cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adherence to Burn Center Referral Criteria: Are Patients Appropriately Being Referred?

The American Burn Association (ABA) has an established set of criteria for burn center referral to guide healthcare providers and improve patient outcomes. As U.S. healthcare becomes increasingly focused on improving quality of care (ie, pay-for-performance initiatives), assessing and monitoring the referral patterns to burn centers is critical in providing optimal burn care. Few studies have compared admission, treatment, and discharge patterns at burn centers and nonburn centers. Our goal was to compare practice and referral guidelines for patients with burn injuries by reviewing every discharge record in our state over a 2-year period. The study was conducted in a retrospective fashion using our state's hospital association patient database of International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision (ICD-9) discharge codes, querying 940.00 to 948.99, over the period of October 1, 2005, to September 30, 2007. Additional variables abstracted included the discharging hospital, outcome, race, gender, payor status, length of stay, procedures, and age. Adherence to referral criteria was established by comparing the discharge ICD-9 codes with the burn center referral criteria established by the ABA and American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma in Guidelines for the Operation of Burn Centers. Injury patterns were analyzed using the 2 burn centers in our state and the remaining 107 nonburn centers providing care to burn patients. A total of 2036 adult patients aged 18 to 106 years sustained burn injuries requiring hospital admission, and 1416 (70%) met ABA referral criteria based on ICD-9 codes. Of the 1084 patients treated at burn centers, 88% met referral criteria. Of the 952 burns treated entirely at nonburn centers, 48% met referral criteria but were not transferred. The most common burns treated at nonburn centers included injuries to the hand, wrist, face, neck, and lower extremity. The mean number of criteria met by patients treated at nonburn centers was 1.5, and all deaths occurring at nonburn centers met referral criteria. A significantly higher percentage of patients with Medicare were not transferred from nonburn centers (P < or = .00001), and a significantly higher percentage of patients were discharged to nursing homes as opposed to home (P = .01) from nonburn centers. Forty-seven percent of the patients sustaining burn injuries in our state receive all of their acute inpatient care at nonburn centers, and almost half of these met ABA burn center referral criteria. Given the disparity in discharge placement and immediate availability of burn specialists in our state, all patients meeting ABA referral criteria should be referred to burn centers. More focused outreach and education for initial providers may help improve access and referral to burn centers.
Face-name associative memory performance is related to amyloid burden in normal elderly.

Abstract Cerebral amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition occurs in a substantial fraction of cognitively normal (CN) older individuals. However, it has been difficult to reliably detect evidence of amyloid-related cognitive alterations in CN using standard neuropsychological measures. We sought to determine whether a highly demanding face-name associative memory exam (FNAME) could detect evidence of Aβ-related memory impairment in CN. We studied 45 CN subjects (mean age = 71.7 ± 8.8) with Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scores = 0 and MMSE ≥ 28, using Positron Emission Tomography with Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB PET). Memory factor scores were derived from a principal components analysis for FNAME name retrieval (FN-N), FNAME occupation retrieval (FN-O) and the 6-Trial Selective Reminding Test (SRT). Using multiple linear and logistic regression analyses, we related the memory factor scores to PiB distribution volume ratios (DVR, cerebellar reference) as either a continuous or a dichotomous variable in frontal cortex and a posterior cortical region representing the precuneus, posterior cingulate and lateral parietal cortices (PPCLP), co-varying for age and AMNART IQ (a proxy of cognitive reserve (CR)). A significant inverse relationship for FN-N was found with Aβ deposition in frontal ( R 2 = 0.29, β = −2.2, p = 0.02) and PPCLP cortices ( R 2 = 0.26, β = −2.4, p = 0.05). In contrast, neither FN-O nor the SRT were significantly related to Aβ deposition. Performance on a demanding test of face-name associative memory was related to Aβ burden in brain regions associated with memory systems. Associative memory for faces and names, a common complaint among older adults, may be a sensitive marker of early Aβ-related impairment.
CONSCIOUSNESS III: FACT OR FICTION?

Reich's tripartite theory of social consciousness, as formulated in his book, The Greening of America, was translated into quantitative Consciousness I, II, and III scales, based on a content analysis of pertinent chapters in the book. Subsequent order analysis of these scales indicated only two dimensions, as did factor analysis of the scores, along with Tellegen's Absorption and Authoritarianism scales and Tomkin's Polarity scale. Canonical correlations suggested that a substantial amount of variance in the consciousness scales can be accounted for by traditional conservative-liberal constructs.
Rank one chaos in a switch-controlled Chua's circuit

In this paper, we study the existence of strange attractors in a switch-controlled Chua's circuit. This circuit is obtained from the original Chua's circuit by adding externally controlled switches to it in such a way to modulate the system state variables. This investigation is conducted from the perspective of a recent chaos theory of rank one maps. The externally controlled switches are used for the purposes of realizing the general settings of the theory. Both synchronous and asynchronous switch control schemes providing periodic kicks in various directions are investigated, and their effects on the resulting chaotic attractors are discussed. The results of the numerical simulations presented are in close agreement with the expectations of the theory.
Limb anomalies in DiGeorge and CHARGE syndromes

