cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved 3D Structure Prediction of Beta-Barrel Membrane Proteins by Using Evolutionary Coupling Constraints, Reduced State Space and an Empirical Potential Function

Beta-barrel membrane proteins are found in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. They carry out diverse biological functions, including pore formation, membrane anchoring, enzyme activity, and bacterial virulence. In addition, beta-barrel membrane proteins increasingly serve as scaffolds for bacterial surface display and nanopore-based DNA sequencing. Due to difficulties in experimental structure determination, they are sparsely represented in the protein structure databank and computational methods can help to understand their biophysical principles. We have developed a novel computational method to predict the 3D structure of beta-barrel membrane proteins using evolutionary coupling (EC) constraints and a reduced state space. Combined with an empirical potential function, we can successfully predict strand register at >80% accuracy for a set of 49 non-homologous proteins with known structures. This is a significant improvement from previous results using EC alone (44%) [1] and using empirical potential function alone (73%) [2]. Our method is general and can be applied to genome-wide structural prediction.[1] Sikander Hayat, Chris Sander, Debora S. Marks, and Arne Elofsson. All-atom 3D structure prediction of transmembrane β-barrel proteins from sequences. PNAS 2015 112 (17) 5413-5418.[2] Hammad Naveed, Yun Xu, Ronald Jackups, Jr., and Jie Liang. Predicting Three-Dimensional Structures of Transmembrane Domains of β-Barrel Membrane Proteins. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2012 134 (3), 1775-1781.
Predicting Youths' Adherence to Treatment and Retention in Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Interventions

Internal and external validity are threatened when subjects fail to complete an intervention and when they are lost at follow-ups. Accordingly, researchers and intervention staff continually strive to identify predictors of attrition and non-compliance. The present study investigated the success of models that incorporate program, family, and individual characteristic variables in predicting treatment adherence and retention at six months in a sample of 1319 youth who participated in an abstinence-only intervention, as well as the relative importance of the predictors in explaining retention and adherence among Hispanic and non-Hispanic youth. The findings indicated that the likelihood of completing the intervention was greater for youths whose mothers or someone who functioned as a mother did not work. The effect of this predictor was consistent across all models in which it was tested. In addition, youth who planned to have sex were more likely to withdraw from the intervention than were youth for whom the opposite was true. Youth satisfaction with the intervention successfully predicted the likelihood of completion. Retention at six months was influenced by youth completing the intervention, having a non-working mother, and being satisfied with the program. Results from the discriminant analyses suggested that the predictors varied in importance for Hispanics and non-Hispanics. For Hispanics, having a non-working mother and satisfaction with the intervention were critical to their decisions to complete the intervention and to return for the six-month follow-up. For non-Hispanics, parental attitudes regarding sex, youths’ intentions to have sex, and youths’ gender were significant predictors.
Preservation of Historic Graffiti Using Ethyl Silicate: The Signature of W. F. Cody in Ellsworth County, Kansas

A laboratory examination of the effect of ethyl silicate solutions (Conservare OH and Conservare H) on red Dakota sandstone (Cretaceous) cores from Red Rock Canyon, Kanopolis Lake, Ellsworth County, showed the treatments improved the compressive strength and freeze-thaw resistance of the stone without sealing the pore system or causing discoloration. The solution then was applied to the signature of W. F Cody in order to prolong
Culture’s Coherence: How the Trees Compose the Woods

In cultural sociology, the concept of culture refers to processes and products of meaning-making. This concept sustains coherence while also encompassing empirical complexity and theoretical difference. Much of the variety in the way cultural sociologists talk about culture is simply attributable to inconsequential terminological difference, and the remainder is attributable to differences of empirical angle and theoretical emphasis within the field which are encompassed by this core idea. Cultural sociologists understand meaning as transcending biology, irreducible to social structure, and public rather than private. These conceptual boundaries provide a firm foundation for empirical research and guide the development of cultural theory. Further exploration of the concept of “meaning” is better pursued in the analytic philosophy of meaning, but such exploration is unnecessary and potentially counter-productive for cultural sociology.
Wavelength of the W K α 1 x-ray line

The wavelength of the $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}$ line from an electron-bombarded natural W anode has been measured in terms of that of an ${\mathrm{I}}_{2}$-stabilized HeNe laser. This visible laser is a reference point for current Rydberg determinations and for the present-day definition of length. The resulting wavelength value, namely 0.20901 349 \AA{} (0.90 ppm) (energy = 59.319233 keV) appears to resolve historical inconsistencies in the x-ray route to $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ wavelengths.
Next-Generation–Sequencing-Based Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis

