Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Subarachnoid Lidocaine and Phenylephrine on Spinal Cord and Cerebral Blood Flow in Dogs

To investigate the central nervous system circulation during spinal anesthesia, local spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) were measured simultaneously by the hydrogen clearance technique following subarachnoid lidocaine, phenylephrine, or a combination of both. The mean control values of SCBF and CBF were 22.4 ± 7.9 ml.100 g−1·min−1 and 53.1 ± 12.0 ml·100 g−1·min−1, respectively, in dogs lightly anesthetized with halothane.The subarachnoid administration of lidocaine solutions (1, 2, 3, and 5%), 1 ml, failed to produce statistically significant changes in SCBF (P > 0.05). Whereas, when phenylephrine (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5%), 1 ml, was injected into the spinal subarachnoid space, SCBF decreased significantly with concentrations greater than 0.2% (P < 0.05). When a mixture of lidocaine (24 mg) and phenylephrine (1 mg) was administered into the subarachnoid space, SCBF decreased significantly and returned to control within 60–90 min. CBF did not change significantly with any of the injections, remaining within less than ±12% of control. Dextrose solutions in water (5 and 7.5%), which were used for dilution of the drugs, did not affect either SCBF or CBF. These results indicate that local spinal cord blood flow can be affected significantly during spinal anesthesia when phenylephrine is added to the local anesthetic solution. However, the circulatory effects of drugs injected into the spinal subarachnoid space appear to be restricted to the local spinal cord per se and do not involve other parts of the CNS.
Hiring, Pay, Promotion and Job Security in an Internal Labor Market: Evidence from the Union Bank of Australia

This paper uses the personnel and payroll records of the Union Bank of Australia to examine its personnel policies. It is shown that the bank maintained all of the classic internal labor market features described by Doeringer and Priore and others. There were restrictions on ports of entry; internal promotion was preferred to external hiring; there was a long-term relationship between the bank and its employees, frequently lasting the entire career; the bank maintained rigid, impersonal rules concerning pay raises; wages and employment were shielded from the external labor market; and tenure was more important than outside experience or current productivity in determining wages. Finally, it is shown that neither unions or public policy provided the impetus for the bank to adopt an internal labor market, rather it was designed to mitigate agency problems, reduce turnover, and screen employees.
Cloning and Characterization of IL-22 Binding Protein, a Natural Antagonist of IL-10-Related T Cell-Derived Inducible Factor/IL-22

The class II cytokine receptor family includes the receptors for IFN-αβ, IFN-γ, IL-10, and IL-10-related T cell-derived inducible factor/IL-22. By screening genomic DNA databases, we identified a gene encoding a protein of 231 aa, showing 33 and 34% amino acid identity with the extracellular domains of the IL-22 receptor and of the IL-20R/cytokine receptor family 2-8, respectively, but lacking the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. A lower but significant sequence identity was found with other members of this family such as the IL-10R (29%), cytokine receptor family 2-4/IL-10Rβ (30%), tissue factor (26%), and the four IFN receptor chains (23–25%). This gene is located on chromosome 6q24, at 35 kb from the IFNGR1 gene, and is expressed in various tissues with maximal expression in breast, lungs, and colon. The recombinant protein was found to bind IL-10-related T cell-derived inducible factor/IL-22, and to inhibit the activity of this cytokine on hepatocytes and intestinal epithelial cells. We propose to name this natural cytokine antagonist IL-22BP for IL-22 binding protein.
Phishing and Countermeasures: Understanding the Increasing Problem of Electronic Identity Theft

Phishing and Counter-Measures discusses how and why phishing is a threat, and presents effective countermeasures. Showing you how phishing attacks have been mounting over the years, how to detect and prevent current as well as future attacks, this text focuses on corporations who supply the resources used by attackers. The authors subsequently deliberate on what action the government can take to respond to this situation and compare adequate versus inadequate countermeasures.
Stable baseline correction of digital strong-motion data

