cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Selective Poisons on Utilization of Glucose by Yeast

Summary and ConclusionsThe synthesis of carbohydrate from glucose by resting yeast is completely inhibited by M/1000 2:4-dinitrophenol. Fermentation, however, is markedly stimulated, while respiration appears to be unaffected. Both synthesis and respiration are inhibited by M/10,000 sodium azide, but a portion of the alcohol formed by fermentation of the glucose is later oxidized. Higher concentrations of azide also inhibit the oxidation of alcohol, thus permitting the accumulation of alcohol as an end product of the utilization of glucose.
Transcriptomic Changes in Zebrafish Embryos and Larvae Following Benzo[a]pyrene Exposure

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is an environmentally relevant carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting compound that causes immediate, long-term, and multigenerational health deficits in mammals and fish. Previously, we found that BaP alters DNA methylation patterns in developing zebrafish, which may affect gene expression. Herein, we performed a genome-wide transcriptional analysis and discovered differential gene expression and splicing in developing zebrafish. Adult zebrafish were exposed to control or 42.0 ± 1.9 µg/l BaP for 7 days. Eggs were collected and raised in control conditions or continuously exposed to BaP until 3.3 and 96 h post–fertilization (hpf). RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was conducted on zebrafish embryos and larvae. Data were analyzed to identify differentially expressed (DE) genes (changed at the gene or transcript variant level) and genes with differential exon usage (DEU; changed at the exon level). At 3.3 hpf, BaP exposure resulted in 8 DE genes and 51 DEU genes. At 96 hpf, BaP exposure altered expression in 1153 DE genes and 159 DEU genes. Functional ontology analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed that many disease pathways, including organismal death, growth failure, abnormal morphology of embryonic tissue, congenital heart disease, and adverse neuritogenesis, were significantly enriched for the DE and DEU genes, providing novel insights on the mechanisms of action of BaP-induced developmental toxicities. Collectively, we discovered substantial transcriptomic changes at the gene, transcript variant, and exon levels in developing zebrafish after early life BaP waterborne exposure, and these changes may lead to long-term adverse physiological consequences.
A trial in goats of an inactivated staphylococcal polyvalent somatic antigen vaccine against mastitis.

SUMMARY The potency of a staphylococcal polyvalent somatic antigen vaccine against mastitis in the goat was examined. A preliminary pathogenicity trial with six of the vaccine strains revealed that none was sufficiently pathogenic to be used as a challenge organism. Therefore strain BB (phage type 78), a proven udder pathogen, was used as the test strain, and was inoculated into one side of the mammary gland of fifteen vaccinated and eight non-vaccinated goats. Measurements were made of body temperature, visible and palpable induration of the udder, milk yield, milk leucocyte count, bacterial count and the degree of histological abnormality in infected tissue. All the vaccinated animals developed mastitis which varied in severity from mild to gangrenous. All the non-vaccinated animals except one developed mastitis of the same range of severity. There was no significant difference in the relative numbers of animals in either group that developed gangrenous, generally severe, focally severe, or mild mastitis. There was no significant difference in the relative loss of function of the mammary gland in either group, neither was there a difference in the degree of bacterial invasion of the mammary gland, nor in the number of leucocytes excreted in the milk. Twenty days after vaccination one animal developed naturally acquired gangrenous mastitis due to a strain of Staphylococcus aureus other than the challenge strain.
Climate Change as Social Drama: Global Warming in the Public Sphere

Climate change is not just a scientific fact, nor merely a social and political problem. It is also a set of stories and characters that amount to a social drama. This drama, as much as hard scientific or political realities, shapes perception of the problem. Drs Smith and Howe use the perspective of cultural sociology and Aristotle's timeless theories about narrative and rhetoric to explore this meaningful and visible surface of climate change in the public sphere. Whereas most research wants to explain barriers to awareness, here we switch the agenda to look at the moments when global warming actually gets attention. Chapters consider struggles over apocalyptic scenarios, explain the success of Al Gore and An Inconvenient Truth, unpack the deeper social meanings of the climate conference and 'Climategate', critique failed advertising campaigns and climate art, and question the much touted transformative potential of natural disasters such as Superstorm Sandy.
Why Is FE–HfO 2 More Suitable Than PZT or SBT for Scaled Nonvolatile 1-T Memory Cell? A Retention Perspective

The limited retention time for single-transistor memory cell based on ferroelectric-gated field-effect-transistor (FeFET) has prevented the commercialization of its nonvolatile memory (NVM) option using the commercially available ferroelectric materials, such as strontium bismuth tantalite (SBT) or lead zirconium titanate (PZT), as the gate dielectric. However, the recent advent of the HfO2-based ferroelectric has demonstrated the strong possibility of meeting the NVM requirement of 10-year retention on aggressively scaled FeFETs. This letter will analyze why the retention for HfO2-based ferroelectric (FE–HfO2) is much longer than its PZT or SBT counterparts, based on the two major retention loss mechanisms: depolarization field and charge trapping.
Positive Airway Pressure Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Positive airway pressure (PAP) is considered first-line therapy for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and may also be considered for mild obstructive sleep apnea, particularly if it is symptomatic or there are concomitant cardiovascular disorders. Continuous PAP is most commonly used. Other modes, such as bilevel airway pressure, autotitrating positive airway pressure, average volume assured pressure support, and adaptive support ventilation, play important roles in the management of sleep-related breathing disorders. This article outlines the indications, description, and comfort features of each mode. Despite the proven efficacy of PAP in treating obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and its sequelae, adherence to therapy is low. Close follow-up of patients for evaluation of adherence to and effectiveness of treatment is important.
Preserving the Sequence of a Biopolymer's Monomers as They Enter an Electrospray Mass Spectrometer

