cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 297: Trends in 1-year hospitalizations and costs from 2004 to 2010 among Medicare Fee-For-Service beneficiaries with LVADs

Background: Short-term mortality among elderly Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) recipients has improved over time, yet LVADS are expensive and usually reserved for patients with severe heart failure with few other treatment options. Little is known about the long-term illness burden of these patients and how it has changed over time with improvements in LVAD technology. The aim of this study is to characterize the duration and cost of re-hospitalizations among elderly Medicare beneficiaries surviving one year post-LVAD implant from 2004-2010. Methods: We used inpatient National Claims History files from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify 100% of fee-for-service (FFS) patients aged ≥65 years that received LVAD from 2004 to 2011 and were alive 1 year after discharge. The 2011 data was used for tracking the 1-year outcomes of 2010 patients. We censored patients that died within 1-year follow-up. We ascertained hospitalizations and in-hospital days through corresponding vital status files. Costs were defined as total health care facility payments made by Medicare per patient. Results: One year post-LVAD implantation, the proportion of living patients increased from 42% (n=45/107) in 2004 to 80% (n=348/433) in 2010. The proportion of patients readmitted decreased from 71% (n= 32/45) in 2004 to 61% (n=281/348) in 2010. The mean number of in-hospital days per patient hospitalized decreased from 30.2 days in 2004 to 20.8 days in 2010. Total CMS payments for all hospitalizations per patient increased from $50,111 in 2004 to $53,632 in 2010. Conclusions: From 2004 to 2010, more patients survived to 1 year after LVAD implant. Elderly patients spent a decreasing number of days in the hospital per patient with a slight increase in costs to Medicare. This reduction in hospital days suggests a decrease in LVAD morbidity over time that is complementary to the decline in mortality among this vulnerable group of LVAD recipients.
Thermodynamic and Kinetic Response of Microbial Reactions to High CO2

Geological carbon sequestration captures CO2 from industrial sources and stores the CO2 in subsurface reservoirs, a viable strategy for mitigating global climate change. In assessing the environmental impact of the strategy, a key question is how microbial reactions respond to the elevated CO2 concentration. This study uses biogeochemical modeling to explore the influence of CO2 on the thermodynamics and kinetics of common microbial reactions in subsurface environments, including syntrophic oxidation, iron reduction, sulfate reduction, and methanogenesis. The results show that increasing CO2 levels decreases groundwater pH and modulates chemical speciation of weak acids in groundwater, which in turn affect microbial reactions in different ways and to different extents. Specifically, a thermodynamic analysis shows that increasing CO2 partial pressure lowers the energy available from syntrophic oxidation and acetoclastic methanogenesis, but raises the available energy of microbial iron reduction, hydrogenotrophic sulfate reduction and methanogenesis. Kinetic modeling suggests that high CO2 has the potential of inhibiting microbial sulfate reduction while promoting iron reduction. These results are consistent with the observations of previous laboratory and field studies, and highlight the complexity in microbiological responses to elevated CO2 abundance, and the potential power of biogeochemical modeling in evaluating and quantifying these responses.
Social support at diagnosis and noninitiation, discontinuation, and nonadherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy in the Pathways Study.

7Background: Exceedingly little research has examined associations between social support and adherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy (AHT) in breast cancer patients. We evaluated associations of social support and noninitiation and discontinuation of, and nonadherence to, AHT in a large, Northern California cohort. Methods: This study included 3,382 women from the Pathways Study who were diagnosed with stages I-III hormone receptor positive breast cancer from 2006-2013 and responded to the Medical Outcomes Study social support survey approximately two months following diagnosis. We used logistic regression to evaluate associations between social support and noninitiation ( 90 day gap), and nonadherence ( < 80% medical possession ratio) to treatment. Results: Of those who initiated treatment (7...
Stable Density and Dynamics of Dendritic Spines of Cortical Neurons Across the Estrous Cycle While Expressing Differential Levels of Sensory-Evoked Plasticity

