cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Media and Community Sentiment on Policy Decision-Making

This chapter addresses how community sentiment and the media affect policymaking and whether policies should be based on community sentiment—especially when it is driven by the media. In discussing these matters, the media is introduced as an influential factor, as it is responsible for determining which issues the public should deem important (Mc Combs & Reynolds, 2002). Social issues, specifically those involving children and families, are often highlighted in the media, eliciting emotional responses from the public and arousing political responsiveness (Zgoba, 2004). As a result, policies designed to protect the well-being of children and families are constructed through complex interactions among lawmakers, the media, and the public. Strong support exists regarding the influence of both community sentiment and the media on child and family policy.
Deterrent Approaches Against Hardware Trojan Insertion

Deterrent approaches against hardware Trojan insertions are techniques designed for device producers, especially integrated circuit (IC) producers to discourage hardware Trojan insertion into their products, as opposed to other hardware Trojan countermeasures that focus on determining whether an unspecified product is Trojan-free. In this chapter, we provide introduction and discussion on three main deterrent approaches: the monitoring approach, the obstructive approach, and the hybrid approach that combines features of both. For each approach, we introduce a few archetypal techniques of each approach, respectively. Relative strengths and weaknesses of introduced techniques are discussed with regard to the full range of possible adversaries and types of Trojans they may insert.
Erosion dynamics of tungsten fuzz during ELM-like heat loading

Transient heat loading and high-flux particle loading on plasma facing components in fusion reactors can lead to surface melting and possible erosion. Helium-induced fuzz formation is expected to exacerbate thermal excursions, due to a significant drop in thermal conductivity. The effect of heating in edge-localized modes (ELMs) on the degradation and erosion of a tungsten (W) fuzz surface was examined experimentally in the Ultra High Flux Irradiation-II facility at the Center for Materials Under Extreme Environment. W foils were first exposed to low-energy He+ ion irradiation at a fluence of 2.6 × 1024 ions m−2 and a steady-state temperature of 1223 K. Then, samples were exposed to 1000 pulses of ELM-like heat loading, at power densities between 0.38 and 1.51 GW m−2 and at a steady-state temperature of 1223 K. Comprehensive erosion analysis measured clear material loss of the fuzz nanostructure above 0.76 GW m−2 due to melting and splashing of the exposed surface. Imaging of the surface via scanning electron microscopy revealed that sufficient heating at 0.76 GW m−2 and above caused fibers to form tendrils to conglomerate and form droplets. Repetitive thermal loading on molten surfaces then led to eventual splashing. In situ erosion measurements taken using a witness plate and a quartz crystal microbalance showed an exponential increase in mass loss with energy density. Compositional analysis of the witness plates revealed an increase in the W 4f signal with increasing energy density above 0.76 GW m−2. The reduced thermal stability of the fuzz nanostructure puts current erosion predictions into question and strengthens the importance of mitigation techniques.
The Reformation of Hebrew Scripture: Chosen People, Chosen Nations, and Exceptionalism

The Reformation taught a way of reading the Hebrew Bible that made the “Old Testament” the valued possession of Protestants, encouraging them to see the histories and prophecies about biblical Israel as about the present and future not the past, and being fulfilled in Protestants. Calvin used Old Testament verses to prove predestination and “election,” which were concepts also useful to emergent nationalisms. The idea of Chosen people and nations, supposedly the hallmark of “Jewish Israel,” did not disappear with Christianity but was revived and transformed with the Reformation. We see it not just in Milton and the seventeenth century but in the later development of “British” and “Anglo”-Israelism in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The obsession with being Israel—with chosenness and “exceptionalism”—persists to the present, and is one of the most important, if troubling, legacies of a way of reading the Hebrew Bible that emerged with the Reformation.
ARIES-ACT1 Safety Design and Analysis

ARIES-ACT1 (Advanced and Conservative Tokamak) is a 1000-MW(electric) tokamak design featuring advanced plasma physics and divertor and blanket engineering. Some relevant features include an advanced SiC blanket with PbLi as coolant and breeder; a helium-cooled steel structural ring and tungsten divertors; a thin-walled, helium-cooled vacuum vessel; and a room-temperature, water-cooled shield outside the vacuum vessel. We consider here some safety aspects of the ARIES-ACT1 design and model a series of design-basis and beyond-design-basis accidents with the MELCOR code modified for fusion. The presence of multiple coolants (PbLi, helium, and water) makes possible a variety of such accidents. We consider here a loss-of-flow accident caused by a long-term station blackout (LTSBO), an ex-vessel helium break into the cryostat, and a beyond-design-basis accident in which a LTSBO is aggravated by a loss-of-coolant accident in ARIES-ACT1's ultimate decay heat removal system, the water-cooled shield. In the design-basis accidents, we find that the secondary confinement boundaries are not challenged, and the structural integrity of in-vessel components is not threatened by high temperatures or pressures; decay heat can be passively removed.
Abstract 15801: Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidant Therapy Prevents Angiotensin II Mediated Connexin43 Remodeling and Sudden Arrhythmic Death