Limb anomalies are not common in the DiGeorge or CHARGE syndromes. We describe limb anomalies in two children, one with DiGeorge and the other with CHARGE syndrome. Our first patient had a bifid left thumb, Tetralogy of Fallot, absent thymus, right facial palsy, and a reduced number of T-cells. A deletion of 22q11 was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The second patient, with CHARGE syndrome, had asymmetric findings that included right fifth finger clinodactyly, camptodactyly, tibial hemimelia and dimpling, and severe club-foot. The expanded spectrum of the DiGeorge and CHARGE syndromes includes limb anomalies.
Reduced Density Matrix Descriptions for Electromagnetically Induced Transparency and Related Pump-Probe Optical Phenomena in Atomic Systems

Reduced density matrix descriptions are developed for linear and non-linear electromagnetic interactions of moving atomic systems, taking into account applied magnetic fields. Atomic collision processes are treated as environmental interactions. Applications of interest include electromagnetically induced transparency and related pump-probe optical phenomena in atomic vapors. Time-domain (equation-of-motion) and frequency-domain (resolvent-operator) formulations are developed in a unified manner. The standard Born (lowest-order perturbation-theory) and Markov (short-memory-time) approximations are systematically introduced within the framework of the general nonperturbative and non-Markovian formulations. A preliminary semiclassical treatment of the electromagnetic interaction is introduced. However, the need for a fully quantum mechanical approach is emphasized. Compact Liouville-space operator expressions are derived for the linear and the general (n'th order) non-linear electromagnetic-response tensors occurring in a perturbation-theory treatment of the electromagnetic interaction. These expressions can be evaluated for coherent initial atomic excitations and for the full tetradic-matrix form of the Liouville-space self-energy operator representing the environmental interactions in the Markov approximation. Intense-field electromagnetic interactions can be treated by means of an alternative method, which is based on a Liouville-space Floquet representation of the reduced density operator. Collisional interactions between atoms in a vapor can be treated in various approximations for the self-energy operator and the influence of Zeeman coherences on the electromagnetic response can be incorporated.
Like and cross polarized reflections and transmission matrices for propagation across a chiral slab

Explicit expressions are derived for the like and cross linear polarized reflection and transmission coefficients in terms of the chiral parameter. Taylor series expansions of these coefficients are derived. The diagonal like polarized reflection and transmission coefficients are insensitive to the chiral properties of the material while the off diagonal cross polarized terms are proportional to the chiral parameter to first order. Continuity relations in and perpendicular to the plane of incidence for vertically and horizontally like and cross polarized waves, energy conservation and duality relations at a free space-chiral interface are satisfied. Applications for the optimal detection and identification of chiral materials such as drugs and biological or chemical threat agents are considered.
A Parent-Informed Framework of Treatment Engagement in Group-Based Interventions

Group-based interventions are effective and widely used with parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Family treatment research demonstrates that parental treatment engagement is a critical factor in determining intervention outcomes. At the present time, practitioners and researchers lack coherent conceptual frameworks of treatment engagement in group-based interventions. The purpose of this investigation was to explore the construct of treatment engagement and those factors that contribute to engagement in a group-based intervention for parents of children with ASD. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with parents who participated in a group-based intervention for parents of children with ASD. Interview questions elicited parents’ experiences throughout the intervention and the factors that either detracted from or promoted their treatment engagement. Qualitative analysis yielded seven thematic categories that are organized into a conceptual framework of treatment engagement in group interventions. Specifically, we suggest that intervention characteristics (practitioner behaviors and program logistics), relational factors (group dynamics and therapeutic alliance), and external barriers/daily stresses influence parents’ attitudinal and behavioral treatment engagement. These findings can assist practitioners who are designing and implementing group interventions to more effectively engage parents of children with ASD in treatment. The resulting framework also has important implications for the conceptualization and application of treatment engagement more broadly. Future directions for research are discussed.
Occlusion-aware reconstruction and manipulation of 3D articulated objects

We present a method to recover complete 3D models of articulated objects. Structure-from-motion techniques are used to capture 3D point cloud models of the object in two different configurations. A novel combination of Procrustes analysis and RANSAC facilitates a straightforward geometric approach to recovering the joint axes, as well as classifying them automatically as either revolute or prismatic. With the resulting articulated model, a robotic system is able to manipulate the object along its joint axes at a specified grasp point in order to exercise its degrees of freedom. Because the models capture all sides of the object, they are occluded-aware, enabling the robotic system to plan paths to parts of the object that are not visible in the current view. Our algorithm does not require prior knowledge of the object, nor does it make any assumptions about the planarity of the object or scene. Experiments with a PUMA 500 robotic arm demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach on a variety of objects with both revolute and prismatic joints.
Nonparametric inference for network data

