bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictors of transfusion for spinal surgery in Maryland, 1997 to 2000
Authors: Berenholtz Sean M. , Pronovost Peter J. , Mullany Daniel , Garrett Elizabeth , Ness Paul M. , Dorman Todd , Klag Michael J. 
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify preoperative patient, hospital, and surgeon characteristics associated with transfusion for spinal surgery. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Discharge data were obtained from 39 Maryland hospitals for adult patients (n = 3988) who had a primary procedure code for spinal surgery between July 1997 through June 2000, and with these codes, surgeons and hospitals were characterized by annual patient volume. Outcome variables included any allogeneic transfusion, any transfusion, RBCs, autologous blood, FFP, or platelet transfusion. Logistic regression was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Characteristics independently associated with an increased risk of receiving any allogeneic transfusion (n = 786) included age >54 (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3‐2.1), age >66 (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.0‐3.5), female sex (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2‐2.0), diabetes with chronic complications (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3‐4.9), and metastatic tumor (OR, 4.9; 95% CI, 2.3‐10.5), emergency room admission (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.4‐3.8), and greater hospital volume (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.8‐8.6). Characteristics independently associated with increased autologous transfusions (n = 574) included white race (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2‐2.4), female sex (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1‐1.8), and greater surgeon volume (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.4‐9.1). DISCUSSION: This information can be used to provide informed risk‐benefit discussions with patients regarding the risk for blood transfusion as well as to target high‐risk patients and institutions for interventions to reduce the risk of exposure to blood components.
Characterization and functional analysis of granulocyte concentrates collected from donors after repeated G–CSF stimulation
Authors: Joos Katja , Herzog Regina , Einsele Hermann , Northoff Hinnak , Neumeister Birgid 
Published: March 2003

BACKGROUND: Neutropenic patients often develop bacterial or fungal infections not responding to broad‐spectrum antibacterial or antifungal agents. Clinical efforts were made with transfusion of granulocyte concentrates; however, functions of granulocytes after multiple G–CSF stimulations and after apheresis are not yet investigated and described sufficiently. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The aim of this study was to characterize functional and immunologic variables of granulocytes in blood samples drawn from donors before and after each stimulation episode with G–CSF, in the resulting granulocyte concentrates and in the patients 8 hours after transfusion. RESULTS: Chemotaxis was not influenced, neither by G–CSF application nor by apheresis. Multiple G–CSF stimulations enhanced oxidative burst and phagocytosis of Escherichia coli in donor granulocytes. These values returned to basal levels in granulocyte concentrates. Expression of granulocytic surface antigens was downregulated after application of G–CSF but returned to normal and in part enhanced values in concentrates. A clinically relevant increase of proinflammatory cytokines could not be detected. Leukotriene B4 production was reduced after the fourth G–CSF stimulation in the donor blood and enhanced in the granulocyte concentrate after apheresis. Results in recipients indicate that changes of granulocyte function noted in concentrates were only transient. CONCLUSION: Stimulation of healthy donors with repeated G–CSF injections and subsequent granulocyte apheresis does not dramatically change decisive functions of granulocytes.
Behavior of Nonselective Cation Channels and Large‐Conductance Ca2+‐Activated K+ Channels Induced by Dynamic Changes in Membrane Stretch in Cultured Smooth Muscle Cells of Human Coronary Artery
Authors: WU SHENG‐NAN , LIN PEI‐HSUAN , HSIEH KAI‐SHENG , LIU YEN‐CHIN , CHIANG HUNG‐TING 
Published: March 2003