Periodic oscillations of gonadal hormone levels during the estrous cycle exert effects on the female brain, impacting cognition and behavior. While previous research suggests that changes in hormone levels across the cycle affect dendritic spine dynamics in the hippocampus, little is known about the effects on cortical dendritic spines and previous studies showed contradictory results. In this in vivo imaging study, we investigated the impact of the estrous cycle on the density and dynamics of dendritic spines of pyramidal neurons in the primary somatosensory cortex of mice. We also examined if the induction of synaptic plasticity during proestrus, estrus, and metestrus/diestrus had differential effects on the degree of remodeling of synapses in this brain area. We used chronic two-photon excitation (2PE) microscopy during steady-state conditions and after evoking synaptic plasticity by whisker stimulation at the different stages of the cycle. We imaged apical dendritic tufts of layer 5 pyramidal neurons of naturally cycling virgin young female mice. Spine density, turnover rate (TOR), survival fraction, morphology, and volume of mushroom spines remained unaltered across the estrous cycle, and the values of these parameters were comparable with those of young male mice. However, while whisker stimulation of female mice during proestrus and estrus resulted in increases in the TOR of spines (74.2 ± 14.9% and 75.1 ± 12.7% vs. baseline, respectively), sensory-evoked plasticity was significantly lower during metestrus/diestrus (32.3 ± 12.8%). In males, whisker stimulation produced 46.5 ± 20% increase in TOR compared with baseline-not significantly different from female mice at any stage of the cycle. These results indicate that, while steady-state density and dynamics of dendritic spines of layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the primary somatosensory cortex of female mice are constant during the estrous cycle, the susceptibility of these neurons to sensory-evoked structural plasticity may be dependent on the stage of the cycle. Since dendritic spines are more plastic during proestrus and estrus than during metestrus/diestrus, certain stages of the cycle could be more suitable for forms of memory requiring de novo formation and elimination of spines and other stages for forms of memory where retention and/or repurposing of already existing synaptic connections is more pertinent.
The Existence and Structure of Rotational Systems in the Circle

By a rotational system, we mean a closed subset X of the circle, T = R / Z , together with a continuous transformation f : X → X with the requirements that the dynamical system ( X , f ) be minimal and that f respect the standard orientation of T . We show that infinite rotational systems ( X , f ) , with the property that map f has finite preimages, are extensions of irrational rotations of the circle. Such systems have been studied when they arise as invariant subsets of certain specific mappings, F : T → T . Because our main result makes no explicit mention of a global transformation on T , we show that such a structure theorem holds for rotational systems that arise as invariant sets of any continuous transformation F : T → T with finite preimages. In particular, there are no explicit conditions on the degree of F . We then give a development of known results in the case where F θ = d · θ mod ⁡ 1 for an integer d > 1 . The paper concludes with a construction of infinite rotational sets for mappings of the unit circle of degree larger than one whose lift to the universal cover is monotonic.
West Antarctic sites for subglacial drilling to test for past ice-sheet collapse

Abstract. Mass loss from the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is increasing, and there is concern that an incipient large-scale deglaciation of the marine basins may already be underway. Measurements of cosmogenic nuclides in subglacial bedrock surfaces have the potential to establish whether and when the marine-based portions of the WAIS deglaciated in the past. However, because most of the bedrock revealed by ice-sheet collapse would remain below sea level, shielded from the cosmic-ray flux, drill sites for subglacial sampling must be located in areas where thinning of the residual ice sheet would expose presently subglacial bedrock surfaces. In this paper we discuss the criteria and considerations for choosing drill sites where subglacial samples will provide maximum information about WAIS extent during past interglacial periods. We evaluate candidate sites in West Antarctica and find that sites located adjacent to the large marine basins of West Antarctica will be most diagnostic of past ice-sheet collapse. There are important considerations for drill site selection on the kilometer scale that can only be assessed by field reconnaissance. As a case study of these considerations, we describe reconnaissance at sites in West Antarctica, focusing on the Pirrit Hills, where in the summer of 2016–2017 an 8 m bedrock core was retrieved from below 150 m of ice.
Percolation thresholds and Fisher exponents in hypercubic lattices

We use invasion percolation to compute highly accurate numerical values for bond and site percolation thresholds ${p}_{c}$ on the hypercubic lattice ${\mathbb{Z}}^{d}$ for $d=4,...,13$. We also compute the Fisher exponent $\ensuremath{\tau}$ governing the cluster size distribution at criticality. Our results support the claim that the mean-field value $\ensuremath{\tau}=5/2$ holds for $d\ensuremath{\ge}6$, with logarithmic corrections to power-law scaling at $d=6$.
Potential clinical impact of advanced imaging and computer-aided diagnosis in chest radiology: importance of radiologist’s role and successful observer study

This review paper is based on our research experience in the past 30 years. The importance of radiologists’ role is discussed in the development or evaluation of new medical images and of computer-aided detection (CAD) schemes in chest radiology. The four main topics include (1) introducing what diseases can be included in a research database for different imaging techniques or CAD systems and what imaging database can be built by radiologists, (2) understanding how radiologists’ subjective judgment can be combined with technical objective features to improve CAD performance, (3) sharing our experience in the design of successful observer performance studies, and (4) finally, discussing whether the new images and CAD systems can improve radiologists’ diagnostic ability in chest radiology. In conclusion, advanced imaging techniques and detection/classification of CAD systems have a potential clinical impact on improvement of radiologists’ diagnostic ability, for both the detection and the differential diagnosis of various lung diseases, in chest radiology.
Adipose tissue NAD+ biosynthesis is required for regulating adaptive thermogenesis and whole-body energy homeostasis in mice

