cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From Blues Brother to Industry Leader: Growing Revenues at Parknpool

With humble and unconventional roots, Jim Fonner's outdoor furniture company, ParknPool, began in Florida selling patio furniture door to door to hotels. Fonner and his then-partner dressed as the Blues Brothers in order to attract attention and gain sales.Over the decade, the business has grown and is now an industry leader in outdoor furniture supplies. Almost all of the firm's selling is done over the internet. Revenues have grown year over year. Fonner bought out their original partner and have moved the firm to Virginia, reasoning that it can be based anywhere since its transactions are all done over the internet or the phone.Now, for two years running, revenues have been off. The sales staff seems lackluster. Something must be done—but Fonner is unsure what. Excerpt UVA-ENT-0176 Rev. May 14, 2019 From Blues Brother to Industry Leader: Growing Revenues at ParknPool Introduction “Business growth does not always follow a straight line.” Every time Jim Fonner thought about this—how his own business had zigged and zagged—he was prone to laugh. Once employed at Weyerhaeuser, the international paper- and wood-products company, Fonner had left the management ranks to transform himself into something very different: one-half of the Jake Brothers, the “Beach Blues Brothers,” a duo of singing, dancing, Hawaiian-shirt-clad salesmen selling pool furniture door to door to Florida hotels. Ten years later, in 2007, he was running a company in Lexington, Virginia, supplying commercial outdoor furniture nationally. It had not exactly been a linear progression to the Shenandoah Valley. With his wife, Brenda, he had built the small business they would later rename ParknPool, setting ambitious annual sales goals. They had missed their first-year target, falling short by about 50%. Luckily, that had been an exception. It hadn't been until the fourth year that revenues took the first big jump to exceed $ 1million in annual sales. Fonner realized that prior to 2002, they had not been setting good targets or paying close attention to what made up their revenue. When Fonner analyzed his sources of sales from 2002, he found that 60% had been generated through the company website and 40% from door-to-door sales. At this point, the company directed its efforts toward growing the internet business, and over the next three years, sales more than doubled. . . .
Quality Improvement in Otologic Surgery Postoperative Instructions.

OBJECTIVE To examine and improve patient satisfaction with otologic surgery postoperative instructions. STUDY DESIGN Patients undergoing outpatient otologic surgery were compared over two different time periods, before (phase 1) and after (phase 2) modifying postoperative instructions. Key-informant interviews were conducted by phone on postoperative day 7. All patient-initiated communications after surgery were documented. SETTING Tertiary, academic hospital. PATIENTS Patients undergoing outpatient otologic surgery. INTERVENTIONS Otologic surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Satisfaction ratings of different postoperative instruction categories (1-10, completely useless to perfectly helpful), including wound care, pain medication, non-pain medication, showering and bathing, activity restrictions, diet restrictions, follow-up appointment, and contact for questions; comments/critiques from patients; and patient-initiated communications. RESULTS Seventy eight patients were included in phase 1 and 52 in phase 2. Patient characteristics and distribution of surgeries were similar between phases. Rating for instructions were high in both phases (phase 1: 8.98[1.50], phase 2: 9.27[1.04], d = 0.216 [-0.271, 0.698]). More patients in phase 2 thought the instructions were adequate and clear (80.0% versus 55.6% in phase 1, d = 0.641 [0.011, 1.271]), and there were fewer critiques per patient (0.09 versus 0.15, d = -0.537 [-1.034, -0.040]) compared with phase 1. There was a shift in phase 2 communications away from wound care questions (17.5% versus 38.9%, d = -0.606 [-1.112, -0.099]) toward questions regarding medications (27.5% versus 6.7%, d = 0.921 [0.325, 1.516]). CONCLUSION An evidence-based postoperative instructions template led to more patients believing that the instructions were clear, fewer critiques being given, and a shift toward more actionable questions rather than those with answers already addressed in written instructions.
Protection and trade in services : a survey

Until recently, trade in services was mostly ignored by iinternational economists, reflecting a perception that services were nontradable. This has never been true. Transportation and travel, for example, have always been important economic activities. In 1995, services trade climbed to a 20-percent share of global trade -no doubt an underestimate, as the most dynamic component of trade in services is telecommunications, which is not being properly captured in conventional balance of payment statistics. The authors survey the literature on trade in services, focusing on the policies used to restrict such trade, the gains from liberalization, and the institutional mechanisms adopted in pursuit of liberalization. They argue that technological progress (which makes services more tradable) and iinternational trade negotiations are likely to keep liberalization of trade in services a high-profile policy issue. They suggest that research focus on developing better estimates of the welfare costs of protectionism in the service sector. This will require quantifying barriers to the international exchange of services.
Pulmonary nocardiosis

