September 1994

Their redefined mission is leading researchers at DOE labs to take on unusual -- sometimes bizarre -- assignments At the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, researchers are taking the bang out of old munitions dumps, using a special group of TNT-eating microorganisms. Meanwhile, on a weapons-test site near Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif., a remotely operated, minature robot helps biologists stud

Under pressure to reap return on investment, companies are seeking ways to ensure success in designing drug tests This past July, Synergen Inc. suspended clinical trials of its anti-inflammatory drug candidate, Antril--being tested to fight sepsis--for lack of efficacy. Faced with the setback to its $100 million-plus investment, the Boulder, Colo.-based biotech was forced to lay off more than half its work force and shut down two

These days, many biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms facing the daunting road to market with a new drug are opting to get help from contract research organizations, or CROs. These service companies specialize in providing all or part of the necessary clinical trials; they also manage regulatory reviews. And their participation in the drug- development process is growing dramatically as the number of candidate compounds coming thr

The two-time Nobel laureate, winner of prizes in chemistry in 1954 and peace in 1962, passed away at his home in Big Sur, Calif. He succumbed to prostate cancer, which he had been battling for about a year. "He was, in my judgment at least, the greatest and most original scientist--especially in chemistry--in the 20th century," says Norman Davidson, a professor, emeritus, of biology and chemistry at the California Institute of Tech

Their redefined mission is leading researchers at DOE labs to take on unusual -- sometimes bizarre -- assignments At the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, researchers are taking the bang out of old munitions dumps, using a special group of TNT-eating microorganisms. Meanwhile, on a weapons-test site near Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, Calif., a remotely operated, minature robot helps biologists stud

Under pressure to reap return on investment, companies are seeking ways to ensure success in designing drug tests This past July, Synergen Inc. suspended clinical trials of its anti-inflammatory drug candidate, Antril--being tested to fight sepsis--for lack of efficacy. Faced with the setback to its $100 million-plus investment, the Boulder, Colo.-based biotech was forced to lay off more than half its work force and shut down two

These days, many biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms facing the daunting road to market with a new drug are opting to get help from contract research organizations, or CROs. These service companies specialize in providing all or part of the necessary clinical trials; they also manage regulatory reviews. And their participation in the drug- development process is growing dramatically as the number of candidate compounds coming thr

The two-time Nobel laureate, winner of prizes in chemistry in 1954 and peace in 1962, passed away at his home in Big Sur, Calif. He succumbed to prostate cancer, which he had been battling for about a year. "He was, in my judgment at least, the greatest and most original scientist--especially in chemistry--in the 20th century," says Norman Davidson, a professor, emeritus, of biology and chemistry at the California Institute of Tech

At the same time, he and other framers of the statement say they are gratified that so many diverse and prestigious organizations have put their support behind the effort. "I guess I had hoped that more congressional offices and more parts of the [Clinton] administration would have taken note of the breadth of the constituents that had thought it important to prepare a statement," says Leon Rosenberg, president of the Bristol-Myers

At the same time, he and other framers of the statement say they are gratified that so many diverse and prestigious organizations have put their support behind the effort. "I guess I had hoped that more congressional offices and more parts of the [Clinton] administration would have taken note of the breadth of the constituents that had thought it important to prepare a statement," says Leon Rosenberg, president of the Bristol-Myers

Scientific Journals On CD-ROM Proliferate The following scientific societies produce journals on CD- ROM or have active development projects in the works. For more information on society memberships or journal subscriptions, contact the societies directly at the telephone numbers given. American Chemical Society (ACS), Washington, D.C., (202) 872-4600 (Biochemistry, Journal of the American Chemical Society) American Institute of

Scientific Journals On CD-ROM Proliferate The following scientific societies produce journals on CD- ROM or have active development projects in the works. For more information on society memberships or journal subscriptions, contact the societies directly at the telephone numbers given. American Chemical Society (ACS), Washington, D.C., (202) 872-4600 (Biochemistry, Journal of the American Chemical Society) American Institute of

Back to Basics In AIDS A New Twist Energetic Activity That's Edutainment Fullerene Bonanza On The Fly Chilling Results Although last month's 10th International Conference on AIDS in Yokohama, Japan, yielded little in the way of good news concerning progress to date in efforts to combat the pandemic, some researchers were able to leave the meeting with the hope that future gatherings will be less gloomy. William E. Paul, head of t

Back to Basics In AIDS A New Twist Energetic Activity That's Edutainment Fullerene Bonanza On The Fly Chilling Results Although last month's 10th International Conference on AIDS in Yokohama, Japan, yielded little in the way of good news concerning progress to date in efforts to combat the pandemic, some researchers were able to leave the meeting with the hope that future gatherings will be less gloomy. William E. Paul, head of t