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a critical coenzyme for cellular energy metabolism. The aim of the present study was to determine the importance of brown and white adipose tissue (BAT and WAT) NAD+ metabolism in regulating whole-body thermogenesis and energy metabolism. Accordingly, we generated and analyzed adipocyte-specific nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) knockout (ANKO) and brown adipocyte-specific Nampt knockout (BANKO) mice because NAMPT is the rate-limiting NAD+ biosynthetic enzyme. We found ANKO mice, which lack NAMPT in both BAT and WAT, had impaired gene programs involved in thermogenesis and mitochondrial function in BAT and a blunted thermogenic (rectal temperature, BAT temperature, and whole-body oxygen consumption) response to acute cold exposure, prolonged fasting, and administration of β-adrenergic agonists (norepinephrine and CL-316243). In addition, the absence of NAMPT in WAT markedly reduced adrenergic-mediated lipolytic activity, likely through inactivation of the NAD+-SIRT1-caveolin-1 axis, which limits an important fuel source fatty acid for BAT thermogenesis. These metabolic abnormalities were rescued by treatment with nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which bypasses the block in NAD+ synthesis induced by NAMPT deficiency. Although BANKO mice, which lack NAMPT in BAT only, had BAT cellular alterations similar to the ANKO mice, BANKO mice had normal thermogenic and lipolytic responses. We also found NAMPT expression in supraclavicular adipose tissue (where human BAT is localized) obtained from human subjects increased during cold exposure, suggesting our finding in rodents could apply to people. These results demonstrate that adipose NAMPT-mediated NAD+ biosynthesis is essential for regulating adaptive thermogenesis, lipolysis, and whole-body energy metabolism.
Does a light pressure instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization technique modulate tactile discrimination and perceived pain in healthy individuals with DOMS

This investigation measured the effects of a light pressure instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) technique on tactile discrimination and pain perception in individuals after strenuous exercise. Twenty-three subjects underwent three different testing sessions: baseline measures and exercise, 24-hours (post) treatment and measures, and 48-hours (post) treatment and measures. Outcomes included two-point discrimination (TPD) and pressure pain threshold (PPT). Statistical analysis included parametric tests. For TPD, a significant difference was observed between all time points (p <.001). Post-hoc testing revealed a significant difference from baseline to 24 hours post (p <.001) and 48 hours post (p <.001). For PPT, a significant difference was observed between all time points (p <.001). Post-hoc testing revealed a significant difference from baseline to 24 hours post (p =.005) and 48 hours post (p =.003). A significant difference was not observed between 24 to 48 hours post for TPD and PPT (p =1.00). The results suggest that a light IASTM technique may produce a neuromodulation effect on local tactile descrimination and pain perception in individuals with DOMS.
Abstract MP01: Multiple Social Determinants of Health Disparities Increase the Risk of Diabetes and Mortality in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study

Introduction: The Healthy People 2020 initiative proposed that social determinants contribute to disparities in health outcomes. While studies have documented the influence of individual social det...
Black Raspberries and Protocatechuic Acid Mitigate DNFB-Induced Contact Hypersensitivity by Down-Regulating Dendritic Cell Activation and Inhibiting Mediators of Effector Responses

Contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is the most common occupational dermatological disease. Dendritic cells (DCs) mediate the sensitization stage of CHS, while T-cells facilitate the effector mechanisms that drive CHS. Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis, BRB) and BRB phytochemicals possess immunomodulatory properties, but their dietary effects on CHS are unknown. We examined the effects of diets containing BRB and protocatechuic acid (PCA, a constituent of BRB and an anthocyanin metabolite produced largely by gut microbes), on CHS, using a model induced by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenze (DNFB). Mice were fed control diet or diets supplemented with BRB or PCA. In vitro bone-marrow derived DCs and RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with BRB extract and PCA. Mice fed BRB or PCA supplemented diets displayed decreased DNFB-induced ear swelling, marked by decreased splenic DC accumulation. BRB extract diminished DC maturation associated with reduced Cd80 expression and Interleukin (IL)-12 secretion, and PCA reduced IL-12. Dietary supplementation with BRB and PCA induced differential decreases in IL-12-driven CHS mediators, including Interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-17 production by T-cells. BRB extracts and PCA directly attenuated CHS-promoting macrophage activity mediated by nitric oxide and IL-12. Our results demonstrate that BRB and PCA mitigate CHS pathology, providing a rationale for CHS alleviation via dietary supplementation with BRB or BRB derived anthocyanins.
Translating clinical and patient-reported data to tailored shared decision reports with predictive analytics for knee and hip arthritis