Prenatal diagnosis is important part of obstetric practice (Tounta et al. 2011). Traditionally, fetal DNA is obtained by invasive techniques, namely, amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. Such invasive procedure leads to a miscarriage rate of about 1 % and is reserved only for high risk pregnancies for specific genetic conditions which include fetal chromosomal aneuploidies and monogenic disorders with relatively high prevalence in the relevant populations. The ultimate goal for early prenatal diagnosis, while decreasing the miscarriage rate, is to employ noninvasive testing using maternal peripheral blood as a source of fetal genetic material (Tounta et al. 2011). Multiple studies indicate that both intact fetal cells and cell-free fetal nucleic acids (cffNA) cross the placenta and can be found in the maternal circulation. Intact fetal cells present an attractive target for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) of fetal chromosomal abnormalities (Lo et al. 1996). Isolation and analysis of fetal cells from maternal circulation have been extensively investigated and several methods for fetal cell enrichment have been developed (Bianchi 1999; Jackson 2003; Sekizawa et al. 2007). However, due to the lack of cells in the maternal circulation and low efficiency of enrichment methods results have not been promising. In addition, it has been challenging to perform Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) because of the presence of apoptotic nuclei of fetal cells (Bianchi et al. 1997).
A Review of 21st Century Utility of a Biopsychosocial Model in United States Medical School Education.

Background Current medical practice is grounded in a biomedical model that fails to effectively address multifaceted lifestyle and morbidogenic environmental components that are the root causes of contemporary chronic diseases. Utilizing the biopsychosocial (BPS) model in medical school training may produce competent healthcare providers to meet the challenge of rising chronic illnesses that are a result of these factors. This study explored the current trend of research on the utility of the BPS model in medical education and examined medical school curricula that have explicitly adopted the BPS model.
Einleitung: Perspektiven wissenssoziologischer Diskursforschung

Der vorliegende Band erkundet theoretische Grundlagen und methodische Moglichkeiten einer wissenssoziologisch ansetzenden empirischen Diskursforschung. Eine solche Erkundung scheint aus mehreren Grunden notwendig. So hat sich ausgehend von der Forschungsprogrammatik einer wissenssoziologischen Diskurforschung im deutschsprachigen Raum eine interdisziplinare Stromung der sozialwissenschaftlichen Diskursforschung etabliert.
Induction of rapid, reproducible hepatic ablations using next-generation, high frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE) in vivo

Abstract Introduction Irreversible electroporation (IRE) offers an alternative to thermal tissue ablation in situ . High-frequency IRE (H-FIRE), employing ultra-short bipolar electrical pulses, may overcome limitations associated with existing IRE technology to create rapid, reproducible liver ablations in vivo . Methods IRE electrodes (1.5 cm spacing) were inserted into the hepatic parenchyma of swine (n = 3) under surgical anesthesia. In the absence of paralytics or cardiac synchronization five independent H-FIRE ablations were performed per liver using 100, 200, or 300 pulses (2250 V, 2-5-2 μs configuration). Animals were maintained under isoflurane anesthesia for 6 h prior to analysis of ablation size, reproducibility, and apoptotic cell death. Results Mean ablation time was 230 ± 31 s and no EKG abnormalities occurred during H-FIRE. In 1/15 HFIRE's minor muscle twitch (rectus abdominis) was recorded. Necropsy revealed reproducible ablation areas (34 ± 4 mm 2 , 88 ± 11 mm 2 and 110 ± 11 mm 2 ; 100-, 200- and 300-pulses respectively). Tissue damage was predominantly apoptotic at pulse delivery ≤200 pulses, after which increasing evidence of tissue necrosis was observed. Conclusion H-FIRE can be used to induce rapid, predictable ablations in hepatic tissue without the need for intraoperative paralytics or cardiac synchronization. These advantages may overcome limitations that restrict currently available IRE technology for hepatic ablations.
ANONYMITY, NEUTRALITY AND RESPONSIVENESS

This chapter describes the anonymity, neutrality, and responsiveness. A set of conditions on collective choice rules may be satisfied by no rule, or by many rules. Anonymity requires that social preferences should be invariant in regard to permutations of individual preferences. Neutrality demands that if two alternatives x, and y, respectively, have exactly the same relation to each other in each individuals preference in case 1 as z, and w have in case 2, then the social preference between x and y in case 1 must be exactly the same as the social preference between z, and w in case 2. Positive responsiveness requires that if some individuals preference shifts relatively in favor of x facing y with everyone else's preference between x, and y remaining the same, then social preference should shift positively in the direction of x, and if the society was indifferent, it must strictly prefer x.
Impact of hydrological alterations on river-groundwater exchange and water quality in a semi-arid area: Nueces River, Texas