Various theoretical concerns often require researchers to answer questions of the form does co‐membership in a group predict other ties between those individuals. Data appropriate for answering such a question often is referred to as network data. Network data exhibits row‐column dependencies that often invalidate traditional statistical methods for doing group comparisons such as analysis of variance and the Kruskal‐Wallis Procedure. Because of the positive dependence within rows/columns the significance probabilities of such traditional methods may be exaggerated. This paper uses restricted‐randomization to develop exact permutation tests for network data where co‐membership in groups can be specified a priori. This enables the nonparametric estimation of the significance of standard statistics for group‐difference tests and ordered‐alternative tests where the group orderings have been prespecified. These methods are demonstrated by examining three different data sets: Sampson's Monastery data, Carley's...
Heat enhancement of radiation resistivity of evaporated CsI, KI and KBr photocathodes

Abstract The photoemissive stability of as-deposited and heat-treated CsI, KI and KBr evaporated thin films under UV radiation is examined in this paper. After the deposition, some photocathodes were annealed for several hours at 90°C in vacuum and their performance was then compared to the performance of non-heated samples. We observed that the post-evaporation thermal treatment not only increases the photoyield of CsI and KI photocathodes in the spectral range of 115–190 nm, but also reduces CsI, KI and KBr photocurrent degradation that occurs after UV irradiation. KBr evaporated layers appeared to be more radiation-resistant than CsI and KI layers. Post-deposition heat treatment did not result in any significant variation of KBr UV sensitivity.
Correlation of effects of thyrotropin, prostaglandins and ions on glucose oxidation, cyclic-AMP, and colloid droplet formation in dog thyroid slices.

Abstract The in vitro effects of TSH, Prostaglandin A 1 , B 1 , E 1 , and F 1α and varying ionic content of the incubating medium were studied on glucose oxidation, cyclic 3′5′ adenosine monophosphate (cyclic-AMP) concentration, and colloid droplet formation in thyroid slices from dogs treated with thyroxine. Small doses (1 μg./ml.) of PGE 1 and TSH (5 mU/ml.) increase glucose oxidation, cyclic-AMP, and colloid droplet formation. PGF 1α (10 μg./ml.) increased glucose oxidation but had no or little effect on cyclic-AMP and colloid droplet formation, while higher doses (100 μg./ml.) did. Similarly, high doses of PGA 1 and B 1 increased glucose oxidation and colloid droplet formation but only PGA 1 may have increased cyclic-AMP. In calcium free buffers TSH stimulated colloid droplet formation and cyclic-AMP levels but not glucose oxidation. High K + Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer (144 mM) increased glucose oxidation, but had variable effects on cyclic-AMP concentrations. Effects on colloid droplet formation could not be evaluated because of morphologic distortions. These results are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that TSH and prostaglandins may regulate thyroid metabolism via the generation of cyclic-AMP
Lactate is a metabolic substrate that sustains extraocular muscle function

Lactic acid is considered the end product of glycolysis and is a major cause of muscle fatigue. However, the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) reaction is bidirectional: Lactate can be oxidized to pyruvate and used as a substrate for the Krebs cycle. Therefore, our hypothesis was that lactate sustains the contractile function of rat extraocular muscles during periods of increased activity. The study used extraocular and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles from adult Sprague–Dawley rats to determine LDH isoform expression, total LDH activity, and contractile function in vitro. To evaluate the role of lactate on fatigue, we tested the effect of cinnamate, a blocker of lactate transport, and exogenous lactate on fatigue resistance. Cinnamate accelerated fatigue in the extraocular muscles: Endurance and residual force decreased significantly. Conversely, cinnamate did not affect the endurance or residual force of EDL muscles. Replacing glucose with exogenous lactate increased EDL fatigability but had no effect on the extraocular muscles. However, the extraocular muscles fatigued faster when exposed to exogenous lactate combined with cinnamate. The LDH-A and LDH-C isoforms were expressed at lower levels in extraocular muscle; LDH-B was equally abundant in the EDL and extraocular muscles. Total LDH activity in the extraocular muscles was only approximately 32% of the level in EDL. These results support the hypothesis that lactate sustains the contractile performance of the extraocular muscles.
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten: How Dr. Seuss Reinforces Management Concepts and Promotes Community Citizenship:

The authors recommend that management educators add the works of Dr. Seuss to their repertoire of teaching tools. After describing why instructors should use Dr. Seuss’s stories to foster understan...
Animal models of intracranial aneurysms: targeting the extracranial versus intracranial circulation.

I have read, with great interest, a recently published article in the British Journal of Neurosurgery by Wang et al. titled ‘An improved elastase-based model to create a saccular aneurysm rabbit mo...
Computerized numeric proofreading for a linofilm phototypesetter

A specific application of computerized numeric proofreading applied to the third edition of Crystal Data is discussed. The four phases of the program are covered, along with results and conclusions. The study concludes that the merging of the character processing ability of computers and automatic typesetters will result in increased reliability and accuracy of technical publications.
Roles of mammography in the early detection of breast cancer.