Introduction: Angiotensin II activation and associated elevation in ROS have been implicated in pathogenesis of arrhythmia. Nevertheless, commonly used antioxidants have been ineffective in clinical trials. We created a transgenic mouse model of cardiac restricted overexpression of ACE (ACE8/8). These mice show spontaneous VT/ VF, sudden cardiac death (SCD), and a reduction in Cx43 level, which impairs conduction and predisposes to arrhythmia. We sought to determine the role and the major source of ROS in angiotensin II mediated VT/ VF and Cx43 remodeling. Method: Wild type and ACE8/8 mice with and without two weeks of treatment with a NOS inhibitor (L-NIO, 25 mg/Kg IP injections daily), a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant (Mito-TEMPO, 0.7 mg/Kg IP injections daily), and a NADPH oxidase inhibitor (apocynin 80 mg/L in drinking water) were studied. Crossing ACE8/8 mice with a P67 dominant negative (P67DN) mouse was used to confirm the NADPH oxidase role. Western blotting to detect oxidized protein levels (OxyBlot), detection of superoxide production in mitochondria by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry using MitoSOX red, and immunohistochemistry staining for Cx43 were performed. EP study was performed by a 1.1F octapolar catheter and a burst pacing protocol. Results: Proteins were more oxidized, mitochondrial ROS levels were increased by 6 fold (P Conclusion: Mitochondria-targeted antioxidant prevents VT/VF/SCD and Cx43 remodeling in an angiotensin II activated state. This result suggests a central role for mitochondria oxidative stress in ROS-induced arrhythmia and that mitochondria-targeted antioxidants may be effective antiarrhythmic drugs.
Role of MIF gene polymorphisms in systemic lupus erythematosus and prospects for therapeutic intervention

The cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) counter-regulates the immunosuppressive action of glucocorticoids and inhibits activation-induced apoptosis. MIF is encoded in a polymorphic locus with a variant allele frequency >5% and high-expression alleles are associated with clinical severity of rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and asthma but improved outcome from pneumonia. We completed a candidate gene association study in SLE (3195 patients and controls) to examine the relationship between two promoter polymorphisms in MIF: a -794 CATT5-8 microsatellite repeat (rs5844572), where increased repeat number leads to greater MIF expression; and a -173 G/C SNP (rs755622) that is in linkage disequilibrium with CATT7. Patients with the high-expression CATT7 allele had lower SLE incidence: OR = 0.63, P = 0.001 in Caucasians and OR = 0.46, P = 0.012 in African-Americans. Among patients with established SLE, those with serositis, nephritis, and cerebritis had reduced frequencies of low-expression MIF genotypes (CATT5) when compared with patients without end-organ involvement (P = 0.005 for serositis, P = 0.023 for nephritis, and P = 0.04 for cerebritis). Plasma MIF levels and TLR4, TLR7, and TLR9 stimulated MIF production reflected the underlying MIF genotype of the studied groups. These data suggest that MIF exerts a dual influence on the immunopathogenesis of SLE. High-expression MIF genotypes are associated with a reduced susceptibility to SLE, perhaps by contributing to enhanced clearance of infectious agents. Once SLE develops, however, low-expression MIF genotypes may protect from ensuing inflammatory end-organ damage [1]. We also examined the therapeutic impact of MIF antagonism in two mouse models of spontaneous SLE. In both the NZB/NZW F1 and the MRL/lpr mouse strains, anti-MIF or small molecule MIF receptor antagonism reduced functional and histological indices of glomerulonephritis, MIF-R+ leukocyte recruitment, and proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression [2]. A humanized anti-MIF developed from our studies has recently entered phase I clinical testing [3]. These data highlight the importance of MIF in the development of autoimmunity and support the potential clinical feasibility of pharmacologic MIF antagonism. We anticipate that MIF antagonists may be most effectively applied in those individuals who, on the basis of their genotype, manifest a MIF-dependent form of autoimmunity.
The Ottoman Economic Legacy on the Balkans

When discussing South East Europe, the Ottoman Empire stands out in history as a prime candidate for an inquiry on historical path-dependence of institutions in the region. This paper analyzes the historical origins of the Ottoman legacy and identifies the legacy with particular pertinence to the economic performance of the South East European states. It distinguishes the legacy in relation to social values and beliefs as the one, which has had the most persistent and profound effect on the Ottoman successor states' paths of economic development.
In vitro and in vivo GABAA Receptor Interaction of the Propanidid Metabolite 4-(2-[Diethylamino]-2-Oxoethoxy)-3-Methoxy-Benzeneacetic Acid.