There is a lack of understanding and methods for assessing the effects of anthropogenic disruptions, (i.e. river fragmentation due to dam construction) on the extent and degree of groundwater-surface water interaction and geochemical processes affecting the quality of water in semi-arid, coastal catchments. This study applied a novel combination of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and elemental and isotope geochemistry in a coastal river disturbed by extended drought and periodic flooding due to the operation of multiple dams. Geochemical analyses show that the saltwater barrier causes an increase in salinity in surface water in the downstream river as a result of limited freshwater inflows, strong evaporation effects on shallow groundwater and mostly stagnant river water, and is not due to saltwater intrusion by tidal flooding. Discharge from bank storage is dominant (~84%) in the downstream fragment and its contribution could increase salinity levels within the hyporheic zone and surface water. When surface water levels go up due to upstream freshwater releases the river temporarily displaces high salinity water trapped in the hyporheic zone to the underlying aquifer. Geochemical modeling shows a higher contribution of distant and deeper groundwater (~40%) in the upstream river and lower discharge from bank storage (~13%) through the hyporheic zone. Recharge from bank storage is a source of high salt to both upstream and downstream portions of the river but its contribution is higher below the dam. Continuous ERT imaging of the river bed complements geochemistry findings and indicate that while lithologically similar, downstream of the dam, the shallow aquifer is affected by salinization while fresher water saturates the aquifer in the upstream fragment. The relative contribution of flows (i.e. surface water releases or groundwater discharge) as related to the river fragmentation control changes of streamwater chemistry and likely impact the interpretation of seasonal trends.
Examining Community Policing on Twitter: Precinct Use and Community Response

A number of high-profile incidents have highlighted tensions between citizens and police, bringing issues of police-citizen trust and community policing to the forefront of the public’s attention. Efforts to mediate this tension emphasize the importance of promoting interaction and developing social relationships between citizens and police. This strategy – a critical component of community policing – may be employed in a variety of settings, including social media. While the use of social media as a community policing tool has gained attention from precincts and law enforcement oversight bodies, the ways in which police are expected to use social media to meet these goals remains an open question. This study seeks to explore how police are currently using social media as a community policing tool. It focuses on Twitter – a functionally flexible social media space – and considers whether and how law enforcement agencies are co-negotiating norms of engagement within this space, as well as how the public responds to the behavior of police accounts.
Parent-adolescent concordance on the Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB-R) and the Childhood Interview for Borderline Personality Disorder (CI-BPD).

While the degree of concordance between parent and adolescent self-report of internalizing and externalizing pathology is well studied, virtually nothing is known about concordance in borderline pathology and the implication of parent–adolescent discrepancies for outcomes. The present study aimed to (1) examine discrepancies between parents and adolescents on two interview-based measures of borderline personality disorder (BPD)—the Revised Diagnostic Interview for Borderlines (DIB-R22) and the Childhood Interview for Borderline Personality Disorder (CI-BPD23); and (2) investigate the implications of discrepancies for clinical outcomes. Diagnostic concordance on the DIB-R and CI-BPD showed rates of 82% and 94% respectively, with lower concordance demonstrated for dimensionally scored variables. Standardized difference scores between adolescent and parent reports on both borderline measures were significantly correlated with few interview-based axis I diagnoses as reported by parents, but not adolescents themselves. Implications regarding the use of each measure for the assessment and diagnosis of borderline personality disorder are discussed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Opening Section: Warner-Lambert and Comvia Networks

The opening section of a business case study is more than an introduction. We want readers to put themselves in the role of the case protagonist, so key pieces of information need to be in it. This note offers two different opening paragraphs from actual cases written by the same author. The material provides an opportunity to compare and discuss each. Although the note was written to generate a discussion on writing an effective opening section for case writing workshops, it is useful for anyone new to case writing. Excerpt UVA-PHA-0066 Apr. 12, 2012 The Opening Section: Warner-Lambert and Comvia Networks Readers first encounter your work through the title and the opening section, which is typically one or two paragraphs. Like the beginning of a good novel, the beginning of a case should draw readers in and entice them to continue. It should also introduce the case protagonist, his or her position, organization, and location, a historical context of some kind, and a trigger—a source of tension on which the reader can focus. The two sample openings in this note are drawn from actual business case studies. Please read each and consider where it falls on the continuum of effectiveness. How important is the title? . . .
A review on adsorption-enhanced photoreduction of carbon dioxide by nanocomposite materials

The large amount of CO2 emissions from the increasing consumption of fossil fuels is a potential cause for global warming. Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 using sunlight is considered as an attractive method for mitigating CO2 emissions. Extensive amount of researches on CO2 photoreduction are available, which tend to focus on the types of photocatalysts, the photocatalytic activity, and photoconversion efficiency. However, CO2 adsorption in the CO2 photoreduction process has been overlooked, despite it being an initial and important step. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of publications investigating the effects of CO2 adsorption on the CO2 photoreduction process. Thus, this review summarizes the research progress in this regard. This review focuses on the different CO2 adsorption modes and characterization methods as well as the factors influencing CO2 adsorption such as surface area, surface basicity, surface functional groups, surface defects, and exposed crystal facets. Furthermore, the design of nanocomposites that consist of photocatalysts and CO2 adsorption promoters are reviewed and discussed. It has been demonstrated that the CO2 photoreduction performance can be increased by utilizing CO2 adsorption in various types of nanocomposites, including metal oxides, chalcogenides, layered double hydroxides, and metal organic frameworks. This review provides a unique perspective in the design of nanocomposite photocatalysts with the goal of efficient CO2 photoreduction.
Nonlinear Smoothing Techniques