Most baseline errors of analog strong-motion data still exist in highresolution data. In this study, we identify the major baseline errors of digital strong-motion data and propose a three-step algorithm to correct these errors. The major baseline errors found in these digital data consist of constant drift in the acceleration, low-frequency instrument noise, low-frequency background noise, the small initial values for acceleration and velocity, and manipulation errors. This threestep algorithm includes fitting the baseline of acceleration by the least squares, applying a high-pass filter in acceleration, and subtracting the initial values in velocity. A least-squares fit of a straight line before filtering can effectively remove the baseline drift in acceleration. Then, the filtering removes the linear trend and other low-frequency errors that exist in the acceleration. Finally, the subtracting of the initial velocity removes the linear trend of displacement. Among these three steps, only the filtering in the second step may introduce a side effect. Compared to the Volume II routine developed by Trifunac and Lee (1973), this three-step processing significantly reduces computational efforts and side effects resulting from unnecessary manipulation of data. This algorithm has been successfully tested on several types of digital strong-motion data. Several independent validations show that the proposed algorithm is stable.
Rifampicin and treatment of cholestatic pruritus

Prince et al described three patients with primary biliary cirrhosis who developed hepatotoxicity when given rifampicin to treat their cholestatic pruritus ( Gut 2002; 50 :436–9). They describe the use of rifampicin as “secondline” treatment of cholestatic pruritus. Firstline therapy is generally considered to be cholestyramine, a bile acid sequestrant. Use of this agent is frequently unsatisfactory because of gastrointestinal side effects, especially constipation. I am writing to summarise new evidence that retention of endogenous bile acids causes cholestatic pruritus, and to call attention to a recent abstract indicating that colesevalem, a new bile acid sequestrant, appears to be more potent than cholestyramine and does not induce constipation. The view that bile acid retention causes pruritus is a very old one. Varco1 in 1947 noted that biliary drainage reduced pruritus in patients with extrahepatic biliary obstruction and that when bile was fed to patients, their pruritus returned. Huet and colleagues2 reported that biliary drainage improved cholestatic pruritus in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis. Administration of cholestyramine, an anion exchange resin with a strong affinity …
Orientation Specificity and Spatial Selectivity in Human Vision

An adaptation method is used to determine the orientation specificity of channels sensitive to different spatial frequencies in the human visual system. Comparison between different frequencies is made possible by a data transformation in which orientational effects are expressed in terms of equivalent contrast (the contrast of a vertical grating producing the same adaptational effect as a high-contrast grating of a given orientation). It is shown that, despite great variances in the range of orientations affected by adaptation at different spatial frequencies (±10° to ±50°), the half-width at half-amplitude of the orientation channels does not vary systematically as a function of spatial frequency over the range tested (2·5 to 20 cycles deg−1). Two subjects were used and they showed significantly different orientation tuning across the range of spatial frequencies. The results are discussed with reference to previous determinations of orientation specificity, and to related psychophysical and neurophysiological phenomena.
Design of a novel band-pass compact microstrip filter for UWB applications

A new Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Band-Pass Filter (BPF) for UWB applications is studied in this paper. The filter is based on ring resonator with interdigital coupling at both sides. The interdigital coupling is used to providing strong coupling and to introduce capacitance effect to achieve at pass-band response. The proposed filter is printed on a dielectric substrate of FR4 with relative permittivity (εr) of 4.4 and thickness of 1.6 mm. This filter has 3-dB fractional bandwidth of more than 91% and low group delay, which is made this BPF filter suitable for ultrawideband wireless communication.
Intra-Labour Strategic Commitment

This thesis explores a strategic investment motive for the choice of skilled labour (management). Using the case study of department store competition, we argue that management is an observable and irreversible input. This allows firms to use it to obtain a first-mover advantage in oligopolistic interactions. We find that, given complementarities of labour inputs, firms will hire excess management relative to the cost-minimising input bundle. This idea is first illustrated with a simple two-stage example. We then show that over-management also holds in a more realistic setting with infinitely-lived firms facing finite adjustment costs.
Multiple organ involvement during experimental cytomegalovirus infection is associated with disseminated vascular pathology