Introduction New informatics tools can transform evidence-based information to individualized predictive reports to serve shared decisions in clinic. We developed a web-based system to collect patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and medical risk factors and to compare responses to national registry data. The system generates predicted outcomes for individual patients and a report for use in clinic to support decisions. We present the report development, presentation, and early experience implementing this PRO-based, shared decision report for knee and hip arthritis patients seeking orthopedic evaluation. Methods Iterative patient and clinician interviews defined report content and visual display. The web-system supports: (a) collection of PROs and risk data at home or in office, (b) automated statistical processing of responses compared to national data, (c) individualized estimates of likely pain relief and functional gain if surgery is elected, and (d) graphical reports to support shared decisions. The system was implemented at 12 sites with 26 surgeons in an ongoing cluster randomized trial. Results Clinicians and patients recommended that pain and function as well as clinical risk factors (e.g., BMI, smoking) be presented to frame the discussion. Color and graphics support patient understanding. To date, 7891 patients completed the assessment before the visit and 56% consented to study participation. Reports were generated for 98% of patients and 68% of patients recalled reviewing the report with their surgeon. Conclusions Informatics solutions can generate timely, tailored office reports including PROs and predictive analytics. Patients successfully complete the pre-visit PRO assessments and clinicians and patients value the report to support shared surgical decisions.
Examining Reciprocal Effects of Cigarette Smoking, Food Insecurity, and Psychological Distress in the U.S.

In the U.S., cigarette smoking is increasingly concentrated in disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, such as populations with lower income and with mental health needs. Food insecurity is linke...
Medicare Reimbursement Trends for Interventional Radiology Procedures: 2012 to 2020.

Abstract Purpose To investigate the reimbursement trends for interventional radiology (IR) procedures from 2012 to 2020. Materials and Methods Reimbursement data from the Physician Fee Schedule look-up tool from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services was compiled for 20 common IR procedures. The authors then investigated compensation trends after adjusting for inflation and from the unadjusted data between 2012 and 2020. Results From 2012 to 2020, the mean unadjusted reimbursement for procedures decreased by −6.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], −13.5% to −0.34%). This trend was even more profound after inflation was taken into account, with a mean decline in adjusted reimbursement of −18.7% (95% CI, −24.4% to −12.9%) during the study period, with a mean yearly decline of −2.8%. The difference between the mean unadjusted and adjusted payment amounts was significant (P = .012). Similarly, linear regression analysis of the adjusted average reimbursement across all procedures revealed an overall decline from 2012 to 2020 (R2 = 0.97), indicating a steady decline in reimbursement over time. Conclusions In just under a decade, IR has experienced significant reimbursement cuts by Medicare, as demonstrated by both the unadjusted and inflation-adjusted payment trends. Knowledge of these trends is critically important for practicing interventional radiologists, leaders within the field, and legislators, who may play a role in formulating future reimbursement schedules for IR. These data may be used to help support more amenable reimbursement plans to sustain and facilitate the growth of the specialty.
Income Inequality and Ideological Positions in the U.S. Congress

Over the past twenty years, there has been much discussion about two of the most important recent trends in American politics: the increase in income inequality in the United States and the increas...
Using Interprofessional Simulation to Enhance Student Knowledge and Promote Collaborative Practice in Disaster Management

Introduction. Experiential learning activities, such as simulations, strengthen student learning by allowing students to apply didactic knowledge to real-world settings. Moreover, simulation-based ...
Combatting a "Twin-demic": A quantitative assessment of COVID-19 and influenza vaccine hesitancy in primary care patients

Background: Public health officials anticipate severe health outcomes amidst the circulation of two major viruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza. This study investigated intent to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and influenza, and sought to identify attitudes towards vaccines and barriers for vaccine acceptance. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted in the Louisiana State University Medicine Clinic from September 2020 to December 2020. Intent to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 and influenza virus was assessed through a brief questionnaire. Additionally, hesitancy and attitudes regarding vaccines were ascertained using validated 5-point Likert scales. In total, 280 patients completed the questionnaire. Results: A total of 248 patients were included in the final analysis. Overall 167 (67%, 95% CI = 61.1-73.0%) of patients were unsure or did not intend to be vaccinated against COVID-19, while only 19.3% (95% CI = 14.4-24.5%) were unsure or did not intend to be vaccinated against the influenza vaccine. Reasons for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy included concern regarding side effects, fear of getting sick from the vaccine, and the absence of vaccine recommendations from their doctor. Concerningly, African American patients demonstrated decreased likelihood of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: This survey revealed that only 1 in 3 adults intended to be vaccinated against COVID-19, while 8 out of 10 adults intended to receive the influenza vaccine. Patients who intended on getting the COVID-19 vaccine were less likely to be African American. Given the degree of hesitancy against COVID-19 vaccination, a multifaceted approach to facilitate vaccine uptake that includes vaccine education, behavioral change strategies, and health promotion, is paramount.
Contesting “inclusive” development: Reactions to slum resettlement as social inclusion in Tamesna, Morocco