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the smoothing problem in estimation theory. The “exact” differential equations have been developed for the non-linear smoothing problem and various engineering approximations to these exact equations. The chapter discusses multiple types of smoothing problems. The smoothing problem is a logical extension of the filtering problem. There have existed more situations to which some attempt at smoothing has been applied with various degrees of sophistication. The biggest problem besetting the actual use of filter theory is unimportant to the smoothing problem. This is the problem of computational speed and/or complexity that is required for real time operation. A differentiation between filtering and smoothing theory could be made in terms of the applications to which the results of each type of operation are put. The results of the filtering process are used in the design of a control system, whereas the results of a smoothing process are used to analyze how a given design performs.
A Longitudinal Analysis of Adolescent Decision-Making with the Iowa Gambling Task.

Many researchers have used the standard Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) to assess decision-making in adolescence given increased risk-taking during this developmental period. Most studies are cross-sectional and do not observe behavioral trajectories over time, limiting interpretation. This longitudinal study investigated healthy adolescents' and young adults' IGT performance across a 10-year span. A total of 189 individuals (aged 9-23 at baseline) completed a baseline session and were followed at 2-year intervals yielding 5 time-points. IGT deck contingencies were shuffled over time to reduce practice effects. IGT performance (good minus bad decisions) was measured at each assessment point and separated into 3 metrics: overall performance (all blocks), decision-making under ambiguity (blocks 1 and 2), and decision-making under risk (blocks 3, 4, and 5). Covariates included estimated intelligence and affective dispositions as measured by the Behavioral Inhibition and Activation System (BIS/BAS) Scales. A linear effect of age yielded the best fit when comparing linear and quadratic effects of age on overall IGT performance. Age and intelligence positively predicted overall performance, whereas affective approach tendencies (BAS) negatively predicted overall performance. Practice effects were observed and controlled for. Models of ambiguity and risk metrics yielded different patterns of significant predictors. Age predicted better performance and affective approach tendencies predicted worse performance for both metrics. Intelligence was a significant predictor for risk, but not ambiguity. This longitudinal study extends prior work by showing age-related improvements in reward-based decision-making and associating those improvements with cognitive and affective variables. Implications of the results for adolescent development are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
The evolving paradigm of cancer trials

The development of anticancer therapies is evolving with the advent of novel targeted drugs. In this Comment, I summarize some of the key changes and discuss the various choices for the optimal development of a new generation of cancer therapeutics. The development of anticancer therapies is evolving with the advent of novel targeted drugs. In this Comment, I summarize some of the key changes and discuss the various choices for the optimal development of a new generation of cancer therapeutics.
Do Covenants of Bonds Outstanding Affect the Choice of Covenants of New Issues? Evidence from the U.S. Corporate Bonds

This paper investigates the relation between debt covenants of a firm’s bonds outstanding and covenants of its newly issued bonds. On the one hand, since covenants are priced and costly, newly issued bonds may not include covenants that have been used in bonds outstanding, suggesting a negative relation between covenants of bonds outstanding and those of new issues. On the other hand, since firms tend to use boilerplate language in debt indentures, similar covenants of bonds outstanding are likely to be used repeatedly in the contracts of new issues, indicating a positive relation. Based on the U.S. public corporate bonds data from 1990 to 2014, this paper provides empirical evidence that covenants of a firm’s new issues are positively related to covenants of its bonds outstanding, suggesting boilerplate language is widely used in corporate bond contracts. Results also show that use of boilerplate language is significantly related to issuers’ financial condition and economic cycle. Issuers with stable financial condition, as measured by commercial paper ratings, tend to use boilerplate language more frequently. And during the Dot-Com bubble period, boilerplate language is used more prevalently than during the financial crisis period.
Chronic Absenteeism and Preschool Children's Executive Functioning Skills Development

Investments in preschool programs for children from disadvantaged backgrounds have historically been supported by research showing that these programs help children build school readiness skills an...
Costs of helping only influence children’s intention to help ethnic out-group peers

