cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and mutational burden as biomarkers of tumor response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has demonstrated clinical benefit for a wide range of cancer types. Because only a subset of patients experience clinical benefit, there is a strong need for biomarkers that are easily accessible across diverse practice settings. Here, in a retrospective cohort study of 1714 patients with 16 different cancer types treated with ICI, we show that higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is significantly associated with poorer overall and progression-free survival, and lower rates of response and clinical benefit, after ICI therapy across multiple cancer types. Combining NLR with tumor mutational burden (TMB), the probability of benefit from ICI is significantly higher (OR = 3.22; 95% CI, 2.26-4.58; P < 0.001) in the NLR low/TMB high group compared to the NLR high/TMB low group. NLR is a suitable candidate for a cost-effective and widely accessible biomarker, and can be combined with TMB for additional predictive capacity. There is an unmet clinical need for simple, accessible biomarkers to select patients who are more likely to respond to immune checkpoint therapy. Here the authors show that a lower neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with better overall and progressive-free survival, as well as higher rate of response, in a multi-cancer cohort of patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Mental health of pregnant and postpartum women in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has been uniquely challenging for pregnant and postpartum women. Uncontrollable stress amplifies risk for maternal depression and anxiety, which are linked to adverse mother and child outcomes. This study examined change in internalizing symptoms from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant and postpartum women longitudinally, and investigated moderation by loneliness and other contextual risk factors. Methods 135 women (Mage = 31.81; 26% Latina, 55% non-Hispanic White, 11% Black; 39% low-income) enrolled in an existing prospective study completed self-report questionnaires including the EPDS and STAI-short form during early pregnancy, prior to COVID-19, and during COVID-19. Results Depressive symptoms were higher during COVID-19 compared to pre-COVID-19 and just as high as during early pregnancy. Anxiety symptoms were higher during COVID-19 compared to both pre-COVID-19 and early pregnancy. Higher loneliness was associated with increased depressive symptoms during COVID-19. Greater COVID-19 specific adversity was linked to greater increases in internalizing symptoms during COVID-19. Lower income-to-needs-ratio most strongly predicted symptoms during early pregnancy. Limitations The present study is longitudinal, but the correlational nature of the data precludes causal conclusions regarding the effect of the pandemic on mental health. Conclusion Longitudinal analyses suggest the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased internalizing symptoms among diverse pregnant and postpartum women. Interpersonal and contextual factors exacerbate risk and the impact of the pandemic on women's mental health. Identifying mothers at-risk for depression and anxiety may increase treatment utilization, mitigate fetal and infant exposure to maternal depression and anxiety, and help prevent adverse child outcomes.
Acyclic Terpenes Reduce Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation from Emissions of a Riparian Shrub

Terrestrial vegetation is a major global source of atmospheric secondary organic aerosol (SOA) through oxidation of biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions. Climate change is altering t...
Characterization of thermal decomposition of oxygenated organic compounds in FIGAERO-CIMS

The Filter Inlet for Gases and AEROsols coupled with a chemical ionization mass spectrometer (FIGAERO-CIMS) measures particle-phase organics via temperature-programmed thermal desorption, though th...
Changes to the mtDNA copy number during the course of yeast culture growth

The yeast mitochondrial network is dynamic, with frequent fusion and fission events among mitochondria. Notable changes in mitochondrial morphology and function accompany changes in physiological state. While differences in mtDNA copy number among strains and growth conditions have been observed, it has not been previously shown that the mtDNA copy number changes substantially over time in a clonal growing culture. Here we show that there are fairly dramatic (3x-5x) changes to the mtDNA copy number per cell in growing cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, on a timescale of hours to days. While these changes appear to be connected to the shift from fermentation to respiration, it is possible that they are more simply associated with changes in growth rate. Our work suggests that the mtDNA copy number is a dynamic phenotype, a finding that has important implications for studies of the regulation of mtDNA copy number.
Lower Back Injuries in NCAA Female Volleyball Athletes: A 5-Year Epidemiologic Characterization.

Background:Although lower back injuries (LBIs) are common among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) female volleyball athletes, their incidence and etiology has not been well-defined.Pu...
AI and the capitalist space economy

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has fuelled concerns ranging from ‘existential risk for humanity’, framed as evolutionary competition with machines, to predictions of the ‘end of work’ via...
IL3BP1, A Transcription Factor with Dual Function