Pulmonary nocardiosis is an uncommon but serious infection that is increasingly found in immunosuppressed persons, especially transplant recipients and persons with AIDS. The Nocardia species are denizens of soil and decaying plants that gain entry to humans through inhalation or inoculation. Pulmonary nocardiosis typically presents as an acute to subacute necrotizing pneumonia, with a variable clinical picture. Metastatic infections of the brain and subcutaneous tissues are common complications. Most clinical laboratories can isolate these microorganisms, but final speciation may be a challenge and antimicrobial susceptibility testing is especially difficult because of the slow rate of growth of Nocardia species. Full identification of species and susceptibility testing is important because of the epidemiologic implications and the difficulties of successfully treating these infections in immunosuppressed patients. Sulfonamides, including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, remain the most reliable antimicrobials. Many alternative agents are active against Nocardia in vitro, but clinical data are limited.
The Yukawa interaction in ordinary quantum mechanics

The Yukawa interaction is considered in 0+1 dimensions as a pedagogical example to illustrate quantum field theory methods. From the quantum mechanical point of view the system is trivially exactly solvable, but this can be difficult to see from the path integral perspective. It is shown how the perturbation series in terms of Feynman diagrams is consistent with the quantum mechanical picture for finite temperature.
The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the Evolution of Neuro-Trauma Care: Would the 16th President Have Survived in the Modern Era?

Abraham Lincoln was the 16 th President of the United States of America. On April 14, 1865, shortly after his re-election and the conclusion of the Civil War, Lincoln was shot and killed by John Wilkes Booth. Although numerous physicians tended to the President shortly after his injury, he passed away the next morning. Today, we recognize Lincoln as one of the greatest Presidents in American history. His assassination profoundly influenced the future of the United States, especially as the country was coming back together again following the Civil War. Testaments to his lasting legacy can be seen in many places, from the stone carving of him on Mount Rushmore to his image gracing the $5 bill. What if the President had survived his injury? Would he have had a different outcome utilizing current critical care treatment? Neurotrauma care in 1865 was not yet developed, and head wounds such as the one Lincoln sustained were almost always fatal. The medical attention he received is considered by historians and physicians today to be excellent for that time. We look at the evolution of neurotrauma care during the last 150 years in the US. Particular focus is paid to the advancement of care for penetrating brain injuries in modern trauma centers.
Micromechanics Model for Creep of Anisotropic Clay

Clays frequently possess a fabric with a preferred particle orientation and the creep properties of such clays are therefore anisotropic. A two-dimensional microstructural model to describe this creep response is developed. The model is based on a triangular cell of three particles sliding over each other at a rate predicted by rate-process theory. Equating the rate of energy dissipation within the cell to that of the macroscopic continuum leads to the determination of the tangential viscosity matrix and the matrix of the nonviscous stress components, both of which are stress dependent. The anisotropic creep viscosity parametres then are obtained by a statistical averaging procedure based on the probability density of the particle orientation distribution, as determined by x-ray diffraction. The resulting model is able to predict the directional differences in the creep rate and the stress dependence of creep in clays with anisotropic fabric. Undrained creep tests were conducted on specimens cut in various directions from both isotropically and anisotropically consolidated kaolinite samples.
Maximum Clear-Water Scour Around Circular Piers

The potential predictors of the maximum clear-water scour are compared with the available experimental data. The range of flow parameters, for which these formulas either overpredicted or underpredicted, are delineated. Comparison indicates that the scour formula by Laurson and Toch is the best predictor among those examined, for it encompasses all data and overpredicts less than the other formulas. However, the Laursen and Toch formula predicts that the scour depth is independent of sediment size. A new formula for the maximum clear-water scour is proposed; it is very similar to that of Laursen and Touch but includes the effect of sediment size on scour depth.
New routes to the synthesis of 2,3,6-tri-O-substituted methyl β--glucopyranosides

Abstract Various preparative routes to 2,3,6-tri- O -substituted methyl fi- D -glucopyranosides have been investigated, and an improved procedure for synthe
Overview of Neurotoxicology

Environmental exposure to chemicals such as lead, mercury, organic solvents, pesticides, as well as naturally occurring compounds have neurotoxic effects. This unit is an overview of the structure and function of the nervous system, including a discussion of critical issues in defining neurotoxic effects and neurotoxicological risk assessment.
How Do Master's Level Marriage and Family Therapy Students View Their Basic Therapy Skills? An Examination of Generic and Theory Specific Clinical Approaches to Family Therapy

This study examined the similarities and differences between marital and family therapy (MFT) students' beliefs about the importance of specific MFT skills, and the perceptions of experienced therapists in practice about the same skills. The data suggest overlap but not complete agreement between the perceptions of novice and experienced therapists regarding both generic and theory specific skills. Similarities and differences between these findings and earlier research about common factors in family therapy are addressed. Recommendations about clinical training that is not organized around traditional family therapy theories, but rather based on two trans-theoretical approaches to therapy labeled expert and collaborative are explored.
Lead zirconate titanate-lead silicate piezoelectric glass-ceramics

