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At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Multisecond oscillations in firing rate in the basal ganglia: robust modulation by dopamine receptor activation and anesthesia.

Multisecond oscillations in firing rate in the basal ganglia: robust modulation by dopamine receptor activation and anesthesia. Studies of CNS electrophysiology have suggested an important role for oscillatory neuronal activity in sensory perception, sensorimotor integration, and movement timing. In extracellular single-unit recording studies in awake, immobilized rats, we have found that many tonically active neurons in the entopeduncular nucleus (n = 15), globus pallidus (n = 31), and substantia nigra pars reticulata (n = 31) have slow oscillations in firing rate in the seconds-to-minutes range. Basal oscillation amplitude ranged up to +/-50% of the mean firing rate. Spectral analysis was performed on spike trains to determine whether these multisecond oscillations were significantly periodic. Significant activity in power spectra (in the 2- to 60-s range of periods) from basal spike trains was found for 56% of neurons in these three nuclei. Spectral peaks corresponded to oscillations with mean periods of approximately 30 s in each nucleus. Multisecond baseline oscillations were also found in 21% of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons. The dopamine agonist apomorphine (0.32 mg/kg iv, n = 10-15) profoundly affected multisecond oscillations, increasing oscillatory frequency (means of spectral peak periods were reduced to approximately 15 s) and increasing the regularity of the oscillations. Apomorphine effects on oscillations in firing rate were more consistent from unit to unit than were its effects on mean firing rates in the entopeduncular nucleus and substantia nigra. Apomorphine modulation of multisecond periodic oscillations was reversed by either D1 or D2 antagonists and was mimicked by the combination of selective D1 (SKF 81297) and D2 (quinpirole) agonists. Seventeen percent of neurons had additional baseline periodic activity in a faster range (0.4-2.0 s) related to ventilation. Multisecond periodicities were rarely found in neurons in anesthetized rats (n = 29), suggesting that this phenomenon is sensitive to overall reductions in central activity. The data demonstrate significant structure in basal ganglia neuron spiking activity at unexpectedly long time scales, as well as a novel effect of dopamine on firing pattern in this slow temporal domain. The modulation of multisecond periodicities in firing rate by dopaminergic agonists suggests the involvement of these patterns in behaviors and cognitive processes that are affected by dopamine. Periodic firing rate oscillations in basal ganglia output nuclei should strongly affect the firing patterns of target neurons and are likely involved in coordinating neural activity responsible for motor sequences. Modulation of slow, periodic oscillations in firing rate may be an important mechanism by which dopamine influences motor and cognitive processes in normal and dysfunctional states.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed2001

Amplification and linear summation of synaptic effects on motoneuron firing rate.

The aim of this study was to measure the effects of synaptic input on motoneuron firing rate in an unanesthetized cat preparation, where activation of voltage-sensitive dendritic conductances may influence synaptic integration and repetitive firing. In anesthetized cats, the change in firing rate produced by a steady synaptic input is approximately equal to the product of the effective synaptic current measured at the resting potential (I(N)) and the slope of the linear relation between somatically injected current and motoneuron discharge rate (f-I slope). However, previous studies in the unanesthetized decerebrate cat indicate that firing rate modulation may be strongly influenced by voltage-dependent dendritic conductances. To quantify the effects of these conductances on motoneuron firing behavior, we injected suprathreshold current steps into medial gastrocnemius motoneurons of decerebrate cats and measured the changes in firing rate produced by superimposed excitatory synaptic input. In the same cells, we measured I(N) and the f-I slope to determine the predicted change in firing rate (Delta F = I(N) * f-I slope). In contrast to previous results in anesthetized cats, synaptically induced changes in motoneuron firing rate were greater-than-predicted. This enhanced effect indicates that additional inward current was present during repetitive firing. This additional inward current amplified the effective synaptic currents produced by two different excitatory sources, group Ia muscle spindle afferents and caudal cutaneous sural nerve afferents. There was a trend toward more prevalent amplification of the Ia input (14/16 cells) than the sural input (11/16 cells). However, in those cells where both inputs were amplified (10/16 cells), amplification was similar in magnitude for each source. When these two synaptic inputs were simultaneously activated, their combined effect was generally very close to the linear sum of their amplified individual effects. Linear summation is also observed in medial gastrocnemius motoneurons of anesthetized cats, where amplification is not present. This similarity suggests that amplification does not disturb the processes of synaptic integration. Linear summation of amplified input was evident for the two segmental inputs studied here. If these phenomena also hold for other synaptic sources, then the presence of active dendritic conductances underlying amplification might enable motoneurons to integrate multiple synaptic inputs and drive motoneuron firing rates throughout the entire physiological range in a relatively simple fashion.