Studies show that children are often inclined to help less when the costs of helping increase. However, these studies do not take into account who children are helping. Yet, developmental intergroup research has shown that the intergroup context influences children's reasoning about helping behavior. Two experimental vignette studies are presented that examined the influence of the costs of helping on children's (8-13 years) intention to help in an ethnic intergroup context. Study 1 (N = 320) showed that the costs of helping reduce children's willingness to help ethnic out-group peers but do not influence children's intention to help ethnic in-group peers. Study 2 (N = 166) replicated the results of Study 1 for a different ethnic out-group context. Moreover, children's reduced willingness to help ethnic out-group peers when costs increase was not contingent on their ethnic in-group or out-group evaluation or their age. Taken together, this research shows, for the first time, that the costs of helping reduce children's willingness to help ethnic out-group peers but not ethnic in-group peers.
Management of melanoma in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Abstract Melanoma is significantly more common and is associated with a poorer prognosis in patients with an underlying B-cell malignancy. This study reports on the management of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL) and a subsequent diagnosis of melanoma. In the Wilmot Cancer Institute CLL cohort, which includes 470 patients followed for 2849 person-years, 18 patients (3.8%) developed 22 melanomas. Fourteen melanomas were invasive, a significantly higher rate as compared with the age and sex matched general population (standardized incidence ratio [SIR] 6.32 (95% CI 3.45; 10.60). Melanomas were most often detected (n = 15; 68.2%) through active surveillance in a dermatology clinic. Most melanomas (n = 17; 77.3%) were detected at a non-advanced stage (pathological stage grouping
Implementation of environmental enrichment after middle age promotes healthy aging.

With increases in life expectancy, it is vital to understand the dynamics of aging, their interaction with lifestyle factors, and the connections to age-related disease processes. Our work on environmental enrichment (EE), a housing environment boosting mental health, has revealed a novel anticancer and anti-obesity phenotype mediated by a brain-fat axis: the hypothalamic-sympathoneural-adipocyte (HSA) axis in young animals. Here we investigated EE effects on healthspan and lifespan when initiated after middle age. Short-term EE for six weeks activated the HSA axis in 10-month-old mice. Long-term EE for twelve months reduced adiposity, improved glucose tolerance, decreased leptin levels, enhanced motor abilities, and inhibited anxiety. In addition to adipose remodeling, EE decreased age-related liver steatosis, reduced hepatic glucose production, and increased glucose uptake by liver and adipose tissue contributing to the improved glycemic control. The EE-induced liver modulation was associated with a suppression of protein kinase Ce. Moreover, EE down-regulated the expression of inflammatory genes in the brain, adipose, and liver. EE initiated at 18-month of age significantly improved glycemic control and showed a trend of positive impact on mean lifespan. These data suggest that EE induces metabolic and behavioral adaptations that are shared by factors known to increase healthspan and lifespan.
Recent progress in enzymatic protein labelling techniques and their applications

Protein-based conjugates are valuable constructs for a variety of applications. Conjugation of proteins to fluorophores is commonly used to study their cellular localization and the protein–protein interactions. Modification of therapeutic proteins with either polymers or cytotoxic moieties greatly enhances their pharmacokinetics or potency. To label a protein of interest, conventional direct chemical reaction with the side-chains of native amino acids often yields heterogeneously modified products. This renders their characterization complicated, requires difficult separation steps and may impact protein function. Although modification can also be achieved via the insertion of unnatural amino acids bearing bioorthogonal functional groups, these methods can have lower protein expression yields, limiting large scale production. As a site-specific modification method, enzymatic protein labelling is highly efficient and robust under mild reaction conditions. Significant progress has been made over the last five years in modifying proteins using enzymatic methods for numerous applications, including the creation of clinically relevant conjugates with polymers, cytotoxins or imaging agents, fluorescent or affinity probes to study complex protein interaction networks, and protein-linked materials for biosensing. This review summarizes developments in enzymatic protein labelling over the last five years for a panel of ten enzymes, including sortase A, subtiligase, microbial transglutaminase, farnesyltransferase, N-myristoyltransferase, phosphopantetheinyl transferases, tubulin tyrosin ligase, lipoic acid ligase, biotin ligase and formylglycine generating enzyme.
High-Phosphate Diet Induces Exercise Intolerance and Impairs Fatty Acid Metabolism in Mice

Background: Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is used extensively as a preservative and a flavor enhancer in the Western diet. Physical inactivity, a common feature of Western societies, is associated with ...
When do groups with a victimized past feel solidarity with other victimized groups

Abstract Members of minority groups often expect other ingroup members to be allies in their efforts to confront injustice against their group. Moreover, members of a given minority group may at times feel a sense of solidarity with another minority outgroup, which can catalyze confrontation on behalf of that outgroup. We address when members of different victimized groups are more (or less) likely to assist each other’s efforts to confront injustice due to feelings of solidarity. This chapter focuses on several factors that can promote (e.g., benefit finding, perceived similarity) or suppress (e.g., distinctiveness threat, adversarial relations) interminority solidarity and concludes with a discussion of how leveraging these factors may foster the formation of policies and coalitions that confront injustice.
Formation of Seven- and Eight-Membered Rings by Mn(III)-Based Oxidative Free-Radical Cyclization.