Piezoelectric glass-ceramics consisting of lead zirconate titanate in a lead silicate matrix have been developed. A small region of compositions in this system yield the desired combination of glass formability, densification and crystallization behavior, and piezoelectric properties. SiO/sub 2/ is required for glass formability, while excess PbO allows low temperature processing. The amounts of these constitutes are limited by the optimization of piezoelectric properties. Selected compositions were melted and roller quenched to form amorphous ribbon. The glass ribbon was processed using two methods, either by directly heat treating to crystallize the PZT phase, or by ball milling into a glass powder. Pressed glass powders of selected compositions in this system densify to closed porosity at 850/spl deg/C with piezoelectric d/sub 33/ and g/sub 33/ coefficients of 38 pCM and 33/spl times/10/sup -3/ Vm/N. This research demonstrates the feasibility of developing piezoelectric glass-ceramics with low processing temperatures that utilize powder processing techniques, such as pressing, screen printing, or tape casting, and indicates the potential incorporation of these materials into low-fire multilayer packages as sensors or actuators.
Naturally occurring spleen-associated suppressor activity of the newborn mouse. Requirement for two genetic restrictions in suppression of lethal graft-versus-host disease by newborn spleen cells.

Jadus, M. R. & Peck, A. B. Naturally Occurring Spleen-Associated Suppressor Activity of theNewborn Mouse. Requirement for Two Genetic Restrictions in Suppression of LethalGraft-versus-Host Disease by Newborn Spleen Cells. Scand. J. Immunol. 20, 81-91,1984.Spleens from newborn mice less than 6-7 days of age are known to contain naturally occurringsuppressor cells, which can suppress the immune reactivity of third-party adult cells. In thepresent study newborn spleen cell populations are shown to possess the potential to inhibitlethal graft-versus-host (GVH) disease in suhlethally gamma-irradiated hosts injected withallogeneic adult cells. However, this capacity to suppress GVH disease is controlled by at leasttwo genetic restrictions: (1) the newborn spleen cells and the adult donor cells must behistocompatible at an H-2-linked region apparently telomeric of H-2DL, and (2) the newbornspleen cells must express a strongly stimulating non-H-2 (perhaps Mis) alloantigenicphenotype. Host animals that survive GVH remain chimeric for at least 3-4 weeks but return tothe host phenotype by 8-10 weeks. Thus, it appears that in sublethally irradiated hosts thenewborn cells suppress donor cell reactivity long enough for the host system to recover from theeffects of irradiation.Ammon B. Peck, Department of Pathology, Box J-275, College of Medicine, University ofFlorida, Cainesville, FL 32610, USA
Magnetic Petrology Database for Interpretation Satellite Magnetic Anomalies

A Global Magnetic Petrology Database (MPDB) is now being compiled at NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and consists of many thousands of records. The prototype database is located at http://core2.gsfc.nasa.gov/research/terr_mag/php/MPDB/frames.html. The purpose of this database is to provide the geomagnetic community with a comprehensive and user-friendly method of accessing magnetic petrology data via Internet for a more realistic interpretation of satellite (as well as aeromagnetic and ground) magnetic anomalies. MPDB is focused on lower crustal and upper mantle rocks and includes data on mantle xenoliths, serpentinized ultramafic rocks, granulites, iron quartzites and rocks from Archean-Proterozoic metamorphic sequences from all around the world. The definition of crustal magnetic anomalies is improving due to the mini-constellation of three satellites — Oersted, Champ, and SAC-C. Recent lithospheric field models (CM4, MF1, MF2) reveal magnetic anomalies with better resolution, for example in the areas of Iceland, Polar Urals Mountains, and Anabar Shield where we have an excellent magnetic petrology records.
Atopic Dermatitis in 2008

Atopic dermatitis (also termed atopic eczema and infantile eczema), a chronic, itchy, inflammatory skin disease that sets on at infancy or early childhood, is observed with increasing prevalence aro
Far ultraviolet observations of hot DA white dwarfs

Far ultraviolet (FUV) fluxes have been used for determining the effective temperatures of a number of DA white dwarfs hotter than 20,000 K. The spectra were obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE). The analysis consisted of comparing the observed FUV fluxes with model fluxes scaled to the V-band flux. After suitable corrections were performed for the time-dependent sensitivity degradation of the IUE, it was found that the available flux calibrations for the IUE were insufficiently accurate for precise temperature determinations. Accordingly, we used seven white dwarfs for which accurate, independent temperature determinations have been made from line profile analyses to improve the accuracy of the IUE flux calibration. The correction to the original calibration was as great as 20% in individual 5-A wavelength bins, while the average over the IUE wavelength range was 5%. We present both our IUE flux correction and the temperatures obtained for the hot white Dwarfs
Tests of Charge Independence by Nucleon-Nucleon Scattering

Dedicated to Professor P.A.M. Dirac on the occasion of his 70th birthday anniversary with profound admiration of his ability to separate the wheat from the chaff in theoretical physics, of formulating the transformation theory giving the connection between quantum mechanics and classical Hamiltonian dynamics, of the discovery of the Dirac equation for the electron, the associated introduction of negative energy states, of his mathematical derivation of Einstein’s spontaneous emission probability thus providing the essential step for the development of quantum electrodynamics, and continued leadership in providing a logical foundation for the structure of physical theory.
The Comorbidity of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Substance Use Disorders