Reliable, simple, inexpensive methods for sequencing proteins, RNA, or DNA are of obvious interest across biology and medicine. The authors theoretically investigate the conditions under which the monomers of a biopolymer will retain their sequential order against the randomizing effects of Brownian motion, after being cleaved from the polymer while approaching the tip of an electrospray ion source. Their analysis confirms the feasibility of identifying a single protein molecule by delivering its amino acids in order to a mass spectrometer, with 95% likelihood of measuring the correct sequence.
Notes on reconstructing “the popular”

ABSTRACTDrawing on Stuart Hall’s influential “Notes on deconstructing ‘the popular’” [Hall, S. (1981). In R. Samuel (Eds.), People’s history and socialist theory (pp. 227–240). London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.], this essay maps out some of the major shifts in cultural studies’ relationship to popular culture over the past several decades. It concludes with a call for cultural studies to find ways to work from the terrain of the popular, rather than merely studying that terrain, or trying to “translate” its scholarly analyses for popular audiences. This is a necessary path to fulfilling its mission as a political project.
Microresonator-Based Quantum Random Number Generator

We demonstrate quantum random number generation at 2 Mbps using binary phase state generation via degenerate optical parametric oscillation in a silicon-nitride microresonator. Such a system can potentially scale to rates > 1 Gbs.
Atomic-scale structural and electronic properties of SrTiO 3 / GaAs interfaces: A combined STEM-EELS and first-principles study

The electronic properties of epitaxial oxide thin films grown on compound semiconductors are largely determined by the interfacial atomic structure, as well as the thermodynamic conditions during synthesis. Ferroelectric polarization and Fermi-level pinning in ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$ films have been attributed to the presence of oxygen vacancies at the oxide/semiconductor interface. Here, we present scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy analyses of GaAs films grown on ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}$ combined with first-principles calculations to determine the atomic and electronic structures of the ${\mathrm{SrTiO}}_{3}/\mathrm{GaAs}$ interfaces. An atomically abrupt SrO/As interface is observed and the interfacial SrO layer is found to be O-deficient. First-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations show SrO/Ga and Sr/As interfaces are favorable under O-rich and O-poor conditions, respectively. The SrO/Ga interface is reconstructed via the formation of Ga-Ga dimers while the Sr/As interface is abrupt and consistent with the experiment. DFT calculations further reveal that intrinsic two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) forms in both SrO/Ga and Sr/As interfaces, and the Fermi level is pinned to the localized 2DEG states. Interfacial O vacancies can enhance the 2DEG density while it is possible for Ga/As vacancies to unpin the Fermi level from the 2DEG states.
Endoscopic Medical Devices for Primary Obesity Treatment in Patients With Diabetes

IN BRIEF Several new endoscopic bariatric therapies have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of obesity, with many more devices and procedures undergoing investigational studies. This article describes these devices and procedures and special considerations for their use in patients with diabetes.
Variable selection in heteroscedastic single-index quantile regression

We propose a new algorithm for simultaneous variable selection and parameter estimation for the single-index quantile regression (SIQR) model . The proposed algorithm, which is non iterative , consists of two steps. Step 1 performs an initial variable selection method. Step 2 uses the results of Step 1 to obtain better estimation of the conditional quantiles and , using them, to perform simultaneous variable selection and estimation of the parametric component of the SIQR model. It is shown that the initial variable selection method consistently estimates the relevant variables , and the estimated parametric component derived in Step 2 satisfies the oracle property.
Probing the nature of dark matter by forward modelling flux ratios in strong gravitational lenses