Abstract Since 2004, Moroccan authorities have promoted the development of new cities to provide affordable housing to low-income residents. A major objective of this policy is to provide a site for the resettlement of slum residents. As policymakers justify poverty alleviation and social inclusion to advance their agenda, residents facing displacement have shown substantial resistance to these resettlement programs. Tamesna, the second new city established under this policy, was mainly established to provide a resettlement site for approximately three thousand households living in informal settlements in the surrounding rural commune of Sidi Yahya Zaer (SYZ). Only two-thirds of the households had resettled in summer 2017, and the resettlement process was delayed as some residents refused to participate. This paper questions the factors that influenced the refusal of many households to participate in the resettlement process that was ostensibly designed to meet their housing needs. Using a combination of ethnography, archive review and interviews with the local population, and housing developers, the paper examines the different circumstances and factors that shape residents' reactions to the resettlement process. We conclude that the residents' demands for inclusion diverge from and transcend the authorities' plans for social housing provision in the new city of Tamesna.
Emerging Threats to Food Security in Nigeria: Way Forward

Nigeria is a country of over 200 Million people where agriculture plays an important role in maintaining food security and employs about 75% of the population (who are mostly in the rural areas). Like other developing countries, Nigeria faces many challenges affecting its food production potential. This is due, among others, to: the abandonment of agricultural sector because of oil boom in late 1960s; the lack of modern farming implements; the low value addition due to an ineffective value chain that places low priority on value addition which is the fastest growing phase of agricultural value chains in developing countries; and lately the insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country. Among these factors, the emerging effects of climate change have not only affected crop production, but also have contributed significantly to the emerging threats to livestock due to temperature increases, as is evident with the shrinking of Lake Chad which has caused millions of people to lose their major source of livelihood (fishing). This chapter examines the impacts of these factors on the Nigerian agricultural sector and makes some recommendations to policy makers within the perspective of revamping the agricultural sector for a better agricultural delivery and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Finally, this chapter reviews some of the governmental efforts to revamp the agricultural sector and rural development programmes in Nigeria to make the sector attractive to the teeming number of youths.
Modeling individual differences in the timing of change onset and offset.

Individual differences in the timing of developmental processes are often of interest in longitudinal studies, yet common statistical approaches to modeling change cannot directly estimate the timing of when change occurs. The time-to-criterion framework was recently developed to incorporate the timing of a prespecified criterion value; however, this framework has difficulty accommodating contexts where the criterion value differs across people or when the criterion value is not known a priori, such as when the interest is in individual differences in when change starts or stops. This article combines aspects of reparameterized quadratic models and multiphase models to provide information on the timing of change. We first consider the more common situation of modeling decelerating change to an offset point, defined as the point in time at which change ceases. For increasing trajectories, the offset occurs when the criterion attains its maximum ("inverted J-shaped" trajectories). For decreasing trajectories, offset instead occurs at the minimum. Our model allows for individual differences in both the timing of offset and ultimate level of the outcome. The same model, reparameterized slightly, captures accelerating change from a point of onset ("J-shaped" trajectories). We then extend the framework to accommodate "S-shaped" curves where both the onset and offset of change are within the observation window. We provide demonstrations that span neuroscience, educational psychology, developmental psychology, and cognitive science, illustrating the applicability of the modeling framework to a variety of research questions about individual differences in the timing of change. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
RNAseq and RNA molecular barcoding reveal differential gene expression in cortical bone following hindlimb unloading in female mice.

Disuse-induced bone loss is seen following spinal cord injury, prolonged bed rest, and exposure to microgravity. We performed whole transcriptomic profiling of cortical bone using RNA sequencing (RNAseq) and RNA molecular barcoding (NanoString) on a hindlimb unloading (HLU) mouse model to identify genes whose mRNA transcript abundances change in response to disuse. Eleven-week old female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to ambulatory loading or HLU for 7 days (n = 8/group). Total RNA from marrow-flushed femoral cortical bone was analyzed on HiSeq and NanoString platforms. The expression of several previously reported genes associated with Wnt signaling and metabolism was altered by HLU. Furthermore, the increased abundance of transcripts, such as Pfkfb3 and Mss51, after HLU imply these genes also have roles in the cortical bone’s response to altered mechanical loading. Our study demonstrates that an unbiased approach to assess the whole transcriptomic profile of cortical bone can reveal previously unidentified mechanosensitive genes and may eventually lead to novel targets to prevent disuse-induced osteoporosis.
The Behavior of High-Magnesium-Content Aluminum Alloys at Room and Liquid-Nitrogen Temperatures