Stretch‐Activated Ion Channels. Introduction: The effects of membrane stretch on ion channels were investigated in cultured smooth muscle cells of human coronary artery.
Methods and Results: In the cell‐attached configuration, membrane stretch with negative pressure induced two types of stretch‐activated (SA) ion channels: a nonselective cation channel and a large‐conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ (BKCa) channel. The single‐channel conductances of SA cation and BKCa channels were 26 and 203 pS, respectively. To elucidate the mechanism of activation of these SA channels and to minimize mechanical disruption, a sinusoidal change in pipette pressure was applied to the on‐cell membrane patch. During dynamic changes in pipette pressure, increases in SA cation channel activity was found to coincide with increases in BKCa channel activity. In the continued presence of cyclic stretch, the activity of SA cation channels gradually diminished. However, after termination of cyclic stretch, BKCa channel activity was greatly enhanced, but the activity of SA cation channels disappeared.
Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate that the behavior of SA cation and BKCa channels in coronary smooth muscle cells is differentially susceptible to dynamic changes in membrane tension.
Bigeminy Pacing: A New Protocol to Unmask Atrial Vulnerability
Authors: ATTUEL PATRICK , LECLERCQ JEAN‐FRANCOIS , HALIMI FRANCK , FIORELLO PIERRE , STIUBEI MARCEL , SEING SAO 
Published: March 2003

Bigeminy Pacing and Atrial Vulnerability. Introduction: One of the most exciting developments in our understanding of atrial fibrillation (AF) mechanisms has been the recognition that “AF begets AF” in a process termed atrial remodeling. Little information is available about the events that mediate short‐term remodeling. In a bigeminy atrial pacing protocol that produces a continuous extrasystole‐postextrasystole cycle length, we sought to evaluate the electrophysiologic consequences of irregular atrial pacing.
Methods and Results: This study included 22 consecutive patients with documented paroxysmal AF and 10 control subjects. After evaluating the effective refractory period (ERP) and functional refractory period (FRP), bigeminy atrial pacing was performed for 5 minutes. The S1‐S2 coupling interval during bigeminy pacing was programmed to a mean value of

275 ± 45 msec

, i.e., 45 msec longer than the basic ERP measured at 100 beats/min. During bigeminy pacing, AF that lasted longer than 1 minute occurred in 12 AF patients and in none of the control subjects (group I). Short salvos of AF occurred in 5 patients and 3 controls (group II). No arrhythmia occurred in 5 patients and 7 controls (group III). Sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values of sustained AF induced by bigeminy pacing were 54%, 100%, 50%, and 100%, respectively. No differences were observed between different pacing rates during bigeminy, the premature coupling interval S1‐S2, or the conduction parameters S2‐A2 and A2. Group I had the shortest basic ERP

(222 ± 38 msec)

and group III the longest ERP
(242 ± 21 msec, P < 0.05)
; group II was intermediate. Atrial ERPs and FRPs measured immediately after termination of 5 minutes of bigeminy pacing were shorter than during baseline. The degree of shortening was similar in AF patients and in controls. The locoregional conduction delay A2 did not change after the bigeminy protocol.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that atrial bigeminy pacing highly increases atrial vulnerability. This protocol appears interesting because its sensitivity and specificity are higher than those of the conventional extrastimulation test. This makes it attractive for routine diagnosis of undocumented paroxysmal AF. Because it may induce atrial arrhythmias independently of the classic mechanisms of wavelength shortening, this study emphasizes the need for new modalities in the prevention of atrial arrhythmias.
Neovascular Perfusion in Lung Cancer: Qualitative and Quantitative Study using MR Perfusion Imaging
Authors: Jingtao Miao , Yuesong Yang , Zhengyu Li , Weiming Cai , Yonghao Tao , Sijens Paul E. , Xianqiao Jin 
Published: March 2003