Transcriptional regulation of eukaryotic gene expression involves interactions between transcription factor proteins and specific DNA sequences in the enhancer/promoter regions of regulated genes. These transcription factors can be activators, which can act by increasing transcription initiation or enhancing mRNA elongation (1), or they can serve as transcriptional suppressors and down regulate transcription (2,3). There are many transcription factors that can function either as activators or suppressors, depending on the context. For example, the Drosophila transcription factor Kruppel functions as an activator at low concentration, by interacting with TFIIB as a monomer, but it functions as a suppressor at high concentration, forming a dimer and interacting with TFIIEs(4). The human thyroid hormone receptor-s (hTRs) converts from a repressor to an activator upon binding of thyroid hormone, and YY1 suppresses transcription when bound to the initiation region of the promoter but converts to an activator when bound by the adenovirus E1a protein (5).
Attachment and Recognition Factors in the Interaction between Microbes and Mononuclear Phagocytes

Removal of microbes from the vascular system and from tissue sites is handled by cells of the monocyte-macrophage system, the mononuclear phagocytes. In vivo, this process is a complex one, referred to as “clearance.” Difficulties in interpreting removal of microbes or carbon particles from the vascular system are magnified by factors such as organ blood flow, changes in plasma constituents, and changes in cell populations (Saba, 1970). In spite of this complexity, studies have clearly shown the importance of mononuclear phagocytes in recognizing and removing particles from the mammalian host (Spector, 1970; North, 1970). These cells are effective because of their specialized surfaces for recognition of foreign antigens, as well as damaged and serum coated particles, and because of their functional ability to then ingest and digest the particles. This review will focus on those factors occurring at the mononuclear phagocyte surface which affect this attachment and recognition process.
Epidemic Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever: a Global Public Health Problem in the 21st Century

Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are caused by infection with four dengue virus serotypes, dengue-1 (DEN-1), DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4, which are closely related to each other antigenically. This chapter reviews the changing epidemiology associated with dengue viruses and attempts to explain why changes have occurred in the waning years of the 20th century. The reasons for the dramatic resurgence of epidemic dengue/DHF in the waning years of the 20th century are complex and not fully understood but are most likely associated with demographic and societal changes that have occurred over the past 50 years. The emphasis has thus been on implementing emergency control methods in response to epidemics rather than on developing programs to prevent epidemic transmission. This approach has been particularly detrimental to dengue prevention and control because in most countries surveillance is very poor; the passive surveillance systems relied on to detect increased transmission are dependent on reports by local physicians, who often have a low index of suspicion and do not consider dengue in their differential diagnosis of dengue-like illness. As a result, the epidemic has often reached or passed peak transmission before it is detected, and emergency control measures are nearly always implemented too late to have any impact on the course of the epidemic. Only with an improved public health infrastructure to support community-based prevention programs will we be able to reverse the trend of emergent epidemic dengue/DHF.
Relatedness and resource diversity interact to influence the intensity of competition

When resource competition occurs between close relatives, the negative effects of competition are potentially amplified. However, kin selection theory predicts that natural selection should promote the evolution of mechanisms that minimize the intensity of competition between kin. Experimental tests of these hypotheses are mixed, however. Moreover, there is little consensus regarding the generality of either outcome, suggesting that the conditions important in determining the effects of competition between kin are likely complex and not fully understood. We performed two experiments using spadefoot toad tadpoles (Spea multiplicata) to evaluate the hypothesis that individuals can minimize the negative effects of exploitative competition by using alternative resources when competing with close relatives. Supporting our hypothesis, we found that only when individuals had access to alternative resources were the negative effects of competition between siblings less than between unrelated competitors. We suggest that mechanisms to lessen kin competition may be more likely to evolve in environments where alternative resources are available, and that selection to minimize exploitative competition between kin may promote the evolution of resource polyphenism. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 110, 689–695.
The temporal structure of motivation. III. Identification and ecological significance of ultradian rhythms of intracranial reinforcement.

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were stereotactically implanted with intracranial electrodes aimed at the anterior medial forebrain bundle, and trained to self-administer intracranial stimulation. Following 3 weeks of continuous access to the serf-stimulation contingency, response patterns were recorded on a consecutive minute-by-minute basis for power-spectral analysis. Spectral analysis revealed the existence of significant ultradian rhythms of reward. The functional significance of these rhythms was further explored in a subsequent experiment, in which temporally correlated feeding and self-stimulation patterns were demonstrated. These findings demonstrate a continuous relationship of a biological reward and ICS.
RECONSIDERING BARTH'S REJECTION OF PRZYWARA'S ANALOGIA ENTIS

Many interpreters argue that Barth's rejection of Erich Przywara's analogia entis is based upon a misinterpretation and that Barth actually incorporated a form of the analogia entis into his mature theology. Through an examination of records from Przywara's visit to Barth's seminar on Thomas Aquinas at the University of Munster in 1929 along with key texts from that period, I argue that Barth did not reject the analogia entis because he misinterpreted it. Rather, he did so on the basis of an accurate account of its meaning and content provided to him personally by Przywara. I also argue that, while Barth's response to the analogia entis did change over the course of his career, he never retracted, either explicitly or implicitly, his rejection of it—nor should he have done so.
Methods for electron correlation on large molecules