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) frequently co-occur. Among individuals seeking treatment for SUDs, it is estimated that 30–50% meet criteria for lifetime PTSD. Epidemiologic surveys demonstrate that individuals with PTSD are 4–5 times more likely to have a SUD at some point in their lives compared to individuals who do not have PTSD. Self-medication and susceptibility are two hypotheses that have been proposed to help explain the etiological relationship between PTSD and SUDs. It is also possible that common factors, such as genetic, neurobiological, or environmental factors, contribute to the high rate of PTSD-SUD co-occurrence. Integrated psychotherapeutic approaches for the treatment of patients with both disorders show promise. There are also a number of pharmacotherapeutic agents that have demonstrated preliminary efficacy in the treatment of co-occurring PTSD/SUD, but further investigation is needed. This chapter reviews these and other advances in the study of comorbid PTSD and SUDs, and suggests areas for future research and clinical activity.
Lagrangian field theory, multifractals, and universal scaling in turbulence

Abstract We demonstrate that there is a complete analogy between multifractal scaling behavior in certain Lagrangian field theories and the scaling properties of inertial-range velocity fields in the common “cascade models” of turbulence. On this basis, we propose a renormalization group strategy to study the zero-viscosity limit of fully developed turbulence and establish its short-distance scaling properties. If these properties are due to an RG fixed point which is a universal ultraviolet attractor, then predicted consequences are exact relations between inertial and dissipation-range scaling exponents.
Evaluating soluble toxicants in contaminated soils

Complex mixtures of water soluble materials from contaminated soils can move into groundwater and surface water by leaching, percolation, and runoff. We evaluated the potential toxicity of leachable materials from seven soils. Five soil samples were obtained at designated toxic or hazardous waste sites, and two additional soils samples were obtained from a coal storage area and from an agricultural field. Acidified tap water (pH 4.5) was used to extract toxic materials from elution columns filled with soil samples. Extracts were used as complex mixtures to conduct acute toxicity tests using Daphnia and chronic effects tests using aquatic microcosms. Three classes of effects were observed. Three soil leachates showed acute and chronic toxicity at less than 3% leachate. Two of these soils were contaminated by materials used in wood preserving, and the third soil was contaminated with heavy metals and acid. Two soils showed moderate acute toxicity but no chronic toxicity in microcosm tests. One of these soils was contaminated with low levels of chromium while the other soil was from a coal storage area. The remaining two soil samples showed no toxicity in either acute or chronic toxicity tests. One of these soils was from a reference agricultural field while the other soil was contaminated with solvents. The failure to detect toxicity in the solvent contaminated sample was attributed to the hydrophobicity of the toxicity materials. Results of these toxic screenings are in the same range as leachate toxicities estimated using other methods, although other methods use extraction materials that may interfere with some biological tests. Toxicological evaluations of materials from suspected contaminated soil are recommended for prioritizing clean up efforts at waste sites and for determining if toxic materials and contaminated soils have been effectively removed.
Amelioration of Insulin Resistance in Diabetes With Dehydroepiandrosterone

In hyperandrogenic females, the ratio of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to testosterone may be an important determinant of insulin sensitivity. This study involved changes in insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism with therapeutic manipulation of DHEA (S)/testosterone in a female patient with non-insulin-dependent diabetes and hyperandrogenism. Therapeutic intervention included 1-month treatment with 0.25 mg dexamethasone at bedtime and 1-month dexamethasone + DHEA. Insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance were assessed before and after each treatment regimen by examining: 1) fasting and oral glucose tolerance test glucose and insulin levels, 2) hypoglycemic response to intravenous insulin, and 3) erythrocyte insulin receptor binding. With dexamethasone alone, DHEAS, testosterone, and their ratio were reduced with a concomitant increase (30%) in oral glucose tolerance test insulin levels and a decrease (33%) in erythrocyte insulin binding. With DHEA + dexamethasone, the ratio of DHEAS/testosterone increased 16-fold along with a marked improvement in insulin sensitivity, as determined by a more than 30% reduction in fasting and oral glucose tolerance test insulin levels, a threefold stimulation of the rate of glucose disappearance with intravenous insulin, and a 30% increase in insulin binding. DHEA improved insulin sensitivity and reduced fasting and oral glucose tolerance test glucose levels and ameliorated the diabetic state. The ratio of DHEAS/testosterone is an important regulator of insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance and that DHEA therapy may be beneficial in the treatment of certain forms of insulin resistance.
Instructional and Contextual Effects on External Memory Strategy Use in Young Children