Background Propanidid is a γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor agonist general anesthetic and its primary metabolite is 4-(2-[diethylamino]-2-oxoethoxy)-3-methoxy-benzeneacetic acid (DOMBA). Despite having a high water solubility at physiologic pH that might predict low-affinity GABAA receptor interactions, DOMBA is reported to have no effect on GABAA receptor currents, possibly because the DOMBA concentrations studied were simply insufficient to modulate GABAA receptors. Our objectives were to measure the propanidid and DOMBA concentration responses on -GABAA receptors and to measure the behavioral responses of DOMBA in mice at concentrations that affect GABAA receptor currents in vitro. Methods GABAA receptors were expressed in oocytes using clones for the human GABAA α1, β2 and γ2s subunits. The effects of DOMBA (0.2-10 mmol/L) and propanidid (0.001-1 mmol/L) on oocyte GABAA currents were studied using standard 2-electrode voltage clamp techniques. Based on in vitro results, 6 mice received -DOMBA 32 mg intraperitoneal and were observed for occurrence of neurologic effects and DOMBA plasma concentration was measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results DOMBA both directly activates GABAA receptors and antagonizes its GABA-mediated opening in a concentration-dependent manner at concentrations between 5-10 and 0.5-10 mmol/L respectively. In vivo, DOMBA produced rapid onset sedation at plasma concentrations that correlate with direct GABAA receptor activation. Conclusion DOMBA modulation of GABAA receptors is associated with sedation in mice. Metabolites of propanidid analogues currently in development may similarly modulate GABAA, and impaired elimination of these metabolites could produce clinically relevant neurophysiologic effects.
Worker Cooperatives: Organizations on the Margin of Management Research

Worker cooperatives have received scant attention in the management literature. They are significantly different than other organizational forms because they are wholly owned and managed by the wor...
A Knowledge-Based Optimization Method for Aerodynamic Design

A new aerodynamic design method, CODISC, has been developed that combines a legacy knowledge-based design method, CDISC, with a simple optimization module known as SOUP. The primary goal of this new design system is to improve the performance gains obtained using CDISC without adding significant computational time. An additional objective of this approach is to reduce the need for a priori knowledge of good initial input variable values, as well as for subsequent manual revisions of those values as the design progresses. Several test cases illustrate the development of the process to date and some of the options available at transonic and supersonic speeds for turbulent flow designs. The test cases generally start from good baseline configurations and, in all cases, were able to improve the performance. Several new guidelines for good initial values for the design variables, as well as new design rules within CDISC itself, were developed from these cases.
Multifunctional Grid Connected Inverter Interfaced by Wind Energy Conversion System

This study deals with a three-phase multifunctional grid-connected inverter interfaced with a wind energy conversion system (WECS) is described. The studied system consists of a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) based wind turbine, a rectifier and a three-phase voltage source inverter connected to the utility at the point of common coupling. To ensure the multifunctional feature, we propose a direct power control (DPC) which is applied to eliminate line current harmonics, compensate reactive power and feeding wind power into the utility. Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system. The results show that the control algorithm of system is effective for eliminating harmonic currents, reactive power compensation and inject the active power available from the PMSG wind turbine into the load and/or grid, which allowed us to confirm the robustness of the proposed strategy.
Towards a Multidimensional Measure of De Facto Judicial Independence

In this research I propose a new multidimensional operationalization for analyzing judicial independence. I formulate a theoretical concept whereby de facto judicial independence is measured in three dimensions – social independence, political independence, and economic independence. I then estimate a Bayesian latent variable model, using annual data across 191 countries, to construct individual measures of each dimension of de facto judicial independence. The resulting measures, which are available from 1980-2013, provide a robust and comprehensive analysis of variation in judicial independence within each country. This multidimensional approach uncovers patterns of where and how judicial independence begins, and how it adjusts to changes in the political environment. Results from a replication analysis yield expected and interesting results, namely that economic and social independence are not necessarily associated with democracy. Whereas, political independence occurs in more democratic states. These measures provide a new tool for scholars seeking to test existing theoretical questions, including the relationship between economic independence and investor confidence, political independence and insurance theory, and social independence and human rights protections.
Highly efficient and sensitive patient-specific quality assurance for spot-scanned proton therapy

The purpose of this work was to develop an end-to-end patient-specific quality assurance (QA) technique for spot-scanned proton therapy that is more sensitive and efficient than traditional approaches. The patient-specific methodology relies on independently verifying the accuracy of the delivered proton fluence and the dose calculation in the heterogeneous patient volume. A Monte Carlo dose calculation engine, which was developed in-house, recalculates a planned dose distribution on the patient CT data set to verify the dose distribution represented by the treatment planning system. The plan is then delivered in a pre-treatment setting and logs of spot position and dose monitors, which are integrated into the treatment nozzle, are recorded. A computational routine compares the delivery log to the DICOM spot map used by the Monte Carlo calculation to ensure that the delivered parameters at the machine match the calculated plan. Measurements of dose planes using independent detector arrays, which historically are the standard approach to patient-specific QA, are not performed for every patient. The nozzle-integrated detectors are rigorously validated using independent detectors in regular QA intervals. The measured data are compared to the expected delivery patterns. The dose monitor reading deviations are reported in a histogram, while the spot position discrepancies are plotted vs. spot number to facilitate independent analysis of both random and systematic deviations. Action thresholds are linked to accuracy of the commissioned delivery system. Even when plan delivery is acceptable, the Monte Carlo second check system has identified dose calculation issues which would not have been illuminated using traditional, phantom-based measurement techniques. The efficiency and sensitivity of our patient-specific QA program has been improved by implementing a procedure which independently verifies patient dose calculation accuracy and plan delivery fidelity. Such an approach to QA requires holistic integration and maintenance of patient-specific and patient-independent QA.
Advanced Fabrication Processes for Superconductor Electronics: Current Status and New Developments