AbstractThe value of phase‐tracking subtraction MR pulmonary perfusion technique in the evaluation of the neovascular perfusion of lung cancer was investigated in 25 patients with lung cancer. All patients were examined with a GE Signa Horizon LX 1.5 T MR system with 2D fast spoiled gradient‐recalled‐echo and first‐pass images after bolus injection of contrast agents were obtained. The first‐pass images of pulmonary artery (PA), pulmonary parenchyma (PP) and pulmonary vein (PV)/ aorta phases and their time‐signal intensity curves (TSC) were calculated, subtracted and analyzed on a GE Advantage workstation with Functool software. The signal intensity changes of tumors occurred simultaneous to, or slightly later than the signal intensity changes of the descending aorta, whereas the signal intensity changes of corresponding regions of normal lung were simultaneous with those of the PA. Thus the TSCs of tumors matched those of the descending aorta, whereas the TSCs of corresponding regions of normal lung matched those of the PA. These findings indicate that the blood supply of these lung cancers comes from the aorta. On the other hand, the maximum slope of the TSC of the tumors was larger than that of normal lung, indicating that the blood supply to the tumor was larger in quantity and that the tumor probably had a higher density of vessels compared to normal lung tissue. It is concluded that MR perfusion imaging of differential phase subtraction of the pulmonary circulation can help to evaluate the angiogenesis of lung cancer by showing the source of the blood supply, its quantity and its hemodynamics.
Paul Fussell's The Great War and Modern Memory: Twenty‐five Years Later
Authors: Smith Leonard V. 
Published: March 2003

This article probes some of the issues The Great War and Modern Memory raises today, whether by Fussell himself, by critics at the time of its original publication, or by rereading the book anew now, in the context of a veritable renaissance in the study of World War I and of the revolution effected by the “literary turn” in historical study. I situate Fussell's book against the backdrop of three foundational works or points of view in cultural history that came to the forefront after 1975. My purpose is not to chide Fussell for failing to anticipate the future directions of the cultural history of war, but rather to show how his work fits into the development of that history.I argue that The Great War andModern Memory itself became a lieu de mémoire or “site ofmemory” of the Great War. But like many very successful works, Fussell's bookbecame famous not exclusively or even primarily because of its originality, but because of itsability to reformulate or reinscribe pre‐existing ways of understanding. As critic and as veteran,Fussell reasserted the “evidence of experience” as the cornerstone of war writingin the twentieth century. In addition, some of the impact of The Great War and ModernMemory can be explained by the way it supported the most venerable narrative explanationof the Great War, that of tragedy.
Feedback from Stock Prices to Cash Flows
Authors: Subrahmanyam Avanidhar , Titman Sheridan 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTFeedback from financial market prices to cash flows arises when a firm's nonfinancial stakeholders, for example, its customers, employees, and suppliers, make decisions that are contingent on the information revealed by the price. Complementarities across stakeholders result in cascades, wherein relatively small stock price moves trigger substantial changes in asset values. This paper analyzes the relation between such feedback effects and parameters such as the information cost, the volatility of existing projects, the risk aversion of liquidity suppliers, and the precision of managerial information.
Valuation of the Debt Tax Shield
Authors: Kemsley Deen , Nissim Doron 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTIn this study, we use cross‐sectional regressions to estimate the value of the debt tax shield. Recognizing that debt is correlated with the value of operations along nontax dimensions, we estimate reverse regressions in which we regress future profitability on firm value and debt rather than regressing firm value on debt and profitability. Reversing the regressions mitigates bias and facilitates the use of market information to control for differences in risk and expected growth. Our estimated value for the debt tax shield is approximately 40 percent (10 percent) of debt balances (firm value), net of the personal tax disadvantage of debt.
Differences of Opinion and the Cross Section of Stock Returns
Authors: Diether Karl B. , Malloy Christopher J. , Scherbina Anna 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTWe provide evidence that stocks with higher dispersion in analysts' earnings forecasts earn lower future returns than otherwise similar stocks. This effect is most pronounced in small stocks and stocks that have performed poorly over the past year. Interpreting dispersion in analysts forecasts as a proxy for differences in opinion about a stock, we show that this evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that prices will reflect the optimistic view whenever investors with the lowest valuations do not trade. By contrast, our evidence is inconsistent with a view that dispersion in analysts' forecasts proxies for risk.
Digital Elevation Models By Laser Scanning
Authors: Lohr U. 
Published: March 2003