In recent years, there has been a demand for more knowledge of the properties of materials at what is loosely termed “low temperatures,” Among other things, this has been necessitated by the widespread industrial use of refrigeration, primarily via liquefied gases, and by flight at altitudes whose temperatures are the same as or in the vicinity of that of the tropopause. Not a small amount of time and effort has been devoted to the testing of high-magnesium-content aluminum alloys. The widespread interest in this group of materials stems from their highly desirable combination of high strength-to-weight ratio, ease of fabrication, economy of processing, and, perhaps most importantly, improved physical properties of both the parent and welded material at low temperatures.
Concept Development: A Primer

Concepts serve critical functions in science, through their descriptive powers and as the building-blocks of theory. When concepts are immature, therefore, science suffers. Consequently, concept development ought to be considered a fundamental scientific activity. Knowledge of different approaches to concept development, however, is relatively limited in the management discipline. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to provide a primer on concept development. It begins by establishing the link between concepts and science. It then describes and discusses the main approaches to concept development. Finally, it provides an example of concept development from the marketing sub-discipline.
MAJOR MONOGRAPHIC LITERATURE FOR GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS LIBRARIANS: A SELECTED CLASSIFIED BIBLIOGRAPHY, MID 1978-MID 1979*

ABSTRACT This bibliography is a continuation and expansion of the one published in Volume 6, Number 1, of Government Publications Review which covered monographic literature from 1900 to mid 1978. The usefulness of the bibliography is enhanced by the inclusion of a subject grid to classify the entries.
Working with Strangers in Saturated Space: Reclaiming and Maintaining the Urban Commons

The commons is increasingly invoked as a way to envision new worlds. One strand of commons research focuses at the local scale, on small groups in “traditional”, mostly rural societies; this research asks how commons are maintained over time. Another strand focuses on the commons at a global scale; this is political research that asks how commons can be reclaimed from a capitalist landscape. Here, I bridge these two approaches by theorizing the commons as reclaimed and maintained in the context of the city, through examining the experiences of limited-equity housing cooperatives in Washington, DC. I argue that the urban commons is marked by two distinct traits: it emerges in space that is saturated with people, competing uses, and financial investment; and it is constituted by the collective work of strangers. The challenges of reclaiming and maintaining an urban commons are substantial, but the need for them is urgent.
Helper T cell differentiation and the problem of cellular inheritance.

The quality of the helper T cell response against antigen can determine the outcomes of infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases. Mature Th1 and Th2 cell subsets are thought to arise from acommonaive progenitor. In these precursorcells, effector cytokine genes appear to exist in a restrictive structure, which is determined by methylation of cytosine bases and higher-order structure of chromatin. The restrictive gene structures appear to be plastic, giving way to more active structures in some daughter cells. Some genetic loci, which are active in naive cells, however, become silenced during terminal differen tiation. Both the derepression of silent loci and the silencing of active loci appear to be linked to the process of DNA replication. Future investigation will be directed toward understanding the way in which patterns of gene expression are altered or transmitted during the cell division of helper T lymphocytes.
Protective and non-protective oxide formation on 304 stainless steel

Parameters controlling the formation of protective and non-protective oxides on 304 stainless steel were examined by using Auger electron spectroscopy to monitor oxides formed in the vacuum chamber. Variables found to influence the oxide formation include: oxygen partial pressure, the location of the oxide over a grain or grain boundary, sample grain size and anneal treatments. Low pressure oxidation (<10−5 Torr oxygen pressure) at 800°C produced at thin Cr-oxide on annealed samples with 40 μm grain size; this thin (≈ 2000 A) protective oxide did not grow with 15 min additional oxidation in air at 800°C. In contrast, initial oxidation of the same annealed material at oxygen partial pressures greater than 10-3 Torr caused the formation of thicker Fe-rich oxides. The oxides formed at these higher pressures were often non-uniform having thin Cr-rich oxides near grain boundaries and thicker Fe-rich oxides over the grains. Annealing treatments influenced oxidation by varying the amount of chromium available at the surface for oxide formation. At temperatures above 800°C Cr evaporates from the sample decreasing the amount of Cr on the surface and altering the chromium profile into the metal. If carbon is present on the sample surface near 500°C a chemically induced Cr segregation occurs (similar to grain boundary sensitization) which also severely alters the Cr distribution in the near surface region of the material.
Babies in traffic: infant vocalizations and listener sex modulate auditory motion perception.