The roles of mammography in early detection of breast cancer are many—both direct and indirect. Mammography appeals to the patient; it is the only procedure that consistently detects breast cancer prior to signs and symptoms. Mammography has proved to be a most valuable adjunctive diagnostic procedure in the management of die patient with breast disease. It continues to stimulate the team approach of the surgeon, radiologist, and pathologist with increased interest in breast cancer. Better treatment planning, increased knowledge about breast diseases—benign, malignant, and premalignant—and resultant better patient care are emerging. Mammography is giving every indication of adding to the control of breast cancer and eventually lowering mortality from this disease.
Measurement of Free Intracellular and Transfer RNA Amino Acid Specific Activity and Protein Synthesis in Rat Brain in vivo

Summary: Brain protein synthesis was measured in anesthetized adult, male Sprague-Dawley rats by an in situ internal carotid arterial perfusion technique using [3H]leucine. The specific activity of free intracellular leucine and of tRNA leucine were determined by HPLC separation of phenylisothiocyanate (PITC) derivatives of amino acids. The specific activity of the leucyl-tRNA pool rapidly equilibrated with the free intracellular leucine pool within 2 min. The specific activity of the tRNA and free leucine pools in brain reached equilibrium by 10 min. Plasma amino acid specific activity, however, remained threefold higher than the specific activity of tRNA and free leucine pools. Estimates of protein synthesis were 0.62 ± 0.06 nmoi/min/g and were constant between 10 and 30 min of perfusion. The in situ perfusion model for protein synthesis described is a controlled system suited to measurements of protein synthesis in brain that can be applied to the study of brain metabolism under changing physiological conditions.
Clinical Nutrition and Foodservice Personnel in Teaching Hospitals have Different Perceptions of Total Quality Management Performance

Abstract Objective To investigate the perceived total quality management (TQM) performance of their department by clinical nutrition managers and dietitians, and foodservice managers and supervisors, in hospital food and nutrition service departments. Design Using a 2-part questionnaire containing items about 3 constructs of TQM performance and demographic characteristics, participants rated their perceptions of TQM performance. Subjects Employees in 7 Council of Teaching Hospitals. Of the 128 possible respondents, 73 (57%) completed the study. Statistical analyses performed Correlation analysis to identify relationships between demographic characteristics and TQM performance. Analysis of variance to investigate statistical differences among hospitals and between subject groups and types of employment positions. Results Three TQM constructs—organization, information, and quality management—were evaluated. The clinical nutrition manager and dietitian group had mean ratings between 3.1 and 4.7 (5-point Likert scale); the foodservice manager and supervisor group had mean ratings from 2.7 to 4.0. Education level was significantly correlated ( r =0.44) to performance of employee training in the clinical nutrition group. The number of employees directly supervised was negatively correlated ( r =−0.21) to the performance of employee training in the foodservice group. Applications As the dynamic roles of dietitians change, many dietitians will occupy management positions in organizations such as restaurants, health food stores, food processing/distribution companies, and schools. This study demonstrates how a TQM survey instrument could be applied to clinical nutrition and foodservice settings. Dietitians will need to assess TQM in their workplace facilities, especially because of the direct links of TQM to productivity and client satisfaction. J Am Diet Assoc. 2000;100:1044-1049.
Mechanistically Distinct Steps in the Mitochondrial Death Pathway Triggered by Oxidative Stress in Cardiac Myocytes

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we characterize three distinct phases of the H 2 O 2 -induced response, which leads to loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ m ) and subsequent cell death in cultured cardiac myocytes. (1) Priming: After H 2 O 2 exposure (100 μmol/L), cells maintain a constant ΔΨ m for the cell-to-cell specific latency but at the same time undergo progressive changes in inner mitochondrial membrane structure (swelling and loss of cristae by electron microscopy). An increase of matrix calcium is required, but not sufficient, for this process. (2) Depolarization: Priming is followed by sudden depolarization of ΔΨ m , which is mediated by mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, as evidenced by the concomitant release of calcein from mitochondria. This process is rapid ( c into the cytoplasm, cells undergo surface membrane alterations, such as exposure of phosphatidylserine and eventual loss of membrane integrity and cellular fragmentation. Thus, oxidant stress elicits reproducible and stereotyped responses in cardiac cells. The priming phase, during which mitochondria undergo major ultrastructural alterations but remain functional, represents a particularly attractive target for intervention in the prevention of cell death.
Symptoms and signs of primary melanoma: important indicators of Breslow depth.