High-quality ab initio calculations, i.e., calculations including electron correlations with large atomic basis sets, have been restricted to relatively small systems due to their excessive demand on computer facilities. To extend these methods to large systems, one is faced with two problems : the steep (6 power) increase of the computational task with the molecular size, and the large number of electron repulsion integrals that must be stored and retrieved. We have recently introduced new computational methods where both these problems have been addressed. The local correlation method reduces the steep dependency of computational effort with molecular size without significant loss of accuracy by taking advantage of the localizability of the electronic structure. For electron correlation calculations integrals in the MO basis are needed in addition to the two electron integrals in the AO basis, and the only way electron correlation can be applicable to large systems is by a direct approach in the spirit of Almlof's direct SCF. We have recently extended the direct approach to post Hartree-Fock methods. Description of both these methods including their supercomputer implementation are discussed
Payoff adaptation of communication for distributed interactive applications

Present distributed applications are not typically designed to adapt to changes in network conditions. In addition, network-based adaptation does not typically consider the requirements of specific applications and, therefore, may take actions contradictory to applications needs. This paper presents a cooperative solution in which a configurable communication layer is used to adapt communication in response to both application requirements and network resource availability. Adaptation decisions are based on (1) payoff functions which capture the application requirements in a functional form, and (2) service availability curves which represent network resource availability. Experimentation with multimedia applications and a variable reliability protocol demonstrates the benefit of using payoff-based adaptation.
Broken Promises: Reading Instruction in the Resource Room

Reading instruction and grouping practices provided for students with learning disabilities (LD) by special education teachers in the resource room were examined. Fourteen special education teachers representing 13 schools were observed three times over the course of 1 year and interviewed in the beginning and end of the school year. Results indicated that teachers primarily provided whole group reading instruction to relatively large groups of students (5 to 19), and little differentiated instruction or materials were provided despite the wide range (3 to 5 grade levels) of reading abilities represented. Most teachers identified whole language as their primary approach to reading, and little instruction that addressed word recognition or comprehension was observed.
Effects on Initial Development of Rayleigh-Taylor Instabilities Due to a Change in Initial Conditions

The effect on the initial development of Rayleigh-Taylor mixing due to a change in initial conditions has been experimentally studied. A water channel facility at Texas A&M University has been used to provide a statistically steady experiment for the investigation of buoyancy-driven turbulent mixing. Parallel streams of hot and cold water are separated initially by a splitter plate. The streams are oriented in such a way to place cold water above the hot water. Upon the termination of the splitter plate, the two streams are allowed to mix and a buoyancy-driven mixing layer develops. The growth rate of the mixing layer has been experimentally measured using image analysis techniques. Our studies have shown that introducing broadband initial disturbances can have a significant effect on the growth rate of Raleigh-Taylor instabilities, however, the mechanism that controls energy transfer at early time is not clear and requires further investigation.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Foliar injury air pollution surveys of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.): A review

A thorough review and critical evaluation of field surveys from 1900 to the present of foliar injury to Pinus strobus L. supposedly caused by air pollution was undertaken. Ninety percent of the surveys failed to meet current scientific standards of acceptability. The conduct and peer review of surveys has been poor and the correct injury symptoms have not always been used. Data were obtained for nine that met screening criteria and injury incidence and severity were mapped. Three fourths of the counties in the natural and planted range of eastern white pine have not been scientifically surveyed, so generalizations regarding large-scale spatial patterns of eastern white pine foliar pathological conditions were not possible. However, recent growth and inventory data indicate that growth throughout the natural range regardless of air pollution or other stresses (e.g. blister rust) is excellent, suggesting that regional performance and foliar conditions are unrelated. Sufficient compelling corroborative evidence was found to conclude that a general decline of eastern white pine throughout its range is not a tenable finding. The putative air pollution sensitivity of eastern white pine appears to be based on studies published between 1963 and 1973 on hypersensitive individuals that are no longer being observed in the field. More recent research on eastern white pine has noted a lack of sensitivity and/or high variability of response. The idea that eastern white pine as a species is highly sensitive to air pollution is no longer supported by the available evidence. However, hypersensitive juvenile individuals comprising no more than 8–9% of the total population may still germinate and grow for a brief period of time (because old enough parent trees are still alive) but soon succumb to current levels of ozone and sulfur dioxide in the environment or are suppressed by tolerant neighbors. This phenomenon has been documented anecdotally and is more aptly called tree decline instead of forest decline. An emerging working hypothesis to explain recent reports of unusual eastern white pine tolerance is that sufficient time has elapsed for tree decline to have occurred leading to a gradual elimination of sensitive genotypes from populations.
Anaphylactic reactions to Hymenoptera stings in asthmatic patients.