The free streaming length of dark matter particles determines the abundance of structure on sub-galactic scales. We present a statistical technique, amendable to any parameterization of subhalo density profile and mass function, to probe dark matter on these scales with quadrupole image lenses. We consider a warm dark matter particle with a mass function characterized by a normalization and free streaming scale $m_{\rm{hm}}$. We forecast bounds on dark matter warmth for 120-180 lenses, attainable with future surveys, at typical lens (source) redshifts of 0.5 (1.5) in early-type galaxies with velocity dispersions of 220-270 km/sec. We demonstrate that limits on $m_{\rm{hm}}$ deteriorate rapidly with increasing uncertainty in image fluxes, underscoring the importance of precise measurements and accurate lens models. For our forecasts, we assume the deflectors in the lens sample do not exhibit complex morphologies, so we neglect systematic errors in their modeling. Omitting the additional signal from line of sight halos, our constraints underestimate the true power of the method. Assuming cold dark matter, for a low normalization, corresponding the destruction of all subhalos within the host scale radius, we forecast $2\sigma$ bounds on $m_{\rm{hm}}$ (thermal relic mass) of $10^{7.5} \ (5.0)$, $10^{8} \ (3.6)$, and $10^{8.5} \ (2.7) \ M_{\odot} \left(\rm{keV}\right)$ for flux errors of $2\%$, $4\%$, and $8\%$. With a higher normalization, these constraints improve to $10^{7.2} \ (6.6)$, $10^{7.5} \ (5.3) $, and $10^{7.8} \ (4.3) \ M_{\odot} \left(\rm{keV}\right)$ with 120 systems. We are also able to measure the normalization of the mass function, which has implications for baryonic feedback models and tidal stripping.
CME, physicians, and Pavlov: can we change what happens when industry rings the bell?

Purpose To show how physicians’ conditioned response to “keeping up” has helped industry’s opportunistic funding of continuing medical education (CME) and to propose ways to counter the conditioned response to the benefit of patients and the public.
An interesting differential for acute truncal ataxia (P2.205)

Objective: Wernicke’s Encephalopathy, classically seen in alcoholics has also been described in cases of AIDS with severe malnourishment. We would like to share our experience with an otherwise previously asymptomatic patient with no known WE risk factors who presented with acute truncal ataxia consistent with WE leading to the diagnosis of AIDS. Background: A 46-year-old woman presented for acute onset progressive gait unsteadiness. She otherwise denied any disorientation, memory deficits, vertigo, weakness or numbness. She did not experience any weight loss or diarrhea and did not drink alcohol. Her only medical history was a chronic normocytic anemia and one episode of left lower lobe pneumonia. She was not on any medications. Design/Methods: Case Report Results: A comprehensive neurologic examination was unremarkable except for a pronounced truncal ataxia. BMI 22.14. MRI of the brain with and without gadolinium did not show any abnormalities. As part of the workup for pancytopenia an HIV viral load was sent that showed 254,812 RNA copies/mL and her CD4 count was 86cells/microliter. The patient was empirically initiated on IV Thiamine from day 1 and steadily improved. She was safely discharged home after six days, requiring no assistance with ambulation. Conclusions: WE has been described in the setting of AIDS in cachectic and malnourished patients but to our knowledge never in asymptomatic and undiagnosed patients. Muri et. al evaluated the thiamine status in 55 HIV-positive patients without typical WE risk factors and found evidence of thiamine deficiency that did not correlate with the nutritional status or CD4 count. The pathophysiology of thiamine deficiency in asymptomatic HIV patients without any known WE risk factors remains unclear. We suggest keeping HIV seropositivity in the differential in patients presenting with symptoms of WE without any known risk factors; and prompt administration of thiamine in known HIV positive patients with a presentation suggestive of WE. Disclosure: Dr. Kamel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yerokhin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ionete has received personal compensation for activities with Genzyme-Sanofi, TEVA, and Biogen Idec as a member of the scientific advisory board.
Radiologic imaging of inflicted injury in the child abuse syndrome

Injuries associated with child abuse may involve any anatomic focus and organ system. Although many if not most of the injuries associated with physical abuse cannot serve as definitive evidence of maltreatment, awareness of patterns of injuries in abused infants and children initially may serve to identify potential victims of abuse and stimulate more thorough clinical and radiologic investigation. It is essential that less familiar intracranial and abdominal injuries be thoroughly evaluated for possible abuse when circumstances suggest maltreatment, or no plausible explanation is given for radiologic findings. Language: en
Acute Respiratory Failure and Management

Acute respiratory failure is a common reason for admission to the pediatric intensive care unit in oncology patients. Acute respiratory complications are also common after pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), accounting for a high proportion of HSCT-related morbidity and mortality. Evaluation of these patients requires a thorough workup that includes identification and treatment of infectious etiologies, and treatment for noninfectious causes once infectious causes are ruled out. These patients should be closely monitored for development of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) with early escalation of respiratory support. Patients undergoing a trial of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) should be continuously monitored to ensure they are responding. Prolonged delay of endotracheal intubation in patients who do not improve or worsen on NIV could worsen their outcome. Optimal treatment of immunocompromised patients with acute lung failure requires early and aggressive lung protective ventilation, prevention of fluid overload, and rapid diagnosis of underlying causes to facilitate prompt disease-directed therapy.
The Relationship Between Culture, Quality of Life, and Stigma in Hispanic New Mexicans With Dysphagia: A Preliminary Investigation Using Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis

Purpose The purpose of this investigation was to (a) identify the relationship between level of acculturation, and quality of life (QOL) and stigma and (b) explore the QOL experiences for Hispanic ...
Maternal iron nutriture modulates placental development in a rat model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Abstract Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) causes developmental abnormalities known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Maternal iron status modulates the severity of these defects in the offspring. Because the placenta is central in supporting fetal development, we investigated whether maternal iron status similarly modulates alcohol's effects in the placenta. We hypothesized that PAE causes placental insufficiency by decreasing placental weight and efficiency, and we hypothesized that these are worsened by maternal iron deficiency (ID) and alleviated by dietary iron fortification (IF). We also determined whether altered placental iron flux and inflammatory balance contribute to placental insufficiency. Pregnant Long-Evans rats consumed an iron-deficient (ID; 2–6 ppm), iron-sufficient (IS; 100 ppm), or iron-fortified (IF; 500 ppm) diet. Alcohol (5 g/kg body weight) or isocaloric maltodextrin (MD) was gavaged daily from gestational day (GD) 13.5–19.5. Placental outcomes were evaluated on GD20.5. PAE reduced fetal weight (p
Historical links between Ethnobiology and Evolution: Conflicts and possible resolutions

Abstract In recent years there have been several attempts to examine Ethnobiology from an evolutionary perspective. I discuss several potential sources of confusion in applying Evolutionary concepts to Ethnobiology. Ethnobiological discussions of evolution have focused more on changes in human populations, or on human impacts upon plants used by humans for a variety of purposes, than on the processes typically emphasized in discussions by biologists studying evolution. There has been little acknowledgment of how the field of biological evolution is changing in the 21st Century. In this article I focus on recent developments in evolutionary thinking that could be effectively integrated into Ethnobiological concepts. These include: 1) The increased importance of individual organisms in understanding both population dynamics and microevolutionary change (i.e. natural selection). This change in focus creates the potential for incorporating understandings from Indigenous people who recognize a different set of dynamics that govern how both plant and animal populations are regulated, leading to new insights into how conservation practices should be enacted; 2) Niche Construction, which is a 21st century concept that argues that organisms shape their own environments and those of other species. This approach creates a new way of looking at how Natural Selection can act upon a wide range of organisms; and finally, 3) Reticulate Evolution, in which different species exchange genetic material as a result of behavioral or physiological interactions with major evolutionary consequences. These concepts relate strongly to fundamental Indigenous conceptions of ecosystem functioning, including the ideas that All Things are Connected and that All Life Forms are Related. I argue that Ethnobiology and Indigenous Knowledge are strongest in dealing with phenomena linked to behavior and ecology, which are fields being neglected by many contemporary molecular approaches to understanding evolution. Attempts to deal with Conservation in a world subject to climate change would be greatly improved by working closely with Indigenous peoples and incorporating concepts from these traditions into practices on a global scale.
STUDIES ON STARLING'S LAW OF THE HEART. IX. THE EFFECTS OF IMPEDING VENOUS RETURN ON PERFORMANCE OF THE NORMAL AND FAILING HUMAN LEFT VENTRICLE.

The acute circulatory responses to impeding venous return to the heart by the inflation of a balloon in the inferior vena cava were determined in 14 patients undergoing left heart catheterization. In the five patients without clinical or hemodynamic evidence of impaired left ventricular function, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure fell, and the decrease was accompanied by reductions in the cardiac index, left ventricular stroke volume, and left ventricular stroke work. In nine patients with impaired left ventricular function, directionally similar responses were noted, although the left ventricular function curves relating left ventricular end-diastolic pressure to left ventricular stroke work were generally flatter and lower than those in the patients without left ventricular disease. In none of the patients did a significant increase in cardiac index, stroke volume, or left ventricular stroke work occur during inflation of the balloon. It is concluded that the Starling relationship appears to operate in a directionally similar manner both in the normal and the depressed human left ventricle, and that the left ventricles of patients with impaired function are not on a descending limb of the curve. However, a descending limb of the left ventricular Starling curve may become apparent when an additional work load is imposed on the diseased ventricle.
Research Transparency Is on the Rise in Economics

This study provides a first assessment of awareness of, attitudes toward, perceived norms regarding, and adoption of open science practices within a broadly representative sample of active economics researchers. We observe a steep increase in adoption over the last decade, with an accelerating trend: as of 2017, 93 percent of economists had used at least one such practice—including posting data, sharing study materials, and study pre-registration—rising from 33 percent a decade earlier. We document extensive variation in adoption across economics subfields. Notably, most economists appear to underestimate the trend toward research transparency in the discipline.
Etiological characteristics of Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from children with Scarlet fever in Guangdong province, China