BACKGROUND Operative management of patients with cutaneous melanoma is guided primarily by the pathologic determination of Breslow depth. Differentiating early from more advanced melanoma is not always straightforward and may be complicated by pathologic misdiagnosis, inappropriate biopsy techniques, or poor specimen handling. Inconsistencies between the patient's history and the pathologist's interpretation may alert the physician to the possibility of misdiagnosis. In this setting, awareness of the signs and symptoms (S/S) of thin versus intermediate or deep melanoma may be helpful in guiding management. The authors performed a prospective evaluation of the S/S reported by patients who presented at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with invasive primary melanoma. METHODS The authors prospectively evaluated 369 patients with a detailed questionnaire regarding their S/S at the time of their initial visit. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to study the association between S/S reported by the patient and Breslow depth of the primary lesion, adjusting for gender, age, and anatomic site. Patients were grouped by the Breslow depth of their primary tumors into three categories for analysis: those with thin (≤ 1.0 mm), intermediate (1.0–4.0 mm), and thick (≥ 4.0 mm) lesions. RESULTS Gender, age, and primary site were not significantly predictive of increasing category of Breslow depth. Most patients reported at least one S/S (n = 278 [75%]). The most common S/S reported was an increase in size (n = 187 [51%]), followed by a change in color (n = 147 [40%]). Bleeding (n = 95 [26%]), lump (n = 86 [23%]), itching (n = 83 [22%]), skin breakdown (n = 66 [18%]), and pain (n = 24 [7%]) were less common. In a multivariate analysis, the S/S most strongly associated with an increased category of Breslow depth was bleeding (odds ratio [OR] 7.5), followed by pain (OR 3.3), lump (OR 2.2), itching (OR 1.9), and change in size (OR 1.7). The only S/Ss not independently associated with an increasing category of Breslow depth were a change in color and skin breakdown. The presence of one or more S/S was associated significantly with an increased category of Breslow depth of the primary melanoma (1 or 2 S/S vs. no S/S: OR, 4; ≥ 3 S/S vs. no S/S: OR, 24). CONCLUSION Most S/Ss of cutaneous melanoma are associated with an increasing risk of a deep primary lesion. Understanding this relationship can be valuable in patient management, especially when pathologic data are incomplete or inconsistent with the patient's history. Cancer 2003;98:344–8. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11513
A STOIC-based application language for muscle mechanics research.

Abstract An application language for the control and analysis of isolated cardiac muscle experiments is described. It is defined using an extensible language, STOIC (derived from FORTH), which consists of a set of basic operations called words. The basic words are readily combined to form higher level words which perform more complex operations. A suitable set of higher level words forms an application language. The resulting language (1) takes full advantage of system hardware capabilities, (2) is easily used by those with little programming experience, and (3) provides flexibility in a research environment where experimental protocols frequently change.
The performance of dogs in detecting α-ionone in the vapor phase

Concentration-response functions forα-ionone were established for four German shepherds (Figs. 3 and 4). The dogs were tested in a three choice behavioral apparatus (Fig. 2), and trained, by a restricted operant procedure, to establish an approach-avoidance discrimination between odor and air. Odorant concentrations were presented from an olfactometer calibrated by gas chromatography. Minimum detectable concentrations fell within the range 4.0×104.5–4.0×106.5 molecules/cm3. Concentration-response curves for three of the dogs show a clear double reversal in slope which is statistically significant and which divides the curve into a slowly descending upper limb, best fitted by a parabolic function, and a rapidly descending lower limb, best fitted by a cubic function (Figs. 5 and 6). There is evidence that this division might reflect a dual receptor mechanism. When performance during testing stabilized for a given concentration and the concentration was then lowered by a certain magnitude, the new performance level depended markedly on that magnitude. No evidence was found to suggest that adaptation to the test odor influenced performance. As defined by a differential threshold fraction (ΔFlow/Flow) one dog's ability to discriminate between differences in flow rate fell in the range 0.12–0.08.
The treatment of an abscess is

My last month of internship was spent in Chronic Surgery, well removed from the acute units but deliberately located several feet above the tuberculosis wards in a beautiful hill station. Acute Medicine housed patients with pneumonia, infectious hepatitis, severe anaemia, dysentery, amoebic liver abscess, and typhoid. Patients with acute abdominal pain, trauma, subacute intestinal obstruction (often caused by hyperinfestation with Ascaris lumbricoides ), and head injuries patronised Acute Surgery. A fractured skull caused by a falling coconut was one of the commonest reasons for admission. Patients with uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes as well as those convalescing from acute illnesses were placed in Chronic Medicine, while Chronic Surgery accommodated patients with slowly healing wounds and a variety of other illnesses that needed continuing care. Here I …
Hurricane disturbance and the regeneration of Lysiloma latisiliquum (Fabaceae): a tropical tree in south Florida

Large-scale catastrophic disturbances such as hurricanes may be critical events for the regeneration of late secondary canopy tree species. The impact of Hurricane Andrew, a severe Category 4 hurricane, on the tropical tree Lysiloma latisiliquum was examined in three south Florida subtropical forests along a gradient of hurricane disturbance (high, moderate, none). The population closest to the northern eye wall of the hurricane had the highest mortality and most severe structural damage while the population near the southern eye wall of the hurricane experienced less mortality and damage. Posthurricane reproduction was least in the disturbed sites while the undisturbed site had extensive reproduction in both 1993 and 1994. Average seed production was low due to seed predation by a bruchid beetle but some populations experienced spatial and temporal escape from this seed predator. Germination from a dormant seed bank occurred only at the most severely disturbed site in 1992. Seed germination was associated with both tip-up pits and high understory light levels. In experimental trials, fluctuating heat treatments for 5 days increased seed germination. Severe hurricane disturbance is believed to have triggered germination from a dormant seed bank through strong diurnal soil temperature fluctuations resulting from extensive canopy removal. In south Florida, the temporal and spatial dynamics of both hurricane and fire disturbance are predicted jointly to influence the population dynamics of this canopy tree species.
Patient selection—risk assessment and anatomical selection criteria for patients undergoing transfemoral aortic valve implantation