The ω-unsaturated γ-keto esters (I) react with Mn(III) and Cu(II) acetates to form the cyclization products (III), together with the double bond isomer (IVc) and the ring contracted derivatives (Vc).
Variations in Access to Care After the Affordable Care Act Among Different Immigrant Groups

To assess how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) impacted changes in access and utilization of health care between groups by examining differences across groups of immigrants and by citizenship status. Data came from respondents of the 2011–2016 National Health Interview Survey aged 18 to 64 who were born outside of the U.S. or were native-born non-Latino whites (N = 119,198). Outcome measures included (all in the past 12 months): being currently uninsured, being insured via Medicaid, visiting the emergency department, visiting a doctor at least once, delaying care due to costs, not getting needed care because respondent was unable to afford it and being told by doctor office that they would not accept you as a new patient. The ACA was associated with greater healthcare access and utilization for some groups, but heterogeneously across all groups. For example, some immigrant groups had better access and utilization than others, and similar variation was revealed across citizenship groups. This study underscores the importance of disentangling how policies can affect immigrants from different regions of the world, which has implications for healthcare utilization and disparities.
Cooperation, contributor types, and control questions

Abstract A large number of experimental studies use the strategy method procedure introduced by Fischbacher, Gachter, and Fehr (Econ. Lett. 71:397-404, 2001) to measure individuals’ attitudes towards cooperation. The procedure elicits subjects’ strategic-form decisions in a one-shot game and classifies each subject as one of several different contributor types. In this paper, we examine the robustness of the procedure and its capacity to help explain the pattern of contributions observed in a separate, repeated game setting. Overall, we show that the elicited contributor types can explain behavior fairly well in the repeated game. Free-rider types contribute less than conditional cooperators, although we observe evidence consistent with strategic cooperation in the early periods of the repeated game. Nevertheless, by the last period, classified free-rider types converge to pure free-riding behavior. In addition, we highlight a potential methodological concern related to the use of control questions. We find that the inclusion of control questions increases (decreases) the proportion of free rider (conditional cooperator) types, but also leads to substantial wait times for many subjects. This raises concerns about the psychological impact of long wait times, through boredom, frustration, or spite, on the cooperative behavior of subjects in the laboratory setting.
Clinician-Level Variation in Three Measures Representing Overuse Based on the American Geriatrics Society Choosing Wisely Statement

The extent of clinician-level variation in the overuse of testing or treatment in older adults is not well understood. To examine clinician-level variation for three new measures of potentially inappropriate use of medical services in older adults. Retrospective analysis of overall means and clinician-level variation in performance on three new measures. Adults aged 65 years and older who had office visits with outpatient primary or immediate care clinicians within a single academic medical center health system between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017. Two electronic clinical quality measures representing potentially inappropriate use of medical services in older adults: prostate-specific antigen testing against guidelines (PSA) in men aged 76 and older; urinalysis or urine culture for non-specific reasons in women aged 65 and older; and one intermediate outcome measure: hemoglobin A1c less than 7.0 in adults aged 75 and older with diabetes mellitus treated with insulin or oral hypoglycemic medication. Sixty-nine clinicians and 2009 patients contributed observations to the PSA measure, 144 clinicians and 5933 patients contributed to the urinalysis/urine culture measure, and 42 clinicians and 665 patients contributed to the diabetes measure. Meaningful clinician-level performance variation was greatest for the PSA measure (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.27), followed by the urinalysis/urine culture measure (ICC = 0.18), and the diabetes measure (ICC = 0.024). The range of possible overuse across clinician quartiles was 8–54% for the PSA measure, 3–35% for the urinalysis/urine culture measure, and 13–49% for the diabetes measure. The odds ratios of overuse in the highest quartile compared with the lowest for the PSA, urinalysis/urine culture, and diabetes measures were 99.3 (95% CI 43 to 228), 15.7 (10 to 24), and 6.0 (3.3 to 11), respectively. Within the same health system, rates of potential overuse in elderly patients varied greatly across clinicians, particularly for the process measures examined.
Health System Implementation Strategies to Increase Pediatric Patient Portal Use

Background: Advances in technology and policy changes, have led to nationwide efforts to increase consumer access and patient and family engagement with their health care system, through the use of electronic health information, as a way to advance person-centered health. Providing patients with the ability to participate in their health care electronically can lead to better communication with providers, care, and outcomes as well as lower costs. UF Health utilizes MyUFHealth as a secure web platform through which patients and their caregivers can engage with their care teams and manage their health. Pediatric patients, particularly …
CKD in Older Adults with Dementia

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has highest prevalence in the age group over 60 years and is associated with worst outcomes in this age group. It is important to recognize the morbidity related to this for better management and improved outcomes in these patients. Kidney has vital role in regulation of blood pressure and several metabolic functions, including fluid and electrolyte balance, anemia, and bone mineral disorders. Hence, these functions are dysregulated in patients with CKD and this chapter is aimed to highlight these changes. It is very important for primary care providers to recognize these changes in elderly patients, especially those with dementia as they suffer from additional challenges such as frailty making it difficult for these patients to self-advocate and verbalize the changes to the physicians. Appropriate determination of kidney function and to guide treatment regimen based on this can help improve outcomes in these patients.
Motivation for Physical Activity among U.S. Adolescents: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective

Background Promoting adolescent physical activity is crucial as this marks a time when physical activity rates decline. Purpose This study examined motivation for physical activity from a self-determination theory (SDT) perspective in a large sample of adolescents in the USA across three settings: in school, out of school, and on weekends. Methods Participants (N = 1,661) were adolescents from the National Cancer Institute's Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating study. Participants had a mean age of 14.47 (standard deviation = 1.61) and were 50.2% female. In this national sample balanced to match the U.S. population on several key demographics, 64.2% were non-Hispanic White. Analyses included three linear regression models in which estimated weekly minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in school, out of school, and on weekends were entered as dependent variables. Five forms of motivation (intrinsic, integrated, identified, introjected, and external) were entered simultaneously as independent variables. Age, body mass index, gender, and race/ethnicity were also included as covariates. Results All models were significant. For MVPA in school, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, and intrinsic motivation were positively associated with MVPA. For MVPA out of school, external regulation, introjected regulation, identified regulation, integrated regulation, and intrinsic motivation were positively associated with MVPA. For MVPA on weekends, integrated regulation, and intrinsic motivation were positively associated with MVPA. Conclusions The relationship between motivation and MVPA varies across settings. These findings have important implications for motivating adolescents to engage in physical activity and may inform future interventions aimed at increasing physical activity.
AB0141 The first experience of the efficacy and safety of coxibs in turkish nation

Background Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the first COXIB, namely Rofecoxib in the Turkish osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Methods The study included a total number of 138 patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis diagnosed according to the ACR functional class I, II or III. An open-label prospective trial of 138 adults patients (120 female and 18 male) with OA was conducted. Patients with OA in whom the knee or hip was the primary source of pain were included. Patients received either 12.5 mg or 25 mg rofecoxib once daily. Patients whom did not benefit from 12.5 mg were allowed to receive 25 mg. Clinical efficacy and safety were monitored during a 6 week of therapy. Clinical efficacy were evaluated by comparing pretreatment and treatment values of the WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index), investigator global assesment of disease status and Hip or Knee osteoarthritis and Lequesne-Algofunction Index. Pysical examination, vital signs, body weight, laboratory examinations and adverse event reporting were monitored for safety purposes. Results The Lequesne-Algofunction Index and WOMAC demonstrated that patients with knee osteoarthritis were significantly better starting from the 3rd visit (p Conclusion The Lequesne-Algofunction Index and WOMAC demonstrated that patients with knee osteoarthritis were significantly better starting from the 3rd visit (p Co-authors are: Members of the Rofecoxib Osteoartrhitis Group* as follows: Afsar Levent MD, Akarirmak Ulku MD, Akinci Ayse MD, Akkoc Nurullah MD, Aktuglu Kemal MD, Akyuz Gulseren MD, Alper Serap MD, Altinmakas Mehmet MD, Arasil Tansu MD, Asik Mehmet MD, Atalay Fatma MD, Atik Sahap MD, Berk Haluk MD, Direskenli Haner MD, Erdogan Fahri MD, Ertenli Ihsan MD, Eskiyurt Nurten** MD, Gedikoglu Oner MD, Goncu Kamil MD, Guzel Rengin MD, Hepguler Simin MD, Kabasakal Yasemin MD, Kuru Omer MD, Kucukoglu Selcuk MD, Oncel Sema MD, Onen Fatos MD, Suleyman Ozbek MD, Ahmet Ozgul MD, Sepici Vesile MD, Sindel Dilsad MD, Togrul Emre MD, Yurtkuran Merih MD. *In alphabetical order. **Clinical study co-ordinator.
Altered Conformation of α-Synuclein Drives Malfunction of Synaptic Vesicles in a Model of Parkinson's Disease

Misfolded, aggregated forms of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) are the principal protein component of Lewy bodies, the defining lesions of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies. Increased copy number, missense mutations, and specific 5’ and 3’ regulatory elements of αSyn can all cause familial PD. Although αSyn participates in the regulation of synaptic vesicles, fundamental questions about the relationship between its structure and function in the presynaptic terminal are unanswered. Here, we systematically examined brain synaptosomes from non-transgenic (NTG) mice and transgenic mice expressing wild-type (WT) human αSyn or an amplified form of the E46K PD mutation (called 3K) that impairs the normal α-helical tetramerization of WT αSyn and increases its membrane affinity. Synaptosomes from transgenic mice expressing the 3K mutant had reduced Ca2+-dependent vesicle exocytosis, altered synaptic vesicle ultrastructure, impaired SNARE-complex assembly, and abnormal levels of select proteins involved in synaptic activity compared with NTG and WT human αSyn mice. We also developed a method to perform intra-synaptosomal NMR that revealed that WT αSyn participates in heterogeneous interactions with synaptic components. We show that these interactions depend on the presence of endogenous αSyn and that the 3K mutation diminishes the interplay between αSyn and the synapse. We conclude that the microenvironment inside presynaptic terminals is necessary for the proper conformation and interaction network of αSyn, where unfolded monomers of αSyn no longer represent the dominant conformation. We speculate that the inability to populate dynamically different conformational ensembles likely represents the early steps in αSyn misfunction that result in the neurotoxicity observed in PD and related synucleinopathies. With the advance of techniques such as cryo-electron tomography, in-cell single-molecule FRET, and in-cell NMR, in situ approaches like that presented here have the potential to address questions about the physiology of proteins such as αSyn that show diverse and changing conformations in their native, highly complex environments.
Trefoil factor 2 secreted from damaged hepatocytes activates hepatic stellate cells to induce fibrogenesis.