Summary We evaluated 587 cases with generalized reactions to stings of Hymenoptera. Eighty of these patients and twenty-eight normal controls had radioallergosorbent tests (RAST) to venoms of honey bee, yellow jacket, hornet, wasp and to phospholipase A. Those patients with systemic reactions had a significantly greater frequency of positive RAST than normal controls (51.3%vs. 7.1%, P < 0.001). The frequency of atopy (asthma/rhinitis) in these 587 cases was only 22% and resembled the expected frequency in a general population. Asthmatic patients did not have an increased risk of developing systemic reactions to Hymenoptera stings. However, those asthmatic patients with systemic reactions to Hymenoptera stings had a significantly more severe anaphylactic reaction to a sting than non-asthmatics. These severe reactions were primarily manifested by acute dyspnoea, which appeared to represent a bronchospastic response to endogenous histamine release.
The Korean Peninsula Peace Regime: How to Build It

A Korean peninsula peace regime has not yet been established, over a half century since the Korean armistice agreement. Two approaches to a Korean peninsula peace-regime-building process are required: inter-Korean and international approaches. The two Koreas should play leading roles at the inter-Korean and international levels in inter-Korean confidence-building measures by reducing tension through reconciliation and economic cooperation. A Korean peace forum involving the USA, China and the two Koreas under the 19 September joint agreement could conclude a Korean peninsula peace treaty to replace the armistice agreement and a peace regime could be institutionalized by implementing the inter-Korean basic agreement (1992) through inter-Korean cooperation. This article proposes a comprehensive, long-term roadmap for the Korean peninsula peace-regime-building process. The author makes three major arguments. First, the two Koreas and the four powers need to agree on a comprehensive roadmap for the Korean peninsula peace-regime-building process as suggested here. The inter-Korean and international approaches to the peace-regime-building process should be considered in parallel. Second, the North Korean nuclear issue should be resolved peacefully through the Six-Party Talks. Third, the two Koreas need to work together to find an alternative to their respective proposals. The author proposes a Korean peninsula peace treaty signed by the ROK, the DPRK, the USA and China as an alternative. Unless the two Koreas demonstrate their desire to cooperate through sincere deeds by implementing inter-Korean agreements and are willing to make concessions by working together for establishing a peace regime in Korea, there is little chance of achieving this goal.
Role of Caspases in N‐Methyl‐d‐Aspartate‐Induced Apoptosis in Cerebrocortical Neurons

Abstract Overactivation of glutamate receptors mediates neuronal death in several acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases. The intracellular processes underlying this form of death, however, remain poorly understood. Depending on the severity of insult, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation induces either apoptosis or necrosis. Cysteine proteases related to interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme (ICE), recently termed caspases, appear necessary for neuronal apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. To determine whether caspases play a role in NMDA-induced apoptosis, we used two functionally distinct approaches to decrease substrate cleavage by caspases. One is a novel peptide (V-ICEinh) that contains the caspase catalytic site and acts as a pseudoenzyme that binds caspase substrates and prevents their cleavage. The other is a pseudosubstrate peptide (Z-VAD x fmk) that inhibits caspase activity. Pretreatment with either V-ICEinh or Z-VAD-fmk protects cerebrocortical neurons from NMDA-induced apoptosis, suggesting a role for caspases in NMDA-induced apoptosis. To explore the signaling pathways involved, we looked at the effects of NMDA receptor activation on Ca2+ influx, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential, and lipid peroxidation. Neither NMDA-induced Ca2+ influx nor the initial collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential could be prevented by pretreatment with V-ICEinh or Z-VAD x fmk. In contrast, ROS formation and lipid peroxidation were completely blocked by both V-ICEinh and Z-VAD x fmk. Taken together, our results suggest that Ca2+ influx and mitochondrial depolarization occur upstream from caspase activation, whereas ROS formation and lipid peroxidation may be downstream events in the cascade leading to cortical neuronal apoptosis.
Do General Surgery Applicants Really Want to be General Surgeons

Objective The authors sought to compare categorical general surgery applicants with applicants in other specialties regarding their final specialty-choice ranking for residency positions. Method The authors analyzed the 2004-match year applicant-pool data from the Electronic Residency Application Service and Common Application Service as well as rank-list data from the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), the Urology Match Program, and the San Francisco Matching Program for 20 different specialties. Two-tailed chi-square tests measured differences between the proportions of applicants who ultimately ranked programs in categorical general surgery and each of 19 other specialties and between the proportions of U.S. students who ranked categorical general surgery and each of 19 other specialties as a non-preferred choice. A Bonferroni-adjusted alpha was set at 0.0013 to reduce the likelihood of a type I error. Results The proportion of applicants ranking each specialty ranged from 42% (786/1859) in pathology to 91% (282/31l) in neurological surgery. The proportion of categorical general surgery applicants ranking categorical general surgery programs was 51% (2004/3900), which was significantly lower than the proportions ranking 12 of 19 other specialties (each p Conclusions In 2004, the categorical general surgery applicant pool was relatively uncommitted to the specialty of general surgery. The number of applicants ranking categorical general surgery as a non-preferred specialty was likely even higher than these data indicate, as unmatched applicants in non-NRMP matches who then ranked categorical general surgery programs in the NRMP were tabulated by the NRMP as having ranked categorical general surgery as their preferred specialty.
Evaluating estimators using stochastic dominance rules:the variance of a normal distribution