Young children's ability to devise external representations in problem-solving tasks has not been fully examined. The present two experiments investigated children's creation and use of external representations (i.e., external representation strategies) in different conditions. In each experiment, 4- and 6-year-old children listened to a series of sentences (e.g., "The doll is on the table") and were required to remember where to place the objects named in the sentences. In Experiment 1, direct training increased the use of external representations. When the salience of task dimensions increased in Experiment 2, children's external representation strategies also increased. Four-year-old children showed a utilization deficiency in external representation strategy use in the prompt conditions, but not in the training condition. Thus, young children require additional situational support before they demonstrate cognitive competencies.
High performance thin layer chromatographic analysis of neutral lipids and phospholipids in the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis and in leech conditioned water

Abstract High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) was used to determine neutral lipids and phospholipids in the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis. Whole bodies and anterior, middle, and posterior thirds were analyzed for lipids. The major neutral lipids found in the leech were free sterols and steryl esters, along with lesser amounts of free fatty acids and triacylglycerols. The major phospholipids were phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Leeches showed no significant regional differences in the mean weight percent of the major neutral lipids and phospholipids. HPTLC was used to analyze neutral lipids and phospholipids that leeches released into deionized water (referred to as leech conditioned water or LCW) during 6 or 12 h of incubation. The major neutral lipid released into the water was free sterols, and the major phospholipids were phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine.
Pattern transfer using block copolymers.

To meet the increasing demand for patterning smaller feature sizes, a lithography technique is required with the ability to pattern sub-20 nm features. While top-down photolithography is approaching its limit in the continued drive to meet Moore’s law, the use of directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCPs) offers a promising route to meet this challenge in achieving nanometre feature sizes. Recent developments in BCP lithography and in the DSA of BCPs are reviewed. While tremendous advances have been made in this field, there are still hurdles that need to be overcome to realize the full potential of BCPs and their actual use.
Effect of Menthol and Related Terpenes on the Percutaneous Absorption of Propranolol across Excised Hairless Mouse Skin

The potential use of terpenes/terpenoids as penetration enhancers in the transdermal delivery of propranolol hydrochloride (PL) was investigated. PL was chosen for the reasons of its extensive first-pass metabolism and short elimination half-life. The terpenes studied included L-menthol, (+)-limonene, (+/-)-linalool, and carvacrol at 1%, 5%, and 10% w/v concentrations. The diffusion of PL across excised hairless mouse skin was determined using side-by-side diffusion cells. Flux, permeability coefficient (Pm), and lag time (tL) were calculated. PL showed comparable lag times with menthol at all three concentration levels. At a 1% level of carvacrol, PL exhibited a 2.4- and 2.2-fold increase in lag time compared with 5 and 10% levels of enhancer, respectively. In the presence of limonene, PL had shown maximum lag time (between 3.0 and 3.3 h) at all three levels. In the case of linalool, the lag times for PL with 5 and 10% levels of enhancer were 7.0- and 5.2-fold less compared with 1% level. A significant (p < 0.05) concentration effect was observed only with linalool. Hydrogel-based patches were formulated with or without menthol as enhancer. Release profiles from the hydrogel formulations obeyed zero-order kinetics. The permeability of propranolol was significantly higher (p < 0.05) from the test patch than the control (no enhancer) patch across the mouse skin. The mechanism of permeation enhancement of menthol could involve its distribution preferentially into the intercellular spaces of stratum corneum and the possible reversible disruption of the intercellular lipid domain. The results suggest the potential use of menthol as effective penetration enhancer in the delivery of significant amounts of PL through skin.
Anesthesia-related perioperative adverse events during in-patient and out-patient procedures.

Purpose – This paper aims to determine the one‐year incidence of, and risk factors for, perioperative adverse events during in‐patient and out‐patient anesthesia‐assisted procedures.Design/methodology/approach – A quality assurance database was the primary data source. Outcome variables were death and the occurrence of any adverse event. Risk factors were ASA physical status (PS), age, duration and type of anesthesia care, number of operating rooms running, concurrency level and medical staff. Data were stratified by in‐patient or out‐patient, surgical (e.g. thoracotomy) or non‐surgical (e.g. electroconvulsive therapy), and were analyzed using Chi square, Fisher's exact test and generalized estimating equations.Findings – Of 27,970 procedures, 49.8 percent were out‐patient and greater than 80 percent were surgical. For surgical procedures, adverse event rates were higher for in‐patient than out‐patient procedures (2.11 percent vs. 1.45 percent; p<0.001). For non‐surgical procedures, adverse event rates we...
Tracheoesophageal fistula caused by a self-expanding esophageal stent

A patient is presented who had previously undergone an esophagectomy for an adenocarcinoma of distal esophagus. He experienced repeated strictures at the esophagogastric anastomosis at 22 cm. After multiple dilatations, a self-expanding metal stent was placed. Four months later the upper edge of the stent eroded through the esophagus into the trachea, forming a tracheoesophageal fistula. Muscle flap repair was successful.
Increasing utilization of dermatologists by managed care: An analysis of the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 1990–1994