Liver fibrosis is a common characteristic of chronic liver diseases. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) plays a key role in fibrogenesis in response to liver injury, yet the mechanism by which damaged hepatocytes modulate the activation of HSCs is poorly understood. Our previous studies have established that liver-specific deletion of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT)leads to hepatocyte necroptosis and spontaneous fibrosis. Here, we report that OGT-deficient hepatocytes secrete trefoil factor 2 (TFF2) that activates HSCs and contributes to the fibrogenic process. The expression and secretion of TFF2 are induced in OGT-deficient hepatocytes but not in WT hepatocytes. TFF2 activates the platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta signaling pathway that promotes the proliferation and migration of primary HSCs. TFF2 protein expression is elevated in mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury. These findings identify TFF2 as a novel factor that mediates intercellular signaling between hepatocytes and HSCs and suggest a role of the hepatic OGT–TFF2 axis in the process of fibrogenesis.
Community Health Work and Diagnostic Mobile Software in Mobile Communities: Field Notes from Kono, Sierra Leone

I visited Wellbody with a team of four other undergraduate students to pilot a program that would train local Community Health Workers (CHWs) on diagnosing patients with the aid of smart phone technology. Employing CHWs not only creates jobs locally, but also helps ensure the sustainability of the project by helping locals help themselves. Our goal was threepronged: (1) To keep a comprehensive health record and history of all inhabitants in the rural communities; (2) To screen for sick patients during home visits and to provide triage or one free referral to the clinic; (3) To follow-up on HIV, TB or malaria treatment management and side effects, as well as provide pre- and post-natal screenings. Additionally we would be providing standardization and accountability in the screening and follow-up process for CHWs when they did house visits. We used Sana, an open-source Android-based medical diagnostic and documentation platform, to design a smart phone logic that would be able to distill a diagnosis from a list of symptoms, thus emulating a doctor’s decision-making process.
Characterization of the underlying mechanism behind Alzheimer’s disease loci using human genetics (P1.086)

OBJECTIVE: Characterize the mechanism of action of AD loci using Amyloid beta (Ab) PET and CSF tau levels. BACKGROUND: Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by increase in Ab plaques with a subsequent appearance of neurofibrillary tangles. Over twenty-two genetic loci have been associated with this disease using large-scale meta-analysis of genome-wide data, but the mechanism behind their association is not well known. METHODS: Ab levels were taken from a composite SUVR metric on 943 participants with PET AV45 from ADNI (15% AD, 50% MCI, 35% normal). Samples were genotyped using Illumina arrays. After genotype QC, and imputation into the HRC, analysis was performed using a linear regression adjusting for age, sex, AD status, 4 principal components and allele dosages as predictors. A secondary analysis adding Apoe E4 as covariate was conducted. We obtained summary statistics for the CSF pTau data on 3,146 samples. We focused on the 22 index SNPs representing the known AD-loci. RESULTS: For Ab load, the most significant variant was represented by the APOE e4 allele (mean increase of 0.12 SDs of SUVR per allele, p=9.8×10−35). 20% of Ab variability was explained by e4. After conditioning on e4, the most significant locus was represented by the ABCA7 variant rs4147929 (mean increase of 0.04 SDs, p=3.6×10−4). Other AD loci with nominal association with PET Ab were SNPs near CLU and CR1. In the CSF pTau analysis, the only significant variant was APOE e4 and nominal (P CONCLUSIONS: The association with AD on variants near APOE, ABCA7, CLU and CR1 are driven by higher Ab levels, while BIN1, INPP5D, PICALM and TREM2 variants act via increase in pTau. We are currently expanding this study to further characterize these and other AD loci in up to 1,000 additional subjects. Study Supported by: Biogen Disclosure: Dr. Estrada has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec as an employee. Dr. Enayetallah has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec as an employee. Dr. Cruchaga has nothing to disclose. Dr. Day-Williams has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen, Inc. as an employee. Dr. (ADNI) has nothing to disclose.