Infant vocalizations and "looming sounds" are classes of environmental stimuli that are critically important to survival but can have dramatically different emotional valences. Here, we simultaneously presented listeners with a stationary infant vocalization and a 3D virtual looming tone for which listeners made auditory time-to-arrival judgments. Negatively valenced infant cries produced more cautious (anticipatory) estimates of auditory arrival time of the tone over a no-vocalization control. Positively valenced laughs had the opposite effect, and across all conditions, men showed smaller anticipatory biases than women. In Experiment 2, vocalization-matched vocoded noise stimuli did not influence concurrent auditory time-to-arrival estimates compared with a control condition. In Experiment 3, listeners estimated the egocentric distance of a looming tone that stopped before arriving. For distant stopping points, women estimated the stopping point as closer when the tone was presented with an infant cry than when it was presented with a laugh. For near stopping points, women showed no differential effect of vocalization type. Men did not show differential effects of vocalization type at either distance. Our results support the idea that both the sex of the listener and the emotional valence of infant vocalizations can influence auditory motion perception and can modulate motor responses to other behaviorally relevant environmental sounds. We also find support for previous work that shows sex differences in emotion processing are diminished under conditions of higher stress. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
A new methodology for determining the stress state of the plastic region in machining with restricted contact tools

Abstract In rigid-plastic slip-line theory, once the geometry of the slip-line field is established, the stress state of the plastic region (including the primary and secondary deformation zones) in restricted contact machining is governed by the hydrostatic pressure P A (at a point on the intersection line of the shear plane and the work surface to be machined) and the frictional shear stress τ on the tool rake face. Based on the recently established universal slip-line model and a detailed study of six representative machining cases, a new methodology for determining the stress state of the plastic region, i.e. maximum value principle, is presented in this paper. According to this principle, the stress state of the plastic region can be determined by giving both P A and τ their theoretical maximum permissible values. The theoretical maximum permissible values of P A and τ can be found by satisfying four mechanical and geometrical constraint conditions under which the universal slip-line model applies. A comprehensive assessment factor is introduced in this paper. It is shown that the three machining parameters investigated in this present study, i.e. cutting force ratio, chip thickness ratio, and chip back-flow angle can be simultaneously considered to form a comprehensive criterion to compare predicted and experimental results. The applicable range of the maximum value principle is also discussed.
Management of unilateral acoustic neuroma in a 72-year-old patient with contralateral congenital deafness

Patients with asymmetric or progressive hearing impairment warrant evaluation for the cause of their loss. We present a 72–year–old woman with near life–long hearing loss in one ear and a history of contralateral slowly progressive hearing loss. The audiometric and radiologic findings are demonstrated along with discussion of the management of acoustic neuroma in an only hearing ear.
On computing and implementing the running bispectra

The paper extends recursion to bispectrum estimation problems and presents the systolic array implementation of the recursive higher order spectrum in which the bispectrum estimate is updated every data sample. Forward and reverse sequence running Fourier transforms are first systolically realized. The results are then used to drive a second systolic array, whose outputs represent the FT of the data third-order moment. The proposed systolic arrays have no global communications with a number of processing elements independent of the size of the employed 2D lag window. >
A sound (and complete) model of contracts

Even in statically typed languages it is useful to have certain invariants checked dynamically. Findler and Felleisen gave an algorithm for dynamically checking expressive higher-order types called contracts. If we postulate soundness (in the sense that whenever a term is accused of violating its contract it really does fail to satisfy it), then their algorithm implies a semantics for contracts. Unfortunately, the implicit nature of the resulting model makes it rather unwieldy.In this paper we demonstrate that a direct approach yields essentially the same semantics without having to refer to contract-checking in its definition. The so-defined model largely coincides with intuition, but it does expose some peculiarities in its interpretation of predicate contracts where a notion of safety (which we define in the paper) "leaks" into the semantics of Findler and Felleisen's original unrestricted predicate contracts.This counter-intuitive aspect of the semantics can be avoided by changing the language, replacing unrestricted predicate contracts with a restricted version. The corresponding loss in expressive power can be recovered by also providing a way of explicitly expressing safety as a contract-either in ad-hoc fashion or, e.g., by including general recursive contracts.
Characterization of a Transient Covalent Adduct Formed during Dimethylarginine Dimethylaminohydrolase Catalysis

Dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) regulates the concentrations of human endogenous inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase, N(omega)-methyl-l-arginine (NMMA), and asymmetric N(omega),N(omega)-dimethyl-l-arginine (ADMA). Pharmacological regulation of nitric oxide synthesis is an important goal, but the catalytic mechanism of DDAH remains largely unexplored. A DDAH from Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cloned, and asymmetrically methylated arginine analogues were shown to be the preferred substrates, with ADMA displaying a slightly higher k(cat)/K(M) value than NMMA. DDAH is similar to members of a larger superfamily of guanidino-modifying enzymes, some of which have been shown to use an S-alkylthiouronium intermediate during catalysis. No covalent intermediates were found to accumulate during steady-state turnover reactions of DDAH with NMMA or ADMA. However, identification of a new substrate with an activated leaving group, S-methyl-l-thiocitrulline (SMTC), enabled acid trapping and ESI-MS characterization of a transient covalent adduct with a mass of 158 +/- 10 Da that accumulates during steady-state turnover. Subsequent trapping, proteolysis, peptide mapping and fragmentation by mass spectrometry, and site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that this covalent adduct was attached to an active site residue and implicates Cys249 as the catalytic nucleophile required for intermediate formation. The use of covalent catalysis clearly links DDAH to this superfamily of enzymes and suggests that an S-alkylthiouronium intermediate may be a conserved feature in their mechanisms.
TellUsWho: Guided Social Network Data Collection