Objective To investigate the etiological characteristics of Streptococcus pyogenes that caused scarlet fever in different periods in Guangdong province.Methods 22 isolates from different periods were analyzed through emm typing,PCR detection for super antigen genes,antibiotic susceptibility test and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).Results All isolates were susceptible to cefotaxim,levofloxacin and penicillin.Streptococcus pyogenes isolated after the year 2000 were 100％ resistant to erythrocin and clindamycin,but the resistant rate for strains isolated before the year 2000 was 9.1％ (1/11).There were 3 emm types indentified from 22 isolates including emm12.0 (59.09％,13/22),emm6.0 (36.36％,8/22) and emm1.0 (4.55％,1/22),which were detected in the isolates from the year 1997 and 2011,from 1978 and 1986,and from 2008,respectively.The positive rates for speA,speB,speC,speF,speG,speH,smeZ,and ssa genes detected by PCR were 54.55％,100％,100％,100％,100％,54.55％,0％,and 86.36％ respectively.Among all strains,95.45％ of the isolates carried 6 superantigen genes simultaneously.Three clusters of 10 PFGE subtypes were identified in 22 isolates.Cluster Ⅰ consisted of all strains from 1997 and one strain from 2011.Cluster Ⅱ consisted of strains isolated from 1978 and 1986.Cluster Ⅲ consisted of nine strains from 2011 and one from 2008.Conclusion S.pyrogenes isolates in Guangdong province were susceptible to penicillin but resistant to erythrocin.emm 12.0 accounted for the majority of the three types and there was a high frequency of super antigen genes. Key words: Scarlet fever; Streptococcus pyogenes; Etiological characteristics
Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Exposure Differentially Alters Microglial Morphology in the Prelimbic Cortex and Nucleus Accumbens Core

Abstract Chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) exposure in rats induces neuroplastic adaptations in the prelimbic cortex (PL) and nucleus accumbens core (NAcore) during withdrawal, contributing to deficits in decision-making and escalation of alcohol consumption. Increased evidence has linked neuroplastic changes associated with the development of alcohol dependence and withdrawal to neuroimmune signaling and activation of microglia. Microglia exhibit a well-defined structure/function relationship, with alterations in cytokine release occurring concomitantly with reconfiguration of cellular dimensions and redistribution of fine processes. Accordingly, gaining a better understanding of ethanol-induced microglia activation will provide insight into how neuroimmune signaling may impact neural structure and function following ethanol exposure. The present study characterized CIE-induced alterations in microglia morphology in the PL and NAcore using confocal microscopy and 3D image reconstruction. Rats were sacrificed at peak withdrawal, 10 hours after discontinuation of 15 days of CIE or Air exposure. CIE-exposed rats exhibited an increase in microglia soma size in the PL and NAcore compared to Air-exposed control rats. However, the CIE-mediated increase in soma volume in the PL cortex was accompanied by a reduction in microglial complexity. While systemic LPS elicited similar increases in soma volume in the PL cortex and NAcore, the LPS-induced increase in soma size was associated with increased complexity of microglial processes in the PL cortex, an effect opposite to that of CIE. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the microglial activation state following CIE is structurally and chemically distinct from the activation state associated with induction of the innate neuroimmune system following systemic LPS exposure.
Descriptive, Injunctive, and Collective Norms: An Expansion of the Theory of Normative Social Behavior (TNSB).

We propose and test several hypotheses derived from the expanded theory of normative social behavior (TNSB) that also includes collective norms (with descriptive and injunctive norms). Data come fr...
Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation of Value-Based Care Models in New Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations in Massachusetts: A Study Protocol

Introduction: Massachusetts established 17 new Medicaid accountable care organizations (ACOs) and 24 affiliated Community Partners (CPs) in 2018 as part of a large-scale healthcare reform effort to improve care value. The new ACOs will receive $1.8 billion dollars in state and federal funding over 5 years through the Delivery System Reform Incentive Program (DSRIP). The multi-faceted study described in this protocol aims to address gaps in knowledge about Medicaid ACOs' impact on healthcare value by identifying barriers and facilitators to implementation and sustainment of the DSRIP-funded programs. Methods and analysis: The study's four components are: (1) Document Review to characterize the ACOs and CPs; (2) Semi-structured Key Informant Interviews (KII) with ACO and CP leadership, state-level Medicaid administrators, and patients; (3) Site visits with selected ACOs and CPs; and (4) Surveys of ACO clinical teams and CP staff. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research's (CFIR) serves as the study's conceptual framework; its versatile menu of constructs, arranged across five domains (Intervention Characteristics, Inner Setting, Outer Setting, Characteristics of Individuals, and Processes) guides identification of barriers and facilitators across multiple organizational contexts. For example, KII interview guides focus on understanding how Inner and Outer Setting factors may impact implementation. Document Review analysis includes extraction and synthesis of ACO-specific DSRIP-funded programs (i.e., Intervention Characteristics); KIIs and site visit data will be qualitatively analyzed using thematic analytic techniques; surveys will be analyzed using descriptive statistics (e.g., counts, frequencies, means, and standard deviations). Discussion: Understanding barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining Medicaid ACOs with varied organizational structures will provide critical context for understanding the overall impact of the Medicaid ACO experiment in Massachusetts. It will also provide important insights for other states considering the ACO model for their Medicaid programs. Ethics and dissemination: IRB determinations were that the overall study did not constitute human subjects research and that each phase of primary data collection should be submitted for IRB review and approval. Study results will be disseminated through traditional channels such as peer reviewed journals, through publicly available reports on the mass.gov website; and directly to key stakeholders in ACO and CP leadership.
Fluorescent toxins as ion channel activity sensors