In superconductor electronics fabrication processes developed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory, Josephson junctions (JJs) are placed near the top of the stack composed of nine or ten superconducting layers. We discuss the effects of this placement and other processing factors on uniformity of JJ critical current across 200-mm wafers; specifically, nonuniformity of residual stress in Nb films, wafer bow and warpage caused by accumulated stress in the underlying dielectric and superconducting layers, and effects of accumulated topography caused by patterning and planarization of wiring layers. We describe the typical fabrication defects, focusing primarily on the peculiar defects caused by electrochemical corrosion of dissimilar metals. To increase the integration scale and enhance fabrication capabilities, we are developing a new process, titled SC1, in which Nb/Al/AlO x /Nb JJs are placed near the bottom of the layer stack, preceded only by two planarized layers: resistor layer and superconducting ground plane. Six planarized Nb wiring layers are placed above the JJs. This layer stack should simplify routing of data and clock in integrated circuits, and allow for improvements in uniformity of small JJs. The SC1 process has a 250-nm minimum feature size for inductors, three sheet resistance options for resistors, and two options for JJ critical current density: 100 and 200 μA/μm 2 . We present fabrication details and process optimization aimed at improving JJ uniformity, increasing circuit yield, and reducing occurrence of corrosion defects to below the 1 ppm level.
Differential Rates of Medicaid Uptake for Hispanic English Speakers and Hispanic Spanish Speakers under the Affordable Care Act

One provision of the Affordable Care Act was Medicaid expansion, which increased eligibility in two ways: it raised the income threshold from 100 to 138% of the poverty line, and removed categorical restrictions, such as being a pregnant woman, to include all low-income adults. We capitalize on this policy change to determine if eligible Hispanics and Spanish speakers are more or less likely than their non-Hispanic and English-speaking counterparts to enroll in Medicaid. We use National Health Interview Survey data and apply a theoretical framework of social capital acquisition. We find that Hispanic Spanish speakers and Hispanic English speakers are about twice as likely to have Medicaid after the ACA expansion. However, Spanish speakers are about 75% as likely to have enrolled in Medicaid than their English-speaking counterparts post-ACA. In the NHIS sample, about 28% of Hispanic Spanish speakers have Medicaid. We see considerable evidence that Hispanics who have more social capital are much more likely to enroll in Medicaid. Even though the ACA expansion reduced the uninsured gap for Hispanics, there is still a noteworthy disparity in rates of insurance coverage.
Nanoscale oxygen defect gradients in UO2+x surfaces.

Oxygen defects govern the behavior of a range of materials spanning catalysis, quantum computing, and nuclear energy. Understanding and controlling these defects is particularly important for the safe use, storage, and disposal of actinide oxides in the nuclear fuel cycle, since their oxidation state influences fuel lifetimes, stability, and the contamination of groundwater. However, poorly understood nanoscale fluctuations in these systems can lead to significant deviations from bulk oxidation behavior. Here we describe the use of aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy to resolve changes in the local oxygen defect environment in [Formula: see text] surfaces. We observe large image contrast and spectral changes that reflect the presence of sizable gradients in interstitial oxygen content at the nanoscale, which we quantify through first-principles calculations and image simulations. These findings reveal an unprecedented level of excess oxygen incorporated in a complex near-surface spatial distribution, offering additional insight into defect formation pathways and kinetics during [Formula: see text] surface oxidation.
Controlling quantum interference using metamaterials

Metamaterials are presented as a suitable platform to implement controllable constructive and destructive quantum interference. We investigate general lossy asymmetric and unbalanced 2x2 networks to realize nonclassical multiphoton interference effects. A design roadmap for achieving maximum programmability while setting a limit on the minimum value of quantum interference baseline counts is also reported. Specifically, we explore the capabilities of metasurfaces (2D alternates for metamaterials), by engineering the local interaction of light and matter at the subwavelength scale for realizing quantum interference, and conclude that metamaterials are a versatile platform for experiments on the foundations of quantum mechanics such as quantum coalescence effects.
THE PITTSBURGH FATIGABILITY SCALE: VALIDATION OF THE MENTAL SUBSCALE IN THE LONG LIFE FAMILY STUDY