Currently percutaneous aortic valve replacement (PAVR) is indicated for patients at high surgical risk or for inoperable patients. Preprocedural evaluation is crucial to select the patients who will benefit the most and have the procedure done safely. This review will focus on risk assessment and the value of the available risk score systems, and on the screening process, which is the key for success in PAVR. Because of the large delivery system, careful evaluation of iliofemoral vessels is crucial. It is important to know the amount of atherosclerosis and plaque in the aortic arch and ascending aorta for potential risk for neurological events. Accurate measurement of aortic annulus diameter and coronary arteries origin before the procedure is important. Specific coexistent conditions can influence the procedure, such as left ventricular function or left ventricular hypertrophy with narrow outflow tract. Assessment of all these components is necessary for procedural planning of access approach, valve sizing, and deployment.
Unilateral tibial polyethylene liner failure in bilateral total knee arthroplasty--bilateral retrieval analysis at 8 years.

Abstract This is a report of a unique case of bilateral simultaneous total knee arthroplasties in which one tibial liner failed dramatically, whereas the other liner showed minimal evidence of wear. This unique case allows isolation of component factors as the primary contributing etiology to failure. The differentiating characteristic was the method of sterilization and the shelf life of the polyethylene liner. The insert that showed minimal wear was sterilized with γ radiation in a barrier package and had a shelf life of less than 1 year, whereas the insert that failed dramatically was sterilized in air and had a shelf life of more than 5 years. This case provides a dramatic example of the potential detrimental effects of manufacturing details on the performance of orthopedic implants, particularly polyethylene inserts.
Prothymosin alpha expression occurs during G1 in proliferating B or T lymphocytes.

To gain insight into possible functions for prothymosin alpha in the proliferative cycle of lymphocytes, we examined the kinetics of prothymosin alpha mRNA expression in mitogen stimulated murine lymphocytes. This mRNA increases after mitogen stimulation, peaking in mid G1. This kinetics is compatible with induction of the prothymosin alpha gene by the c-myc protein (Eilers, M., Schirm, S. and Bishop, J.M. (1991) EMBO J., 10, 133-141). Thus, although prothymosin alpha mRNA is found throughout the cell cycle, the elevated expression in G1 may be associated with an increased requirement for prothymosin alpha during the G1/S transition or the S phase of the cell cycle.
The size and shape of Kilauea Volcano's summit magma storage reservoir: a geochemical probe

One of the most important components of the magmatic plumbing system of Kilauea Volcano is the shallow (2‐4 km deep) magma storage reservoir that underlies the volcano’s summit region. Nevertheless, the geometry (shape and size) of Kilauea’s summit reservoir is controversial. Two fundamentally different models for the reservoir’s shape have been proposed based on geophysical observations: a plexus of dikes and sills versus a single, ‘spherical’ magma body. Furthermore, the size of the reservoir is poorly constrained with estimates ranging widely from 0.08 to 40 km 3 . In this study, we use the temporal variations of Pb, Sr, and Nd isotope and incompatible trace element (e.g., La=Yb and Nb=Y) ratios of Kilauea’s historical summit lavas (1790‐1982) to probe the geometry of the volcano’s summit reservoir. These lavas preserve a nearly continuous, 200-year record of the changes in the composition of the parental magma supplied to the volcano. The systematic temporal variations in lava chemistry at Kilauea since the early 19th century suggest that the shape of the volcano’s summit reservoir is relatively simple. Residence time analysis of these rapid geochemical fluctuations indicates that the volume of magma in Kilauea’s summit reservoir is only 2‐3 km 3 , which is smaller than most geophysical estimates (2‐40 km 3 ). This discrepancy can be explained if the volume calculated from lava chemistry represents the hotter, molten core of the reservoir in which magma mixing occurs, whereas the volumes estimated from geophysical data also include portions of the reservoir’s outer crystal-mush zone and a hot, ductile region that surrounds the reservoir. Although our volume estimate is small, the amount of magma stored within Kilauea’s summit reservoir since the early 19th century is an order of magnitude larger than the magma body supplying Piton de la Fournaise Volcano, another frequently active ocean-island volcano. © 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Oral vaccination with alginate microsphere systems

Abstract Oral vaccination is a simple, efficient way of inducing immunity at mucosal surfaces. The slow development of oral vaccines has been mainly due to the lack of suitable delivery systems. We have used hydrogel microspheres to deliver various vaccines to several animal species by oral administration. Oral delivery of vaccines using alginate microspheres elicited the production of secretory IgA (sIgA) at the mucosal surfaces in mice, rabbits, and cattle. Oral vaccination of chicken resulted in an increased delayed-type hypersensitivity, a cell-mediated immune response, indicating a positive response to the vaccine. Our studies have clearly shown that alginate microspheres are effective for the oral administration of vaccines.
Antagonistic and bargaining games in optimal marketing decisions