Abstract Patients with managed care are less likely to see dermatologists for skin problems than are patients with traditional insurance. Through 1992, increase in the demand for treatment of skin problems reduced the effect of managed care on dermatologists. We assessed the continued impact of managed care on visits to dermatologists. Skin disease visits from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey were analyzed for the years 1990–1994. We found that demand for treatment of skin problems did not rise between 1992 and 1994, but demand for dermatologists' services within the managed care sector more than doubled. In 1994 patients with HMO/prepaid insurance with skin disease were just as likely to see a dermatologist as were patients with commercial insurance. Mean visit duration for skin problems was 19% longer for nondermatologists than for dermatologists ( p
A novel approach in integrating product design into curriculum : Toy and entertainment animatron design

Abstract This paper presents a novel approach in integrating the product development process into curriculum by utilizing the complex toy and entertainment development areas. A cross-disciplinary course targeting engineering, technology, and art students was designed and offered to accomplish animatronic toy development and entertainment job-shop practices within educational settings. The curriculum was comprised of the following content in the following sequence: introduction to product design, project management and team-work basics, concept development, artistic and industrial design, material and manufacturing process selection, mechanism design and assembly, actuators, sensors, controls, and programming. Mini-lessons were complemented by laboratories sessions, leading to an open-ended design project. Analytical tools and visual means such as engineering graphics, videos/animations, or working models were employed to address different learning styles during the mini-lessons.
Distribution of cardiac output in fetal and neonatal lambs with acute respiratory acidosis.

Summary: The effects of changes in Paco2 on the circulation are complex, involving local vasodilation, vasodilation mediated by the pulmonary inflation reflex, and vasoconstriction due to effects on central vasomotor centers and peripheral chemoreceptors. One might anticipate that some or all of these might differ between the fetus in utero and the newborn. Distribution of cardiac output was measured in unanesthetized fetal (n = 6) and newborn (n = 7) sheep, using the radioactive microsphere technique. Paco2 rose from 44 to 70 (fetus) and 38 to 60 torr (newborn) with the addition of CO2 to room air. In the fetus, there were significant increases in central nervous system (CNS), diaphragm, and lung blood flows. No organ showed a significant decrease in flow. Local vasodilation by CO2 was the likely cause of the increased flow to CNS. The large increase in pulmonary blood flow was most likely due to the associated rise in fetal Pao2 (23 to 28 torr) that accompanied respiratory acidosis and the presence of fetal breathing movements. The rise in diaphragmatic blood flow was likely the result of fetal breathing. In the newborn, CNS and diaphragm flows rose, but unlike the fetus, spleen and stomach flows decreased. These decreased flows in the hypercapnic newborn may have been due to stimulation of either central vasomotor centers or peripheral chemoreceptors.
An Innovative Web Application for Design and Automated NC Code Generation

With the ever-increasing importance of e-commerce/e-business in the manufacturing, traditional standalone CAD/CAPP applications are evolving into web-based applications deployed via the Internet. This paper presents a unique web-based application for automated process planning and NC code generation for mill-turn parts. The application is targeted at a wide range of users. It requires no special software or CAD package at the user’s end, and can be used even by people with virutally no manufacturing knowledge. At the same time, it is also a valuable service for manufacturing experts. This application uses client/server architecture and is developed using Java technologies. This web-based application can be accessed via Internet using any standard web browser with JRE (Java run-time environment), and Java Web Start is used to deploy this application. For wide usability, the application supports easy part specification and automated process planning. Once the part is designed, the user may request NC code generation. The process planning kernel on the server automatically executes all process planning tasks like machinable volume identification, operations sequencing, parameter selection, etc. and generates an intermediate Cutter Location (CL) code. The Cutter Location code is quite generic and can be adapted for any machine using the respective post processors. The interface is also capable of displaying the tool path for verification. The NC code is generated based on the post processor selected by the user and can be downloaded to the client machine if the user is satisfied. It is hoped that this application will develop into a pay-per-use instant NC code generation web service for novices and experts; such a service is currently not offered anywhere on the Internet.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Unified approaches to integrated‐service networks–burst and fast packet switching

The increasing demand for communication services, coupled with recent technological advances in communication media and switching techniques, has resulted in a proliferation of new and expanded services. Currently, networks are needed which can transmit voice, data and video services in an application-independent fashion. Unified approaches employ a single switching technique across the entire network bandwidth, thus allowing services to be switched in an application-independent manner. This paper presents a taxonomy of integrated-service networks, including a look at NISDN, while focusing on unified approaches to integrated-service networks. The two most promising unified approaches are burst and fast packet switching. Burst switching is a circuit switching-based approach which allocates channel bandwidth to a connection only during the transmission of ‘bursts’ of information. Fast packet switching is a packet switching-based approach which can be characterized by very high transmission rates on network links and simple, hard-wired protocols which match the rapid channel speed of the network. Both approaches are being proposed as possible implementations for integrated-service networks. We survey these two approaches, and also examine the key performance issues found in fast packet switching. We then present the results of a simulation study of a fast packet switching network.
Immunoglobulins promote remyelination in the central nervous system