We previously validated the physical, but not the mental subscale of the Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale (PFS). Thus, we aimed to validate the PFS mental subscale in 1,738 individuals aged ≥60 from the Long Life Family Study (55.5% female, age 74.8±11.1 years, PFS mental score 7.1±10.1, range 0-50). Confirmatory factor analysis with promax rotation showed all 10 items loaded on two factors: social and physical activities (SRMR=0.07, RMSEA=0.13, CFI=0.90). PFS mental score had strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.90) and demonstrated moderate concurrent and construct validity using Pearson correlations against measures of cognition (Trail Making A (r=0.26) and B (r=0.29) time), gait speed (r=-0.30), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (r=0.35), p<0.0001 for all. In conclusion, by accounting for self-pacing inherent in common fatigue questionnaires, the validated PFS mental subscore may be a more sensitive tool to examine perceived mental fatigability as an important contributor to cognitive and physical function.
Water lead exposure risk in Flint, Michigan after switchback in water source: Implications for lead service line replacement policy.

Abstract In February of 2016, the City of Flint, Michigan commenced the FAST start initiative with the aim “to get the lead out of Flint” by replacing lead and galvanized steel service lines throughout the city. An estimated 29,100 parcels are scheduled for service line replacement (SLR) at an expected cost of $172 million. The lead exposure benefits of SLR are evaluated by analyzing Sentinel data on hundreds of repeatedly sampled homes in Flint from February 16, 2016 to July 21, 2017, comparing water lead (WL) in homes with and without lead service lines. Samples taken from homes with lead service lines were significantly more likely to exceed specified thresholds of WL than homes without lead service lines. Second, regardless of service line material type, sampled homes experienced significant reductions in WL with elapsed time from Flint’s switchback to water provided by the Detroit Water and Sewage Department. Third, the risk of exceedance of WL > 15 μg/L was uncorrelated with service line material type. These results are robust to sample restrictions, period stratification, time operations, reference group definitions, and statistical modeling procedures. On the question of what is gained from SLR over optimal corrosion control techniques, we simulated age-specific lead uptake (μg/day) and blood lead levels (μg/dL) for children in Flint at 16 and 90 weeks of elapsed time from Flint’s switchback to Detroit water. At 90 weeks from the switchback in water source, the quantity of water lead consumed by children in homes with lead service lines decreased 93%, as compared to 16 weeks. Lead exposure benefits of SLR have declined in time, with modest differences in lead uptake across homes with different service lines. In light of results, policy considerations for Flint and nationwide are discussed.
Fear of analgesic side effects predicts preference for acupuncture: a cross-sectional study of cancer patients with pain in the USA

Approximately one in two cancer patients globally are under-treated for pain. Opioids and other analgesics represent the mainstay of cancer pain management; however, barriers to their use are well-documented. We evaluated whether acupuncture would be a preferable treatment option among cancer patients with attitudinal barriers to pharmacological pain management. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of cancer patients at a tertiary urban cancer center and eleven suburban/rural hospitals in the Northeastern United States. We assessed attitudinal barriers to pharmacological pain management with the Barriers Questionnaire (BQ-13). The BQ-13 consists of two subscales: pain management beliefs and analgesic side effects. We also asked patients whether they prefer acupuncture, analgesics, or have no preference between these two modalities for pain management. Covariates included sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and attitudes/beliefs about acupuncture. We used logistic regression to examine the association between attitudinal barriers and acupuncture preference. Among 628 patients, 197 (31.4%) preferred acupuncture for pain management, 146 (23.3%) preferred analgesics, and 285 (45.4%) had no preference. The highest reported attitudinal barriers were fear of addiction and fear of analgesic-associated constipation and nausea. Adjusting for covariates, we found that attitudinal barriers related to fear of analgesic side effects were significantly associated with acupuncture preference (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17–1.81), but barriers related to pain management beliefs were not (AOR 1.17, 95% CI 0.91–1.51). Attitudes/beliefs about acupuncture (i.e., greater expected benefits, fewer perceived barriers, and more positive social norms) and female gender also predicted acupuncture preference, whereas race and educational status did not. Acupuncture may be a preferable treatment option among cancer patients at risk of inadequately controlled pain due to fear of analgesic side effects. Evidence-based integration of acupuncture and analgesics, guided by patient treatment preferences, represents an essential aspect of patient-centered care and has potential to address unmet cancer pain management needs.
Tour guide performances: four modes of framing tourist experience

This essay identifies four performance frames tour guides employ to orient tourists to the site. Each frame is presented through a composite character, constructed through participant observation o...
Association of Out-of-Pocket Spending With Insulin Adherence in Medicare Part D