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed2002

Role of high-voltage activated potassium currents in high-frequency neuronal firing: evidence from a basal metazoan.

Certain neurons of vertebrates are specialized for high-frequency firing. Interestingly, high-frequency firing is also seen in central neurons in basal bilateral metazoans. Recently, the role of potassium currents with rightward-shifted activation curves in producing high-frequency firing has come under scrutiny. We apply intracellular recording, patch-clamp techniques, and compartmental modeling to examine the roles of rightward-shifted potassium currents in repetitive firing and shaping of action potentials in central neurons of the flatworm, Notoplana atomata (Phylum Platyhelminthes). The kinetic properties of potassium and sodium currents were determined from patch-clamp experiments on dissociated brain cells. To predict the effects of changing the steady-state and kinetic properties of these potassium currents, these data were incorporated into a computer model of a 30-microm spherical cell with the levels of current adjusted to approximate the values recorded in voltage-clamp experiments. The model was able to support regenerative spikes at high frequencies in response to injected current. Current-clamp recordings of cultured cells and of neurons in situ also showed evidence of very-high-frequency firing. Adjusting the ratio of inactivating to non-inactivating potassium currents had little effect upon the firing pattern of the cell or its ability to fire at high frequencies, whereas the presence of the non-inactivating current was necessary for repetitive firing. Computer simulations suggested that the rightward shift in voltage sensitivity confers a raised firing threshold, while rapid channel kinetics underlie high frequency firing, and the large activation range enhances the coding range of the cell.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1987

Chemical and toxicological characterization of residential oil burner emissions: I. Yields and chemical characterization of extractables from combustion of No. 2 fuel oil at different Bacharach Smoke Numbers and firing cycles.

Particulates and complex organic mixtures were sampled from the exhaust of a flame retention head residential oil burner combusting No. 2 fuel oil at three firing conditions: continuous at Bacharach Smoke No. 1, and cyclic (5 min on, 10 min off) at Smoke Nos. 1 and 5. The complex mixtures were recovered by successive Soxhlet extraction of filtered particulates and XAD-2 sorbent resin with methylene chloride (DCM) and then methanol (MeOH). Bacterial mutagenicity [see Paper II (8)] was found in the DCM extractables. Samples of DCM extracts from the two cyclic firing conditions and of the raw fuel were separated by gravity column chromatography on alumina. The resulting fractions were further characterized by a range of instrumental methods. Average yields of both unextracted particulates and of DCM extractables, normalized to a basis of per unit weight of fuel fired, were lower for continuous firing than for cyclic firing. For cyclic firing, decreasing the smoke number lowered the particulates emissions but only slightly reduced the average yield of DCM extractables. These and similar observations, here reported for two other oil burners, show that adjusting the burner to a lower smoke number has little effect on, or may actually increase, emissions of organic extractables of potential public health interest. Modifications of the burner firing cycle aimed at approaching continuous operation offer promise for reducing the amount of complex organic emissions. Unburned fuel accounted for roughly half of the DCM extractables from cyclic firing of the flame retention head burner at high and low smoke number. Large (i.e., greater than 3 ring) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were not observed in the DCM extractables from cyclic firing. However, nitroaromatics, typified by alkylated nitronaphthalenes, alkyl-nitrobiphenyls, and alkyl-nitrophenanthrenes were found in a minor subfraction containing a significant portion of the total mutagenic activity of the cyclic low smoke samples (8). Oxygen-containing PAH, typified by phenalene-1-one and its alkyl derivatives, are important mutagens from cyclic firing at high smoke conditions. Thus, oil burner effluents differ markedly from those of several other combustors, including the automotive diesel engine, where multiring PAH, typified by fluoranthene and alkylated phenanthrenes, account for a significant portion of the effluent mutagenicity. Implications for combustion and emissions source identification are discussed.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1999