Voltage gated ion channels (VGICs) shape the electrical character of cells by undergoing structural changes in response to membrane depolarization. High-resolution techniques have provided a wealth of data on individual VGIC structures, but the conformational changes of endogenous channels in live cell membranes have remained unexplored. Here, we describe methods for imaging structural changes of voltage-gated K+ channels in living cells, using peptidyl toxins labeled with fluorophores that report specific protein conformations. These Endogenous Voltage-sensor Activity Probes (EVAPs) enable study of both VGIC allostery and function in the context of endogenous live-cell membranes under different physiological states. In this chapter, we describe methods for the synthesis, imaging, and analysis of dynamic EVAPs, which can report K+ channel activity in complex tissue preparations via 2-photon excitation microscopy, and environment-sensitive EVAPs, which report voltage-dependent conformational changes at the VGIC-toxin interface. The methods here present the utility of current EVAPs and lay the groundwork for the development of other probes that act by similar mechanisms. EVAPs can be correlated with electrophysiology, offering insight into the molecular details of endogenous channel function and allostery in live cells. This enables investigation of conformational changes of channels in their native, functional states, putting structures and models into a context of live-cell membranes. The expansive array of state-dependent ligands and optical probes should enable probes more generally for investigating the molecular motions of endogenous proteins.
Exploring Health Literacy, Transition Readiness, and Healthcare Utilization in Medicaid Chronically Ill Youth.

Abstract Purpose Youths with special healthcare needs face challenges transitioning from pediatric to adult health care. Understanding possible mechanisms contributing to poor healthcare transition could improve care. This study explores associations between health literacy (HL), transition readiness, and healthcare utilization. Methods Youths with special healthcare needs aged 12–18 years were recruited from a Medicaid accountable care organization (2012–2017). Outcome measures included transition readiness (Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire), and healthcare utilization (any well-check, hospitalization, emergency department [ED] visit, or ambulatory sensitive condition ED visit). Multivariate regression analyses examined whether HL (adequate vs. inadequate) predicted outcomes, after adjusting for covariates. Models were then created to examine whether the effect of HL on healthcare utilization was mediated by transition readiness. Results Among 417 youths with special healthcare needs, 67.1% reported adequate HL. Relative to inadequate HL, teens with adequate HL had significantly higher average Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire-20 scores (β = .34, p Conclusions HL is independently associated with higher transition readiness and lower ambulatory sensitive condition ED use, but pathways of action require further study.
Impaired Cerebrovascular Reactivity in Huntington's Disease.

There is increasing evidence that impairments of cerebrovascular function and/or abnormalities of the cerebral vasculature might contribute to early neuronal cell loss in Huntington's disease (HD). Studies in both healthy individuals as well as in patients with other neurodegenerative disorders have used an exogenous carbon dioxide (CO2) challenge in conjunction with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess regional cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR). In this study, we explored potential impairments of CVR in HD. Twelve gene expanded HD individuals, including both pre-symptomatic and early symptomatic HD and eleven healthy controls were administered a gas mixture targeting a 4-8 mmHg increase in CO2 relative to the end-tidal partial pressure of CO2 (P ET CO2) at rest. A Hilbert Transform analysis was used to compute the cross-correlation between the time series of regional BOLD signal changes (ΔBOLD) and increased P ET CO2, and to estimate the response delay of ΔBOLD relative to P ET CO2. After correcting for age, we found that the cross-correlation between the time series for regional ΔBOLD and for P ET CO2 was weaker in HD subjects than in controls in several subcortical white matter regions, including the corpus callosum, subcortical white matter adjacent to rostral and caudal anterior cingulate, rostral and caudal middle frontal, insular, middle temporal, and posterior cingulate areas. In addition, greater volume of dilated perivascular space (PVS) was observed to overlap, primarily along the periphery, with the areas that showed greater ΔBOLD response delay. Our preliminary findings support that alterations in cerebrovascular function occur in HD and may be an important, not as yet considered, contributor to early neuropathology in HD.
Establishing a New Measure of Alcohol-Related Sexual Consequences and Examining Its Association to Alcohol Consequences Among At-Risk Young Adults.

Objective: Alcohol-related sexual consequences are common among young adults, yet there is no standard measure to comprehensively assess this construct. To fill this gap, the current study evaluate...
The adsorption and orientation of aromatic compounds at smooth polycrystalline platinum electrodes: The effect of surface-active organic impurities

Abstract Changes in the adsorption profiles of 1,4-naphthohydroquinone (NHQ) on smooth polycrystalline platinum electrodes in aqueous 1 M HClO4 brought about by varying levels of surface-active organic impurities [typified by hydroquinone (HQ) and benzene] have been studied by thin-layer electrochemical techniques, 10−5 M HQ is sufficient to alter the adsorption profile of NHQ; above 10−4 M HQ, the packing density transitions prominent from pure NHQ solutions were completely suppressed. Similar results were obtained when benzene was used as the contaminant. Packing density measurements indicated that the subject surface-active impurities inhibited formation of flat-, but not edge-, adsorbed NHQ; this is in agreement with data from a previous study [M.P. Soriaga, J.H. White, D. Song and A.T. Hubbard, J. Electroanal. Chem., 171 (1984) 359] which showed that low-levels of iodide, a surface-active anion, enforced formation of edge-adsorbed NHQ even at (low) concentrations where flat-adsrobed species would have formed from pure NHQ solutions. The presence of surface-active impurities may help account for the profound differences in adsorption measurements reported in the literature for various aromatic compounds.
Trace-class perturbation and strong convergence: Wave operators revisited