About one-third of Medicare beneficiaries had diabetes in 2016, up from 18% in 2000.1 More than 3 million were taking insulin at a cost of $13.3 billion to Medicare and beneficiaries. Beneficiaries’ mean out-of-pocket spending on insulin has nearly doubled over the last decade, raising concerns about access to an essential medication.1 Reported cost-related underuse of insulin is high,2 leading experts to recommend policy changes to reduce out-of-pocket costs to limit negative health consequences and financial burden.3,4 In an effort to address these concerns, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a voluntary program—the Senior Savings Model—to test the effect of limiting Part D beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket spending on insulin to no more than $35 per month starting in 2021.5,6 To assess the potential outcomes associated with this policy, we compared changes in basal insulin use before and after reaching the coverage gap, in which beneficiaries face increased cost-sharing, for 2 distinct groups of nonsubsidized Part D enrollees: (1) beneficiaries in individual plans whose cost sharing can vary dramatically across coverage phases; and (2) those enrolled through an employer group–waiver plan (EGWP) where cost sharing is low and fairly constant across coverage phases.
Dying to divulge: The determinants of, and relationship between, desired and actual disclosure

Studies suggest that sharing thoughts and information with others may be inherently pleasurable and confer health, psychological, and social benefits to the discloser. At the same time, self-disclosure exposes individuals to scrutiny and the risk of rejection and reputational damage, particularly with the advent of digital applications and social media outlets that promote public, and often permanent, disclosing. In an effort to understand the tradeoffs that underlie the decision to disclose, we introduce a distinction between the propensity to disclose and the psychological desire to disclose and present a preliminary investigation into when and why these two constructs diverge. Findings from two exploratory studies reveal the types of information that individuals are most eager to share, as well as the contextual factors and individual characteristics that moderate the desire to share and the circumstances under which this desire is most likely to translate into actual sharing. We replicate findings from prior research that the decision to disclose is a function of content emotionality and valence, but find that the propensity to withhold negative information is most pronounced when the information is about oneself than about others, and that gender differences in disclosure are largely driven by the tendency for men to withhold negative, but not positive, information. Additionally, we capture motives and traits, many of them previously unexplored in the disclosure context, to model the underlying decision-making process that leads to information sharing and distinguish between the act of sharing information and the psychological desire that differentially engender disclosing behavior.
Ibuprofen taken before exercise blunts the IL-6 response in older adults but does not alter bone alkaline phosphatase or c-telopeptide.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) taken before exercise have been shown to impair bone formation. NSAIDs also suppress inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), that can have pro-resorptive effects. It is unclear how taking NSAIDs timed around exercise influences inflammatory and bone biomarkers following an acute exercise bout in older adults. To determine if timing of ibuprofen use relative to a single exercise bout has acute effects on serum IL-6, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP, marker of bone formation), and c-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX, marker of bone resorption). As part of a 36-week exercise intervention, participants aged 60 to 75 years were randomized to 3 groups: placebo before and after exercise (PP), ibuprofen before and placebo after exercise (IP), or placebo before and ibuprofen after exercise (PI). Acute responses were studied in a subset of participants (12 PP, 17 IP, 13 PI). Blood was sampled before and immediately, 30 min, and 60 min after exercise for IL-6, BAP, and CTX. The exercise-induced increase in IL-6 was blunted in response to IP when compared to PI 60-min after exercise (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the change in BAP or CTX between groups at any time points Ibuprofen taken before exercise dampened the inflammatory response to exercise but had no effects on bone biomarkers in older adults. It may be necessary to monitor changes for a longer time interval after an acute exercise bout to determine whether bone turnover is altered by ibuprofen or other NSAIDs. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00462722; Posted 04/19/2007
Abstract 1269: Pharmacological targeting of transcription-replication conflict leads to anti-cancer efficacy with minimal side effects in preclinical models

Unchecked growth of cancer cells places simultaneous demands on DNA replication and transcription. Targeting the transcription-replication conflict (TRC), a major source of genome instability, could have important therapeutic implications. However, testing this hypothesis is difficult without agents directly targeting TRC. Here, we report a small molecule ligand (AOH1996) of the replisome component PCNA, which stabilizes interaction between PCNA and the large subunit (rpb1) of RNA polymerase II through the APIM motif, resulting in proteasome-dependent degradation of rpb1 and lethal DNA damages. Orally administrable, AOH1996 suppresses tumor growth without discernable toxicity at more than 10 time the compound9s effective dose. In addition, AOH1996 works synergistically with known DNA damage agents to kill cancer cells. These results reveal TRC as cancer-selective vulnerability and demonstrated the therapeutic potential of AOH1996. Citation Format: Long Gu, Caroline Li, Robert Lingeman, Robert J. Hickey, Linda H. Malkas. Pharmacological targeting of transcription-replication conflict leads to anti-cancer efficacy with minimal side effects in preclinical models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1269.
3D microfluidics in PDMS: manufacturing with 3D molding