The paper presents an application of stochastic dominance approach to estimator evaluation. This new approach is general and applicable when a monetary loss function is defined over the deviation of a sample estimate from the appropriate parameter. The paper applies this approach to the evaluation of alternative estimators of the normal distribution variance
Industrial policy with a twist: What the East Asian experience means

This paper reviews the theoretical case for industrial policy (coordination) provided by theories of multiple equilibria. It is argued that for most less developed countries the case for industrial policy (government coordination) is best made with respect to agriculture. Those states that have succeeded in terms of government policy promoting economic development, began with the agricultural sector.
ADAM-10 is overexpressed in rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue and mediates angiogenesis.

Objective To examine the expression of ADAM-10 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial tissue (ST) and the role it plays in angiogenesis. Methods ADAM-10 expression was determined using immunohistology, Western blotting, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In order to examine the role of ADAM-10 in angiogenesis, we performed in vitro Matrigel tube formation and chemotaxis assays using human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) transfected with control or ADAM-10 small interfering RNA (siRNA). To determine whether ADAM-10 plays a role in angiogenesis in the context of RA, we performed Matrigel assays using a coculture system of HMVECs and RA synovial fibroblasts. Results Endothelial cells and lining cells within RA ST expressed high levels of ADAM-10 compared with cells within osteoarthritis ST and normal ST. ADAM-10 expression was significantly elevated at the protein and messenger RNA levels in HMVECs and RA synovial fibroblasts stimulated with proinflammatory mediators compared with unstimulated cells. ADAM-10 siRNA–treated HMVECs had decreased endothelial cell tube formation and migration compared with control siRNA–treated HMVECs. In addition, ADAM-10 siRNA–treated HMVECs from the RA synovial fibroblast coculture system had decreased endothelial cell tube formation compared with control siRNA–treated HMVECs. Conclusion These data show that ADAM-10 is overexpressed in RA and suggest that ADAM-10 may play a role in RA angiogenesis. ADAM-10 may be a potential therapeutic target in inflammatory angiogenic diseases such as RA.
Studies on the enzymic interactions of the bound nucleotide of the bound nucleotide of the muscle protein actin

Abstract 1. 1. A reversible depolymerization of F-actin has been obtained by dialysis against a watery solution of creatine-phosphate. The resulting preparation, free of any exogenous nucleotide, enables an accurate determination of the changes in bound nucleotide both in actin-actin and actin-myosin interaction. 2. 2. The depolymerization of F-actin in the presence of creatine-phosphate is accompanied by the phosphorylation of the bound ADP. Such transphosphorylation is shown to be dependent on the state of polymerization of the actin. 3. 3. Complex formation between G-actin and H-meromyosin is indicated by several physical methods. Complex formation is accompanied by the splitting of the ATP bound to the G-actin. 4. 4. In comparing G-actin-H-meromyosin complexes with F-actin-H-meromyosin complexes, it has been shown that only in the former is the nucleotide center of the actin component able to function as a center of “high energy” phosphate turnover in the presence of the phosphorylating system creatine-phosphate and ADP-CP transphosphorylase.
Effects of reinforcement magnitude during successive reinforcement-punishment cycles

Three rats were exposed to shifts in reinforcement magnitude during successive reinforcement-punishment periods. Rate of response was sensitive to both the prevailing and preceding reinforcement magnitude. Unpunished responding was also dependent on the number of reinforcement-punishment alternations.
The effects of prenatal drug exposure, term status, and caregiving on arousal and arousal modulation in 8-week-old infants.

Prenatal exposure to cocaine, as well as other drugs, has been linked with "dysregulation," usually defined as problems in arousal and/or behavioral regulation. This study was designed to describe the physiological basis of dysregulation as a function of prenatal cocaine/polydrug exposure and term status. Eight-week-old infants were selected because they are just developing the ability to modulate arousal. One hundred-eighteen infants (23 preterm control, 27 preterm drug-exposed, 29 full-term control, and 39 full-term drug-exposed) completed a protocol during which heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured. Drug group differences were found in baseline, arousal (response to stress), and arousal modulation (recovery from stress). A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine the portion of variance attributable to postnatal caregiving environment, term status, and specific drug exposure. Term status accounted for significant variance in arousal (both RR and HR), and in arousal modulation (only RR). Prenatal exposure to cocaine contributed a significant amount of unique variance in HR arousal whereas tobacco contributed significantly to HR arousal modulation. Prenatal drug exposure and preterm status contributed differently to dysregulation as measured by physiological responses.
Coenzyme isomerization is integral to catalysis in aldehyde dehydrogenase