[Influence of firing times and temperature on color stability of low-fusing porcelains for high-functional gold alloys].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of firing conditions on color stability. Three commercially available porcelains for high functional gold alloys, Carrara (CA), Deguceram Gold (DE) and Duceragold (DU) were used. In this study color stability was investigated under fire treatment of 1st, 3rd, 5th times and firing temperatures of 0, 20, and 40 degrees C higher than the manufactures standard temperature (CA: 845 degrees C, DE: 780 degrees C, DU: 780 degrees C). L* was degreased in CA 5 times, DE 3 times, DU by repeated firing. No difference was observed among L* of firing temperatures DE and DU, but L* was degreased in CA with firing temperatures of 40 degrees C higher. a* was degreased in CA, DU, DE with repeated firing, a* was degreased 5 times at firing temperatures of higher. b* was degreased in DU, but b* was increased in CA and DE with 5 firings. b* was increased with 5 findings at firing temperatures of 40 degrees C higher.

Color↗
PubMed2001

A demographic analysis of fire-stimulated seedling establishment of Sarracenia alata (Sarraceniaceae).

Recurring fires are thought to be critical to maintaining populations of carnivorous plants in wet pine savannas. Nevertheless, the impact of fire on population dynamics of these unique and sometimes rare plants is poorly understood. In this study, I analyzed stage-structured matrices for Sarracenia alata. To examine the effects of fire-stimulated increases in seedling establishment, five matrices were constructed, which differed in fecundity rates associated with different fire frequencies (annual fires, 1/3, 1/7, 1/20, and 0/20 yr). In addition, I analyzed the sensitivity of population growth and dynamics to changes in other vital rates. Fire-stimulated increases in fecundity were not necessary to maintain viable populations of Sarracenia alata. Although increases in fecundity increased population growth rate, all five fire frequencies (including the "no-fire" scenario) produced either stationary or increasing populations. Adding year-to-year stochasticity in vital rates did not alter these general trends. Population growth and decline were much more sensitive to reductions in the survival of large adult ramets (which were projected to have a life expectancy of 59 yr). Population growth was also more sensitive to changes in juvenile persistence than to juvenile growth, suggesting that conservative use of captured resources by juveniles has a greater impact on fitness than rapid growth and maturation. Given that a previous study showed that modest variation in fire frequency had no impact on either adult or juvenile survival, I conclude that Sarracenia alata relies on fire-regulated plasticity in allocation to pitchers to increase the survival and lifetime fecundity of iteroparous ramets.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

Distinct firing patterns of neuronal subtypes in cortical synchronized activities.