This paper describes a procedure to rapidly design and fabricate 3D microfluidic systems in the elastomer polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) using 3D molding, without the use of photolithography. A microfluidic system of channels is designed in a CAD program with the final fluid path being fully three dimensional. The initial design is inverted to create a negative mold which is 3D printed; the resolution of the printer is the limiting design factor. PDMS is cast in the 3D-printed mold in multiple pieces which are then cured together to create the final 3D device. No plasma bonding is required for the PDMS–PDMS sealing, a “glue” of uncured PDMS is used instead. A sample device of interlocking ring voids is presented to demonstrate the fabrication of a complex geometry which would be nearly impossible to manufacture via traditional soft lithography methods utilizing photolithography.
Information resources: A nation's stake in telecommunications

Abstract The major trend affecting worldwide economic development is the growing level of information-intensive activities throughout all sectors of increasingly global markets. This paper analyses the crucial role of telecommunications in a nation's productive processes. It examines the salient market force of services in virtually all sectors of national economies, describes how VANs enhance the quality and utility of basic communications channels, and analyses future network growth as a country's economy and society become increasingly computerized. The author discusses the importance of competition and recommends that restrictive regulatory regimes should respond to dynamic technological change.
Doctor Who–themed weddings and the performance of fandom

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the science fiction/fantasy TV series Doctor Who (1963–1986, 1996, 2005–), 50 couples chose to marry, renew vows, and engage in civil partnerships during a mass Doctor Who–themed wedding in London. By using Doctor Who fandom as a case study, I explore how fans are able to construct, define, and maintain their identity in wedding culture by the meaning they ascribe to objects present in the wedding performance. By using the concept of weddings as performance narratives, I describe how fans are able to tell the story of their experience and identification with fandom, but because not everyone identifies with fandom, fans must communicate this narrative in a highly selective manner, choosing details that both satisfy their identities as fans and make sense to a diverse audience of fans and nonfans alike. In doing so, fans are negotiating this identity within the heteronormative structure of wedding culture. The presence of the wedding ceremony reveals that fan identity and performance, despite seeming subversive to mainstream, are actually influenced and shaped by these traditional spaces and rituals.
A Protein Kinase C phosphorylation motif in GLUT1 affects glucose transport and is mutated in GLUT1 deficiency syndrome

Protein kinase C has been implicated in the phosphorylation of the erythrocyte/brain glucose transporter, GLUT1, without a clear understanding of the site(s) of phosphorylation and the possible effects on glucose transport. Through in vitro kinase assays, mass spectrometry, and phosphospecific antibodies, we identify serine 226 in GLUT1 as a PKC phosphorylation site. Phosphorylation of S226 is required for the rapid increase in glucose uptake and enhanced cell surface localization of GLUT1 induced by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Endogenous GLUT1 is phosphorylated on S226 in primary endothelial cells in response to TPA or VEGF. Several naturally occurring, pathogenic mutations that cause GLUT1 deficiency syndrome disrupt this PKC phosphomotif, impair the phosphorylation of S226 in vitro, and block TPA-mediated increases in glucose uptake. We demonstrate that the phosphorylation of GLUT1 on S226 regulates glucose transport and propose that this modification is important in the physiological regulation of glucose transport.
Book Review: Confidence Intervals for Proportions and Related Measures of Effect Size, by Robert G. Newcombe

Newcombe is a known expert in constructing confidence intervals (CIs), especially for proportions and quantities involving proportions. He has drawn on his extensive experience to provide this comp...
Psychological Processes in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a process that has a profound psychological impact on one in nine American women and their families. Despite pervasive depression in women during breast cancer surgery and treatment, a woman's psychological state before breast cancer is one of the best predictors of adjustment to the disease one year after surgery. Successful adjustment is found in women who believe they can control the disease process through changes in their lifestyle and who have support from family, friends, and health care professionals. A review of the psychological effects of treatment for breast cancer, coping styles as prognostic indicators of survival, and interpersonal factors that affect adjustment to the disease suggests that coping styles and psychological distress should he included as prognostic indicators. Attention to these psychosocial factors by medical personnel will empower women to control the disease process and thereby modify the impact of breast cancer.
Differentiation-responsive elements in the 5' region of the mouse tissue plasminogen activator gene confer two-stage regulation by retinoic acid and cyclic AMP in teratocarcinoma cells.

Abstract F9 cells induced to differentiate with retinoic acid (RA) increase transcription of the tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) gene. Further treatment of these cells with cyclic AMP (cAMP) results in an additional stimulation of t-PA gene transcription. To investigate the mechanism of this two-stage regulation, 4 kilobase pairs (kbp) of 5'-flanking sequence from the murine t-PA gene was isolated. Two major start sites for transcription were found, neither of which depended on a classical TATA motif for correct initiation. By using transient transfection assays, it was determined that 4-kbp of flanking sequence could confer on reporter genes the same two-stage differentiation-specific expression as was observed for the endogenous t-PA gene. Deletion analyses of this 4-kbp fragment showed that 190 bp of flanking sequence was sufficient to bestow the same degree of two-stage regulation on reporter gene constructs. Within this region of DNA, sequence analysis revealed a possible cAMP regulatory element, a CTF/NF-1 recognition sequence, two potential Sp1 sites, and five potential binding sites for transcription factor AP-2. The deletion experiments, coupled with the positions of these potential cis-acting elements, suggest that multiple transcription factors, including those that bind to cAMP regulatory element, CTF/NF-1, Sp1, and AP-2 sites, may be involved in regulation of the t-PA gene during F9 cell differentiation.
Information Foraging Across the Life Span: Search and Switch in Unknown Patches