Significant gaps exist in our knowledge of real world social network structures, which in turn limit our understanding of how to design social software. One important reason for this has been that researchers have not been able to systematically probe individuals in sufficient detail about 'who' and 'how' they interact with in the social networks they wish to study. To address this shortcoming we designed TellUsWho, a web-based social network survey tool. We explored the tool's utility by studying the social ties of 141 students. TellUsWho supported the collection of rich social network data in a relatively short time period. Within an average of 34 minutes, respondents were able to describe their egocentric ties with people they regularly keep in contact. On average, respondents listed 42 alters, for each of which they answered 27 questions, resulting in 1134 responses. This compares favorably to traditional methods, which could require up to 15 hours per subject.
The role of ethnicity in observers' ratings of mother-child behavior.

This study examined the role of ethnicity in untrained observers' ratings of videotaped mother―child interactions. Participants were Black, White, and Latino undergraduates (N = 109), who rated videotapes of 4 Black, 4 White, and 4 Latino mother―child dyads. Overall, participants of different ethnicities showed more similarities than differences in their ratings of parent-child behavior. There was, however, evidence that participant ethnicity and parent-child ethnicity interacted for ratings of child defiance/ negative emotion. Black and White participants differed in their ratings of Black and White children's defiance/negative emotion, with members of each ethnic group favoring children of their own ethnic group. Intergroup contact appeared to play a role in ratings of parent behavior among Black observers. Black observers who reported low intergroup contact tended to rate Black mothers high on strictness and low on permissiveness. More research is needed to better understand the role of ethnicity in observers' ratings of parent and child behavior.
Distinctive Ultrastructural Findings in a Case of Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia

A patient with chronic interstitial pneumonia was treated with steroids with excellent results. Electron microscopic examination of a lung biopsy taken before treatment showed the functional defect to be associated with a gross increase in the width of the anatomic barrier to gaseous diffusion into the blood. A peculiar sudanophilic and oleophilic inclusion was identified in the cytoplasm of his alveolar macrophages, and it is postulated that this material, which is of obscure origin, was the primary lung irritant.
Edward Kellog Strong, Jr.: First Author of the Strong Interest Inventory

Edward K. Strong, Jr. (1884–1963) was the first author of the Strong Interest Inventory and the first psychologist to devote a career to the measurement and study of vocational interests. Strong's wisdom about interests and career decision making still is obvious and his 1943 volume, Vocational Interests of Men and Women, continues to provide inspiration for the field of interest measurement.
A career in applied physics: Apollo through Space Station

Abstract This paper is an expansion of the Distinguished Scientist Award presentation made at the 1996 Hypervelocity Impact Symposium at Freiburg, Germany. It details the author's contributions to the research and development of practical meteoroid shielding for the Apollo Project. The work described ranges from the early Apollo design studies, through the Lunar landings to the Skylab project. Later work, pertaining to the protection of the Space Station against the larger sized and more prolific orbital debris environment, is also included. Equations used to determine the penetration resistance of metallic, glass and low-density ablative components are given, along with the rationales for their derivation. A history of the development of the Nextel 1 ceramic fabric multi-shock shield that is the subject of a joint patent with Ms. Jeanne Crews, is also given. Brief references are made to the use of the Apollo windows as a micrometeoroid detector for environment definition, and also tests and analyses of space suit materials and components.
Experimental use of iteratively designed rotation invariant correlation filters

Iteratively designed filters are incorporated into an optical correlator for position, rotation, and intensity invariant recognition of target images. The filters exhibit excellent discrimination because they are designed to contain full information about the target image. Numerical simulations and experiments demonstrate detection of targets that are corrupted with random noise (SNR ≈ 0.5) and also partially obscured by other objects. The complex valued filters are encoded in a computer generated hologram and fabricated directly using an electron-beam system. Experimental results using a liquid crystal spatial light modulator for real-time input show excellent agreement with analytical and numerical Computations.
Rewarding Value Creation to Promote Innovation in Oncology: The Importance of Considering the Global Product Life Cycle

Disclosures: Louis P. Garrison, Jr.: Honoraria: Roche Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Pharmaceuticals; Research funding/contracted research: Genentech, Inc. The content of this article has been reviewed by independent peer reviewers to ensure that it is balanced, objective, and free from commercial bias. No financial relationships relevant to the content of this article have been disclosed by the independent peer reviewers.