The TopoSys laser scanner system is designed to produce digital elevation models (DEMs) at a maximum accuracy of 0.5 m in x and y and 0.1 m in z. The regular scan pattern and the measurement frequency of 80 000 measurements per second (on average 5 measurements per m2) form the basis for high quality DEMs.The mainly automated data processing makes it possible to generate DEMs of large areas in a short production time. The DEMs produced come into common use as basic data for different applications, some of which are water resources management, shoreline control, planning of utility lines and urban planning (simulation of noise and pollution distributions). The performance of the system is illustrated with the help of DEM sections produced with the TopoSys system.
Assessment of Dem Quality for Characterizing Surface Roughness Using Close Range Digital Photogrammetry
Authors: Butler J. B. , Lane S. N. , Chandler J. H. 
Published: March 2003

This paper presents a procedure for assessing the quality of a digital elevation model (DEM) which has been applied to the output of a normalized cross correlation based stereomatching algorithm. Using semimetric photography of natural gravel river bed surfaces acquired in the field, digital photogrammetry was used to extract DEMs automatically for use in characterizing surface roughness properties.The procedure for assessing DEM quality involves examination of (i) ortho‐images, to provide a qualitative check on stereomatching performance; (ii) DEM collection statistics which quantify the percentage of correctly matched pixels as a function of those interpolated; and (iii) height differences between check points, measured using independent field survey, and corresponding DEM points. The concepts of precision, accuracy and reliability are defined in the context of DEM quality assessment and methods are outlined which can be used to assess these variables. The assessment is conducted for two adjacent stereopairs with similar characteristics, considering the effects of both DEM collection parameters and different lens models upon DEM quality.Results show that digital photogrammetry, in conjunction with independent field survey, can be used successfully for extracting high resolution, small scale DEMs from natural gravel surfaces. Components (i) and (ii) of the quality assessment suggest the need to optimize DEM collection parameters, although the effects of not using a properly specified lens model were minimal at this scale. Method (iii) showed that increasing stereomatching success does not necessarily lead to more accurately estimated DEM points. However, the use of method (iii) remained difficult because of the scale of the photogrammetric application being used; check point positioning within the photogrammetric co‐ordinate system was only possible to ±10 mm which, for a gravel bed surface, was associated with elevation variance of a similar, sometimes greater, magnitude. The next stage of this research will require the use of higher quality check data, possibly from laser profiling.
Fourcade: the Centenary of a Stereoscopic Method of Photographic Surveying
Authors: Adams Laurence P. 
Published: March 2003

In the Preface to his book, The Four Faces of Fourcade, Clare Storrar (1990) wrote: “It is di.cult to appreciate the breadth and depth of Henry Georges Fourcade's intelligence and creative power. He was an intellectual giant, a phenomenon, whose theoretical and practical achievements have never received proper recognition. These were all the more remarkable because he began his original work on photogrammetry when science in South Africa was in its infancy, and he laboured alone far from libraries and other research facilities. His only higher academic training was in land surveying. He was adept in each of four sciences at various stages in his life, but, mainly because of his natural reserve, his reputation was highly compartmentalised. To foresters he was ‘the most brilliant forestry officer of his time’ to surveyors, he was exceptionally learned in theory and skilled in practice. Photogrammetry was a new subject, unheard of, except by a handful of scientists. In botany, which he took up seriously at the age of fifty‐five, his work was highly regarded by leading botanists in South Africa and in Europe. All stood in awe of his extraordinary talent and ability. Some were frightened of him. But few were able—in fact, not even the best brains were wholly qualified—to grasp fully the tremendous intellectual stature and potential of this protean man.”This paper briefly describes the historic achievements of Henry Georges Fourcade, with the emphasis on his land surveying and, in particular, his photogrammetric contributions to science. The centenary of one of these, his proposal of a stereoscopic method of photographic surveying, occurs in October 2001.
Efficiently Taking Soundings in a Sea of Change: Two Histories of Public Budgeting and Finance
Authors: Lewis Carol 
Published: March 2003