Since much of the pathogenesis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is still unknown and vascular involvement may be of importance, a rat model was used to study the nature and course of CMV‐induced vascular pathology. In this model, local CMV infection was established by subcutaneous inoculation of rat‐specific CMV (RCMV) in the sole of the foot. Signs of endothelial activation, including leucocyte adhesion, preceded detectable RCMV infection of these cells. Ultimately, vasculitis and thrombotic occlusion were accompanied by diffuse tissue inflammation and necrosis. Generalized RCMV infection was induced in rats by intraperitoneal administration of the virus, which resulted in multiple organ pathology, including haemorrhages, inflammation, and gastrointestinal ulceration. RCMV‐encoded antigens were found especially in mononuclear inflammatory cells in the organs and peripheral blood. In addition, multiple haemorrhages and disturbed haematological parameters indicated diffuse intravascular coagulopathy. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for extensive vascular involvement and haematological consequences during disseminated CMV infection. The nature and chronology of RCMV‐induced pathological vascular events were demonstrated, indicating the importance of endothelial damage. These data and further study may lead to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of CMV multiple‐organ disease. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Free Exchange e-Marketplace for Digital Services

The digital era is witnessing a remarkable evolution of digital services. While the prospects are countless, the e-marketplaces of digital services are encountering inherent game-theoretic and computational challenges that restrict the rational choices of bidders. Our work examines the limited bidding scope and the inefficiencies of present exchange e-marketplaces. To meet challenges, a free exchange e-marketplace is proposed that follows the free market economy. The free exchange model includes a new bidding language and a double auction mechanism. The rule-based bidding language enables the flexible expression of preferences and strategic conduct. The bidding message holds the attribute-valuations and bidding rules of the selected services. The free exchange deliberates on attributes and logical bidding rules for automatic deduction and formation of elicited services and bids that result in a more rapid self-managed multiple exchange trades. The double auction uses forward and reverse generalized second price auctions for the symmetric matching of multiple digital services of identical attributes and different quality levels. The proposed double auction uses tractable heuristics that secure exchange profitability, improve truthful bidding and deliver stable social efficiency. While the strongest properties of symmetric exchanges are unfeasible game-theoretically, the free exchange converges rapidly to the social efficiency, Nash truthful stability, and weak budget balance by multiple quality-levels cross-matching, constant learning and informs at repetitive thick trades. The empirical findings validate the soundness and viability of the free exchange.
Real-time time-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging including single-shot acquisition with a segmented optical image intensifier

High-speed (video-rate) fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) is reported using two different time-domain approaches based on gated optical image intensifier technology. The first approach utilizes a rapidly switchable variable delay generator with sequential image acquisition, while the second employs a novel segmented gated optical imager to acquire lifetime maps in a single shot. Lifetimes are fitted using both a non-linear least-squares fit analysis and the rapid lifetime determination method. Monte Carlo simulations were used to optimize the acquisition parameters and a comparison between theory and experiment is presented. The importance of single-shot imaging to minimize the deleterious impact of sample movements is highlighted. Real-time FLIM movies of multi-well plate samples and tissue autofluorescence are presented.
Theoretical, experimental, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) studies of graft apposition and adhesion in Descemets stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK).