Crystal structures of many enzymes in the aldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily determined in the presence of bound NAD(P)+ have exhibited conformational flexibility for the nicotinamide half of the cofactor. This has been hypothesized to be important in catalysis because one conformation would block the second half of the reaction, but no firm evidence has been put forth which shows whether the oxidized and reduced cofactors preferentially occupy the two observed conformations. We present here two structures of the wild type and two structures of a Cys302Ser mutant of human mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase in binary complexes with NAD+ and NADH. These structures, including the Cys302Ser mutant in complex with NAD+ at 1.4 A resolution and the wild-type enzyme in complex with NADH at 1.9 A resolution, provide strong evidence that bound NAD+ prefers an extended conformation ideal for hydride transfer and bound NADH prefers a contracted conformation ideal for acyl−enzyme hydrolysis. Unique interactions betw...
A partially ordered set and q-Krawtchouk polynomials

Abstract A family of q -Krawtchouk polynomials are the eigenvalues of the association schemes of bilinear, alternating, symmetric, and hermitian forms over a finite field. Another derivation is given for the analytic expression of the polynomials, which uses a lowering operator on a partially ordered set. It does not rely upon the associated additive characters. It is similar to a technique which has been applied to other partially ordered sets.
Perceived teacher and parental acceptance and behavioral control, school conduct, and psychological adjustment among school-going adolescents in India

This study explored the relationship between Indian adolescents’ perceptions of their teachers’ and parents’ (mothers’ and fathers’) acceptance and behavioral control, students’ conduct in school, and students’ psychological adjustment. A sample of 217 high school students in India was enrolled in the study. Results showed that the students perceived their teachers, mothers, and fathers to be warm and accepting, but boys experienced more teacher acceptance than girls. Boys also experienced more maternal acceptance than girls. Both boys and girls perceived teachers as well as parents to be firm in behavioral control. Teachers reported both genders to be well behaved, though girls tended to be somewhat better behaved than boys. Both boys and girls self-reported minor psychological adjustment problems, though the more caring students perceived both their teachers and parents to be, the better was their psychological adjustment. In addition, the less controlling girls (but not boys) perceived their teachers a...
Possible role of hydrogen cyanide in chemical evolution investigation of the proposed direct synthesis of peptides from hydrogen cyanide.

Abstract The compounds formed upon oligomerization of cyanide in aqueous solution have been separated into acidic, basic, amphoteric and neutral fractions. Urea is the major constituent of the neutral fraction and oxalic acid is present in the acidic fraction. The oligomerization mixtures isolated in the acid, basic and amphoteric fractions consist of low molecular weight substances which yield amino acids on acid hydrolysis. Citrulline has been identified as a major amino acid released on acid hydrolysis of the product mixture. No amino acids are released from the oligomerization mixture by pronase or carboxypeptidase A. This catalyzed hydrolysis demonstrates that this system does not contain compounds with peptide links. The oligomerization products are susceptible to oxidizing agents but are affected little by reducing agents.
INFLUENCE OF DEFECTS ON THE ANGULAR CORRELATION OF POSITRON-ANNIHILATION PHOTONS IN IRRADIATED AND IN DEFORMED IRON.

Measurements of two-photon angular correlations following positron annihilation in both electron-irradiated and plastically deformed iron have been made at room temperature. The changes in the angular correlation observed for both treatments are similar and are attributed to the presence of vacancy-type defects. The changes due to the presence of these defects are analyzed in terms of the enhancement of the probability of annihilation of a positron with conduction electrons relative to annihilation with core electrons. The observed effects saturate with increasing defect concentration for both treatments, the total change being larger at saturation for the deformed specimen than for the irradiated one. This is interpreted as being due to less overlap of the positron wave function with core-electron wave functions at vacancy-agglomerate trapping sites in the deformed specimen than at the single-vacancy sites present in the irradiated sample. Stepwise annealing of the specimens firmly established a vacancy-positron interaction, which tends to localize positrons in the vicinity of vacancies, as responsible for the angular correlation changes observed. Arrival of carbon interstitial impurities at single-vacancy sites completely nullified the vacancy-positron interaction. The capture cross section of a vacancy for a positron in iron is estimated to be about 10 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$. A method for deducing this cross section from a combination of lifetime and angular correlation results is presented in the Appendices. Recovery of the single vacancies present in the deformed specimen reduced the effect of the deformation by approximately one-half. Additional annealing to 400\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C reduced the effect further, but complete recovery was not achieved for the deformed sample up to this temperature.
Canine Hyperadrenocorticism Due to Adrenocortical Neoplasia: Pretreatment Evaluation of 41 Dogs