Books reviewed:Irene S. Rubin, Class, Tax, and Power: Municipal Budgeting in the United States.Donald R. Stabile, The Origins of American Public Finance: Debates over Money, Debt, and Taxes in the Constitutional Era, 1776–1836.
Management of dispersed product development teams: the role of information technologies
Authors: Boutellier Roman , Gassmann Oliver , Macho Holger , Roux Manfred 
Published: March 2003

In recent years, international corporations such as IBM are increasingly relying on dispersed R&D teams in order to keep pace with resource availability and the demands of global markets. The advantages of this approach arise mainly from the utilization of differences in personnel costs and gaining access to a broader knowledge base to satisfy the demands of international clients. The disadvantages of teams of this kind are obvious: geographic distances, differences in culture and work habits as well as the necessity to bridge time zones place greater demands on communication, synchronization and management.The application of specific project management methods and the intensive use of information technology (IT) lessens the disadvantages in transnational development projects. Recently completed projects involving large‐scale commercial software development at IBM demonstrate the potentials of IT in transnational development. The authors advocate the application of IT adapted to specific situations. The central fields of application of IT in dispersed R&D teams are the development of a personal network, the promotion of creativity, the exchange of technical information, and the coordination of decentralized project activities.
Overcoming Anthropocentrism: Heidegger on the Heroic Role of the Works of Art
Authors: Mansbach Abraham 
Published: March 2003

In this paper I argue that although Heidegger’s Being and Time and ‘The Origin of the Work of Art,’ seem to deal with different topics, there is continuity between these two texts. In the latter Heidegger was trying to solve a central problem that arose in the former: how to account for authentic existence and at the same time overcome the anthropocentrism of traditional philosophy.In Being and Time Heidegger tries to overcome traditional philosophy, by redefining human existence in non‐Cartesian terms. Yet, his treatment of the problem of the Self preserves one of the main tenets of that tradition: its anthropocentrism. This anthropocentrism is implicit in Dasein and further reinforced by the notion of the hero as the paradigm and channel of authentic existence.In ‘The Origin of the Work of Art,’ Heidegger solves that problem. Placing man at the periphery and the work of art at the centre of his endeavours, gives works of art a special status similar only to that of heroes. Works of art open up new horizons for generations to come by drawing in advance the paths for authentic behaviour.This shift is more than merely methodological. Heidegger overcomes not only the anthropocentrism of his previous analysis but also the instrumentality that derived from that anthropocentrism, thus revealing the essence of things.
English spelling and its contribution to illiteracy: word difficulty for common English words
Authors: Spencer Ken 
Published: March 2003

Writing like all technologies can be implemented in different ways with varying efficiencies. It is often not recognised that the written form of English is at variance with a majority of other alphabetic scripts and is increasingly being seen as a contributing factor to illiteracy in the English‐speaking world.The predictive spelling and reading model developed at Hull University indicates that the contributing factors making English words difficult for children to spell are: word frequency, length and phoneticity. This paper, using the most frequent 150 words in the English language, confirms results from earlier studies and clearly links word characteristics to literacy failure. The impact of obscure forms of phoneme representation is shown to be particularly noticeable with less able children. This unnecessary burden placed on young children is not present in most European languages which have more regular written forms than English. The implications from this and previous studies are related to the teaching of English literacy skills.
Self‐reinforcing Agglomerations? An Empirical Industry Study
Authors: Knarvik Karen Helene Midelfart , Steen Frode 
Published: March 2003

We test for the existence of endogenous agglomeration forces, using structural econometric models. After showing generally how to establish the existence of agglomeration forces empirically, we undertake an industry study of the maritime industry in Norway. The results suggest that there are significant economies of scale in the maritime industry. These economies of scale are mainly found in sub‐groups of a set of nine maritime industries. This indicates that the maritime industry consists of two self‐reinforcing agglomerations, but that there are few mechanisms actually keeping the two together.JEL classification: C33; D24; O47; R11; R12