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of adhesion promoting surgical adjuncts in Descemets stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). The effects of air-fill pressure, duration, use of venting incisions and stromal roughening on fluid dispersion, and donor adhesion strength were examined in theoretical, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and strain gauge models of DSAEK. METHODS OCT analysis: DSAEK modeled using a microkeratome prepared lenticule inserted under a "recipient" corneo-scleral rim mounted on an artificial anterior chamber. Pressure of 18 mm Hg (n = 6) or 60 mm Hg (n = 6) was applied. The area of interface fluid was measured sequentially. The area of interface fluid before and after opening of venting incisions was measured (n = 6). Adhesion experiments: Direct measurement of adhesion force using a universal testing machine was performed. Peak adhesion after compression at 60 mm Hg/8 minutes, 60 mm Hg/1 minutes, 18 mm Hg/8 minutes, and 18 mm Hg/1 minutes (n = 8 each group) was measured. Subsequently, adhesion after complete removal of interface fluid and after stromal roughening was measured in separate samples (n = 12). RESULTS Interface fluid diminishes with time during tamponade at both low and high pressures (P < 0.0001). Pressure had no effect on amount or rate of fluid dispersion. Venting incisions eliminated interface fluid in all samples when opened sufficiently. Adhesion is independent of anterior chamber air tamponade pressure (P = 0.38). Complete removal of interface fluid increases average adhesion (16.0 mN vs. 7.8 mN, P = 0.0001). Roughening of the host stroma increased adhesion (13.8 mN vs. 9.8 mN, P = 0.0034). CONCLUSIONS Venting incisions and stromal roughening aid adhesion in DSAEK. Sustained high-pressure anterior chamber air tamponade has no demonstrable effect on measured fluid dispersion or adhesion strength.
A randomized controlled trial of a 10 percent CPP-ACP cream to reduce mutans streptococci colonization.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 10 percent casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) cream to reduce mutans streptococci (MS) colonization and prevent early childhood caries. METHODS The cohort was randomized at mean age of 11 days old to receive once-daily CPP-ACP cream (n=102) or no product (comparison group; n=89) from the time of first tooth eruption. All mothers were contacted by telephone at six, 12, and 18 months and advised to brush their children's teeth twice daily with low-dose fluoride toothpaste. At 24 months, all children were examined at a community clinic. RESULTS At 24 months old, one out of 65 (2 percent) children in the CPP-ACP group had caries vs. four out of 58 (seven percent) in the comparison group (difference not statistically significant). There were fewer MS-positive children in the CPP-ACP group (26 percent) vs. the comparison group (47 percent; P=.02). A dose-response effect of CPP-ACP usage on MS was observed, where MS was present in eight percent of regular CPP-ACP users, 28 percent of irregular users, and 47 percent of non-users (P<.02). CONCLUSIONS CPP-ACP reduced the percentages of mutans streptococci-positive 24-month-old children, although it did not reduce caries prevalence.
Asymptotics of implied volatility to arbitrary order

In a unified model-free framework that includes long-expiry, short-expiry, extreme-strike, and jointly-varying strike-expiry regimes, we generate implied volatility and implied variance approximations, with rigorous error estimates asymptotically smaller than any given power of L, where L denotes the exogenously given absolute log of an option price that approaches zero. Our results, therefore, sharpen to arbitrarily high order of accuracy (and, moreover, extend to general extreme regimes) the model-free asymptotics of implied volatility. We then apply these general formulas to particular examples: Heston (using a previously known L expansion) and Lévy (using saddlepoint methods to derive L expansions).
Antiviral therapy for herpes zoster: randomized, controlled clinical trial of valacyclovir and famciclovir therapy in immunocompetent patients 50 years and older.

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of valacyclovir hydrochloride and famciclovir for the treatment of herpes zoster. DESIGN A double-blind, randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial in which patients received 7 days of treatment and were followed up for 24 weeks. SETTINGS Patients reported directly to specialist centers or were referred from primary care centers. PATIENTS There were 597 otherwise healthy immunocompetent outpatients, aged 50 years and older, who presented within 72 hours of onset of zoster rash. INTERVENTIONS Treatment with valacyclovir hydrochloride (1 g 3 times daily) or famciclovir (500 mg 3 times daily) for 7 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Resolution of zoster-associated pain and postherpetic neuralgia, rash healing, and treatment safety. RESULTS Intent-to-treat analysis did not detect statistically significant differences for valacyclovir vs famciclovir on resolution of zoster-associated pain (hazard ratio, 1. 02; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.23; P =.84). Furthermore, no differences were evident between treatments on rash healing rates and on a range of analyses of postherpetic neuralgia. Safety profiles for valacyclovir and famciclovir were similar, with headache and nausea being the more common adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Valacyclovir treatment is comparable to famciclovir treatment in speeding the resolution of zoster-associated pain and postherpetic neuralgia. Current wholesale prices indicate that valacyclovir is the more cost-effective treatment for herpes zoster ($83.90 vs $140.70 per course).
İŞLETMELERİN REKABET ÜSTÜNLÜĞÜ ANLAYIŞLARINI ETKİLEYEN ÖGELERİN ENDÜSTRİ TEMELLİ VE KAYNAK TEMELLİ BAKIŞ AÇISINA GÖRE BELİRLENMESİ: KAYSERİ İLİNDE BİR ARAŞTIRMA