Cortical neurons, especially GABAergic interneurons, are composed of very diverse subtypes. It remains to be investigated whether each subtype shows a unique firing pattern during the synchronized activities generated by the intracortical circuit. By lowering extracellular Mg(2+) in vitro, we induced NMDA receptor-dependent spontaneous activities in the rat frontal cortex at 30 degrees C. After a series of spontaneous depolarization shifts, the long bursts occurred. The long bursts were composed of initial discharges and fast run-like potentials (FRLP) (4-10 Hz). Large inhibitory currents were induced at the initial discharge. After the strong inhibition decreased, the FRLP started. However, the periodical inhibition survived during the FRLP. At each phase of the synchronized activities, cortical neuron types exhibited distinct firing patterns. Pyramidal cells increased firing frequency periodically up to approximately 25-55 Hz during the FRLP cycles. Fast-spiking (FS) cells fired at the highest frequency in the initial discharge, up to 400 Hz, and could continue firing faster than 200 Hz for several seconds. In the FRLP, the firing frequency of FS cells rhythmically increased up to 150 Hz. In contrast, large cholecystokinin basket cells fired, very similarly to pyramidal cells, at each phase. Somatostatin and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide cells fired faster than pyramidal cells at the initial discharge, but showed the similar firings to pyramidal cells during the FRLP. The firing patterns of cortical neurons are not only determined by the strength and temporal pattern of synchronized inputs but also strongly dependent on the neuronal subtype with specific physiological, chemical, and morphological characteristics.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1992

The positional firing properties of medial entorhinal neurons: description and comparison with hippocampal place cells.

Hippocampal place cells in the rat are so named because they fire predominantly within circumscribed regions of the environment. This study describes the positional firing properties of cells afferent to hippocampal place cells, in superficial layers of medial entorhinal cortex (MEC). MEC cells in these layers project to the hippocampus via the perforant path and, along with lateral entorhinal cells, are the sole route by which cortical information reaches the hippocampus. MEC cells were recorded from rats while they retrieved pellets in simple geometric enclosures. The behavioral task as well as procedures for data collection and analysis were the same used in previous studies on hippocampal place cells (e.g., Muller et al., 1987) in order to facilitate the direct comparison between hippocampal and entorhinal cells. The firing patterns of MEC cells show pronounced locational variations reminiscent of hippocampal firing fields, but with a lower signal-to-noise ratio. While noisy, MEC firing patterns are stationary in time as evidenced by their reproducibility, and the improvement in spatial signal with long-duration recordings. Furthermore, MEC firing patterns are not due to variations in the rat's behavior. Taken together, these data show that the positional firing variations in MEC cells are due to the location-specificity of MEC cells. These and additional data lead us to conclude that location-specific information exists prior to the hippocampus. MEC cells are similar to hippocampal place cells in that their firing can be controlled by the rotation of a visual cue (a white card attached to the wall), but is not disrupted by removing the cue. An important difference between hippocampal and entorhinal cells was seen when the shape of the recording chamber was changed. In the transition from a cylinder to an equal-area square of similar appearance, MEC firing patterns topologically transformed (or "stretched") while those of hippocampal place cells changed to an unpredictable pattern. We conclude that the positional firing of MEC cells is more "sensory bound" than hippocampal cells, and that the ability to discriminate different environments, while present in the hippocampus, is not yet present in its input from MEC.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Motor activity in the isolated spinal cord of the chick embryo: synaptic drive and firing pattern of single motoneurons.