This retrospective study identifies parameters that might separate dogs with hyperadrenocorticism caused by adrenocortical tumors from dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism. Further, an attempt was made to identify factors that could separate dogs with adrenocortical adenomas from dogs with carcinomas. The records of 41 dogs with hyperadrenocorticism caused by adrenocortical neoplasia were reviewed. The history, physical examination, urinalysis, hemogram (CBC), chemistry profile adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) stimulation and low dose dexamethasone test results were typical of the nonspecific diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism. The preceding information on the 41 dogs with adrenocortical tumors was compared with that from 44 previously diagnosed pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticoid dogs. There was no parameter which aided in separating these two groups of dogs. Thirty dogs with adrenocortical tumors were tested with a high-dose dexamethasone test and none had suppressed plasma cortisol concentrations 8 hours after IV administration of 0.1 mg/kg of dexamethasone. In 29 of the 41 adrenal tumor dogs, plasma endogenous ACTH was not detectable on at least one measurement (less than 20 pg/ml). The remaining 12 dogs from this group had nondiagnostic concentrations (20-45 pg/ml). Thirteen of 22 dogs (59%) with adrenocortical carcinomas had adrenal masses identified on abdominal radiographs and seven of 13 dogs (54%) with adrenocortical adenomas had radiographically visible adrenal masses. Thirteen of 17 adrenocortical carcinomas (76%) and five of eight adenomas (62%) were identified with ultrasonography. Radiographs of the thorax and ultrasonography of the abdomen identified most of the dogs (8 of 11) with metastatic lesions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effect of diet on the disruption of operant responding at different ages following exposure to (56)Fe particles.

Rats were exposed to 2.0 Gy of 56Fe particles to study the relationship between age and diet in the heavy particle-induced disruption of performance on an ascending fixed-ratio task. Irradiation produced a disruption of operant responding in rats tested 5 and 8 months after exposure, which was prevented by maintaining the rats on a diet containing strawberry, but not blueberry, extract. When tested 13 and 18 months after irradiation there were no differences in performance between the radiated rats maintained on control, strawberry or blueberry diets. These observations suggest that the beneficial effects of antioxidant diets may be dependent upon the age of testing.
Towards Bayesian image analysis

Many of the tasks encountered in image processing can be considered as problems in statistical inference. In particular, they fit naturally into a subjectivist Bayesis framework. In this paper, we describe the Bayesian approach to image analysis. Numerical examples are not included but references are given. It is argued that the Bayesian approach, still in its infancy, has considerable potential for future development.
Phylogenetic and functional affinities of Babakotia (primates), a fossil lemur from northern Madagascar.

Abstract Recent paleontological expeditions to the Ankarana range of northern Madagascar have recovered the partial remains of four individuals of a newly recognized extinct lemur, Babakotia radofilai. Craniodental and postcranial material serve to identify Babakotia as a member of the palaeopropithecids (also including the extinct genera Palaeopropithecus, Archaeoindris, and Mesopropithecus). Living indrids form the sister group to this fossil clade. The postcranial anatomy indicates that Babakotia was a medium-sized (approximately 15 kg) indroid whose inferred positional behaviors were primarily slow climbing and hanging. Although it is probable that a leaping component typified the ancestral positional repertoire of all Malagasy lemurs, the mosaic nature of the locomotor skeleton of Babakotia further suggests that vertical climbing and hang-feeding rather than ricochetal leaping were primitive for indrids and palaeopropithecids and that the dramatic saltatory adaptations of the living indrids postdate the divergence of these two lineages.
NONVARIABILITY OF THE RADIAL VELOCITY OF ETA CASSIOPEIAE A.

Twenty-eight measurements of the radial velocity of the G0 V star Eta Cas A on 14 nights between December 11, 1986, and February 19, 1987 UT (inclusive) were made with an uncertainty per observation between + or - 10 and + or - 20 m/s. The velocity of the star never exceeded 30 m/s from the mean, even though the star was monitored on three occasions for three consecutive nights. The standard deviation of all 28 measurements is + or - 13.7 m/s.
Spatial-spectral optical pattern recognition using an acousto-optic tunable filter preprocessor

A conventional optical pattern recognition system such as the optical correlator is based on template matching between the input target and the filter. However, automatic target recognition, in a heavily camouflaged environment, requires additional spectral information to enable effective target discrimination. In this paper, an innovative spatial-spectral pattern recognition system is introduced. An acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) imaging spectrometer is used as the spatial-spectral preprocessor to enhance the camouflaged target image against its background. A cascaded correlator is then used for target recognition and tracking. An overview of the AOTF imaging spectrometer developed at JPL is provided. Experimental demonstrations of camouflaged target recognition from a foliage background are also provided.
Brain oxygen and metabolism during circulatory arrest with intermittent brief periods of low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass in newborn piglets.