Game theory approaches to find optimal marketing decisions are considered. Antagonistic games with and without complete information, and non-antagonistic games techniques are applied to paired comparison, ranking, or rating data for a firm and its competitors in the market. Mix strategy, equilibrium in bi-matrix games, bargaining models with Shapley and Nash solutions are presented in examples from the market research field. The approaches considered are very convenient and can substantially enrich both theoretical and practical applications of game theory in marketing and advertising research.
Micro disc electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate: An application to the study of protein synthesis in individual, identified neurons

Abstract A micro disc acrylamide electrophoresis method in SDS is described that is sensitive at the 5 × 10−10 gm protein level, and has the resolution, sieving characteristics, and stability of conventional size SDS gels. Used in concert with isotope labeling experiments, this micro gel system is capable of analysis of patterns of protein synthesis of single cells. An application of this micro method to the analysis of protein synthesis in single, identified neurons is presented.
THEORIES OF NON‐PROFIT INSTITUTIONS

Abstract. As thoughtful modelling and empirical research of non-profit enterprises continues to grow, two general views of non-profit organizations are emerging: one view is that non-profit firms are inefficient and wasteful; another view is that non-profit firms are a response to market failure, and, thus, may improve efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to explore the theoretical and empirical work that represents the current divided state of thinking in this area.
An immunoablative regimen of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide prevents fully MHC-mismatched murine marrow graft rejection independent of GVHD.

Abstract The prevention of graft rejection in the setting of nonmyeloablative transplant approaches might be mediated by chemotherapy-induced host immunoablation and by the graft-promoting effects of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). To evaluate whether host immunoablation alone might allow for alloengraftment, we developed an F1-into-parent murine marrow rejection model using host preparative regimens of lethal total body irradiation (TBI; 950 cGy), sublethal irradiation (600 cGy), or combinations of fludarabine (Flu) and cyclophosphamide (Cy). A preparative regimen selectivity index (SI) was calculated to determine whether host lymphocytes were preferentially depleted relative to myeloid cells (SI = number of host myeloid/number host T lymphoid cells remaining after preparative regimen administration). Saline-treated recipients were assigned an SI value of 1.0. Recipients of lethal TBI had reduced myeloid cells relative to T cells (SI = 0.6). In contrast, all Flu/Cy regimens preferentially depleted host T cells: recipients of Flu (100 mg/kg per day)/Cy (50 mg/kg per day) for 10 days (SI = 28.1); recipients of Flu (100 mg/kg per day)/Cy (100 mg/kg per day) for 10 days (SI = 64.1); and recipients of Flu (100 mg/kg per day)/Cy (50 mg/kg per day) for 19 or 27 days (SI = 74.6). The 10-day regimen of Flu/Cy (50 mg/kg per day) did not severely reduce host T cell numbers, nor did it prevent F1 marrow rejection ( Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2000;6(2A):182-9.
Clinical pharmacology of the biological response modifier maleic anhydride divinyl ether copolymer (MVE-2).

The anionic pyran copolymers represent a novel class of high molecular weight biological response modifiers with antitumor activity. Clinical pharmacology studies were performed on MVE-2, a polymer with an average molecular weight of 15.5 Kd. MVE-2 was analyzed in plasma and urine by HPLC. In addition, pharmacology studies were also performed using [14C] labeled MVE-2. The clearance of unlabeled MVE-2 from plasma was monophasic and the t1/2 for MVE-2 was extremely short (between 10 and 26 min). The apparent volume of distribution (Vd) varied from 12–18 l. Both the t1/2 and the Vd did not appear to be dose-dependent. The plasma clearance for [14C] labeled MVE-2 was studied in seven patients. The clearance of [14C] labeled MVE-2 fit a biphasic mathematical model. The alpha phase half-life was between 11 and 18 min while the beta phase half-life was between 70 and 85 min. Urinary excretion for either unlabeled drug or the [14C] label was between 30 and 45% of the administered dose. These studies show that, in man, the polyanionic macromolecule MVE-2 is cleared rapidly from plasma and excreted extensively in urine.
Late Quaternary glacial and climatic history of northern Cumberland Peninsula, Baffin Island, N.W.T., Canada