The cellular mechanisms underlying embryonic motility were investigated using intracellular recording from motoneurons and electrotonic recording from muscle nerves during motor activity generated by an isolated spinal cord preparation of 12- to 15-d-old chick embryos. DC-coupled recordings from sartorius (a flexor) and femorotibialis (an extensor) muscle nerves revealed that both sets of motoneurons were depolarized at the same time in each cycle even when the motoneurons fired out of phase. Sartorius motoneurons fired briefly on the rising phase of the depolarization and then stopped firing before discharging a second burst of spikes as the depolarization decayed. By contrast, femorotibialis motoneurons fired at the peak of their depolarization, which was coincident with the interruption in sartorius activity. Intracellular recordings from antidromically identified motoneurons confirmed that flexor and extensor motoneurons were depolarized at the same time during each cycle of activity. The discharge of femorotibialis motoneurons, and others presumed to be extensors, followed changes in membrane potential so that maximal firing occurred during peak depolarization. The relationship between discharge and membrane potential was different in sartorius motoneurons (and in others presumed to be flexors) because they fired briefly on the rising phase of the depolarization and then stopped firing during peak depolarization. In some of these cells firing resumed as the membrane potential decayed back to rest. Intracellular injection of depolarizing current into sartorius motoneurons during motor activity reversed the direction of the membrane potential change from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing during the pause in sartorius discharge. In addition, the discharge evoked by the depolarizing current was blocked during the reversed part of the synaptic potential revealing its inhibitory nature. The occurrence of the IPSP was accompanied by a large reduction in motoneuronal input impedance. Injection of depolarizing current steps into motoneurons produced steady firing with no evidence of a pause in discharge, indicating that the depolarization accompanying synaptic activity was not responsible for the pause in firing of flexor motoneurons. These results suggest that flexor and extensor motoneurons receive a similar depolarizing drive from a common set of excitatory premotor interneurons. The alternating pattern of flexor and extensor discharge is produced, in part, by the timing of a depolarizing IPSP coincident with extensor activity that silences flexor discharge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1981

Cyclic AMP, morphine, met-enkephalin and neuronal firing.

Extracellular recordings were made of spontaneous neuronal firing and of nociceptive stimulus-evoked neuronal firing in the mesencephalic reticular formation of the rat. Microiontophoretically administered morphine and met-enkephalin blocked the nociceptive stimulus-evoked neuronal firing of some neurons in the mesencephalic reticular formation; naloxone antagonized the effects of morphine and met-enkephalin. In neurons in which morphine and met-enkephalin blocked the nociceptive stimulus-evoked firing, the microiontophoretic administration of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (cAMP), 8-bromo cAMP and Ro 20,1724 (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor) consistently (96%) reversed this blockade of evoked firing. The effects of dibutyryl cAMP were specific, because butyrate and 5'-AMP, possible metabolites of the cAMP analog, reversed the blockade by morphine and met-enkephalin of the nociceptive stimulus-evoked neuronal firing much less frequently (29%). These result support the hypothesis that the occupation of opiate receptors triggers an inhibition of the enzyme, adenylate cyclase, as a mechanism of action. The cAMP analogs excited the spontaneous firing in only 60% of the neurons in which they reversed the opioid blockade of pain-evoked firing. This suggests that the mechanism of action of the cAMP analogs on spontaneous firing may differ from that on pain-evoked firing.

4-(3-Butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone↗
PubMed1995

Activation of dopamine cell firing by repeated L-DOPA administration to dopamine-depleted rats: its potential role in mediating the therapeutic response to L-DOPA treatment.

The administration of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) to patients with Parkinson's disease is known to produce acute effects that include the reduction of rigidity as well as delayed therapeutic actions involving the resumption of complex motor behavior. In order to examine the potential role of dopamine (DA) cell activity in mediating these responses, the effects of acute and repeated L-DOPA administration on the electrophysiological activity of the residual dopamine (DA) neurons were examined in rats that had received partial 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced DA lesions. DA cell activity was assessed along three dimensions: (1) the relative proportion of DA neurons exhibiting spontaneous spike firing, (2) their basal firing rate, and (3) their firing pattern. Following 6-OHDA-induced DA depletion, rats were treated for 1 month with saline or L-DOPA. In addition, rats from each group received either an acute injection of L-DOPA or saline on the day of recording. In rats receiving repeated saline treatment, the DA neurons recorded following acute L-DOPA administration were firing at significantly slower basal firing rates and exhibited less burst firing when compared to saline-pretreated rats given acute saline. In contrast, DA cells recorded from rats that had received repeated L-DOPA administration for 4 weeks followed by an acute saline injection did not exhibit any significant differences from DA cells of intact control rats with respect to basal firing rate or firing pattern; however, there was a substantial increase in the proportion of DA neurons exhibiting spontaneous spike firing after correcting for 6-OHDA-induced cell loss. In addition, in rats receiving repeated L-DOPA treatment, the DA cells recorded following acute administration of L-DOPA showed significantly less of a reduction in firing rate when compared to the cells recorded following acute L-DOPA in the saline treatment group. These results show that: (1) acute L-DOPA administration appears to exert its actions by DA autoreceptor stimulation, whereas (2) repeated L-DOPA administration increases the proportion of spontaneously active DA neurons in partially lesioned rats. As a result, repeated L-DOPA administration would be expected to cause an increase in spike-dependent DA release as a consequence of the greater proportion of DA cells showing spontaneous activity. This may be the major factor underlying the delayed therapeutic benefits of L-DOPA therapy in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Fire safety in health care facilities.