We give a new construction of wave operators for a self-adjoint operator under trace-class perturbation. This construction requires no quantitative estimates. The well-known theorem of Kato and Rosenblum [2], [5] asserts that if A and A' are self-adjoint operators and if A A' belongs to CI, the trace class, then the absolutely continuous parts of A and A' are unitarily equivalent. Because of the importance of the problem of trace-class perturbation, many improvements and generalizations of this theorem have appeared in the literature. [3] and [4] contain a reasonably complete account of the development between [2], [5] and the late 1970's. In these works the unitary equivalence between Aac and A' was established through the existence of the wave operators W?(A',A)=slim e-iAA' eiAAPc (A). In fact, as mentioned in [5], the original idea of using the operator e-iAA' eiAA dates back to Friedrichs [1]. The first generalization of the Kato-Rosenblum theorem to the setting of operator tuples was made by Voigt [8]. The use of the exponential function eA (x) = exp(iAx) is fundamental to these "time-dependent" constructions of wave operators. In [6], Voiculescu generalized wave operators to the setting of commuting tuples under perturbation by norm ideals of compact operators. He showed that, if T = (T1, .. ,TN) and T' = (T1,. . ., TN) are commuting tuples of self-adjoint operators such that Tj V E C() j = 1, ... , N, and if the norm ideal C has the property lim n /-||12W S in general, the two wave operators W+ and W_ do not necessarily coincide. While essentially a time-dependent approach, Voiculescu's Received by the editors January 26, 1999. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 47A40, 47B10, 47L20. This research was supported in part by National Science Foundation grant DMS-9703515. 0)2000 American Mathematical Society
Design equations for optimized PEM fuel cell electrodes

This paper presents simple mathematical expressions that can be used for optimizing fuel cell electrode structures, specifically polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Based on the effectiveness factor, equations relate current density to catalyst utilization and a mass transfer coefficient. These can be used to screen new materials or identify which specific processes need to be improved in an existing electrode design. The optimum thickness, or catalyst loading, and maximum current that can be achieved with a given set of materials can be calculated from a simple set of equations based on the mass transfer characteristics of the electrode materials. These methods can save considerable experimental time and cost during electrode development.
The Brain and Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Neuroanatomy

Now in its fourth edition, The Brain and Behavior introduces the field of neurobiology of human behavior to a wide audience, from graduate students to professionals in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and neurology. This comprehensive resource focuses on locating human behaviors to specific regions of the brain, aiming to make a complex topic visually accessible through the inclusion of clear and focused illustrations. This important new edition emphasises recent developments in our understanding of the human brain which have emerged from imaging studies. The text also features patient case histories with documented anatomical evidence, tying the science with actual clinical examples, making it the most accessible book for medical practitioners of all levels. The collaboration between a neuropsychiatrist, a behavioral neurologist, and a neuroanatomist has resulted in a book which synthesizes the complex and evolving information on the neurobiology of human behavior, and presents it in an eminently readable volume.
Data transmission using phase-shift keying on a 92 GHz carrier

Wireless data transmission at 2.3 Gb/s, with binary phase-shift keying encoding, on a 92 GHz carrier is achieved using photonic components to generate and modulate the millimeter-wave. A high-speed photodiode is used to convert the doubly-modulated optical signal to a modulated millimeter-wave carrier. Two antennas are used to transmit and receive the data-encoded millimeter-wave signal. Millimeter-wave wireless signals are measured out to a distance of 890 meters.
Nodular Vascultitis in Association with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND: Nodular vasculitis is a disorder that can be associated with several disease states, including infection, medications, malignancy, and collagen vascular disorders. The pathogenesis is unknown, but may be related to immune complex deposition, leading to subsequent vascular damage. METHODS: We report a case of nodular vasculitis occurring in a 40-year-old African-American woman with end-stage liver disease and a 3 month history of ulcerating lesions on her lower extremities. Although these lesions were both clinically and histologically consistent with erythema indratum, all studies directed at determining a mycobacterial etiology were negative. RESULTS: Biopsy of the skin lesions revealed a neutrophil-predominant vasculitis in the setting of a lobular panniculitis. The histopathology of the liver biopsies, and the patient’s clinical course were consistent with auto-immune cholangitis. A course of oral prednisone was initiated, which resulted in improvement of the lower extremity lesions. CONCLUSION: In this case report we document a case of nodular vasculitis occurring in the setting of auto-immune cholangitis. The pathogenesis of this condition remains obscure, however possible causes include immune complex deposition or a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction.
Debugging via Run-Time Type Checking

This paper describes the design and implementation of a tool for C programs that provides run-time checks based on type information. The tool instruments a program to monitor the type stored in each memory location. Whenever a value is written into a location, the location's run-time type tag is updated to match the type of the value. Also, the location's static type is compared with the value's type; if there is a mismatch, a warning message is issued. Whenever the value in a location is used, its run-time type tag is checked, and if the type is inappropriate in the context in which the value is being used, an error message is issued. The tool has been used to pinpoint the cause of bugs in several Solaris utilities and Olden benchmarks, usually providing information that is succinct and precise.
IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in myelodysplastic syndromes and role in disease progression.