Radiocarbon dates on molluses in marine facies associated with glacial deposits in northern Cumberland Peninsula indicate both main fiord (Laurentide) ice and local glaciers remained at their late Wisconsin maxima until ca. 8000 BP. Essentially continuous deglaciation followed; local corrie glaciers melted out by 7100 BP and by 5500 BP fiord glaciers had receded behind the present margin of the Penny Ice Cap. The Hypsithermal warm interval probably lasted from ca. 8000 to 5000 BP. Lichenometry and radiocarbon dates on peat and buried organic horizons delimit a detailed Neoglacial chronology. Of 46 outlet and corrie glaciers investigated, the oldest Neoglacial moraines are dated lichenometrically at 3200 ± 600 BP. Subsequent advances terminated immediately prior to ca. 1650, 780, 350, and 65 yr BP, the most recent of which marked the most extensive ice coverage during the Neoglacial. The highest occurrence of lateral moraines from late Wisconsin advances of local and Laurentide ice suggest that at the late Wisconsin glacial maximum, depression of snowline varied from 450 m below present at the coast to 350 m below present level in the vicinity of the Penny Ice Cap. Moraines, surrounded by glacial ice and lying above the present steady-state ELA, suggest that during the Hypsithermal snowline was up to ca. 200 m above its present elevation. A radiometrically controlled reconstruction of relative summer paleotemperatures for the postglacial derived independently of lichenometry agrees well with the lichenometric age dating of moraines. The data suggest that between ca. 1650 and 900 BP climatic conditions were unfavorable for glacier growth, whereas the period ca. 800-65 yr BP was one of general glacial activity. During the last decade permanent snow cover has been increasing in the area. Previously reported data on climatic trends in the Canadian Arctic based on palynological analyses are similar to the chronology reported here.
Effects of Uncertainty in Both Component Reliability and Load Demand on Multistate System Reliability

Considerable studies have been done on system reliability estimation under uncertainty. Most of these studies focus on binary-state systems, and the uncertainty source is only admitted in the component reliability estimation. The studies on multistate systems (MSSs) do exist, but these studies either completely ignore the uncertainty in load demand during the system operation period or are restricted to parallel system structures. This paper attempts to extend these previous studies and investigate the effects of uncertainty in both component reliability and load demand on system reliability for general MSSs with any series-parallel structures. Analytical expressions for calculating the expected value and the variance of system reliability considering these two sets of uncertainty factors are derived based on the universal generating function method in an iterative form. The accuracy of the proposed analytical approach is validated through Monte Carlo simulations. Various examples on a complex series-parallel MSS are used to investigate the effects of the two sets of uncertainty factors. The results indicate that these two sets of uncertainty factors affect the expected value and the variance of system reliability for MSSs in different ways.
A fast algorithm for the evaluation of heat potentials

A Fast Algorithm for the Evaluation of Heat Potentials (to appear in Communications and Pure and Applied Mathematics) L. Greengard J. Strain May, 1989 Abstract Numerical methods for solving the heat equation via potential theory have been hampered by the high cost of evaluating heat potentials. When M points are used in the discretization of the boundary and N time steps are computed, an amount of work of the order O(N 2 M 2 ) has traditionally been required. In this paper, we present an algorithm which requires an amount of work of the order O(N M ), and we observe speedups of five orders of magnitude for large-scale problems. Thus, the method makes it possible to solve the heat equation by potential theory in practical situations. Keywords: Heat Equation, Potential Theory, Fast Algorithms, Integral Equations Introduction A classical approach to the solution of the heat equation U t = ∆U Q T in a space-time domain Ω T = t=0 Ω(t) (see Fig. 1) is through the use of heat potentials [3, 7]. Given zero initial conditions, one seeks a representation of U as a single layer heat potential Z t Z Sµ(x, t) = K(x, x 0 , t − t 0 )µ(x 0 , t 0 ) dx 0 dt 0 Γ(t 0 ) or a double layer heat potential Dµ(x, t) = Z t Z Γ(t 0 ) ∂K (x, x 0 , t − t 0 )µ(x 0 , t 0 ) dx 0 dt 0 , ∂n 0 where K is a fundamental solution of the heat equation in some region containing Q Ω, n 0 denotes the unit T outward normal to Γ(t ) = ∂Ω(t ) at x , and µ is a surface density defined on Γ T = t=0 ∂Ω(t). ∗ Yale University and Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University. The work of this author was supported in part by the Office of Naval Research under Grant N00014-89-J-1527, in part by IBM under grant P00038437 and in part by a NSF Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship. † Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University. The work of this author was supported by DARPA/AFOSR Contract No. F-49620-87-C-0065.
Characterization of minienvironments in a clean room: Design characteristics and environmental performance

A minienvironment is normally used to maintain a level of stringent cleanliness through controlling particle concentrations within a tightened volume of clean spaces. Because minienvironments are expected to locally achieve a higher level of cleanliness than their adjacent clean room, it is important to understand the characteristics of their design and operation and effectiveness in environmental control. This paper presents findings from an in-situ study on a group of minienvironments, with the focus on characterizing and evaluating environmental performance of the minienvironments as part of a large-scale of in-situ investigation into the total performance of the minienvironments operating in a clean room. In particular, this paper summarizes design and operating characteristics and presents measured environmental performance of five minienvironments and the clean room that housed them. The study discovers that pressure differentials as low as under 0.2 Pa can be sufficient for achieving a high level of air cleanliness to meet environmental control expectation and requirements. Comparisons with relevant industry standards show that existing standards or guidelines may have been suggesting thresholds that are higher than necessary at least in some minienvironment applications. The paper suggests potential benefits from identifying and optimizing the required range of pressure differentials, and likely opportunities and challenges in improving the system's total performance through further studies and refining relevant standards.