Objective We performed this study to determine whether brief intermittent periods of low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest would improve cortical metabolic status and prolong the "safe" time of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Methods After a 2-hour baseline, newborn piglets were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass and cooled to 18°C. The animals were then subjected to 80 minutes of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest interrupted by 5-minute periods of low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass at either 20 mL · kg −1 · min −1 (LF-20) or 80 mL · kg −1 · min −1 (LF-80) during 20, 40, 60, and 80 minutes of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. All animals were rewarmed, separated from cardiopulmonary bypass, and maintained for 2 hours (recovery). The oxygen pressure in the cerebral cortex was measured by the quenching of phosphorescence. The extracellular dopamine level in the striatum was determined by microdialysis. Results are means ± SD. Results Prebypass oxygen pressure in the cerebral cortex was 65 ± 7 mm Hg. During the first 20 minutes of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, cortical oxygen pressure decreased to 1.3 ± 0.4 mm Hg. Four successive intermittent periods of LF-20 increased cortical oxygen pressure to 6.9 ± 1.2 mm Hg, 6.6 ± 1.9 mm Hg, 5.3 ± 1.6 mm Hg, and 3.1 ± 1.2 mm Hg. During the intermittent periods of LF-80, cortical oxygen pressure increased to 21.1 ± 5.3 mm Hg, 20.6 ± 3.7 mm Hg, 19.5 ± 3.95 mm Hg, and 20.8 ± 5.5 mm Hg. A significant increase in extracellular dopamine occurred after 45 minutes of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest alone, whereas in the groups of LF-20 and LF-80, the increase in dopamine did not occur until 52.5 and 60 minutes of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, respectively. Conclusions The protective effect of intermittent periods of low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest is dependent on the flow rate. We observed that a flow rate of 80 mL · kg −1 · min −1 improved brain oxygenation and prevented an increase in extracellular dopamine release.
What it Takes to Beat a Benchmark

The relationship between a manager9s level of skill and the actual value-added to a portfolio can be nebulous. Actual portfolio results are often only minimally correlated with the manager9s skill level. A framework for quantifying the expected value-added of a constrained portfolio focuses on the three distinct factors that contribute to investment performance: a manager9s forecasting skill ability to predict excess returns; the manager9s range of opportunities to apply skill across securities and over time; the flexibility provided for a manager to express forecasting skill in a portfolio that is constrained to some degree.
A nonparametric estimator of the number of classes based on a stratified random sample

Under stratified random sampling, we develop a kth-order bootstrap bias-corrected estimator of the number of classes θ which exist in a study region. This research extends Smith and van Belle’s (1984) first-order bootstrap bias-corrected estimator under simple random sampling. Our estimator has applicability for many settings including: estimating the number of animals when there are stratified capture periods, estimating the number of species based on stratified random sampling of subunits (say, quadrats) from the region, and estimating the number of errors/defects in a product based on observations from two or more types of inspectors. When the differences between the strata are large, utilizing stratified random sampling and our estimator often results in superior performance versus the use of simple random sampling and its bootstrap or jackknife [Burnham and Overton (1978)] estimator. The superior performance is often associated with more observed classes, and we provide insights into optimal designat...
β-Phenylethylamine reversal of chlorpromazine-induced activation of striatal tyrosine hydroxylase and catalepsy

Abstract The ability of β-phenylethylamine (PEA) to reverse (1) chlorpromazine-induced activation of striatal tyrosine hydroxylase, and (2) catalepsy produced by chlorpromazine, was examined. PEA, in a dose of 75 mg/kg, caused approximately 50% reduction in the degree of tyrosine hydroxylase stimulation produced by 20 mg/kg chlorpromazine. After 150 mg/kg PEA, complete reversal of tyrosine hydroxylase activation and partial reversal of catalepsy was observed. In these experiments, PEA was found to be about 10 times less potent than amphetamine and 25 times less ppotent than apomorphine. Thus, the ability of PEA to reverse the neurochemical and behavioral effects of striatal dopamine blockade is similar to known dopamine agonists.
Online brand community engagement: Scale development and validation

Abstract In a quest for connecting with customers, the world's largest brands have gone online to develop communities to interact with consumers. Despite widespread adoption less is known about what motivates consumers to continually interact in these communities. Across six studies, we develop and test a typology of online brand community engagement (i.e., the compelling intrinsic motivations to continue interacting with an online brand community). We identify 11 independent motivations and test the scale's predictive power for participation in an online brand community. This study provides a much needed refinement to the disparate conceptualizations and operationalizations of engagement in the literature. As a result, academic researchers can now rely on a diverse set of motivational measures that best fit the context of their research, adding to the versatility of future research studies. The results provide managers with new insight in the motivations for and impact of interacting in online brand communities.