In this study, we used a word search puzzle paradigm to investigate age differences in the rate of information gain (RG; i.e., word gain as a function of time) and the cues used to make patch-departure decisions in information foraging. The likelihood of patch departure increased as the profitability of the patch decreased generally. Both younger and older adults persisted past the point of optimality as defined by the marginal value theorem (Charnov, 1976), which assumes perfect knowledge of the foraging ecology. Nevertheless, there was evidence that adults were rational in terms of being sensitive to the change in RG for making the patch-departure decisions. However, given the limitations in cognitive resources and knowledge about the ecology, the estimation of RG may not be accurate. Younger adults were more likely to leave the puzzle as the long-term RG incrementally decreased, whereas older adults were more likely to leave the puzzle as the local RG decreased. However, older adults with better executive control were more likely to adjust their likelihood of patch-departure decisions to the long-term change in RG. Thus, age-dependent reliance on the long-term or local change in RG to make patch-departure decisions might be due to individual differences in executive control.
The Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis Syndrome: Treatment with Intraarterial Urokinase and Systemic Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors

We report a case of the heparin-induced thrombocy-topenia and thrombosis syndrome presenting with acute ischemia of a lower limb. The patient was successfully treated by withdrawal of heparin products, intraarterial urokinase, and platelet anti-aggregation therapy consisting of Dextran and aspirin.
Kinetics of chemisorption of oxygen on diamond

Abstract The rate of chemisorption of oxygen on diamond powder of 20m 2 g −1 total surface area has been studied. Adsorption conditions ranged from 28 to 141°C at 100 mTorr O 2 pressure. Also at 28°C rates were measured over the O 2 pressure range 11–100 mTorr. Prior to adsorption measurements, the sample was outgassed at 1000°C for 10–12 hr at a residual gas pressure of 10 −8 Torr. Adsorption was followed up to 24 hr. Plots of amount of oxygen adsorbed vs. log of time were linear and showed no breaks. The activation energy for chemisorption increased linearly from 1·5 to 14·1 kcal mole −1 with increasing oxygen coverage up to 53 × 10 18 atoms g −1 . It is concluded that under the conditions used, chemisorption was occurring predominantly on the (111) surface of diamond. Chemisorption at least on the (100) surface is expected to occur primarily at higher adsorption temperatures.
Role of the protein moiety of ribonuclease P, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme

The Bacillus subtilis ribonuclease P consists of a protein and an RNA. At high ionic strength the reaction is protein-independent; the RNA alone is capable of cleaving precursor transfer RNA, but the turnover is slow. Kinetic analyses show that high salt concentrations facilitate substrate binding in the absence of the protein, probably by decreasing the repulsion between the polyanionic enzyme and substrate RNAs, and also slow product release and enzyme turnover. It is proposed that the ribonuclease P protein, which is small and basic, provides a local pool of counter-ions that facilitates substrate binding without interfering with rapid product release.
Specification of Scales in Biodata Form Development: Rational vs. Empirical and Global vs. Specific

Although empirical keying has been the most popular scoring strategy with biodata, researchers have increasingly argued that rational approaches are better for advancing theory. Higher validities and less faking with empirical keys, however, have made many reluctant to abandon them. Research in the personality field provided support for the notion that many rational biodata scales may be multi-faceted. Development of more specific scales was suggested as a technique for creating rational scales with validities that more closely approximate that of empirical keys. Three different strategies (rational, internal, and external/empirical) were used in the scoring of a biodata inventory for use with mechanical equipment franchise owners. The rational and internal approaches were investigated within two samples and at two levels - very specific constructs and global constructs. In addition, two types of criteria were used, including an objective measure of sales and supervisory performance ratings. The specific rational scales were as predictive as the empirical item key. Strategies for developing and scoring a biodata form using a rational approach are discussed.
Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Endothelial Cell Gaps in Psoriatic Vessels and Their Morphologic Identity with Gaps Produced by the Intradermal Injections of Histamine

Endothelial cell gaps in psoriatic vessels and histamine-induced gaps in forearm skin of normal controls were reconstructed in 3 dimensions by a computer graphics system. The gaps in psoriatic vessels were present within the cell, at the intercellular junction, or concurrently at both sites. Histamine-induced gaps were found at the intercellular junction or at both intracellular and intercellular locations. The gaps were linear to oval and often contained cytoplasmic processes from one of the endothelial cells, suggesting that gap formation represents a cellular injury rather than a purely physiologic reversible phenomenon.