Stratejik yonetim yazininda rekabet ustunlugu konusunu ele alan iki ana akim bulunmaktadir. Bunlardan ilki endustrinin rekabette belirleyici oldugunu ileri suren ve M.E. Porter tarafindan gelistirilen Endustri Temelli Bakis Acisidir. Ikincisi ise rekabetin kaynaginin ozgun stratejik kaynak ve kabiliyetlerde aranmasi gerektigini iddia eden Kaynak Temelli Bakis Acisidir. Arastirmada, Kayseri‟deki imalat sanayi isletmelerinin rekabet ustunlugu anlayislarinin bu iki temel bakis acisindan nasil etkilendigi ve etkileyen temel faktorlerin neler oldugu ortaya konulmaya calisilmistir. Elde edilen sonuclara gore, isletmelerin rekabet ustunlugu anlayislarini etkileyen endustri temelli bakis acisina iliskin baslica faktorler; sektore yeni girecek firmalar, rekabet yogunlugu ile ikame urunlerden olusmaktadir. Performans uzerinde etkili olan kaynak temelli bakis acisina iliskin ogeler ise; marka, insan kaynaklari, kurumsal itibar ve maddi kaynaklardan olusmaktadir. Isletmelerin performanslarini etkileyebilecegi dusunulen rekabet stratejilerinin ise isletmelerin rekabetci anlayislari uzerinde herhangi bir etkisinin olmadigi sonucuna ulasilmistir.
Multi-resolution Lossless Image Compression for Progressive Transmission and Multiple Decoding Using an Enhanced Edge Adaptive Hierarchical Interpolation

In a multi-resolution image encoding system, the image is encoded into a single file as a layer of bit streams, and then it is transmitted layer by layer progressively to reduce the transmission time across a low bandwidth connection. This encoding scheme is also suitable for multiple decoders, each with different capabilities ranging from a handheld device to a PC. In our previous work, we proposed an edge adaptive hierarchical interpolation algorithm for multi-resolution image coding system. In this paper, we enhanced its compression efficiency by adding three major components. First, its prediction accuracy is improved using context adaptive error modeling as a feedback. Second, the conditional probability of prediction errors is sharpened by removing the sign redundancy among local prediction errors by applying sign flipping. Third, the conditional probability is sharpened further by reducing the number of distinct error symbols using error remapping function. Experimental results on benchmark data sets reveal that the enhanced algorithm achieves a better compression bit rate than our previous algorithm and other algorithms. It is shown that compression bit rate is much better for images that are rich in directional edges and textures. The enhanced algorithm also shows better rate-distortion performance and visual quality at the intermediate stages of progressive image transmission.
High quality low complexity scalable wavelet audio coding

This paper presents an audio coder for real-time multimedia applications. To achieve high quality at low bit rate, the audio coder uses a wavelet packet decomposition to transform the audio data into the wavelet domain, and a psychoacoustic model is used to minimize quantization noise. The wavelet packet decomposition tree structures were chosen in a way to closely mimic the critical bands in a psychoacoustic model. Instead of determining the masking thresholds in the Fourier domain, the wavelet coefficients are used to drive the psychoacoustic model directly. Most of the standard industrial sampling frequencies are supported by this coder. An efficient bit rate control scheme was designed such that the audio coder operates at virtually any desired bit rate level. The audio coder achieves near perceptually lossless quality at or below 80 kb/s for most audio sources. Real-time encoding/decoding is possible by using only a fraction of a Pentium or faster CPU.
Determinants of project success

The interactions of numerous project characteristics, with particular reference to project performance, were studied. Determinants of success are identified along with the accompanying implications for client organization, parent organization, project organization, and future research. Variables are selected which are found to have the greatest impact on project outcome, and the methodology and analytic techniques to be employed in identification of those variables are discussed.