All healthcare facilities must have a plan for the protection of all persons on their premises and for their evacuation from the building in case of fire. Written copies of this plan must be available to all supervisory personnel. All employees must periodically trained and informed of their duties in implementing the plan. All beds must be easily movable should evacuation be necessary. Emphasis should be placed on moving patients who are in he room of fire origin and others who are directly exposed to the fire, and on maintaing in their rooms the patients who are not immediately threatened during the fire. Fire exist drills must include actual transmission of a fire alarm signal alongwith a simulation of a fire alarm signal alongwith a simulation of a fire alarm signal alongwith a simulation of a fire condition. Quarterly drills on all shifts are required. All personnel including administrative staff, maintenance personnel and internal must be trained, as well as the nurses on duty each shift. A minimum of 12 drills must behold each year. All employees must be instructed in life safety procedures and use of devices.

Building Codes↗
PubMed1998

Fatal residential fires: who dies and who survives?

CONTEXT: The United States has one of the highest fire fatality rates in the developed world, and three quarters of these deaths are in residential fires. OBJECTIVE: To compare characteristics of those who die and those who survive in the same residential fire. DESIGN: Data on fatal residential fires were collected from the medical examiner and interviews with local fire officials. SETTING: North Carolina. SUBJECTS: Persons in residential fires with at least 1 fatality in a 1-year period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Dying vs surviving a fatal residential fire that occurred with more than 1 person at home. RESULTS: Of the 190 decedents, 124 (65%) were male, 78 (41%) were home alone, and 69 (53%) of 130 adults who had blood alcohol measured were intoxicated (blood alcohol content >22 mmol/L [100 mg/dL]). Of the 254 persons present during fires in which more than 1 person was at home, 112 died. Individuals more likely to die (high-vulnerability group) were younger than 5 years or 64 years or older, had a physical or cognitive disability, or were impaired by alcohol or other drugs (risk of death for group, odds ratio [OR], 4.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.29-7.03). The presence of an adult with no physical or cognitive disabilities who was unimpaired by alcohol or other drugs (a potential rescuer) reduced the risk of death in the high-vulnerability group (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.24-0.99) but not the low-vulnerability group. Overall, a functioning smoke detector lowered the risk of death (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.18-0.83). CONCLUSIONS: Smoke detectors were equally effective in both low- and high-vulnerability populations. The high-vulnerability group was more likely to survive if, in addition to a smoke detector, a potential rescuer was present. Further research should seek to identify prompts that facilitate speedy egress from a burning structure and that can be incorporated into residential fire alarm systems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Cohort mortality study of Seattle fire fighters: 1945-1983.

Fire fighters are known to be occupationally exposed to many toxic substances. However, the limited number of previous studies has not demonstrated any consistent excess mortality from diseases of a priori concern, such as lung cancer, non-malignant respiratory disease, and cardiovascular disease. We studied 2,289 Seattle fire fighters from 1945 through 1983, and observed 383 deaths. Excess mortality from leukemia (SMR = 503, n = 3) and multiple myeloma (SMR = 989, n = 2) was observed among fire fighters with 30 years or more fire combat duty. Lung cancer mortality was elevated (SMR = 177, n = 18) among fire fighters 65 years old or older. We also analyzed the data by considering fire fighters at risk only after 30 years from first exposure. In this analysis, a trend of increasing risk with increasing exposure was observed for diseases of the circulatory system. For this cause of death, fire fighters with 30 years or more fire combat duty had a relative risk of 1.84 compared to those with less than 15 years of fire combat duty.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1992

The short-term effects of a fire safety education program for the elderly.