Recurrent pathogenic mutations in IDH1 and IDH2 at the conserved amino acid sites IDH1-R132, IDH2-R140 and IDH2-R172 occur in ~20% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).1 A recent analysis of AML patients at our institution identified IDH1/2 mutations in 20% (n=167) of 826 AML patients, with IDH1/2 mutations occurring most frequently in the setting of diploid karyotype or other intermediate-risk cytogenetics, particularly trisomy 8 (77 vs 53%, P<0.0005). AML patients with IDH1/2 mutations were overall less likely to have a diagnosis of therapy-related AML (8 vs 17%, P=0.003).2
People Judge Male Sexism More Leniently When Women Emasculate Men

Abstract. While overt sexism has become less acceptable in recent years, sexism frequently goes unchallenged by observers for a variety of reasons. In the present investigation, we propose that people may excuse men’s sexist remarks when the remarks follow a manhood threat caused by a woman. In Study 1, we found that a man’s sexist remark buffered against the emasculating effect of a threat to his masculinity from an ex-girlfriend. In Study 2, we further show that observers excuse a man’s sexist remark following a competitive loss to a woman to the extent that they perceive him as less manly as a result. We replicate this finding in Study 3 while ruling out two competing explanations. We discuss the implication that sexism prevention efforts need to identify and address gender-related contexts where sexism is excused in order for efforts to move toward its prevention.
Corticosterone effects on rat calretinin mRNA in discrete brain nuclei and the testes

Calretinin is an EF-hand calcium binding protein found predominantly in discrete sets of neurons in the central system, and in the sex hormone producing cells of the gonads. Calretinin mRNA levels were measured in discrete brain areas from vehicle and corticosterone treated rats (subcutaneous injections of 0, 0.1, 1, or 10 mg, 7 days) using a micropunch ribonuclease protection assay. Treatment with high dose corticosterone (10 mg) caused a 93% decrease in calretinin mRNA levels in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus compared to controls. Two other brain regions, the medial amygdaloid nucleus and the nucleus reuniens, demonstrated an approximately 40% decrease in calretinin mRNA following high dose corticosterone. In separate experiments, adrenalectomy and diurnal corticosterone variations had no effect on calretinin mRNA in the brain areas examined. In the testes, corticosterone treatment decreased calretinin protein in a dose dependent fashion (to 81%, 68%, and 39% of controls at doses of 10, 1, and 0.1 mg/day, respectively). Low dose corticosterone treatments decreased testicular but not neuronal calretinin mRNA, whereas high dose corticosterone reduced calretinin mRNA in testes and several discrete brain areas. This suggests that corticosterone's effects on brain calretinin may be due to its pathological effects, e.g. energy depletion of brain cells or interference with the normal support functions of glia.
The β-Catenin Binding Protein ICAT Modulates Androgen Receptor Activity

Androgens have important roles in the development of the prostate gland and in prostate cancer. Since the finding that β-catenin is a cofactor of the androgen receptor (AR) and can augment AR signaling, several proteins have been found to affect AR signaling through their interaction with β-catenin. Here, we investigated inhibitor of β-catenin and T-cell factor (ICAT), a β-catenin binding protein that inhibits the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, in AR signaling. We demonstrated that expression of ICAT in two AR positive prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP and LAPC4, augments ligand-dependent AR-mediated transcription. In contrast, short hairpin RNA knockdown of ICAT and β-catenin specifically blocks enhanced AR-mediated transcription by ICAT. Using both stable expression of ICAT and short hairpin RNA knockdown of ICAT expression approaches, we further showed that ICAT enhances expression of endogenous PSA and KLK2, two androgen response genes, and ligand-induced cell growth. In addition, we identified that ICAT and AR can form a ternary complex with β-catenin using in vitro glutathione S-transferase protein pulldown assays. Moreover, we detected the endogenous protein complex containing ICAT, AR, and β-catenin in prostate cancer cells using immunoprecipitation assays. Recruitment of endogenous ICAT onto the promoter region of the human PSA gene, an AR downstream target promoter, was also identified in LNCaP cells. Finally, using in vitro protein binding assays, we examined the effect of full-length and truncated ICAT on the AR-β-catenin interaction and observed that addition of full-length ICAT retained the interaction between β-catenin and AR proteins. Intriguingly, the truncated ICAT comprising the N-terminal helical domain showed a more pronounced effect on β-catenin binding to AR proteins. Our findings suggest a novel molecular mechanism underlying the cross talk between androgen and Wnt signaling pathways.