Remyelination of central nervous system axons was promoted by systemic injection of serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) from donor mice hyperimmunized with homogenized spinal cord. In SJL/J mice infected with Theiler's virus, primary demyelination and inflammation in the spinal cord were extensive. Following treatment with IgG to spinal cord homogenate, new myelin synthesis as measured by quantitative morphometry increased sixfold. Cells in areas of remyelination that incorporated [3H]thymidine did not express differentiation markers of macrophages, oligodendrocytes, or astrocytes but were identified by electron microscopic autoradiography as progenitor glial cells. These findings raise the possibility that IgG secreted in demyelination lesions might have the protential to promote myelin repair.
Electrostatic Funneling for Precise Nanoparticle Placement: A Route to Wafer-Scale Integration

We demonstrate a large-scale placement of nanoparticles through a scheme named “electrostatic funneling”, in which charged nanoparticles are guided by an electrostatic potential energy gradient and placed on targeted locations with nanoscale precision. The guiding electrostatic structures are defined using current CMOS fabrication technology. The effectiveness of this scheme is demonstrated for a variety of geometries including one-dimensional and zero-dimensional patterns as well as three-dimensional step structures. Placement precision of 6 nm has been demonstrated using a one-dimensional guiding structure comprising alternatively charged lines with line width of ∼100 nm. Detailed calculations using DLVO theory agree well with the observed long-range interactions and also estimate lateral forces as strong as (1−3) × 10-7 dyn, which well explains the observed guided placement of Au nanoparticles.
Thymidine incorporation by annulate lamellae of rabbit zygotes

The formation of large stacks of cytoplasmic annulate lamellae and many intranuclear annulate lamellae during the latter part of the first cell cycle of the rabbit zygote facilitated the testing of the possibility of 3H-thymidine incorporation on this organelle. High resolution autoradiography was used to demonstrate any label. Dense label was found over intranuclear annulate lamellae, but no significant label was found over cytoplasmic annulate lamellae. We interpret this to mean that the replicated chromatin, either during replication or after replication, is attached to specific membranous structures, i.e., intranuclear annulate lamellae and a few restricted areas of the nuclear membrane. No newly replicated DNA seems to be attached to the cytoplasmic annulate lamellae.
Acousto-optic signal processing: Convolution and correlation

The use of acousto-optic devices in real-time signal convolution and correlation has increased dramatically during the past decade because of improvements in device characteristics and implementation techniques. Depending on the application, processing can be implemented via spatial or temporal integration. Two-dimensional signal processing (including image processing) is possile, in spite of the inherent one-dimensional nature of the acousto-optic device as a spatial light modulator.
Water Activity Calculation by Direct Measurement of Vapor Pressure

An improved method for calculation of water activity from vapor pressure manometric data, which takes into account the volume expansion of nonadsorbing gases, the initial pressure in the desiccant flask and the pressure exerted by the desiccant, was developed. The water activity of pure water was measured over a range of nonadsorbing gas pressures and initial pressures in the desiccant flask. Standard deviations in aw of pure water calculated using no corrections, corrections for volume expansion only, and full corrections were 0.221, 0.011, and 0.005, respectively. Correction only for volume expansion may under some conditions result in larger errors than when no corrections are made at all. Based on the improved equation, an experimental modification which reduces loss of water from samples during measurement was proposed.
Bayesian Clustering of Animal Abundance Trends for Inference and Dimension Reduction

We consider a model-based clustering approach to examining abundance trends in a metapopulation. When examining trends for an animal population with management goals in mind one is often interested in those segments of the population that behave similarly to one another with respect to abundance. Our proposed trend analysis incorporates a clustering method that is an extension of the classic Chinese Restaurant Process, and the associated Dirichlet process prior, which allows for inclusion of distance covariates between sites. This approach has two main benefits: (1) nonparametric spatial association of trends and (2) reduced dimension of the spatio-temporal trend process. We present a transdimensional Gibbs sampler for making Bayesian inference that is efficient in the sense that all of the full conditionals can be directly sampled from save one. To demonstrate the proposed method we examine long term trends in northern fur seal pup production at 19 rookeries in the Pribilof Islands, Alaska. There was strong evidence that clustering of similar year-to-year deviation from linear trends was associated with whether rookeries were located on the same island. Clustering of local linear trends did not seem to be strongly associated with any of the distance covariates. In the fur seal trends analysis an overwhelming proportion of the MCMC iterations produced a 73–79 % reduction in the dimension of the spatio-temporal trend process, depending on the number of cluster groups.
Metabolism of canthaxanthin, a red diketocarotenoid, by chickens.