The high risk of fire death and injury among elderly people is well documented. To be effective, fire safety education must reach older adults in the settings in which they reside: nursing homes and other long-term care institutions, board and care homes, and independent living facilities including the person's own home. Training must also be targeted at the people who are responsible for fire safety. In the case of the nursing home or board and care home, the responsible people are the staff and owners. In the case of the majority of older adults who live independently in their homes, it is either the individual or family members. These programs must also be comprehensive. A fire safety education curriculum was developed by a group of experts in a variety of related fields including fire safety, gerontology, health care industry, developmental disabilities, research, and instructional design. Older adults were included in each planning session. Based on that curriculum, workshops and workshop materials were developed for each of the three target populations: staff of health care facilities, staff and owners of board and care homes, and elderly people living independently in their homes. Materials included both print and audiovisuals. A pilot test of each workshop was conducted to test the short-term effects of the programs. Results indicated significant gains in knowledge for all groups and a significant improvement in positive attitudes toward fire safety for most participants. Measures of effects of the programs on intentions to change fire safety practices indicated a potential for change. Results also showed that the measured traits, knowledge of fire safety and attitudes toward fire safety, were relatively stable.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Surgical fires--learn not to burn.

Consequences of a surgical fire can be deadly. Fires can occur in any setting where invasive procedures are performed. The basic principle to remember is that people start most fires, and people can prevent them. Fire safety training is essential so that staff members recognize the elements of the fire triangle and how these elements come together every day in their practice. Fire drills are an important aspect of this training. Education also must include review of written policies and procedures on fire safety and prevention. Staff members must learn how to respond to and fight fires on or in the patient. Fire safety and prevention must be a priority for managers and staff members.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2004

Fire in the OR--prevention and preparedness.

Fires in the OR can be devastating to patients, surgical team members, facilities, and communities. Every OR contains the ingredients necessary to start a fire. Education is the key to fire prevention and preparedness. Perioperative staff members can be taught how to prevent the components of the fire triad from converging to start a fire and how to handle a fire if one occurs. A scenario is described to illustrate how a fire plan and fire drill were implemented in one facility. Steps in planning a fire drill and valuable evaluation forms also are presented.

Disaster Planning↗
PubMed2004

Fire-related changes in biomass of hypogeous sporocarps at foraging points used by a tropical mycophagous marsupial.

Changes in pre- and post-fire biomass of hypogeous fungal sporocarps remaining at locations where an endangered mycophagous marsupial, the northern bettong (Bettongia tropica), had foraged, were assessed in fire-prone sclerophyll forest in northeastern Australia. Low to medium intensity experimental fires were set during the late dry season in 1995 and 1996 and post-foraging biomass of sporocarps (expressed as biomass of sporocarps remaining at recent B. tropica diggings) was measured at unburnt and burnt sites at approximately six-week intervals for a period of 14 months. Post-foraging biomass was significantly higher at burnt sites immediately following fire compared with control sites, solely due to increased biomass of hypogeous species belonging to the family Mesophelliaceae. Several months after fire, post-foraging biomass was significantly higher on unburnt sites compared with very low biomass on burnt sites. Twelve months after fire, the biomass on burnt and unburnt sites was not significantly different, having returned to biomass observed pre-fire. All evidence points toward mesophellioid fungi being greatly more available to bettongs on recently burnt ground, but fire may make several other sporocarp taxa considerably less available several months following fire.

Animals↗