ALAN L. HILLMAN, director, Center for Health Policy at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics and associate professor of medicine and health care management, School of Medicine and the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia An adviser to the White House Task Force on National Health Policy Reform, Alan Hillman started his career as a physician. He soon grew frustrated with a health care system that ignore

ALAN L. HILLMAN, director, Center for Health Policy at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics and associate professor of medicine and health care management, School of Medicine and the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia An adviser to the White House Task Force on National Health Policy Reform, Alan Hillman started his career as a physician. He soon grew frustrated with a health care system that ignore

It would appear that the book as a cultural institution is in danger of extinction. Indeed, there are those who assert that computer technology has made the library obsolete. But while important books may be read by a diminishing minority, it is a demanding and significant minority that can be disregarded only at great peril. Now, it is true that the printing, publication, and distribution of books are clearly in crisis. While more

It would appear that the book as a cultural institution is in danger of extinction. Indeed, there are those who assert that computer technology has made the library obsolete. But while important books may be read by a diminishing minority, it is a demanding and significant minority that can be disregarded only at great peril. Now, it is true that the printing, publication, and distribution of books are clearly in crisis. While more

Regarding the news article in the May 30, 1994, issue of The Scientist reporting on the perennial animal research debate [N. Sankaran, page 3]: Any new panel, at any level, official or nonofficial, is doomed to failure, since no common ground exists for discussion between researchers and animal rights activists. The quote by John McArdle, scientific adviser to the Jenkintown, Pa.-based American Anti-Vivisection Society- -"The ultima

With reference to the article by Rebecca Krumm in the May 16, 1994, issue of The Scientist on radioimmunoassays [page 17]: A possible quantitative measure of the current use of radioimmunoassay (RIA) might be the data prepared by the Institute for Scientific Information on the number of references, over the years, to "preparation of iodine-131- labeled human growth hormone of high specific activity." This was a preliminary report o

Regarding the news article in the May 30, 1994, issue of The Scientist reporting on the perennial animal research debate [N. Sankaran, page 3]: Any new panel, at any level, official or nonofficial, is doomed to failure, since no common ground exists for discussion between researchers and animal rights activists. The quote by John McArdle, scientific adviser to the Jenkintown, Pa.-based American Anti-Vivisection Society- -"The ultima

With reference to the article by Rebecca Krumm in the May 16, 1994, issue of The Scientist on radioimmunoassays [page 17]: A possible quantitative measure of the current use of radioimmunoassay (RIA) might be the data prepared by the Institute for Scientific Information on the number of references, over the years, to "preparation of iodine-131- labeled human growth hormone of high specific activity." This was a preliminary report o

It was disappointing to learn that linguistic chauvinism has reared its head once again in the form of a law proposed several months ago by Jacques Toubon, France's Minister of Culture. Ostensibly, the measure promoted the purity of the French language. Among its sillier provisions, the law banned in official communications thousands of words such as "weekend" that are in common use throughout France, but are not etymologically hom

It was disappointing to learn that linguistic chauvinism has reared its head once again in the form of a law proposed several months ago by Jacques Toubon, France's Minister of Culture. Ostensibly, the measure promoted the purity of the French language. Among its sillier provisions, the law banned in official communications thousands of words such as "weekend" that are in common use throughout France, but are not etymologically hom

Meeting Grounds For Marine Biotechnologists For more information on marine natural products and pharmaceuticals, contact: American Society for Microbiology 1325 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005-4171 Phone: (202) 737-3600 Fax: (202) 942-9340 (For the appropriate E-mail address, call the above number.) Michael Goldberg, Executive Director David Schlessinger, president American Society for Molecular Marine Biology a

Meeting Grounds For Marine Biotechnologists For more information on marine natural products and pharmaceuticals, contact: American Society for Microbiology 1325 Massachusetts Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005-4171 Phone: (202) 737-3600 Fax: (202) 942-9340 (For the appropriate E-mail address, call the above number.) Michael Goldberg, Executive Director David Schlessinger, president American Society for Molecular Marine Biology a

J. Weissenbach, G. Gyapay, C. Dib, A. Vignal, J. Morissette, P. Millasseau, G. Vaysseix, M. Lathrop, "A second-generation linkage map of the human genome," Nature, 359:794-801, 1992. Jean Weissenbach (Genethon, Evry, France): "In 1991, the French Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Center for the Study of Human Polymorphisms (CEPH) created Genethon, a laboratory whose goal was to provide the scientific community with human geno

S.C. Cande, D.V. Kent, "A new geomagnetic polarity time scale for the late Cretaceous and Cenozoic," Journal of Geophysical Research, 97:3917-51,1992. Steven C. Cande (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego): RThe geomagnetic polarity time scale is a cornerstone of the geosciences, providing the means for precise global correlation and the chronological framework for all modern time scales. The fir

