying this rate to 400 biological databases (a lower limit of the number of such databases, many of which require far larger resources) would mean annual support need of at least $20 million. To obtain this level of support is challenging, yet failure to accept the challenge could be catastrophic. CONTACT lynda@tc.umn. edu
Aspergillus Section Fumigati Typing by PCR-Restriction Fragment Polymorphism

Recent studies have shown that there are multiple clinically important members of the Aspergillus section Fumigati that are difficult to distinguish on the basis of morphological features (e.g., Aspergillus fumigatus, A. lentulus, and Neosartorya udagawae). Identification of these organisms may be clinically important, as some species vary in their susceptibilities to antifungal agents. In a prior study, we utilized multilocus sequence typing to describe A. lentulus as a species distinct from A. fumigatus. The sequence data show that the gene encoding β-tubulin, benA, has high interspecies variability at intronic regions but is conserved among isolates of the same species. These data were used to develop a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method that rapidly and accurately distinguishes A. fumigatus, A. lentulus, and N. udagawae, three major species within the section Fumigati that have previously been implicated in disease. Digestion of the benA amplicon with BccI generated unique banding patterns; the results were validated by screening a collection of clinical strains and by in silico analysis of the benA sequences of Aspergillus spp. deposited in the GenBank database. PCR-RFLP of benA is a simple method for the identification of clinically important, similar morphotypes of Aspergillus spp. within the section Fumigati.
Cascading trait‐mediation: disruption of a trait‐mediated mutualism by parasite‐induced behavioral modification

Trait-mediated indirect interactions (TMII) are important driving-forces causing trophic cascades in aquatic and terrestrial food webs. Furthermore, since most biological communities are not simple food chains but complex networks of interactions, one TMII within a community might easily be infl uenced by another TMII. In other words, TMII themselves can be cascades with potential implications for community dynamics. Here we report on one of such cascade, where a parasitic fl y induces behavioral changes that disrupt a trait-mediated ant–hemipteran mutualism. We show that during parasiteinduced low-activity periods, the ant Azteca instabilis fails to protect its mutualistic scale-insect partner against predatory ladybeetles. Th us, in the presence of the parasite, ladybeetles ate as many scales in ant-patrolled plants as they did in ant-free plants. Th ese results demonstrate how, through a cascade of trait-mediated interactions, associations between members of a community can be drastically altered.