Abstract Canthaxanthin, (4,4′-diketo-β,β-carotene), a red carotenoid used to extend the dominant wavelength of the yellow pigments in the skin and egg yolk of chickens, was fed (70 μg/g diet) to chicks depleted of normal tissue oxycarotenoids. High performance liquid chromatography analysis of tissues from such chicks revealed that a portion of canthaxanthin was reduced to 4-hydroxyechinenone (4-hydroxy-4′-keto-β,β-carotene) that in turn was reduced in part to isozeaxanthin (4,4′-dihydroxy-β,β-carotene). The alcohols thus formed were acylated in part to 4-hydroxyechinenone monoester and isozeaxanthin monoester and diester. Individual metabolites were identified by retention times, ratios A470/A430, and stopped-flow spectral analyses, which were identical in each case to authentic standards. Ratios of canthaxanthin to metabolites varied with the tissue, but in general metabolites were concentrated in the integument.
Correlates of Specialty Substance Use Disorder Treatment Among Female Patients in the Veterans Health Administration

We examined patient- and facility-level correlates of specialty substance use disorder (SUD) outpatient treatment receipt (at least 1 visit) and engagement (visit count) for female Veterans Health Administration patients in 2008. Overall, 33% of 15,653 females with SUD received specialty SUD outpatient treatment. Treatment receipt and engagement were positively related to being age 31 to 55, having a psychiatric comorbidity, and receiving treatment at facilities providing women's services. Additional facility-level factors related to treatment receipt were treatment at a facility with comorbid psychiatric services and more licensed psychosocial treatment providers per patient. More prescribers per patient was associated with more treatment engagement.
In-Flight Gyro Drift Rate Calibration on the Viking Orbiters

The drift rates of the attitude control gyros onboard the Viking Orbiters were calibrated several times during flight. The calibration was performed by engaging the gyro control of attitude for a six-hour period, recording the Viking Orbiter coordinates of the sun and the roll reference star as a function of time, and processing these data by a computer program. The computer program calculated drift rates for each data increment, and then smoothed the calculated rate versus the time function for all the data on the basis of a Gauss-Markov gyro-drift model. The effects of data noise were minimized by using a relatively long time constant in the Gauss-Markov model and by empirically determining a set of corrections for celestial inertial scale factor error differences. In this way the rms error of the data fit was lessened.
Efficacy of 5-day continuous lidocaine infusion for the treatment of refractory complex regional pain syndrome.

Objective. Chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a severe pain condition that usually results from an injury or surgical procedure. The pain in CRPS often spreads from the site of injury, and with time becomes refractory to conventional therapy. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of 5-day continuous intravenous lidocaine treatment in patients afflicted with CRPS. Methods. Intravenous lidocaine was administered in an escalating dose schedule to 49 severely affected CRPS patients in a monitored setting over 5 days. Evaluation of pain parameters and other signs and symptoms of CRPS were obtained during the infusion and at 1, 3, and 6 months following therapy. Results. The majority of patients demonstrated a significant decrease in pain parameters and other symptoms and signs of CRPS. The pain reduction lasted an average of 3 months. Lidocaine may be particularly effective for thermal and mechanical allodynia. Less clinically significant effects were documented on the motor aspects of the syndrome. Discussion. Intravenous lidocaine administration titrated to 5 mg/L demonstrated: 1) a significant decrease in mechanical and thermal allodynia for three months, 2) lessened associated inflammatory components of CRPS, and 3) only minimal side effects and no severe complications.
Biomechanical effects of medial-lateral tibial tunnel placement in posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Abstract With most posterior cruciate (PCL) reconstruction techniques, the distal end of the graft is fixed within a tibial bone tunnel. Although a surgical goal is to locate this tunnel at the center of the PCL’s tibial footprint, errors in medial–lateral tunnel placement of the tibial drill guide are possible because the position of the tip of the guide relative to the PCL’s tibial footprint can be difficult to visualize from the standard arthroscopy portals. This study was designed to measure changes in knee laxity and graft forces resulting from mal-position of the tibial tunnel medial and lateral to the center of the PCL’s tibial insertion. Bone–patellar tendon–bone allografts were inserted into three separate tibial tunnels drilled into each of 10 fresh-frozen knee specimens. Drilling the tibial tunnel 5 mm medial or lateral to the center of the PCL’s tibial footprint had no significant effect on knee laxities; the graft pretension necessary to restore normal laxity at 90° of knee flexion (laxity match pretension) with the medial tunnel was 13.8 N (29%) greater than with the central tunnel. During passive knee flexion–extension, graft forces with the medial tibial tunnel were significantly higher than those with the central tunnel for flexion angles greater than 65° while graft forces with the central tibial tunnel were not significantly different than those with the lateral tibial tunnel. Graft forces with medial and lateral tunnels were not significantly different from those with a central tunnel for 100 N applied posterior tibial force, 5 N m applied varus and valgus moment, and 5 N m applied internal and external tibial torque. With the exception of slightly higher graft forces recorded with the medial tunnel beyond 65° of passive knee flexion, errors in medial–lateral placement of the tibial tunnel would not appear to have important effects on the biomechanical characteristics of the reconstructed knee.