A. Musacchio, M. Noble, R. Pauptit, R. Wierenga, M. Saraste, "Crystal structure of a Src-homology 3 (SH3) domain," Nature, 359:851-5, 1992. Matti Saraste (European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany): "Many proteins that function in the signaling pathways of animal cells or yeast are made up of distinct domains. These are common to a number of proteins and have structural or functional independence. The SH3 domain i

J. Weissenbach, G. Gyapay, C. Dib, A. Vignal, J. Morissette, P. Millasseau, G. Vaysseix, M. Lathrop, "A second-generation linkage map of the human genome," Nature, 359:794-801, 1992. Jean Weissenbach (Genethon, Evry, France): "In 1991, the French Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Center for the Study of Human Polymorphisms (CEPH) created Genethon, a laboratory whose goal was to provide the scientific community with human geno

S.C. Cande, D.V. Kent, "A new geomagnetic polarity time scale for the late Cretaceous and Cenozoic," Journal of Geophysical Research, 97:3917-51,1992. Steven C. Cande (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego): RThe geomagnetic polarity time scale is a cornerstone of the geosciences, providing the means for precise global correlation and the chronological framework for all modern time scales. The fir

A. Musacchio, M. Noble, R. Pauptit, R. Wierenga, M. Saraste, "Crystal structure of a Src-homology 3 (SH3) domain," Nature, 359:851-5, 1992. Matti Saraste (European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany): "Many proteins that function in the signaling pathways of animal cells or yeast are made up of distinct domains. These are common to a number of proteins and have structural or functional independence. The SH3 domain i

Millipore Announces Immobilon Sequencing Membranes Labconco Introduces WaterPro HPLC/UF Hybrid Polishing Station Multi-Channel Syringe Pipettes From Hamilton Jandel Releases Version 1.2 of SigmaScan/Image Software Corning Costar Corp. Unveils New Series of Microcentrifuges Molecular Probes' New Gram Stain Kit Spyglass Slicer For Volumetric Visualization National Biosciences Upgrades OLIGO Primer Analysis Software Waters Unveils HPLC

Millipore Announces Immobilon Sequencing Membranes Labconco Introduces WaterPro HPLC/UF Hybrid Polishing Station Multi-Channel Syringe Pipettes From Hamilton Jandel Releases Version 1.2 of SigmaScan/Image Software Corning Costar Corp. Unveils New Series of Microcentrifuges Molecular Probes' New Gram Stain Kit Spyglass Slicer For Volumetric Visualization National Biosciences Upgrades OLIGO Primer Analysis Software Waters Unveils HPLC

E-Print Archives (Paul Ginsparg) Los Alamos National Laboratory MSB285 Los Alamos, N.Mex. 87545 Phone: (505) 667-7353 Fax: (505) 667-5585 E-mail: hep-th@xxx.lanl.gov (Use the word "help" in "subject" line.) Rapid Communications of Oxford The Old Malthouse Paradise Street Oxford OX1 1LO U.K. Phone: 44 865 790 447 Fax: 44 865 244 012 or 44 865 793 533 E-mail: rapidcom@vax.oxford.ac.uk Publishers of 25 journals: Anti-Cancer Drugs Beha

E-Print Archives (Paul Ginsparg) Los Alamos National Laboratory MSB285 Los Alamos, N.Mex. 87545 Phone: (505) 667-7353 Fax: (505) 667-5585 E-mail: hep-th@xxx.lanl.gov (Use the word "help" in "subject" line.) Rapid Communications of Oxford The Old Malthouse Paradise Street Oxford OX1 1LO U.K. Phone: 44 865 790 447 Fax: 44 865 244 012 or 44 865 793 533 E-mail: rapidcom@vax.oxford.ac.uk Publishers of 25 journals: Anti-Cancer Drugs Beha

Four mathematicians--Jean Bourgain, a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, N.J.; Pierre-Louis Lions of the University of Paris-Dauphine in France; Jean- Christophe Yoccoz, University of Paris-Sud, Orsay, France; and Efim I. Zelmanov, a professor at the University of Chicago currently on leave from the University of Wisconsin, Madison--have been awarded the 1994 Fields Medals. The medals were presented during th

Four mathematicians--Jean Bourgain, a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, N.J.; Pierre-Louis Lions of the University of Paris-Dauphine in France; Jean- Christophe Yoccoz, University of Paris-Sud, Orsay, France; and Efim I. Zelmanov, a professor at the University of Chicago currently on leave from the University of Wisconsin, Madison--have been awarded the 1994 Fields Medals. The medals were presented during th